3 Weeks old and I just found 2 paint chips on hood

Since your exterior paint is a brownish color, I don't think that discoloration of the clear bra would be noticeable. Maybe it would be an issue with a white finish. Good luck with your decision.

 

My Super White 2006 Prius is my third Toyota, after my 2003 Tacoma (white) and along with my current 2006 Tacoma PreRunner, also white. I also have two small chips on the Prius' hood which were easily taken care of with a dab of touch-up paint. But I noticed that the paint on the Prius seemed awfully thin, not the "ceramic-like" paint that was on the 2003 truck, and is on the 2006 truck. Mom has a gold colored Corolla, and the paint seems very thick on that, also. Just my opinion.

 

It's not the hood piece that is extra snug, it's the bumper piece. That's due to a small air dam Toyota added at the bottom of the bumper beginning with the 2006 model year. The Prius hood hasn't changed, so the hood piece should fit fine. So if you're looking to protect only the front-most part of the hood and not the bumper, the Toyota bra will work. That piece is easy to apply and remove. You have to buy the set, though, and of course you might not like the look of a hood-only bra.

 

The bumper is plastic painted to match the car. The hood is aluminum so it will not rust. It is more about protecting the looks of your new car.

 

Wax of any sort will not protect you from paint chips. The waterbased paint Toyota uses seems to chip easily until it has some time to cure.

I have had the 3M film on my last 4 cars and have not seen any yellowing. I put it on my hood over 4 years ago and it stopped the chipping problem.

The bumper is made of plastic and is more resilient than the aluminum hood and less prone to chipping.

 

I got mine from Metro, current price for the set $115. I don't know of other brands, though I really haven't looked around.

To be honest, if I had had a little more money for discretionary spending at the time, I would have gotten the clear bra. The vinyl bra was a tradeoff: a little less satisfactory (though it still has done its job), but at about 20% of what the clear bra would cost. Now, as you know from my thread, I'm doing much less highway driving. So for the time being, I'm keeping the bra off, putting it back on only for extended highway travel.

 

I can understand wanting to protect the painted finish on the hood but to me, all hood accesories to deflect stones detract from the looks of the car. They are all ugly in my humble opinion. I'd sooner touch up a few chips than put something ugly on the front of my prius that I have to look at everyday. I say stop worrying and enjoy the car. Nothing lasts forever. It reminds me of people covering their sofa to keep it looking new and maybe appreciating the beauty on those special occassions when they have company. Even worse, I remember the plastic clear seat covers on my dad's chrysler which we had to endure every day so that he could trade the car with an interior in mint condition for someone else to enjoy. Life is too short. It's just a car - not your first and not your last. A few chips will not diminish the looks of your prius as much as an ugly aftermarket hood protector. Nothing last forever... no thing. I know I'm going to get flamed for this post but that's what I think.

 

My vote is for the VentureShield clear bra. Since I don't know how high your chips are ask the installer about covering the entire hood. I just returned from a trip to Pittsburgh. Coming home I noticed something crossed my front bumper as the left corner is scuffed (hopefully just dirty) and I have a horizontal gash a few inches long that looks like a line of tree sap but no damage to the bumper.

By the way is there a major highway in PA not under construction? The Turnpike, I-79, I-376, and US22 were torn up.

 

couldn't dissagree with sas0601 much more.

get the 3m bra, bruh. worth the money twice over, IMO. got mine on two weeks ago and it looks great and gives me peace of mind.

nothing lasts forever, but that argument doesn't hold weight to me. i mean, you could buy a new shirt and wear it till it gets dirty then throw it out, or you could dry-clean it and keep it fresh and you'll stay looking fresh for a long time.

you dig?

MO of course!

 

back in 1987 my local toyota dealer would fix paint problems before 1000 miles or something, not anymore, sigh

i had a chip too in the first couple weeks of getting the car, and found out toyota wont do it anymore, they gave me a bottle of touch up tho

 

wit til it gets to bad for touch ups and get the hood repainted

 

Maybe, but I'm the other guy in the world who agrees with you.

My car gets washed twice a year-- Father's Day & my birthday. When you keep them for over a decade and drive them into the ground, the absence of a weekly washing doesn't make much difference in the resale value.

The time I've saved for doing other things-- priceless!

 

Buy the OEM Touch-up paint to cover up the chips first, then get whatever bra you'd like for protection. I also endorse the Clear Bra (from reputatable company)....it's best accessory invented for debris protection but less instrusive to the look.

 

they make car bras in a spray can now!

 

Has anyone had any of the clear bras on for more that a couple of years. If so, is there any problems with the painted surfaces which it intended to protect when it is removed ?

I saw a you tube video on applying the 3m product. The guy had a spray bottle and sprayed water on to the surface of the plastic that contacts the car. The water was then squeegied out from between the two surfaces (the plastic and the hood) with a sponge. What about any moisture left trapped ? It did seem to make the job go a lot easier and looked like it provided good results (the water that is). I think I be obcessing about what 3 years of sun would do to the paint baking under that plastic. My foyer in my house is wood. The floor under the throw rug is about 5 shades darker than the rest of the floor just because it received less UV radiation for the past 5 years. I now need to refinish the whole foyer.

 

could always get a hood deflector until you decide what to do long term..