Just bought a 2016 and want to protect the front from bugs and chips with a bra. The heavy vinyl protects from both, but the center grill area is still open for things getting into the radiator. The stretch type covers everything but doesn't protect that much from stone chips. I have a speed lingerie for my C5 which I like but not wanting to spend $600/700 and still have the grill area open. My question is, which cover are people using and what do you like/dislike about it?
Thanks for any and all input.

 

I have the NoviStretch front cover on my 2015 convert w/ Z51 and it did a good job of protecting the front during a 7,900 mile coast-to-coast trip. I wish I had also bought the available mirror covers, as I got a couple of paint chips on the mirrors during the trip.

 

Johnny, if you really want to protect the nose, you seriously need to consider Xpel clear bra.


For trips, absolutely the NoviStretch bra.....absolutely.

 

I agree. The stretch bras look horrible.

 

I would spend the money and get the speed lingerie.

 

I have Xpel on the entire front to include lights, hood and fenders. I also use a Novistretch bra for longer trips.

 

Same here. Xpel and a Novistretch mask.
Recently on a road trip, a car in front of me kicked up a plastic shroud lying in the road. It hit the lower part of the front end of my car. The result was a few small holes in the mask and 2 very small scuff marks on the Xpel. I'm convinced that the combination of the two minimized the damage. The mask definitely keeps lots of bugs off the car and out of the radiator. I have driven the car with the mask on during 100 degree heat, and no overheating issues.

 

Seems like the best option to me.

 

Or 3M's Pro Series.

 

From an installer's website, kind of discouraging compared to Xpel salesmen.

http://modernarmor.com/faq.htm

and

http://modernarmor.com/is-a-full-hoo...-good-idea.htm

 

novistretch or the gm bra. I would never cover my paint job with anything permanent like xpel or whatever else is out there like that. Can't be good for the paint. I wouldn't worry about stuff getting in the grill. Wash it.

 

Same here! The Novistretch bra does an excellent job plus is easy to clean and stow. I think they look as good as any other bra. No bra that I have ever seen enhances the look of the car......but that's not their function. I have applied Xpel to about 70% of my car and only use the Novistretch on longer highway trips for added protection. Highly recommend it!

 

FYI XPEL is not permanent and does nothing to the paint. I have had it (or various iterations of it) on all my cars since 2004 and it does a terrific job of protecting everything. If it gets damaged or if you get tired of it you can either replace it or just peel it off. Find a good installer and you are good to go.


I just xpeled the front and mirrors and rockers of my 2016, and I have a novistretch mask and mirror covers for the longer trips. The novistretch install took 15 minutes tops, EXACTLY as shown in the video on the website, and now I can put it on in about 60 seconds and take it off in about 15 seconds.

 

Great eye opening Information...the author certainly sound like an straight forward, bare all kind of person.

Key takeaways from the installers article are (linked above);

1) You don't want product that has been hanging around the shop for more than a year.
2) "The material has an average life span of about 5-7 years. It is much like the paint on your car. Whether or not the car is garaged and whether or not it is kept washed and waxed will make a big difference in the life span of the product." That it is a "wear item"
3) this is signficant.."Given today's thin panels, aluminum or composite hoods removing an entire hood section can result in a damaged hood. Totally defeats the reason for applying the film to begin with...
4) Full Hood Protection. The additionfactored is the cost to remove. If it takes 10 - 20 hours to remove material from a third of the vehicle that is $$$. Can be more costly to remove it down the road that it cost to install.


The surprising thing is we all ask, "how much does it cost to put xyz clear bra on the following areas of my car" BUT I BET NO ONE (including myself) GETS A PRICE TO REMOVE IT! I call this "the industries dirty little secret"


One note about if it's worth covering the entire hood or not. I can tell you from direct experience if you intend to protect the hood DO THE WHOLE HOOD. I had my new 2015 Optima done, including the hood but only the front 1/3. Less than 1 month later a rock it and chipped the hood half way up...less than three inches where the clear bra stopped. How's that for irony.

 

Best of both worlds.

 

The NoviStretch bra is not going to win any beauty contest. That's not the point though. It is SO protective! All you have to do is pick off anything that it catches. Or you can wash it in the sink and it dries quickly to use for the next outing.

Yes, they don't look great, but we're not going for looks here. We're going for protectiveness.

 

36 DD is the best bra

 

 

 

Novistrerch is the only bra , or any treatment, that protects the radiator against rock hits that can cause a radiator to leak. And it wont be warranty.