More chips than paint on my hood...

[hjwii]

So, after 6 months, 27K miles and 2 touch up bottles of paint, my hood looks like it has the gray measles. As fast as I can touch up the hood, it becomes infected again. I only cure I can foresee is a nice lil front end cover, but apparently GM has decided not to produce a front end cover for the 2005s yet. So, can anybody give me some other optional solutions? It would be greatly appreciated...Also, is there anything for windshield to make then a lil stronger? I'm on windshield number 3 - it's getting expensive....hjwii2005 Vibe, 5 spd, lots o option, plus Sirius (hey, I drive 200 miles a day)

[Mr. Poopypants]

Hell, if you find something out let me know!!How do you have so many problems down south like that? My problems (not as numerous as yours) are caused by road salt and cinders from the winter.

[PhillyVibeGT]

I was gonna put some wax on my GT yesterday and noticed that I don't have that much paint left on my front end as well, and the paint is fading like crazy all around( I was under the impression they fixed that in 04) (removed)?

[ToolGuy]

Sorry to hear about your luck but for the windshield, glass is glass. The Vibes is not any less stronger then others. Only fix for that I see is change the routes you take while driving and or stay away from gravel trucks. And get a lower insurance glass deductible. You did state you drivce 200 per day, that is way out of the norm...I am no number two, the first was taken out in a construction zone on the highway.

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by hjwii »I only cure I can foresee is a nice lil front end cover, but apparently GM has decided not to produce a front end cover for the 2005s yet. So it isnt possible to get a fitting hard plastic stone guard for a 2005 Vibe??Do we know when GM will have one available....it is getting near the end of the 05 car year.

[ToolGuy]

3M makes a product called "3M film protection". It is a thin clear product that I believe is sprayed onto the surface to protect against chips and cracks. The downside is it does not shine like the normal paint. Do research under 3M products or go to their site, I am sure you will find it.

[blake31]

actually, the 3M film is put on like a decal. i have something similar from a different company (baekert, they make window tint film too), and it shines. if my car were newly washed & waxed, you'd be hard pressed to see the film. i've had it on my hood for about a year now and it's doing a pretty good job. you can check it out at the michigan super meet if you're there.

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by hjwii » I only cure I can foresee is a nice lil front end cover, but apparently GM has decided not to produce a front end cover for the 2005s yet. hjwiiwhy wouldn't the GM Bra work? the grill is the only difference. there is one on ebay real cheap it might be worth checking out. I can't imagine it not fitting.

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by blake31 »actually, the 3M film is put on like a decal. i've had it on my hood for about a year now and it's doing a pretty good job.Never having either (film or raised hard acrylic) which one is more effective in protecting the hood from 'chipping'?The advantage I see of the film is that it can be applied to more than just 6 inches up the hood ie it can be 'decaled' in other places at the front of the car...say..below the hood. What do you think?

[blake31]

that's how mine is. it does only go up about the first foot of the hood, but it also covers the front fascia under the headlights, but not the second front fascia piece where the fog lights are. i was kinda bummed that they didnt make the piece that fit the lower fascia, that's gonna take as many rock hits as any other part of the front.here's a link that shows a sketch of what the film covers. i got the deluxe pacakge. http://www.clearshield.com/(removed)...c.pdf

[sidewinder]

As for the windshield there is a product proceedure that is supposed to reduce rock chips. It is called " Diamon-fusion " and can be further checked out at http://www.diamondfusion.com I would not say it is all they claim it does but the people did a couple of cars at our dealership sold us the whole ball of wax. It involves several steps which start out by polishing the glass with a very fine pumice. I can't tell you much more as I wasn't there for the whole application but it did feel a lot smoother than the stock glass. They did the side glass and the back glass also. We have been only putting it on new cars and new windshield installs so it is out there if you want to check for yourself.I will tell you it isn't cheap and I think they are charging a couple of hundred dollars for a application. On the paint I can really relate to your situation. I have a GM full bra and a Magna Bra that I put farther up the hood where the bra doesn't cover. Well wouldn't you know I still get rock chips on the hood but maybe I am saving some paint for the next guy who buys my car when I sell it. I feel sorry for anybody who lives where they use gravel or anything else on the road to make it safer to drive for slick winter roads for people who drive like a bat out of hell anyway. I don't feel sorry for those who never slow down when it is slick and then end up in the ditch or worse

[04kvibe]

Don't know if you've decided yet, or for anyone else who needs an opinion, I thought i'd chime in...Before we bought the Vibe I was on this site a lot! Read about the paint problems and didn't want to take a chance so I got the clear bra put on about a week after we picked it up. Covered the front clip, mirrors, fog lights, headlights, door edges and the recess behind the door handles. Cost: $500, piece of mind...priceless.Can't tell it's there unless I tell you where to look, no chips, no head/fog light replacements, good as new. This is where I found mine, can DIY but I had it installed. No regrets.http://www.clearbra.com

[04kvibe]

Don't know if you've decided yet, or for anyone else who needs an opinion, I thought i'd chime in...Before we bought the Vibe I was on this site a lot! Read about the paint problems and didn't want to take a chance so I got the clear bra put on about a week after we picked it up. Covered the front clip, mirrors, fog lights, headlights, door edges and the recess behind the door handles. Cost: $500, piece of mind...priceless.Can't tell it's there unless I tell you where to look, no chips, no head/fog light replacements, good as new. This is where I found mine, can DIY but I had it installed. No regrets.http://www.clearbra.com

[Vibe2005]

$500 isn't pocket change but considering you'll probably pay close to $100 for a bra or whatever, it's probably a worthy investment. It'll payoff when you trade-in your car. Plus, as you said, the piece of mind is priceless. I owned a neon and the chips on my hood drove me crazy! The only problem is locating an X-Pel Clear Bra dealer who is closeby.