Front End Bra for My Prius?

XLR8 · 12-19-2005, 03:56 PM

What do you think about the bra?

I'm thinking about getting one. I'm in the desert and we have a lot of rocks.

I know about the paint fade issue and will just keep a bra on all the time anyway.

Any other con's? Pro's?

Thanks,

Aaron

galaxee · 12-19-2005, 04:44 PM

pros: no scrubbing the front end to remove all the bugs. no paint chips on the front bumper. looks nice (well IMO)
cons: the top part doesn't exactly fit like a glove. leaves and stuff get in there, so i take it off every now and then to clean it out when i wash the car. it does get kind of faded, i shine it up with mother's back to black when it starts to look dingy. i guess that's mainly an issue if your car is black though. silver might not cause the dinginess to stand out as much.

as far as the paint fade, it's still under debate as to whether or not that's an issue at all. i've seen posts here saying a bra didn't cause different paint fade even after years. i don't really care either.

XLR8 · 12-19-2005, 05:20 PM

Thanks galaxee,

That's exactly what I'm looking for. Yeah, I'm like you in that I will always shine it up too. I had one on one of my Camaros and it needed it here and there.

The fit, good to know. Even on Toyota's website it looks a little wrinkled.

I think I can live with that if it means saving on the chips and bugs.

Our Sienna has some chips and bugs that won't really come off. Hate that.

Thanks again,

Aaron

Howard · 12-19-2005, 06:17 PM

I am the owner of a 2006 Prius and I have always purchased a bra for every car I have owned. I have yet to see any paint fade because of the bra.

Just make sure when it gets wet you take it off immediately. Do not drive in the rain with the bra on.

As for the Prius bra, I put it in the dryer for about 3 minutes before I installed it for the first time on the hood. The heat made the material soft so it would stretch easily. It did not damge the bra.

It took some stretching to get the bra perfect. In fact it was some job getting the bra on for the first time. It seems very snug. As for the lower bra, I don't know if I will put it on. My wife does not like the look of the car with a big black bra covering the front end. Hopefully I might convince her it is needed.

Also, I just purchased side moulding for the car. The side of the car looks like it is a good target for a door ding.

hdrygas · 12-19-2005, 06:38 PM

I just got one. My intention is to modify it with grill covers from black vinyl that I will add during the winter to allow the car to warm up and stay warm. I think I can rig up something adjustable that will allow me to quickly and easily modify the air flow according to temperature. Not much use in the desert but in the Northland might make a good looking near OEM, easily adjustable way for the car to warm up faster and stay warm and keep me warmer as well.
Thanks the dryer hint. It is cold here now and I am willing to bet that will impede any stretching during the install.
Has any one noted a milage hit with the Bra?

sunnysandiegan · 12-19-2005, 10:02 PM

Are you referring to any bra or a specific bra? I am curious about the 'clear' bras/masks. Are these removable for cleaning, etc?

TIA

Jack 06 · 12-19-2005, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sunnysandiegan@Dec 19 2005, 08:02 PM
Are you referring to any bra or a specific bra? I am curious about the 'clear' bras/masks. Are these removable for cleaning, etc?

TIA

[snapback]175942[/snapback]

No. We're talking only about the black vinyl 2-piece bra that fits over the lower few inches of the hood and almost all of the front bumper/grille. Attach with elastic straps, plastic hooks and rubber strips that wedge in between the headlights and fender.

I've had 'em on all three of my Priuses and two other recent cars. The front end on my '04 looks like new (39K mi.).

No, no effect on MPG.

XLR8 · 12-19-2005, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack 06@Dec 19 2005, 09:53 PM
No. We're talking only about the black vinyl 2-piece bra that fits over the lower few inches of the hood and almost all of the front bumper/grille. Attach with elastic straps, plastic hooks and rubber strips that wedge in between the headlights and fender.

I've had 'em on all three of my Priuses and two other recent cars. The front end on my '04 looks like new (39K mi.).

No, no effect on MPG.

[snapback]175976[/snapback]

I loved hearing that! "looks like new".

OK, I can deal with a little wrinkle here and there for that!

Thanks Jack06! 3 Prius's with the bras, guess you like em ok huh?

I think I'll order it and have the dealer install it. That's the least they can do when selling at MSRP!

Aaron

sunnysandiegan · 12-19-2005, 11:12 PM

Thanks Jack!

