I don't get car bras. There used to protect the paint, but no ever sees the paint because the bra covers it up. So what's the use? Is it just for peace of mind knowing that your paint (which no one will ever see) is safe and flawless. Someone explain this thinking to me. I can see using one for an occassional long road trip, but leaving them on all the time? Anyway didn't this fad die with "A Flock of Seagulls", and "The Fixx"? I can remember when every 280Z and Z28 had one along with those metal rear window louvres.

Okay maybe I'm being a bit of a smart a$$, but honestly, I've never understood this. It makes no sense to me!!

 

I only agree w/using a car bar for a long road trip. Other than that, I am completely against them.

1) over time dirt/grit will get underneath the bra and it will be slowly ground into the paint.....not good.

2) if it rains, the bra gets wet. this means u then a a wet fleece material pressing on your car...also not good. Even if it doesn't rain, think about just your average nightime/morning dew.

So, in my opinion, unless you are going on a long road trip and want to help w/bugs and rocks on the freeway, I'd avoid them 100 %.

(With the new clear 3M bra though, I'm wondering bout one of those. Very interesting)

 

The new clear bras are usually great if you get them installed properly and are careful when you wax the car. If you're lookign to keep the chips off the front of your car they are a good investment.

Ike

 

ya bra's are uglier than crap

 

Sorry if this is thread hijacking, but that just brought back some memories. My first car was a '78 280Z bought back in 1987 when I was 18. It had those dang metal louvers on the back window...

 

hahaa ya those were ugly too

 

my mom always put covers over the sofa and chairs so they would stay clean. And I'm thinking like, you spend 3 months picking the fabric for your very expensive sofa then cover it up with a $5 sheet, I don't get it? Why not buy a cheap POS sofa? That's what car bras are like on the 8.

 

ya it's kinda like
you want to protect the paint
of uh.... of about 15% of the car?
oh so when the rest of the car is beat to crap the front end will look good... yeah i'm sure that'll all look good together

 

well fortunately the bra looks pretty good on the RX8, compared to all other cars I've seen.. hmmm. maybe I'm bias.. I dunno, it looks pretty cool to me.

I agree that leaving them on for long periods without cleaning them *can* damage your paint.

I take mine off every weekend and wash my car and enjoy the bra-less car all weekend. Then put the cleaned bra back on when the weekend is over.. Every two or three weeks I put another coat of wax on the front end, doesn't take too long (10 minutes). Helps protect it while the bra is on.

For now I have to use the bra until I can find a reputable place that does clear bras for a reasonable price.. most places I'm seeing are 500-600.. for that much I'd rather stick to using the bra..

I don't mind the extra work, since I wash the car every weekend anyway.

I need the bra on a daily basis because my previous car, an Audi TT, had TONS of rock chips and scrapes, and one large gouge from a road debris which I was not able to dodge because the car in front of me kicked it over to my lane.
And all of them occurred during the week on my daily commutes on the 405.

Having the bra on during my weekly commute will reassure that I will avoid jacking up my RX8 front end in the long run. When I returned my TT after 3 years, the only area that had ANY paint damage was the front bumper. Everywhere else the paint was undamaged.. Everyone would admire my TT but ALWAYS comment on the front bumper damage.

 

I say clear bra is nicer IMO

 

Any concern with clear bra discoloring over time?
Also, would the paint under the clear bra oxidize at a different rate than the paint not under the clear bra?

 

shouldnt
especially for the price clear bra costs

 

I had a very nice StonGard (sic) plastic 'bra' put on my 2001 Miata SE last year, in order to protect it from chips/flying debris. It is just about invisible and has already protected the front end. Also put the thicker plastic on the headlights. I intend to do the same thing on the RX-8 next month, after I pay off some of the cosmetic enhancements I've already put on the car (see my sig). Thankfully, my wife is very understanding about my need to 'enhance' a new car.

I've got some pics of the Miata at:


My Miata Pics

 

great miata
sweett

 

I'm looking for the right radar absorbing material.

I ordered the bra but just want to use it as a sewing pattern. My wife and her sister are pretty good seamtreses and I'm sure they could transfer the pattern to the new material.

I'd think that the radar crosssection of the RX-8 is pretty low already.

...I'll tell more as I go.

 

I can inject a small sliver of sense into the bra issue...

I used to have one on my Acura. It was a black car, to start off with....any other color, and...

But I used it because my front was already chipped up and looked more like a dalmation than black paint. I'd put the bra on and voila, the car looks nice. Of course, I took it off when it got wet, and kept my car clean generally. And this was only a solution until I got the front resprayed.

But that made sense to me. Otherwise, go with the 3M clear bra nowadays

 

Car bras? I always thought those were to lift and separate your car's headlights....


Also, nice Miata.

 

m477
thats one way of looking at the bra:D

 

I plan on using a bra on the freeway only and taking it off otherwise. I get a face full of bugs everytime I drive home..

 

this car does attract bugs
I thought it was just mine but maybe not

 

having a bra is good for long drives, yes that's right, but for other reasons, i tend to keep them away until i plan to go up north or down south to keep from bugs and bird doodoo