Hood Protection? What are you using?

YES! you want some kind of hood protection.

we have had a bra on ours for over a year now, with no damage at all. it stays on all the time, and we haven't seen any paint damage.

it's all about your visual preference. we liked the black-on-black look. but definitely get something to cover that up.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ May 30 2006, 05:42 PM) [snapback]263132[/snapback]</div>

kn6vv..you a ham bone bro?

 

We have the clear 3M paint protection film on our Seaside Pearl 2006 Prius. The top line is visible from about three feet and closer...from farther away when the car is dirty. "Stuff" seems to slide off the film.

Anyway, we love it and are very happy we have it!

In the 20 miles between picking up the car at the dealer and dropping it off at the place to have the film applied, the car got two tiny chips in the lower front bumper. They are not normally noticeable, but I noticed them when the film was first applied and know where they are.

Good luck with your decision!

 

The clear bra is great for avoiding small rock chips but the aluminum hood dents easily. I have two noticeable dents from larger rocks in the protected area but no chips.

 

Yes, you want protection. I didn't have any for a couple months and have a few small chips. They aren't bad, but I can only imagine how quickly it could have gotten worse with the bad roads around here. Flying gravel is the rule, not the exception. I use the 3M product and have been very pleased. No problems since I got it. It does have a line, but I can only see it up close at certain angles on my 2006 Silver Pine Mica. From even a short distance, it disappears.

 

The 3M film has a slight texture, and perhaps a slight bit of color, so on an '05 Silver you can sort of see a "difference" where the protection is. Not really a line, just not quite as shiny as the Zainoed paint, and maybe a slightly yellower color. I work with color, so I may be particularly sensitive, no one else notices.

Get some protection ASAP. The aerodynamics of the Prius seem to suck gravel to it. I got a few small chips before I got the 3M film, and I can see where a few rocks have bounced off.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ May 31 2006, 11:58 PM) [snapback]263868[/snapback]</div>

I got the paint protection film, and a month later got hailed on. Can't win for losing. You can see the hail dents really well though the film.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kn6vv @ May 30 2006, 06:08 PM) [snapback]263105[/snapback]</div>

I am now a Camry Hybrid owner but would like to share my experience: I just had paint protection film (Ventureshield, not 3M) installed on my TCH today by a professional installer (http://www.clearbraoregon.com), and amazingly he was able to offer coverage of whole hood and whole fenders with single pieces of film, and I decided to pay big extra $$ for the complete coverage -- w/o knowing in advance, no one can tell there is a film on the hood or the fenders even at 1 foot distance!

Ventureshield is probably the only paint protection film capable of full hood coverage (not all installers stock the widest film to do this, though). Regular coverage costs about the same as 3M; full coverage does cost big $$ but well worths it.

 

I have a spray on clear coat chip protector. It works pretty good. I like it better than the 3M thing. Less noticeable by far.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ May 30 2006, 08:42 PM) [snapback]263132[/snapback]</div>

I'm going to ask what's probably a really stupid question. Do you just wash the bra like you wash the rest of the car? I've never had one on a car before, and was kinda wondering whether I needed to remove it to wash, or just wash it along with the car. The dealer put it on for me, and I'm not quite sure I'll be able to get it back on if I take it off

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AlphaTeam @ Jun 30 2006, 08:15 AM) [snapback]279090[/snapback]</div>

Have a pointer for that??

Touch-up paint right now.

 

I'm using a hood deflector.

 

Just ordered a hood deflector (thanks Godiva), although it is too late to fully protect me as I got my first chip with dent around 2 wks ago!