It's a personal choice. I just prefer not having stone chips on my car.

 

Great analogy! If every time I look at that film I'm aggravated (which is what will happen) then I know it's not for me.

Tom

 

I just replaced mine yesterday. Removing the old stuff (3M, about 4-5 years old) was a chore! Lots of glue. The new stuff (VentureShield Ultra) looks so much better! Glad I did this.

 

I don't have a clear bra and have been on the fence about installing it for sometime now... I just don't really care for how they look and when I see a car with it my thoughts are: I'd have to ask the dealer to pull that off prior to purchasing the car to ensure that there are no issues with paint coming off. FWIW, we had an RL member last year buy a 997(burgundy I believe) from a dealer then had it clear bra'd by a local installer... the paint started peeling off, installer blamed it on the car's paint condition, dealer blamed the installer, bla bla bla, end result is an SOL p-car owner. I suspect that the clear bra was applied too soon after new paint from a body shop... of course, the dealer did not "know" or elected not to tell the buyer. What a mess. I can just imagine the shock and horror of discovering this type of issue 5 yrs down the road when I try to remove/replace the original clear bra that was on the car from a dealer. Getting resolution from a p-dealer at that point would be futile...

BTW, I don't buy into notion that a car with a wrap is indicative of how well a car is cared for or the inverse... As I mentioned my car does not have a clear bra and the preventative measures I go through to maintain my car far out weigh anything Porsche has published as standard maintenance. Oil changes every 3k miles, brake flush every year, coolant flush, plus coil, plug, and WP swaps well before they fail are just a few of the fixations I've addressed in the name of "car care". On top of that I've installed a 3rd rad and deep sump for added engine cooling and reliability. For exterior paint protection I'm still old school about weekly hand washes followed by detailer's wax and a good coat of wax every month. My boys and I spent 14 hrs detailing the car when we 1st got her. I would be amazed and delighted to find a p-car with the type of maintenance and care applied towards my own car... To each his own... and remember to enjoy the ride.

 

I guess the real question is - if having a choice between two cars, both equal in colors and options and mileage, with each having all service paperwork available to show that each has been maintained properly - which one would you buy - the one with front end stone chips or the one without?

 

Its hard to tell that my c2s has a clear bra on her. Most people don't even notice. Mine's a bit of a garage queen, I like it that way. Always clean and polished, great way to drive. Best way to protect original OEM paint, on a 100k + car why not !

Proud to say "I'm a male and I have a bra" and I'm proud to show it!.....lol

 

 

In a "bad condition" we are suggesting that you replace the film every 10 years. That said, if properly maintained, the film could last indefinitely. It's similar to the way someone takes care of their paint. If well maintained the paint will shine and last the life of the car. If it's not well maintained then there will be issues down the road.

 

I just purchased an 06 C2S with 23,000 miles and a clear bra a couple weeks ago. The overall excellent shape that the car was in definitely impressed me, especially after I visited a non-Porsche dealer selling a very similar C2S in much worse shape for the same price.

The clear bra definitely helped the value of this car and I get more enjoyment out of driving it as I don't have to worry nearly as much about rock chips. Being a black car flaws would be obvious but the bra blends in well.

When my bra wears out I will probably replace it with a new one and continue to enjoy my car.

 

A clear bra is a sacrificial barrier which will wear with time. This wear includes UV and stone chips which will dull and discolor the surface. If you intend to keep the car for years to come it will eventually need to be replaced to bring back the like new appearance. Another reason to remove it is that the film will harden with time and when it does it becomes brittle. This will make it very difficult (speaking from experience here) to remove and a painful experience for your fingers!

Yet another reason to replace them is advances in technology. From what I have seen manufacturers are coming out with better, smoother and more reflective films almost every year. This combined with better installation techniques will continue to make these bra's less visible to the human eye.

 

I have a 1997 C2S that has always had a clear bra. It is on its third one. It lived in Colorado as a DD for 75k miles. Not a chip or scratch on the front. Paint is perfect and Im really glad the PO had them put on. To me its a no brainer. I actually just bought my wife a new Toyota minivan and its getting a clear bra next week.