I don't particularly care for the clear bra and I was disheartened by a few stone dings in my GXP's front facia. I was unable to find a vinyl bra made for a GXP, so I had the black vinyl bra I had on my '07 base Sol modified to fit the GXP. Cost - $125. I am very happy with the work, the fit and the look.
I will post some pictures when I am allowed to post pictures here. (For some reason, I have been prevented from posting attachments here.) In the meantime, check my avatar.
__________________ Carpe Diem
'Mysti' - '08 Mysterious 5-spd GXP, Ebony w/ red stitching, loaded, de-badged, BSR tune, Hahn I/C, K&N drop-in filter, Carolina Custom arm rests/door pockets, DDM ProBeam, splash guards, Pontiac vinyl bra (moded to fit GXP), Kappasphere wind restrictor, stubby antenna, ProClip cell phone holder, yellow calipers.
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.
First Liar Bench Racing Team
Last edited by Carpe Diem : 09-16-2008 at 07:22 PM.
This isn't meant to be argumentative, but in general, bras do more damage than good. Even the tightest fitting bras will rub the paint over time and you'll end up with scuff marks in the paint in some areas. In addition, the paint won't fade as much under the bra so when you take the bra off some years down the road, you'll find the nose of your car darker than the rest. IMHO, all bras are detrimental to the paint in the long run.
From the small picture I say it looks good. Know you have been in the market for some time for the bra and customizing one for the N/A Sol seems like the best way to go. Now that the Solstice and Sky have a limited life cycle I would imagine there are not going to be all that many after market companies willing to invest in new products for our cars.
I am not crazy about my clear bra because as you know when you look at it with polarizing sun glasses on you see this rainbow look--not a real clear look at all. I do like the protection it affords but the look is less than great. Would kind of like the black bra with Cool paint.
As to the earlier post I know you do not have your car out in the sun all day so fading is not a factor. With my car I could put the bra on over the clear and not have any issues concerning the other issue concerning the potential for rubbing of the bra on the paint.
Just a thouht but you could have a band of clear applied to just the area under the top edge of the bra edge where the rubbing could possibly be an issue. Heck without any protection under the bra it would only be an issue if you decided to remove the bra to have any minor scuffing buffed out. Additionally, we are in So Cal where we do not have the rain, snow, salted roads, etc. so feel the scuffing would be less and issue and say Michigan.
__________________ GXP--Cool / 5-Spd.
TSW Nogaro 19" Rims, 245/40ZR-19 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx XL Tires, M/F 3" Exhaust, Norm's Cowl Panels & Side Skirts, Gentex Rear View Mirror, Stubby Antenna, Little Chromies, Momo Shift Knob, Hand Brake, & Floor Plates, Full Interior Reupholstery.
This isn't meant to be argumentative, but in general, bras do more damage than good. Even the tightest fitting bras will rub the paint over time and you'll end up with scuff marks in the paint in some areas. In addition, the paint won't fade as much under the bra so when you take the bra off some years down the road, you'll find the nose of your car darker than the rest. IMHO, all bras are detrimental to the paint in the long run.
Mike
I had this bra on my '07 Sol for about four months without ever removing it. That time included a track day at Willow Springs raceway, a 7000 mile cross country road trip ('07 Nationals in Nashville), plus all the around town driving before and after the road trip. I only used the main section (covering the front facia only). It wasn't on long enough to cause a color differential due to facing, and there weren't any swirls or scuffs in the paint when I took it off when I sold the car. I didn't use the strip that goes across the front of the hood or the side pieces that fit above the running lights. I found that no matter how I tried, I couldn't keep dust from filtering down under these pieces and scuffing the paint, but that was never a problem with the main section that covers the facia.
Quote:
Originally Posted by russsims
Heck without any protection under the bra it would only be an issue if you decided to remove the bra to have any minor scuffing buffed out. Additionally, we are in So Cal where we do not have the rain, snow, salted roads, etc. so feel the scuffing would be less and issue and say Michigan.
I agree, Russ. I am not too concerned about fading. It is garaged whenever I am not driving it, and many of the places I go have covered parking (Cars and Coffee, and church excepted.) Bottom line for me is - I think fading and paint scuffing in my case is a non-issue, I like the look, I am not fond of ClearBra, and stone chips in the nose bug me. The black vinyl bra works for me.
__________________ Carpe Diem
'Mysti' - '08 Mysterious 5-spd GXP, Ebony w/ red stitching, loaded, de-badged, BSR tune, Hahn I/C, K&N drop-in filter, Carolina Custom arm rests/door pockets, DDM ProBeam, splash guards, Pontiac vinyl bra (moded to fit GXP), Kappasphere wind restrictor, stubby antenna, ProClip cell phone holder, yellow calipers.
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.
First Liar Bench Racing Team
Last edited by Carpe Diem : 09-17-2008 at 08:08 PM.
Glad to see you were able to get this done, and you are happy with it. Hopefully I will get a chance to see it on Saturday at CnC. Maybe get to see Russ as well.
__________________
2008 SLY GXP Auto with all of the goodies
3" Magnaflow CATBack Exhaust
K&N Drop In
Little Chromies, Kappashield, Evolution Cover
MRZ Billet Caps Under The Hood (Pure Bling!)
Short Antenna
ProClip iPhone System
Silverstar Headlamps
Just wondering who did the fix for the gxp. Have been waiting for labra to come out with one but doesnt look like they will.
08 DEEP GXP
It was a Mike's Auto Top Shop on Taladro in Mission Viejo. We installed the bra from my previous base Sol; they measured and marked the opening for the intercooler vent. I had them install ordinary nylon black window screen material in the opening. Then they just opened the fog light openings to fit the GXP brake vent grilles. Finally, they had to change the way the bra hooks on to the bottom underneath the facia. The underside of the nose is different between the base and the GXP. The whole job cost $125 and took only a little over an hour. I am very happy with the work and the results. The fit is tight and good.
__________________ Carpe Diem
'Mysti' - '08 Mysterious 5-spd GXP, Ebony w/ red stitching, loaded, de-badged, BSR tune, Hahn I/C, K&N drop-in filter, Carolina Custom arm rests/door pockets, DDM ProBeam, splash guards, Pontiac vinyl bra (moded to fit GXP), Kappasphere wind restrictor, stubby antenna, ProClip cell phone holder, yellow calipers.
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.
Glad to see you were able to get this done, and you are happy with it. Hopefully I will get a chance to see it on Saturday at CnC. Maybe get to see Russ as well.
I won't be there at next Saturday's C&C. I will be winging my way back from New York. And anyway, isn't next Saturday the day they are skipping C&C? But, I will be there the following Saturday, though.
__________________ Carpe Diem
'Mysti' - '08 Mysterious 5-spd GXP, Ebony w/ red stitching, loaded, de-badged, BSR tune, Hahn I/C, K&N drop-in filter, Carolina Custom arm rests/door pockets, DDM ProBeam, splash guards, Pontiac vinyl bra (moded to fit GXP), Kappasphere wind restrictor, stubby antenna, ProClip cell phone holder, yellow calipers.
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.
No cars and coffee next Saturday. See you the week after that on 10/4.
__________________
2008 SLY GXP Auto with all of the goodies
3" Magnaflow CATBack Exhaust
K&N Drop In
Little Chromies, Kappashield, Evolution Cover
MRZ Billet Caps Under The Hood (Pure Bling!)
Short Antenna
ProClip iPhone System
Silverstar Headlamps
Linear Mode
