Front end cover

2003Vibe · Post by **2003Vibe** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 10:48 am

Has anyone puchased the front end cover? Goodwrench site: http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/gmgoodwrenc ... 20405389If so, what do you think abou it? Thanks!

Post by **NSimkins** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 11:54 am

quote:Has anyone puchased the front end cover?Looks like a few people have bought one.. or parts of the cover package. Here is a picture of the hood cover on viBert's Vibe:http://nicksimkins.com/vibe/people/vibe ... er.jpgAlso, check out these threads on the hood cover:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... ?id=1014By the way, welcome to the site!

robdog · Post by **robdog** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 10:26 pm

Get the hood deflector. Those covers damage the paint more than a few rock chips would. Everytime it rains the moisture just sits on the paint and the paint gets cloudy over time. It is a real pain to take off that cover every time you wash your car or it rains. Just my opinion though.

Jethro · Post by **Jethro** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 5:32 am

quote:I do not think they are worth it ...OK, but have you purchased one - or at least seen one in person - to be able to form an honest opinion?

Jethro · Post by **Jethro** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 5:46 am

quote:Get the hood deflector. Those covers damage the paint more than a few rock chips would. Everytime it rains the moisture just sits on the paint and the paint gets cloudy over time. It is a real pain to take off that cover every time you wash your car or it rains. Just my opinion though.Having used a top quality full mask on a car for several years I have to disagree. If you put on a decent wax and not let the mask sit on the car for extended periods when the fabric has gotten wet you will NOT have a problem with faded/cloudy paint.In fact I usually put mine on (after cleaning the car) when rain was forecast because wet tires pick up more crap off the road to be able to sling at your car increasing the likelyhood of getting dinged! Obviously I took it off and let it dry instead of leaving it on the car for days - the main thing being sure to not let it sit in the sun with a wet mask!!Also if the mask is decent quality it will sit tight on the car yet be relatively easy to install/remove.I would not buy a mask without being able to actually see, and preferably install it myself, on the car prior to purchase.My concern with the picture of viBerts car is the pucker in the material above the driver side headlight. Left loose like that it will flap up and down at highway speeds possibly causing damage. Hopefully the mask just wasn't properly snugged into place when the picture was taken.

mikey44 · Post by **mikey44** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 9:15 am

Got mine last week and test fit it just this afternoon. Took about 30 minutes to install, since it was the first time on. I have front end covers (bras) for all my vehicles, but only use them on extended trips. They will really mess up your paint if you leave them on, wet or dry.

abyss gt · Post by **abyss gt** » Mon Mar 17, 2003 1:36 am

I haven't seen the deflector but the bra looks UGLY. From my experience, if you don't protect the front end you're gonna get chips and then spend the money to fix them. If you get protection by using a bra (lol) you're gonna end up spending money in a paint job anyway. The paint in the unprotected hood will fade faster than the protected one and cause a shade difference, plus add the money for the bra itself.

VGTPILOT · Post by **VGTPILOT** » Mon Mar 17, 2003 6:19 am

My Vibe front end is taking a pounding from rocks and other debris. I have multiple chips and scatches on the hood and the grey bumper is all pitted. It's only got 13K miles and not even 9 months old! I'm going to get reamed when I turn this in when the lease is up. This issue regarding the front cover is a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' situation. If you choose to put on a cover, you risk damaging the paint, if you do nothing you risk damaing the paint. Either way you're going to get screwed it seems. The paint on the Vibe is crap. Something has to be done. My father works at a Pontiac dealership and is going to see if the warranty will cover some of these damages. It's doubtful but it sure would be nice...

abyss gt · Post by **abyss gt** » Mon Mar 17, 2003 10:34 am

Let us know what happens with the dealership.What about the plastic wind deflectors? Those don't touch the paint. Do they exist for the Vibe?

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Tue May 27, 2003 12:32 pm

I want one of the front end covers to stop the collection of crusty bug guts sticking to the front of my car this summer. Last summer it was really gross. Anyway, I have a front plate on my Vibe ... will the front cover work with a front plate holder?

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Tue May 27, 2003 12:41 pm

Here's the kind of crusty bugs I'm talkin' about ... and this is one trip on the highway.I do like the front mask. I think I'm getting one for my birthday

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meathead333 · Post by **meathead333** » Tue May 27, 2003 12:54 pm

yep, bug guts like that suck. i drove cross country in my white 2000 grand prix 2 years ago in june. when i finally got around to washing my car about 1 week later, i was amazed as to how hard it was to get that crap off. needless to say i got a dark color car this time.

