Clear Bra Nightmare
#31
Thats why 'm leery to replace my sand guard on the wheel well. I even bought the replacement sheets and then decided not to proceed for fear of blotching the results when peeling the old ones off.
#32
My son just had it done and was told it has lifetime warranty! Maybe the installer is giving it to him. Just repeating what he told me.
#33
#35
In the end, the sort of "collectible" cars that most of us would choose to buy, are being bought for the purpose of driving them. I enjoy admiring my cars as much as anyone, as they sit, queen-like, in the garage, but if that was the primary purpose for buying them, it would sure be a lot cheaper to collect plastic car models than the real thing. Cars when they are driven begin to look like used cars, which is precisely what they are. There are nice used cars and there are heaps; most of us prefer nice ones over heaps, to a certain limit, after which the fussed over thing never looks right unless it has just been washed and waxed or sealed. Once it has been washed and waxed or sealed, and looks terrific, then it certainly is easier just to leave it in the clean garage and admire it every so often, rather than drive it.
For me, OC behavior with cars becomes self-defeating after a point, because I would prefer to drive the thing than to just admire it in the garage. Clear Bras, ceramic coatings, and the rest of that stuff are symptoms of putting the car's appearance over its function. That's just not what I see in this hobby/interest, but others are certainly entitled to their own opinions!
For me, OC behavior with cars becomes self-defeating after a point, because I would prefer to drive the thing than to just admire it in the garage. Clear Bras, ceramic coatings, and the rest of that stuff are symptoms of putting the car's appearance over its function. That's just not what I see in this hobby/interest, but others are certainly entitled to their own opinions!
#36
OK, valid point regarding re-paint although my painter does a better job than the factory. (he actually asks if you want him to match the factory orange peel). Hmmm show me one million dollar car with a clear bra on it. Never seen one. If it were that important why isn't it done at the factory?
#37
#38
I like clear bras on the leading edge surfaces because they keep the car looking much better, much longer. Even if you end up having to repaint after removal, it's a once in 5-10 year thing vs. a once every couple years to keep an unprotected surface equally mar-free.
I do agree covering the whole car with film is ridiculous. In my admittedly limited experience they are much harder to polish and compound out small scratches and don't get the same look as well prepped bare paint. There are so many more edges that may lift up and collect dirt. And if paint is damaged in periodic removal, you my be looking at a complete repaint vs. just a bumper or maybe a hood.
I do agree covering the whole car with film is ridiculous. In my admittedly limited experience they are much harder to polish and compound out small scratches and don't get the same look as well prepped bare paint. There are so many more edges that may lift up and collect dirt. And if paint is damaged in periodic removal, you my be looking at a complete repaint vs. just a bumper or maybe a hood.
#39
Now when I went to the track, I did put some clear shelf liner on leading edges to protect it for the day and removed it that night.
Really not worth arguing about...of course you can do what ever you'd like to do.
#40
OK sample size of one...I guess we should conclude they all get that treatment. You must be in management...LOL
Now when I went to the track, I did put some clear shelf liner on leading edges to protect it for the day and removed it that night.
Really not worth arguing about...of course you can do what ever you'd like to do.
Now when I went to the track, I did put some clear shelf liner on leading edges to protect it for the day and removed it that night.
Really not worth arguing about...of course you can do what ever you'd like to do.
#41
OK so where did he SHOW me one? Picks or it didn't happen...anecdotal data...LOL ...and I'm talking clear bra...apparently his example was a complete wrap. Back at ya
#42
#43
I really need to re-do the PPF of my car, it's about 10 years old and starting to yellow. Anyone have a rough estimate on repainting the front bumper?
#44
Exactly. It's dumb and a waste of money. Like a clear phone cover over the display. Why hide it. Use it with pride, it's gonna get chips/scratches. You can always repaint stuff. To the ones saying they wouldn't touch a 15 year old car that has had paintwork, okay, then my car is not for you. People are funny.
#45
Exactly. It's dumb and a waste of money. Like a clear phone cover over the display. Why hide it. Use it with pride, it's gonna get chips/scratches. You can always repaint stuff. To the ones saying they wouldn't touch a 15 year old car that has had paintwork, okay, then my car is not for you. People are funny.
The kind of fun cars that most of us can afford are not curated and preserved paintings in an art gallery. They are motor vehicles, and if used they are exposed to all sorts of hazards and noxious agents. They are not invaluable, they may cost tens of thousands of dollars, but not hundreds of thousands or millions. They are, for the most part, depreciating assets. Even if they hold their value in nominal dollars, they are depreciating along with the value of the dollar (or whatever currency you prefer) due to inflation. Once you factor in the carrying costs such as insurance, repairs, maintenance, and the time value of money, they become an expensive hobby. The quickest way to make money on your car would be to sell it and not replace it with another one; a guaranteed money-making proposition.
So it basically comes down to pride of ownership and whatever extent your ego gets a boost from how good your car looks in the garage. To talk about increasing value or holding onto it by doing anything more than keeping up with maintenance and repairs, garaging, washing and maybe sealing and waxing, is to delude ones self.