GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Posted: **Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:59 pm**

Hi guys, had some free time today so I thought I would paint my front grill to match my car. Here are the pictures. What do you think? To each his own I know.. but I personally love the look of a grill that matches the car. It makes things flow much more nicely.

Pics:

Also, here is another angle of my new wheels!

Posted: **Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:01 pm**

that looks ill

i bet that took some nerve to actuallt commit to that idea lol
you pulled it off nicely tho.

you give it a good thick layer of clear coat?
I can't imagine a plastic painted grille holding up for much more than a year or two

Posted: **Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:10 pm**

A Psycho Martyr wrote:that looks ill
i bet that took some nerve to actuallt commit to that idea lol
you pulled it off nicely tho.

you give it a good thick layer of clear coat?
I can't imagine a plastic painted grille holding up for much more than a year or two

No clear coat. I know it is needed but I have to redo all the paint on my car this summer (my lower grill is painted to match as well, and is looking pretty rough up close) so don't worry, a clear coat is coming within the next 3 months

Glad you like it, can't really fork out the money to buy a mesh grill for the car right now, so I thought this would do for now.

Posted: **Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:51 pm**

Looks very good... I may have to do something to mine now too...

Posted: **Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:20 pm**

That actually looks really nice.

Posted: **Sun Apr 29, 2012 5:31 am**

I like it!

Posted: **Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:45 am**

Not really my taste. I prefer the contrast the black grilles provide. Props for not being afraid to try something different though

!

Posted: **Sun Apr 29, 2012 2:20 pm**

J_TO_ENVY wrote:Not really my taste. I prefer the contrast the black grilles provide. Props for not being afraid to try something different though !

X2. Too much silver. If you like it though, roll with it!

Posted: **Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:55 pm**

Infinity-x wrote:can't really fork out the money to buy a mesh grill for the car right now, so I thought this would do for now.

well with the mesh grille available for those, isn't it just up top? leaving you one mesh grille and then some slots on the bottom?

that's why I love my grille. It's the same on top and bottom...not mismatched looking.
if you could get a mesh piece that is identical to the top mesh grille, that would look REALLY good

Posted: **Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:59 pm**

A Psycho Martyr wrote:
Infinity-x wrote:can't really fork out the money to buy a mesh grill for the car right now, so I thought this would do for now.
well with the mesh grille available for those, isn't it just up top? leaving you one mesh grille and then some slots on the bottom?

that's why I love my grille. It's the same on top and bottom...not mismatched looking.
if you could get a mesh piece that is identical to the top mesh grille, that would look REALLY good

The one on Ebay comes with top and bottom.

Posted: **Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:28 am**

well that has made my day already and it's only 4:27am

that looks amazing. better than mine IMO. Not sure my Vibe could pull off mesh like that.

about a year ago when I checked eBay, that baby wasn't on there yet.

Posted: **Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:27 am**

A Psycho Martyr wrote:well that has made my day already and it's only 4:27am

that looks amazing. better than mine IMO. Not sure my Vibe could pull off mesh like that.

about a year ago when I checked eBay, that baby wasn't on there yet.

I agree it looks great, but the seller charges extra to have it silver and polished. In stock form it is shipped to you in just a brushed, flat gray/silver/black color. The brushed ones are only $50 shipped, while the polished ones are more pricy at around $100, since the seller takes them to his polisher and charges $40 bucks for it. That is why I think I got the next best thing with a can of $9 paint

Posted: **Tue May 01, 2012 5:35 pm**

I am not that satisfied with the final results of my painting. Sure they look great, but as others said it is just a bit too much silver. On to my next plans. I am thinking of painting the stock chrome around the grill (the actual chrome that came with the car) black, and leaving the grill inserts silver (the ones I painted) and then also paint the lower center grill black as well.

Sorry if thats confusing, but it will add a bit of black into the picture.

Posted: **Tue May 01, 2012 7:12 pm**

Like this?

Posted: **Tue May 01, 2012 7:23 pm**

Wow that is exactly what I was looking for!! Yes that is what I want

Do you think that looks better or should I just leave it the way I have it? The only reason I would paint the grill surrounds and center grill black is to match with the headlights and fog lights.

