YACT: what is the point of a bra on a car?

[lancestorm]

I was thinking of getting a bra for my new VDub. But my dad (who has worked for VDub for over 25 years) says that although they help against rocks/debri thrown from the road, they also take off the paint. The rubbing back and forth from going against the wind basically means that once you put the bra on, you will never take it off. He says he sees it all the time where the paint below the bra has faded from the back and forth motion of the bra when driving the car.

So then, what's the point of protecting the paint if you will never see the paint again (aka will have to keep it on all the time anyways)?

 

[Carbonadium4]

Thats why you get stuff like armourfend - http://www.armourfend.com/, clear bra so you can still see your car. It sticks on to your car but you'll have to heat it to get it off..

 

[iamwiz82]

It will not take off the paint if the surface is very clean. You just have to clay bar it. The paint will become discolored though. Well, not discolored as much as not discolored versus the rest of the paint. You see, the rest of the paint will fade, while that will not.

I suggest a clear bra, like this: http://motortrend.com/features/care/112_0401_cc/ Very pricy, though.

 

[Kelemvor]

How often do you really get hit with stones that dent the front part of the car? I'v enever had a bra on any vehicle I've owned and I don't have any dents or paint chips anywhere from all these rocks that are just flying around all over the place.

And they're ugly.

 

[Jzero]

To keep the headlights from sagging.

 

[woowoo]

Keeps the car boobs from getting roadburn

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
How often do you really get hit with stones that dent the front part of the car? I'v enever had a bra on any vehicle I've owned and I don't have any dents or paint chips anywhere from all these rocks that are just flying around all over the place.

And they're ugly.

Then you must not drive on the freeway. All o fmy cars have stone chips due to flying rocks. I had a giant one hit the chrome surrounding my windshield. It left a dent about 1/4" wide and 1/8" deep.

 

[allisolm]

Try living in the land of love bugs during just one bad season and you'll understand why some people get car bras. Here and check out the photos. These critters are attracted to carbon dioxide and methane, so they hang out wherever there are running autos. The dead ones, if left on the car, can eat right through car paint. I have, at times, driven 60 miles - had to wash off the entire car, driven back - had to wash car again. Happens in May and again in Sept. Yuck! :disgust:

 

[CraigRT]

I boiught a BRA for my car, for long trips only.. put the bra on... protect from bugs and stone chips, take off when trip is over.
(full day highway trips, etc)
other than that, it shouldn't remain on the car more than say 2 days.

 

[Thraxen]

Do not do it. If you get grit under the bra you will just end up with scratched paint. You will need to clean you car all the time to prevent this. The same thing happens with those wind visors that go around sunroofs. I've seen people remove those only find they have a nice line scratched into the paint the entire length of where the visor was touching the top of the car. Dust gets caught under it and scratches it over time. You WILL regret it. At most just buy one to use on long trips.

 

[NFS4]

If you get a bra, get a clear bra. Black bras are downright ugly and stupid-looking.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

No self respecting male puts a bra on his car. Then again, you are already driving a VW so I guess you can go right ahead with that.

 

[Ninjja]

woah, i saw a bra on a carrera for the first time yesterday!! So I know what you guys are talking about! Woo hoo!!!

 

[jjones]

A very nicely fitted custom bra looks great and doesn't wear the paint down. I had one on my Mazda RX7 and having the bra was much better than paint chips you'll get from highway driving. It is true though that the paint under the bra will stay the original color while the paint exposed to the sun will fade slightly, making the use of a bra pretty much permanent.

The difference is, that with no bra, you will see paint chips, while with a bra, you can maintain it and replace the bra when it starts to look worn out. From what I've seen of the clear bras, I don't really like them but I guess it would depend on the car and the car's color. A snug fitting custom black bra looked great on my Mazda but a lot of the pleasing aesthetics came from the fact that my car was a deep blue color, with the convertible top already being black, so it went together with the car very well.

