Jimmy W1

So here's my problem. I'd love to drive my Vette on vacation from Ohio to Florida. But I can't stand getting those friggin' stone chips. I get them just making a short trip to the grocery store a few miles away. They drive me up the wall and keep me from getting it out of the garage.

I went to Florida last winter, rented a Toyota Yardis from Enterprise, ran over a plastic trash can near Atlanta and ripped off the fender well AND tore the front bumper lose. My 2008 Impala SS has made 8 trips down here and this is the last trip for it. It is beat to death. (I also had to rebuild the transmission last spring to the tune of $3400.00) so I am looking for a car to just leave in Florida so I can drive it down here.

But just once, I'd love to drive my 05 down but I-75 is a killer on cars. So, what do you guys do when you take your Vettes on long trips and pick up road damage? Do you just take it to a body man and have them touch it up?

Man!! I just hate seeing each and every little stone chip every dang time I get back home!! So what do you guys do?

ForceFedC4

You can install a leather car bra for the long ride, and remove it once you arrive.. or keep a great distance behind everybody. Or, you can literally use masking tape, and tape off the front of the car, I've seen that done many times with exotics. I had my entire front bumper replaced because touching up stone chips never looks good... and then a piece of asphalt came off a tire and put some pits in my otherwise flawless windshield. Can't help with the glass.. that's another battle.

HBsurfer

For me, I use a Novistrech bra for long trips. Not perfect but it helps. I touch up rock chips with Dr Color Chip. I drive my car a lot and take several 4 to 7 hour each way trips every year. I bought it to drive and enjoy so I just deal with the slight imperfections. After touch up, nobody knows the chips are there except me. I had a choice between keeping a perfect C6 in my garage or driving one. Off to Vegas this weekend (3-!/2 hours each way).

billyboy47

Clear bra across the entire front halfway up the hood, and both side mirrors. Money well spent that will last for years. I drive on RT.80 Pa. to NJ and back carefree.

LMB-Z

Just drive it and enjoy it. Thats what is was made for. Its not an exotic, and is not going to appreciate in value. Enjoy it while you can.

If you just have to, put a clear bra on the front. They are pretty expensive, but they do work.

piper_chuck

The likelihood of stone chips on the front bumper, hood, or windshield goes way down when one keeps a safe distance back from the car/truck in front of you. It also gives you more time to react to debris in the road such as plastic trash cans. If you find your vehicle is "beat to death" due to highway driving, perhaps this will help. Just sayin....

Not So Fast

My car is pretty well free of them but a few days ago a POS passed me and I saw the damn little rock coming as it hit my windshield, yes it chipped it Just cant stop it unless you don't drive it
NSF

KyJim

I have a NoviStretch bra for trips and it helps. You also have to ride with some distance to vehicles in front of you, especially trucks, and I pass trucks quickly. Some of the little chips is just part of it.

Don-Vette

Not sure what kind of roads your driving on, but I have over 30,000 miles on my 10' GS since new, with road trips from Maine to the Smoky mountains and all in between, I have only a few very tiny chips. The only thing I did was put the Apsis front splash guards on when car was new.

balljointnut

http://www.madshadowcustompaint.com/rwp-home.html

I use it every time I track my car and it works great. Peels right off when the weekend is over.

09Z06pj

Clear bra, Colgan bra or both. Should give you plenty of peace of mind.

billyboy47

Bob, you are 100% correct. But a clear bra half way up the hood will prevent most chips. Windshield, nothing you can do about it.

1bdvet

Just enjoy the ride, and have fun, and when you get back go visit the good doctor.

That is Dr Colorchip, others here will tell you it hides those chips, that you will not know locations.

Have fun!

https://www.drcolorchip.com

Sledge Hammer

Balljoint's recommendation on Road Warrior Plus looks interesting. Think I may give it a try for those long trips.

airmed2

When you're on your death bed someday, are you going to be saying to yourself, "Gee, I sure am glad my barely driven Corvette didn't have any stone chips." ????

duckvett

We had an Xpel Ultimate clearbra installed on our Grand Sport shortly after buying it. We then drove 8500 miles on the 2014 National Corvette Caravan. In total the Xpel now has over 30,000 miles on it and NO stone chips on the front of our Corvette. Well worth the money.

gilbybarr

Stretch bra....used on long highway trips. Washable.....but you must be careful if it gets soaked in heavy rain because, based on my personal experience, at highway speeds it can flap a bit and it can catch tiny particles off the road. Has done a good job of protection thus far with no scratching or chips.

hrt vlv

I make sure when we travel or go for a sunday ride that my wife does not wear a bra. Bill

Scuba Ghost

If it bothers you that much get the bumper repainted and have Xpel (or something similar) installed.

RJS91RGTP

I continue to be amazed by some of the questions that some folks ask on this forum!! Asking folks on this forum or any car forum if you should drive your car on vacation is crazy!!

Good god, drive the car and have some fun!!!

The car is twelve years old and not gaining value because it is chip less!!

Drive it like you stole it!!!