Front End Bra

In reality, yes.
In my mind, no.

There's just something about a freshly detailed, soft as a baby's bottom paint job, especially the hood. Go to the concours d'elegance and tell me if anyone has plastic covering their paint. I know, we are driving daily drivers, but there is just something off-putting about it to me.

 

Here is a pic. It will look better when the car is clean but you will still be able to see it depending on the color. The bra covers from that line down to the bottom of the bumper in separate pieces obviously. The line on the hood is the only one that seems to be easily noticed with this color.

 

Thanks. I can't find a dealer in the NYC - LI area that would install it.

If anyone knows of a dealer around NYC that does the Toyota Film application, please let me know.

 

The Toyota clear bra is not well installed from what I have seen. You are much better off with a competent afternarket install.

Detailing Dynamics in the NYC is probably the best in that part of the country. I would google them and contact them for a quote.

MB860 ?

 

You can wax it just like the paint, but I hate to ruin your dream for you when you are running your hand over that freshly detailed, soft as a baby's bottom paint job when your hand hits a bunch of ugly rock chips in your paint.

 

Just do what I did, I had the entire hood covered so no line! The hood of the Prius is so short that it was easy to do.

 

I'm sorry you don't agree with me, but I'd rather have a chip or two than the plastic. My car is almost 5 years old and the paint GLEAMS. :rockon:
If the front bumper ever got to where it was bothering me, a few hundred bucks would get it repainted as good as new.

 

Still undecided for me...dealer insists their spray-on product is much better than the Toyota Accessory Paint Protection Film. But they also said there are aftermarket film packages better than what Toyota offers...covers more area, etc., etc.

Guy sure could buy a lot o gasoline with that money....

 

It is not uncommon for people to have the entire car wrapped, in fact my clear bra installer does it quite frequently. It does cost about 5k though.

Most of the highway driven cars that I have seen are chipped to hell. And bumpers usually cost about $500 to spray and aftermarket paintwork is never as good as the factory.

 

Seriously, never use the spray-on stuff. There are so many good, proven clear bra films on the market that you should not risk damaging your paint irreversibly with the spray-on coatings.

 

Ya, there are lots of good reasons for people to do it.
I have zero problems with anyone else who wants it. I think it's a great options for many people.
I'm just sayin it's not for me.

 

Frankly, that's kind of what I'm thinking, too. What if they get done with it (spray-on) and you don't like it? lol That'd really suck!

 

Just to butt into this debate.

I have clearbra...on just the hood of my vehicle. I like it.

As said, you do wax it, wash it, just like it is not there. The only caveat, is that you have to use a little more care with wax, around the line where the clear bra ends. Or you can end up making it more visible or having to buff that much harder.

I can understand, wanting that pristine feeling of simply normal wax...but if you just get clearbra on the front? You still have 90%+ of your vehicle to enjoy that "feeling".

I kinda enjoy the "feeling" of knowing I have that extra protection every time I pull onto the freeway and find myself behind a big truck.

So far 2 years? Hood looks great. Usually by now, even if I was as careful as possible I would have several nicks...

I really was on the fence when I purchased it. But my 2 year experience would convince me to do it again.

Yeah, no way I'd wrap my entire vehicle in it...but for exposed high risk areas like the hood? I think it's a good idea if you put any mileage on your vehicle and value how it looks.

 

May i know what brand you are using? What do you think about brand 3M? I heard 3M is the finest one?

 

i have a 2010 blue metallic prius.....the paint in front was chipping and being scraped on curbs etc.... they wanted over $800 to remove the front and prime and repaint.....so i bought a LE BRA.. it isn't the prettiest thing, but has covered up the chipping and scrapes...... i bought it online for about $60....it installs pretty easy.. and the mileage hasn't changed .....usually about 53+ on trips...

 

It came with the car, and according to the sticker it is 3M.

 

I have considered this for my vehicles but have decided against a semi-permanent installation, given experience I had with a car that was purchased with a protective film installed. My reasoning is that I have seen differences in shine/gloss/color from certain angles. It's like the other comments on plastic seat protectors --- you know they're there and never get the real ownership feel. I'd rather live with a few paint chips that can be filled in than having a less than perfect paint look because of a plastic film. Just my opinion. And I agree with Electric Me about having to take more care with waxing because you can make the edges much more visible with wax residue that collects at those borders.

But what I would really like is something that you could put on that is temporary during high bug season. I really dislike having to scrape embedded bug parts off of the front bumper. Here's an example of something less permanent:

Paint Protection Film | Clear Car Bra | EZ Shield Paint Protector

 

My installer has wrapped complete cars. You can have the edges wrapped and complete panels wrapped if the seams bother you:

2011 M3 Convertible - Clear Guard + Diamond Cut IR 63% - Teamspeed.com

Tesla Full Vehicle Prestige Clear Guard by Premier - 6speedonline.com Forums

F8L told me you are coming to NorCal to pick up the car. Contact Premier in Fremont and they should be able to do complete wraps on the panels that you mentioned, which will alleviate your concerns. The appearance is also identical to the unwrapped panels.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We live in rural Utah. That means heavy trucks, dirt, gravel, cindered winter roads, etc. The front of low cars like the Prius take a terrible beating.

My wife chose a LeBra for her 2005 Prius. When she bought the 2011 she immediately wanted another one.

She considers the LeBra sporty. We lived with the Lebra on the 2005 for 5 years. The paint did not fade and the bra was loosened and cleaned under regularly to avoid abrasion to the paint.

For the cost of the LeBra, it is a good investment to protect the bigger investment.

With the 2005 Prius, LeBra in place, our best MPG posted was 62.5 mpg @62 mph over a 352 mile run including terrain on an open Interstate.
With the 2011 Prius, LeBra in place, our best MPG to date has been 52.2 mpg @ 65 mph over a 150 mile run including mountainous terrain on Interstate and 2 lane roads.

Tire pressures were at factory recommended settings for both vehicles.