[MCL968]

What are the views of those of you in the know? If yes, is there a preferred maker?

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[flash]

clear bra or the traditional black vinyl?

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[MCL968]

I have not yet decided. The vinyl is a little more protective, but in my experience they can be tough on the underlying paint. The clear looks good, but I don't know how well they protect.

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[Kim]

my blue cab had a vinyl bra. It was virtually invisible but I would have wanted to ry to remove it. When you waxed the car it held the wax in the little nicks, just the same as if the paint was dinged, and looked about the same thereafter also. But it was invisible and i like that..

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[JTP]

I had a traditional black bra on my GTI when I lived on Alaska. It was very good for precision against rocks which are laid on the road for traction but you have to be sure to frequently clean underneath or it will ruin your paint.



I had a clear bra in my Boxster which I liked a lot. It did a decent job of protection and didn't look stupid with a black mask on the front. Getting wax out of the edge is pretty easy.

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[Bulti]

In my opinion: why shouldn't you show off (the paint of) your car just the way it is? Bra's can make a car look plain ugly. Especially the black ones with the spoilers on top... I hate the gravel on the roads too, but that's what happens if you drive the car. And isn't that what's it is meant to do? Rather got a little mark here and there from usage than a peace of diaper wrapped around it.



Not sure just how invisible the clear ones are (and stay for that matter) and how well they actually protect the paint.



Of course, a concours car needs all the care it can get.



My 2 cents.

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[flash]

kim - when we talk about a vinyl bra, we mean the heavy black grained vinyl unit that porsche sold, as well as the one colgan makes. you put it on and off the car as desired, as opposed to vinyl wraps and clear bras.



as for hard on the paint, the vinyl ones can be, if you don't keep them clean, or if you let them get wet, and if don't take precautions at the edges. i've had mine for 10 years now and have yet to hurt the paint as a result of use. they are extremely good at protecting the front end of the car. i like to use it on long trips. around town though, i leave it off.



as for clear bras, they do a decent job, but they scratch just like paint. better than nothing, but expensive, and hard to get them done right.

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[ryker]

So funny, I was just thinking of posting a similar question! I wondered how many people used them. For some reason I like the looks of the black vinyl, and I think that must be because they were popular in the late 80's and early 90's, so sort of period look for me. I would never consider one on my '07 Mercedes but I do put them on my 80's VW Vanagons. The Mercedes has the clear bra that the <acronym title='previous owner'>PO</acronym> installed, and I like it, although at least 20 people over the years have said, "What's wrong with your paint?" And I have to explain what a clear bra is. So they both protect well, although if I was more picky about the Mercedes, there are a few scratches in the clear plastic bra material, so I would want to replace it if it were on the Porsche.



My post was going to be along the lines of me doing two things to the car that will force me to modify the bra: the splitter, and a concealed 9500ci radar detector (just installed today). Trying to decide if it is worth modifying. As a side note, still not completely convinced about installing the splitter. I guess I'll just do it until I bash it to pieces! Lol

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[flash]

lol - as long as you don't drive directly into something, the splitter should hold up well. i've had mine for years, and bashed the crap out of it while driving, and it still holds up. basically skips over most stuff. driveways and such require some care, but not the end of the world. so, for me, modifying the bra to fit with the splitter was a no brainer. pretty easy, though i had to have an upholsterer do it, as the material is just too thick for a normal sewing machine.

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[MCL968]

What about the bumperettes? On my list of things to do is to put on the Euro lenses. Do the common and available bra's have cutouts for the bumperettes, or do they just go over them? A splitter is also on the list, but the list is long.

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[ryker]

MCL968, the bra goes over the bumperettes, so open on either side of them, with the bumperettes being covered (let me know if you want a photo). I guess if I take those out, I can have that modified on the bra as well. I had the laser detector installed behind the D1R metal grill, so removing the netting section of the bra will be helpful for the detector, and essential for the splitter, so I guess that is the direction I am going to take.



Flash, I did not mean insinuate that your splitter would not hold up! Lol. As a matter of fact, I bought it because of the durability, and of course the looks. I do not completely trust myself not to hit anything but I am sure it will handle my driving mishaps.

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[MCL968]

Thanks Ryker, the info about the bumperettes is helpful, and I imagine altering the bra would be fairly easy for an upholstery shop. I suppose I could take it to Victorias Secret for a custom fitting, but I don't believe it has to fit that closely to be effective. Who is the maker of your bra, and what do you think of it?



And I am kind of curious about the radar detector. Are you implying that you intend to drive beyond the posted limit?

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[Rap]

I have found the splitters to be pretty durable. Occasionally I pull up to close and hear that sickening crunch, but when I back off there is no real damage. I suppose I could have them taken off and repainted but a little paint touch up so far works just fine for me.

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[flash]

there is a small band that goes between the bumperette and the light. this serves as a retension device. i removed it as a part of my modification. however, i had to add another insert piece to keep the bra from flapping in the wind.

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[bombfactory]

I'll second Flash's recommendation of the Colgan bra. I have one I mainly use for longer trips, not so much around town. Go with the Colgan, though. Other brands do not fit as well. I got mine through autoeverything.com

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[flash]

the OEM actually fits better than the colgan, but i don't know if it is available anymore

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[ryker]

MCL968, I believe mine is the OEM Porsche bra. I don't see a tag on it but I do have the Porsche crest on the center piece, and crests on both the mirror pieces. I like the bra a lot, and it fits great. That's why I am bummed that I have to tear into it for the radar detector and the splitter!



Me, speed? Hmm. The radar detector is great. I like having it installed and on all of the time (it does have a small power button to turn it off if desired). I was just going to buy another mirror mount so I would not forget to switch between cars but stumbled on the 9500ci for only $500, and another $350 to have it installed. Probably does not make a whole lot of sense to spend the extra dough, and tear into the car again but now I have laser on the back of the car, and the whole getup is stealth.

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[ryker]

I had the bra on the car a few weeks ago on a trip to Reno, and a crazy rain storm hit! So I had to take the bra off when I got home and clean it up. In doing so, I noticed numbers embossed into it: 968-00 10-92. Not a part number but strange. I would think it is original Porsche bra since the Porsche logo is stamped into the hood section and on both mirror covers.



Here is a photo showing the, um, bra, taken just one hour before I got rained on, at the Mt. Rose Summit of, 8900 ft. Perfectly blue and sunny skies. That was a fun drive.

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