Front Mask for the Prius

:roll: I washed my car tday-- and I found a lot of little "hits" from rocks and road debris....... And I am the world's worst "ding repairer!" I think they look worse after I am done "fixing" them. (I need that Toyota "paint-pen" for better control and accuracy....)

I, too, am interested in the front mask to protect against dings. (Actually, I would like a mask for the enitre front of the car.... hood and all..... :wink: ).

My question: does the mask scrap against the paint over time-- and rub off the paint? (I may have read that somewhere....) Does anyone have one that they like? Did anyone buy that cheaper one? Do you like it? Have you had it on for an extended period of time? How's the paint underneath the mask-- after a time?

I am not going to have a presentable car -- at this rate-- if I don't get the mask......Thanks for your continued help-- everyone!

 

ToyotaTown in Langley, BC, sells a hard plastic hood protector that is easy to install and works very well. The vinyl/cloth covers will inevitably scratch the paint by trapping grit underneath. Years ago, I had one on a VW Beetle, and the heat generated by the black vinyl actually caused the paint to lift.
The hard plastic protector sits about a quarter of an inch above the painted surface and is held there by three clear, gummy hemispheres about the size of a large marble cut in half. The spheres have some mild, non-paint damaging adhesive; you put them on the hood where the directions indicate then fasten the plastic to the hood using little metal clips which do not require drilling and which come with little clear plastic squares to protect the paint underneath.
On a trip to California, it virtually elminated bugs on the windscreen and dings in the paint. There is a photo in the album section of this chatline showing one mounted on a cab in Vancouver.
It cost me about 45 bucks US, shipped. Much cheaper than the vinyl bra and looks better too.

 

my hood deflector seems to be doing it's job :mrgreen: or you can get the 3M or Llumar (or the like) protective film. I got mine from Invinca shield. :wink:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lucyjeanne\";p=\"43036)</div>

Nose mask or Car Bra is high maintenace, I had my past VW and I hate it... It protect but it need clean also, build up sand and other junk around fender arch hook(snap). That end up scratching paint.
I rather spend little more to get clear protection like Invinca
http://www.invinca-shield.com/asp/genkit.asp?kit=4482

 

I have the 04 Prius bra from Coastal ETech and I like it just fine. The first time you put it on it takes a bit since you don't know where everything goes, but now it's a quick thing to take it off when I wash the car and put it back on. Just a bunch of hooks on elastics, so no real assembly hassle. I do make sure it's off whenever I wash the car. That's the mistake most people make is which why inevitably there's marks, lines and discoloration of the paint.

 

What's this "Paint Pen" from Toyota?

 

Here is were I ordered my hood protector.

http://www.wooddash.com/

 

Paint Pen:really coolaint tipon.one.end;clearcoatonother

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(paprius4030\";p=\"43963)</div>

The paint pen is really neat. I asked about it on the priusonline.com site. I knew it was available in Canada and often given to folks when they receive their cars....

You can see a picture of it on the priusonline.com site under the paint pen reference. But my dealer claims that he now has them in stock. My main concern was that we want USA colors-- not Canadian colors (in case there is a slight variance).

Here is the number of the dealer where I purchased my Pri. Ask for Bob Hecht-- he is a real good guy.

Dan Hecht Toyota, Effingham, IL 1-800-342-1892. Make sure it is the Paint PEN (like a ball point pen on one side)-- and not the touch up paint with the brush! The brush is NOT a precise instrument-- to say the least...

 

Thanks Lucy! I know the brush in the touch up tube is a pain for the little stone nicks.

 

Lucy et. al.
For touching up small gravel nicks, the "nailpolish" bottle paint is fine. Use a toothpick to apply instead of the brush that comes in the tube. You can get extremely fine applications that way. Use many thin coats. Patiencs is the most valuable tool you will have when doing ding repair. DO NOT try to fill the hole with one heavy coat. After you are done with paint, or even between coats if you feel daring, use 2000 or finer emory paper (use it wet) to take down the high spots and overages of your touchup paint. Use the sandpaper on a small convex sanding block. Then an appropriate polish to remove the 2000 sanding haze (Mcguires products are good and readily available) and finally a glaze polish to restore the shine. With a little practice you will be surprised at how big a flaw you can fix.

Mike

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(removeum\";p=\"44003)</div>

I got virtually the same item for half the price from ToyotaTown in Langley, BC. They will ship anywhere. Nice folks.
Bob