I am personally leaning towards Psycho's picture. It looks great and isn't so much silver.

Posted: **Wed May 02, 2012 3:46 am**

DO IT!!!!!!! The black sets it off PERFECTLY IMO!!!!!

Posted: **Wed May 02, 2012 9:05 am**

yeah, i really like it and say go for it, but i also have asuggestion.
try plastidip. it's flat black, but it's not permanent so if you hate it, you peel it off.
And now theyt make a glossifier for it so you can have gloss if you want

Posted: **Wed May 02, 2012 11:55 am**

I'm surprised, but I actually like it. I wouldn't do it for myself, but I think it looks good. Much, much better than that eBay mesh grille. I also do NOT like the silver grille with the black surround.

Posted: **Wed May 02, 2012 5:17 pm**

Eh... can't say I'm a fan of the new look either.

In my opinion, it looks best the way it came from the factory. The black and chrome goes great with the headlight and taillight housings. This thread does give me one more reason to be glad I have a GT though. Having a Base with the different design of the lower grille would drive me nuts!

Posted: **Wed May 02, 2012 9:12 pm**

Psycho.. I want to pick your brains with the great photo editing!

(When you get the chance) Can you make my rims black in this picture?

If that is too difficult then don't stress over it, I understand!

Posted: **Thu May 03, 2012 8:08 pm**

Here ya go. It's hard to make something look black and the results actually come out convincing.lol
or well it is for ME anyway. Haven't learned formally how to do it yet. Just tried different ways.
ANYWAYS... here ya go

Posted: **Thu May 03, 2012 10:02 pm**

A Psycho Martyr wrote:Here ya go. It's hard to make something look black and the results actually come out convincing.lol
or well it is for ME anyway. Haven't learned formally how to do it yet. Just tried different ways.
ANYWAYS... here ya go

As usual that looks great! What program do you use? Not too sure if I like the way the black wheels look on my car. I'm just gonna paint the calipers red and see how it looks, if I am not satisfied then I will do the wheels black.

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2012 9:48 am**

I'm using GIMP
if you gimme a side shot of the front your car showing a calipers and ill do it in red for ya

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2012 5:41 pm**

A Psycho Martyr wrote:I'm using GIMP
if you gimme a side shot of the front your car showing a calipers and ill do it in red for ya

Is that good? I know the pictures are dark. but its the best my iphone can do.

Also, I wasn't feeling all the silver, so I went back to all black. Inspired by Wave8Gt(?) here on the forums!

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2012 4:09 pm**

Infinity-x wrote:Also, I wasn't feeling all the silver, so I went back to all black. Inspired by Wave8Gt(?) here on the forums!

The all black looks much better! Now you should paint the chrome that surrounds the fog lights black

.

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2012 5:08 pm**

LEAVE THE CHROME!!!!

and the all black does look pretty sharp.

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2012 5:09 pm**

OH, and i need a picture where I can see the calipers more to to the red mock-up for ya

sorry

Posted: **Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:16 pm**

Well I went ahead and ordered the aftermarket billet grill for the 09+ Vibe.
(The one pictured above)

Will post pictures when installed.

Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2012 1:16 pm**

you think ya might paint it black?

Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:10 pm**

A Psycho Martyr wrote:you think ya might paint it black?

I'm not too sure. what do you think would look the best in your opinion? It comes to me from the seller as a "brushed" silver which basically means its an unpainted flat grey. So either way i am going to have to either paint it black or silver. The silver looks GREAT on that red vibe its pictured in, but since my Vibe is silver I am not sure yet, what do you think? Black or silver? I suppose I could try both if all else fails.

Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:01 pm**

I think Silver since the trim around your grille is still black

Posted: **Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:22 pm**

A Psycho Martyr wrote:I think Silver since the trim around your grille is still black

I think you're right. I will try silver first and see how it goes. Will post pics once its installed.

Posted: **Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:29 am**

Infinity-x wrote:Black or silver?
A Psycho Martyr wrote:I think Silver since the trim around your grille is still black
Infinity-x wrote:I think you're right. I will try silver first and see how it goes. Will post pics once its installed.

Black and put the edges of the upper grilles back to chrome. Just my $0.02 though.