 

[lancestorm]

Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
No self respecting male puts a bra on his car. Then again, you are already driving a VW so I guess you can go right ahead with that.

<middle finger to ricer boy>

</middle finger to ricer boy>

 

[V00DOO]

Imagine that, 350Z bra size .

 

[MeanMeosh]

for the support, of course man!

 

[Carbonadium4]

Thats what I got on my car, clear bra by armour fend, cost me 200 for the hood + the qt panel..

depends on where you drive, in nyc, there are a lot of trucks + road construction, my car get hit like crazy

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
How often do you really get hit with stones that dent the front part of the car? I'v enever had a bra on any vehicle I've owned and I don't have any dents or paint chips anywhere from all these rocks that are just flying around all over the place.

And they're ugly.

 

[Carbonadium4]

Originally posted by: jjones
A very nicely fitted custom bra looks great and doesn't wear the paint down. I had one on my Mazda RX7 and having the bra was much better than paint chips you'll get from highway driving. It is true though that the paint under the bra will stay the original color while the paint exposed to the sun will fade slightly, making the use of a bra pretty much permanent.

The difference is, that with no bra, you will see paint chips, while with a bra, you can maintain it and replace the bra when it starts to look worn out. From what I've seen of the clear bras, I don't really like them but I guess it would depend on the car and the car's color. A snug fitting custom black bra looked great on my Mazda but a lot of the pleasing aesthetics came from the fact that my car was a deep blue color, with the convertible top already being black, so it went together with the car very well.

Cool thing about clear bra, you can't see it more than 5 ft away.. it blends in well.. unless u dont garage your car, then it looks like crap

 

[Murphy Durphy]

Bra's make your car look extremely ugly, especially on a sweet VDub! (I have a Jetta )

Besides, whats the use in having a bra to prevent rock chips when you're not going to see the hood anyway! Now, you don't have a couple tiny chunks out of your hood which won't be seen until close inspection, but a giant black plastic thing all over your lower hood that looks gaudy even at 200 feet away.

The only good argument I've heard for a bra was for long road trips like suggested above. That is a good idea, but general use... :thumbsdown:

 

[Amorphus]

Originally posted by: V00DOO
Imagine that, 350Z bra size .

That would be a woman about 10 feet wide, with boobs coming out roughly 2 feet. Relative to her, that would be an A cup.

 

[Amorphus]

Originally posted by: HajikuFlip
Bra's make your car look extremely ugly, especially on a sweet VDub! (I have a Jetta )

Besides, whats the use in having a bra to prevent rock chips when you're not going to see the hood anyway! Now, you don't have a couple tiny chunks out of your hood which won't be seen until close inspection, but a giant black plastic thing all over your lower hood that looks gaudy even at 200 feet away.

The only good argument I've heard for a bra was for long road trips like suggested above. That is a good idea, but general use... :thumbsdown:

Uh, VW... "Sweet"?

Tee hee hee

 

[Thump553]

I think the bras look a whole lot worse than any chips do, but its a matter of personal taste. I do a lot of highway driving and my car does have quite a few nicks in the front.

 

[Murphy Durphy]

Originally posted by: Amorphus

Originally posted by: HajikuFlip
Bra's make your car look extremely ugly, especially on a sweet VDub! (I have a Jetta )

Besides, whats the use in having a bra to prevent rock chips when you're not going to see the hood anyway! Now, you don't have a couple tiny chunks out of your hood which won't be seen until close inspection, but a giant black plastic thing all over your lower hood that looks gaudy even at 200 feet away.

The only good argument I've heard for a bra was for long road trips like suggested above. That is a good idea, but general use... :thumbsdown:

Uh, VW... "Sweet"?

Tee hee hee

You're telling me this doesn't look sweet?

Then tell me, what exactly DOES? Besides the unrealistic extreme cars you may play in a videogames..

 

[NutBucket]

Ugh. My hood/fenders have tons of little rock chips. Hmm, good excuse to get a CF hood; can't see them that way