paint protection

[mouseOfMars]

I used the search tool to look up some options for protecting the paint from the daily drive and the only option that was really discussed at any length was stongard (www.stongard.com).
When i was at the dealer this weekend (scoping out my dream p5) i asked what kind of paint protectant they offer...and it sounded like some sort of spray on stuff. How many of you have opted to use the stongard...versus the number of you that had the dealer apply a paint protectant...versus the number of you that have come up with any other solutions for protecting their p5's paint?

i live in pittsburgh and the winters here will chip your ride all up and down...so when my p5 arrives i wanna keep her nice.

thanks.

 

[Sir Nuke]

I personally opted for a bra for the front end when I know I am going to be spending a lot of time on the highway....just for running around down I let her run naked. but if you are talking about driving in bad weather....a bra is NOT the way to go....all to often stuff gets under them and will literally eat your paint like sand paper.

 

[nramsey]

I have Stongard on my P5 and so far am VERY happy with it. Kinda costly ($650 installed for full kit including lights and tax) but I don't see how anything else can protect the paint as well and be so relatively invisible.

See pics here: www.nramsey.net/protege5.htm

As for that dealer installed stuff, that's more like a paint protectant along the lines of a wax. It will probably protect from acid rain, oxidation etc, but I don't think it is even ment to protect against flying rocks or scratches. Personally I wouldn't go that route, I'd just get some good long lasting polish (I love NuFinish) and save the $.

I would get the Stongard though if you hate your front end looking sandblasted after a few years like I do.

 

[eeveyl]

NuFinish won't protect from debris from the road (i.e. rocks) scratching the paint. I bought my MP5 a few weeks ago and I already chipped some paint on the front fender... Someone else was running a post about the paint on the MP5's being prone to nicks and scratches... It's really disappointing to have to apply "touch-up" paint to a brand new car.

 

[mnkyboy]

I have Stongard on my P5 and so far am VERY happy with it. Kinda costly ($650 installed for full kit including lights and tax) but I don't see how anything else can protect the paint as well and be so relatively invisible.

See pics here: www.nramsey.net/protege5.htm

As for that dealer installed stuff, that's more like a paint protectant along the lines of a wax. It will probably protect from acid rain, oxidation etc, but I don't think it is even ment to protect against flying rocks or scratches. Personally I wouldn't go that route, I'd just get some good long lasting polish (I love NuFinish) and save the $.

I would get the Stongard though if you hate your front end looking sandblasted after a few years like I do.

Man, those are some great pics on your site! The Stonegard is hardly noticable at all! Im impressed. But at $650 bucks, thats to much money. If you really wanted to, you could buy a new hood, or get it repainted for a fraction of that cost. If it ran about $400, I would get it

 

[nramsey]

Man, those are some great pics on your site! The Stonegard is hardly noticable at all! Im impressed. But at $650 bucks, thats to much money. If you really wanted to, you could buy a new hood, or get it repainted for a fraction of that cost. If it ran about $400, I would get it

Thanks for the compliments!

Well the kit itself runs $400 and you could get it and install it yourself, but I think the install is a big part of the final appearance and I wouldn't want to try it myself.

FWIW the Stongard covers way more than the hood. Covers the whole front of the car: leading edge of hood, entire front facing portion of the bumper, leading edges of fenders, fender flares over wheels, all 4 door edges, door handle cups, and rear bumper top.

 

[nramsey]

NuFinish won't protect from debris from the road (i.e. rocks) scratching the paint. I bought my MP5 a few weeks ago and I already chipped some paint on the front fender... Someone else was running a post about the paint on the MP5's being prone to nicks and scratches... It's really disappointing to have to apply "touch-up" paint to a brand new car.

I am fully aware of that, which is the reason I got the Stongard. I got one chip the first week, and decided I had enough. My previous car (a '97 Nissan Altima, black) looked sandblasted on the front end, easily 100+ rock chips. I didn't want that to happen to my first brand new car. Been almost 2 months since I've had the Stongard and I have not gotten another chip...