Either way, I look forward to seeing pictures of the new grille installed

!

Posted: **Sat Jul 14, 2012 2:29 pm**

J_TO_ENVY wrote:Black and put the edges of the upper grilles back to chrome. Just my $0.02 though.

If I thought he could get back to stock w/o replacing it, I'd say yeah...Chrome trim w/black grille but he'd have to sand the plastic.

It'll still look good tho

Posted: **Sat Jul 14, 2012 3:59 pm**

A Psycho Martyr wrote:If I thought he could get back to stock w/o replacing it, I'd say yeah...Chrome trim w/black grille but he'd have to sand the plastic.

I guess I just assumed he had used PlastiDip and thus would be able to peel it right off without any damage

.

Posted: **Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:04 pm**

I dunno. That'd be sweet tho. Then I'd DEF go black grille w/chrome trim.

Maybe I'm just jealous b/c my Vibe has like...NO CHROME.lol..

Well I guess the 2 pcs on the dash and 2pcs on the door

This reminds me..I saw a bumper sticker on a chromed out (waaayyyy overdone) truck that said , "I'd rather be homeless than chromeless" lol

Rednecks and their chrome bumpers.lol

Posted: **Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:06 pm**

Nope, the black around the grille is not plasti-dipped. So it is not really possible to go back to chrome. I COULD do it silver, but it will be the same color and flat/dullness of the whole car.

I love chrome too LOL, thankfully I still have the chrome inside my headlights, fog lights, and tail lights

Posted: **Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:38 am**

Man as long as you still do as goos a jopb as you did before, I'm positive it will look good.

And I don't think it looks "ricey" either

Posted: **Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:06 pm**

ha, thats funny Been wondering if I should paint my grills. Except I wanted to paint mine gloss black to give it a newer wide mouth look like the srt8 charger and mistubishi lancers, Ill let everyone konow how it turns out

Posted: **Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:17 pm**

LOTTTTS of pics man.
and let us know what products and brands you use too

Posted: **Wed Jul 18, 2012 6:05 pm**

Before:

After:

Posted: **Wed Jul 18, 2012 6:26 pm**

I love it man.
The black goes awesome with the fog surrounds.

Everything blends perfectly

Posted: **Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:27 pm**

check out my thread I just did mine tonight

Posted: **Sat Jul 21, 2012 5:12 pm**

Looks a million times better with the matching upper and lower grilles! Good work

!

Posted: **Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:58 pm**

Thanks for the compliments guys!

BTW I've just ordered 3 cans of plasti dip

List to be painted BLACK:

-Spoiler
-Partial blackout of wheels (gonna leave the surrounding lip chrome)
-Side Mirrors BLACK
-Black accented door handles

HOPEFULLY I can get all of that done with 3 cans. Will update once I receive the paint.

Posted: **Sun Jul 29, 2012 2:22 pm**

Infinity-x wrote:BTW I've just ordered 3 cans of plasti dip

List to be painted BLACK:

-Spoiler
-Partial blackout of wheels (gonna leave the surrounding lip chrome)
-Side Mirrors BLACK
-Black accented door handles

HOPEFULLY I can get all of that done with 3 cans. Will update once I receive the paint.

Looking forward to seeing pictures

!

Posted: **Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:04 pm**

Spoiler and mirrors done! Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the mirrors. I will get those tomorrow when I *HOPEFULLY* get to plastidipping my rims.

What do you guys think? Do you think I should do the WHOLE spoiler or leave it partial like it I have in the pictures?

Posted: **Sat Aug 04, 2012 3:09 pm**

Infinity-x wrote:Spoiler and mirrors done! Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the mirrors. I will get those tomorrow when I *HOPEFULLY* get to plastidipping my rims.

What do you guys think? Do you think I should do the WHOLE spoiler or leave it partial like it I have in the pictures?

Can't wait to see pictures of the mirrors and wheels!

I would leave the spoiler the way it is in the pictures.

Posted: **Sun Aug 05, 2012 7:05 pm**

Just a teaser!

More + better pics coming soon!

Posted: **Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:41 pm**

Infinity-x wrote:Just a teaser!

More + better pics coming soon!

Looks good! I really like the wheels! Can't wait to see more pictures

!

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