Kissfan79 · Post by **Kissfan79** » Tue May 27, 2003 8:42 pm

How effective are the the hood deflectors? Will they really help prevent chips on the hood? I guess what I am trying to find out is how that small strip of plastic is supposed top help prevent stone chips. Do they alter the stone's trajectory and cause it to go over top of the car? Or is it supposed to act as a physical shield and reflect it when they collide? The reason I ask is that I suffer from the same problems. Not so much the stone chips as the bugs. I drive about 95-100 miles a day to work and back on I-40. LOTS O' BUGS!! Jim

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Wed May 28, 2003 5:47 am

yeah I got one on the way from Shelton in Rochester.I hear these are a pain to install.

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 12:53 pm

I got mine for my birthday last week, but didn't get a chance to install it until this past weekend (I was out of town on business all last week). I think it looks awesome, and will save my paint incredibly (and eliminate the 1 bottle of Spray Nine per car wash to dissolve all the dead bugs!).I have a picture, but it is at work. Will post tomorrow if I have time.It took me 1 hour & 15 minutes to install; spent a lot of time trying to find a stubby screwdriver. The instructions pretty much suck ... you can't tell what any of the stuff is in the background. The snap brackets were a (removed) to get in, my fingers are still numb!! But, well worth it, IMHO.

yank dini · Post by **yank dini** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 10:23 pm

quote: The instructions pretty much suck ... you can't tell what any of the stuff is in the background. The snap brackets were a (removed) to get in, my fingers are still numb!! But, well worth it, IMHO.yeah my fingers took a beating that day too.

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 3:52 am

Here it is installed!!

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slbpsi63 · Post by **slbpsi63** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 10:12 am

I just received my front end cover from 1stpontiacparts.com (I had to wait for my wolf car bra return to go through). I am very pleased with the ease of instalation. It only took me 15-20 minutes to install it.I recommend the OEM bra over the after market brands

msmyer · Post by **msmyer** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 10:38 am

I thought about gettin one...The server is broke on the site! What was the cost? (the product & price)

slbpsi63 · Post by **slbpsi63** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 11:35 am

It was less than 82 bucks including shipping. I suggest you get it from them. It took over a week to get it shipped, but that's b/c they had to order one. It ships from Washington State. here is the direct link. http://www.1stpontiacparts.com/catalog/ ... cts_id=147 Half the web page is down but this was still working.

Jethro · Post by **Jethro** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 12:47 pm

quote:I just received my front end cover from 1stpontiacparts.com (I had to wait for my wolf car bra return to go through). I am very pleased with the ease of instalation. It only took me 15-20 minutes to install it.I recommend the OEM bra over the after market brands 1stpontiacparts.com pricing looks real good - thanks for the suggestion!I've seen people complaining about the installation but 15-20 minutes doesn't sound bad at all for a first time install. Now that you've had it installed how long does it take you to remove it, and how long to reinstall it? Surely not 15 minutes each time is it?Also, would you elaborate on why you recommend the OEM bra over the others and let us know which others you've tried?

slbpsi63 · Post by **slbpsi63** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 10:02 pm

It took me about 2 minutes to do the hood piece. Ten minutes to get the tire well mounts in and then another 10 minutes hooking all the hooks up. I was surprised that I didn't need to stretch it out at all. I installed it @ 7pm last night. The directions are a little off scale, but they work fine. just pull the bungiee cords as far as you can and put it in the closest hole. I can't see it taking more than 10 minutes to remove the bra and fold it. I wish that 1stpontiac had the rubber floor mats for sale.

GT_03 · Post by **GT_03** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 11:47 am

i guess is a matter of opinion, but i think bras are so ugly. Yes, i do agree they help protect the front end, but i just hate the way they look, and you can never take them off after they have been on for a while.

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Fri Jun 27, 2003 7:22 am

Like I said above, I spent a lot of my time looking for the right kind of screwdriver. It took me a bit longer because:a) I had to remove the license plate insert (and the thread was not blue, contrary to the instructions),b) I am a bit of a Nazi on trying to follow instructions, andc) This is the first time I've ever installed one of these things before.But, I definitely think that when I take it off & re-install it, it should only be a 15 minute process.

engine1 · Post by **engine1** » Sat Jun 28, 2003 12:58 pm

Love mine! Looks great, saves me having all sorts of touch up fisheyes all over the front of the car! Plus I can get the nose painted before I trade it in for peanuts, thank god for friends and favors!! Use a hair dryer to warm, and soften the cover to get the snaps done up!BTW I call it a 'Bro'..................thanks Kramer http://cartogra.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?G ... 15&size=lg http://cartogra.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?G ... 7f&size=lg

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Mon Jul 07, 2003 12:40 pm

Hey that looks good on your Abyss. Even the bro-haters gotta give that some respect!

Front end cover

Front end cover

Re: Front end cover (2003Vibe)

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