Jack 06 · 12-19-2005, 11:22 PM

Most dealers sell them for $150-175. You can get one from toyotapart.com for $112 (last time I bought) + shipping (sometimes free!). toyotapart.com is a Toyota dealer (Metro Toyota) in Kalamazoo, MI that sells all Toyota parts as cheaply as I've seen anywhere.

12-19-2005, 04:44 PM	#2
galaxee uphill battling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,823 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 19	pros: no scrubbing the front end to remove all the bugs. no paint chips on the front bumper. looks nice (well IMO) cons: the top part doesn't exactly fit like a glove. leaves and stuff get in there, so i take it off every now and then to clean it out when i wash the car. it does get kind of faded, i shine it up with mother's back to black when it starts to look dingy. i guess that's mainly an issue if your car is black though. silver might not cause the dinginess to stand out as much. as far as the paint fade, it's still under debate as to whether or not that's an issue at all. i've seen posts here saying a bra didn't cause different paint fade even after years. i don't really care either. __________________ black 2005 prius, tweaked just the way i like it as DH was once told, someone with his capability should be in college, not doing mindless maintenance awaiting the occasional brain teaser. after conquering the entire ASE automotive series, he's busy retooling the diagnostic mindset for other life protecting applications. the prius tech is officially scarce, and his other half is sad without him.

12-19-2005, 06:17 PM	#4
Howard Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 72 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I am the owner of a 2006 Prius and I have always purchased a bra for every car I have owned. I have yet to see any paint fade because of the bra. Just make sure when it gets wet you take it off immediately. Do not drive in the rain with the bra on. As for the Prius bra, I put it in the dryer for about 3 minutes before I installed it for the first time on the hood. The heat made the material soft so it would stretch easily. It did not damge the bra. It took some stretching to get the bra perfect. In fact it was some job getting the bra on for the first time. It seems very snug. As for the lower bra, I don't know if I will put it on. My wife does not like the look of the car with a big black bra covering the front end. Hopefully I might convince her it is needed. Also, I just purchased side moulding for the car. The side of the car looks like it is a good target for a door ding. __________________ 2006 Toyota Prius Package 3

12-19-2005, 06:38 PM	#5
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I just got one. My intention is to modify it with grill covers from black vinyl that I will add during the winter to allow the car to warm up and stay warm. I think I can rig up something adjustable that will allow me to quickly and easily modify the air flow according to temperature. Not much use in the desert but in the Northland might make a good looking near OEM, easily adjustable way for the car to warm up faster and stay warm and keep me warmer as well. Thanks the dryer hint. It is cold here now and I am willing to bet that will impede any stretching during the install. Has any one noted a milage hit with the Bra? __________________ Belle, a Millennium Silver '04 BC #9 "Becoming one with my Prius, ICE on ICE off" Belle has been passed on to my daughter. I have a new silver Prius 08. No name yet we have just met but not been introduced.

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12-19-2005, 03:56 PM	#1
XLR8 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 161 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	What do you think about the bra? I'm thinking about getting one. I'm in the desert and we have a lot of rocks. I know about the paint fade issue and will just keep a bra on all the time anyway. Any other con's? Pro's? Thanks, Aaron

12-19-2005, 05:20 PM	#3
XLR8 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 161 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks galaxee, That's exactly what I'm looking for. Yeah, I'm like you in that I will always shine it up too. I had one on one of my Camaros and it needed it here and there. The fit, good to know. Even on Toyota's website it looks a little wrinkled. I think I can live with that if it means saving on the chips and bugs. Our Sienna has some chips and bugs that won't really come off. Hate that. Thanks again, Aaron

12-19-2005, 10:02 PM	#6
sunnysandiegan Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 248 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Are you referring to any bra or a specific bra? I am curious about the 'clear' bras/masks. Are these removable for cleaning, etc? TIA

12-19-2005, 11:12 PM	#9
sunnysandiegan Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 248 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks Jack!

12-19-2005, 11:22 PM	#10
Jack 06 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winters, CA: Prius capital of US. 30 miles W of Sacramento Posts: 2,567 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Most dealers sell them for $150-175. You can get one from toyotapart.com for $112 (last time I bought) + shipping (sometimes free!). toyotapart.com is a Toyota dealer (Metro Toyota) in Kalamazoo, MI that sells all Toyota parts as cheaply as I've seen anywhere.