993Dave

Before you remove those lumpy US-spec rear bumperettes in search of the last few ounces of weight savings, consider this (if you drive your car on city streets):

So I'm on my way to work this morning, in a line of cars at a stop sign. As we creep forward, the guy behind me apparently picks that moment to adjust his latte or something and gives my car a 1 mph love tap on the rear bumper. I've had this happen once before in another car, and 1 mph certainly doesn't sound as low impact as it actually is. With dollar signs dancing before my eyes, I scream a couple of uncharitable remarks about my fellow commuter's parentage at my disinterested windshield as we pull to the side of the road. Thankfully (and here's the point), there was absolutely no damage of any kind to the car. There was a tiny mark on one bumperette to show that the guy's car had been there, but nothing else. Nothing dented, deflected, folded, spindled or scraped. Without the bumperette, I'd surely have at least a gash in the paint (as I said, I've been through this before in another car and know of what I speak).

At the almost negligible speed involved, it's really no surprise that there is no damage, although I wasn't quite thinking clearly in the instant after the bump and feared far worse. Without the bumperette, though, I definitely would have been left with an annoying scrape in the paint. Just something for you all to consider as you ponder body mods.

Okay, adrenaline is bleeding off nicely. I feel better now.

Midnight C4S

I'm with ya Dave, with the SUV Army out there every morning on their car phones I need all of the protection I can get. A month before I sold my last car some lady talking to her kid in the passenger seat hit me from behind in 2mph rolling stop and go near my house. She actually bent the bumper and I had to have it fixed, all I got from her was a smile and a "wasn't that fun I was talking with my son here" look. I got out of the car and didn't notice the shift in the bumper at the time, I gave her a "why don't you let your 12 yr old son drive instead" look back (not an easy look to do) and now hope Karma gets her.

Edward

Yeah, I hear you Dave! I always love looking at cars w/o the f/r bumperettes (Mike C.'s stunning car comes immediately to mind), but I then remind myself that I commute daily in that concrete jungle along with others who may not be as careful as, say, me.

Edward

Rob 97 993c2

i dont really have a problem with the rear bumperrette .. they frame the license plate well and it really isnt bad.

Im not sure the front bumperettes would be as functional, ... i cant imagine how they would ever protect you... plus they interfere with the clear side indicators

John95cab

I had a "love tap" that left a scratch on the rear rubber bumper cover on my wife's 01 Saab 9-5. We let the other driver go and we got nailed for $150 when we turned the car in at lease end.

Terry Adams

And if you watched some people park, Porsche behind them or not, you would love those front bumperettes also.

ca993twin

As Midnight C4S points out, we live in a world of vans, pickups, and SUVs. All of their bumpers are too high for our bumpers to give any protection. For that "one-in-a million" chance that you may get tapped lightly by another "car" (not truck), i'd risk no bumperettes. But that's just me.

max911

a lady tested my rear bumperettes (and temper) with her BMW X5 SUV at a stoplight. The bumperettes took 99% of the bump, the paint took the rest . They saved a lot of damage IMO.

993Dave

Steve: we are certainly surrounded by trucks/SUVs etc. I was "lucky" enough to be thumped by an Accord; his license place lined up perfectly with my bumperette. On the other hand, while I would hope an actual bumping event would be "one in a million," to my mind the odds (when that event comes to pass) that the other vehicle will be a regular car is much closer to a 50/50 proposition. Anyway, it's a matter of preference, I guess.

My little encounter, of course, doesn't come anywhere close to what your kids went through recently. I hope they are continuing to recover well.

BTW, I love the new avatar. In fine turtle fashion, you appear to be standing still while the world rushes by in a blur.