 

[P5blk_stal]

I had a car detail shop install a 3m clear bra over my entire front end. It works extremely well and will protect your car finish. I live in Colorado Springs where they lay down pure gravel in the winter time. It will (I have had a new front end bumper cover installed and painted already) destroy your car (to include your windshield--I have had that replaced it looked sand blasted). Total cost for me was about 450 bucks. It covers the front fender areas also. I am very satisfied with the way it looks...


P5blk_stal (blackp5)

Here is a picture of my front end:

 

[Kooldino]

I just stick with a nice coat of wax.

 

[Keith Lennop]

I am sorry, but there is no wax that can stop a stone from chipping your car when you are going 70+ mph. I wax my car at least once a month and I still get stone chips.:mad:

 

[mnkyboy]

I am sorry, but there is no wax that can stop a stone from chipping your car when you are going 70+ mph. I wax my car at least once a month and I still get stone chips.:mad:

Hey Keith, I see you are selling your Contour. What are you getting after you sell it? (Mazdaspeed?? ) Not to insult anyone, but the Contour doesnt look to sporty, why did they make a high-performance version? I can understand the Focus or Mustang, by why the Contour? If you could give me a brief history lesson, that woud be great

 

[Humvee]

No one's mentioned the $80.00 (CDN) option of a plastic hood protector. They usually come either clear or smoked. It protects the paint, you can wash behind it, and looks good. I'm just not too crazy about the rubber pads they put behind it (but you can't really see them under the plastic.

 

[LambOfSilence]

Humvee, you talking about the hood deflector you can get from the dealership? they come with clear? cool, thinking about getting them now...(thought)

 

[Keith Lennop]

Hey Keith, I see you are selling your Contour. What are you getting after you sell it? (Mazdaspeed?? ) Not to insult anyone, but the Contour doesnt look to sporty, why did they make a high-performance version? I can understand the Focus or Mustang, by why the Contour? If you could give me a brief history lesson, that woud be great

Sorry to get this off topic, but I am selling my Contour for a couple of reasons. 1. Looking for a house, 2. I want 1 car=1 insurance & car payment, 3. I am looking for something that I can drive all year round= no storage payment or upkeep on 2 cars, 4. I am saving money. I LOVE the car, but I need something else. I have always been a fan of Mazda. I have a winter beater which is a 93 Tracer LTS 160,000+ miles, almost identical to the Proteges of that time. I love the looks, handling and room for a small car that the P5 provides. I have been debating over a used Subaru 2.5 RS, a P5, 01+ Explorer sport, and maybe mazdaspeed??. I would rather have a Turbo P5 than the Mazdaspeed one, can you say sleeper.

Do you remember the Ford Tarus SHO's? Well after Ford stoped making that, they wanted a sporty sedan that could compete with the German lineup, so they made the 200hp SVT version of the Contour. Here is a link to the best Contour website around, scroll down to the bottom there are reviews about the Contour. My car is here http://www.thinkingcapdesign.com/KeithsSVT/

I just don't want to tie this topic down with stuff about my car.
If you have any other questions check around that site or email me at
keith@ thinkingcapdesign.com
Enjoy.
http://www.contour.org/links/

 

[Humvee]

The dealer installed mine, It wasn't a "Mazda" accesory, but an aftermarket deflector molded to fit the P5

I thought they came clear too. I know my Aunt had a clear deflector on her Accord...maybe they just haven't made a clear one for the P5 yet.

 

[Drain1STH]

Originally posted by eeveyl

It's really disappointing to have to apply "touch-up" paint to a brand new car. [/B]

Yeah i know what you mean. I have so many chips in my paint that i have just about given up worrying about it.....not to mention a big scrape out of the left front corner where something fell out of the back of a truck on the freeway and i couldn't get a plate number.:mad:

Drain1STH@aol.com