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I'm curious how many C7 owners make regular use of a bra and how effective they believe it is against rock chips? I've read some on this forum never use a bra and find little front end chipping. Likely has a lot to do with where you live and maybe how you drive.
The Speed Lingerie seems pricey at $650, but I'd gladly pay it if I could see in to future knowing it prevented a number of visible dings and chips on the 2019 C7 Z51 2LT Black/Kalahari I'm ordering this upcoming Wednesday. I've seen both positive and negative comments on the GM C7 front end cover. NoviStretch has positive comments, but it's not the choice for rock chip prevention. Wondering if I should just go ahead and get a coating for the front end?
I'm curious how many C7 owners make regular use of a bra and how effective they believe it is against rock chips? I've read some on this forum never use a bra and find little front end chipping. Likely has a lot to do with where you live and maybe how you drive.
The Speed Lingerie seems pricey at $650, but I'd gladly pay it if I could see in to future knowing it prevented a number of visible dings and chips on the 2019 C7 Z51 2LT Black/Kalahari I'm ordering this upcoming Wednesday. I've seen both positive and negative comments on the GM C7 front end cover. NoviStretch has positive comments, but it's not the choice for rock chip prevention. Wondering if I should just go ahead and get a coating for the front end?
I use a NoviStretch Bra for long grips. Great product. Stops the biggest problem- bugs and bugs geeting into the AC condenser and rad you can't remove.. Not going to do much for large rocks but will help small ones.
Other heavy material bras get dirt between them and the car and casue abrasion that looks worse than a few chips! They also don't make the Vette look good, so I use the NoviStretch only for long trips. NoviStretch also have bras that fit the mirrors. If traveling the bra be easily removed and washed in a sink!
Since I'm not a fan of "plastic wrap" I find Dr. Color Chip does a good job on chips. In 2 years I have one small one on the front bumper and one on a mirror.
I use a NoviStretch Bra for long grips. Great product. Stops the biggest problem- bugs and bugs geeting into the AC condenser and rad you can't remove.. Not going to do much for large rocks but will help small ones.
NoviStretch is an outstanding product...takes 20 min to install, take 3 min to put on or off and really protects the car AND lets the car breath... Major benefit over other bras is that if it gets wet, it dries out very easily cause of the mesh material.
If you are going to get one the speed lingerie is the best looking and offers the best protection against rock chips. The others are less expensive but look ridiculous.
A coating won't protect your paint from chips. A bra is a little better for that if you don't mind the looks. Paint protection film like Xpel will protect you from chips. I have 3M clear bra and over 90,000 miles on the car and not one chip on the front. So I'll recommend that. Where I lived when it was installed was $763. All the front and the up past the vents on the bonnet. Mirrors, and door handle cups.
With Xpel type products how it is installed is the key. The products are all very good to excellent.
I purchased the speed lingerie bra.great quality and also protects headlights with a clear shield. If you are just using for road trips you shouldn't have any issues. The argument that dirt gets in between bra and paint is ridiculous unless your driving down dirt roads.
I like the Novistretch concept. Unless the car is filthy which mine never is, I don't have to even remove it to wash the car. When I do remove it, it is fairly quick. The only down side I have found is having to lie on my side to loosen the two opposing corner spoiler fasteners so I can slide the Novistretch under the spoiler to secure it properly. Other than that, I think it is a great concept that keeps the bugs out of the radiator and provides "some" chip protection. I don't know about durability yet, but so far, after a couple of thousand miles it seems fine.
I am sure the answer is its needed to avoid rock chips as the car sits low but my question is it enough only for the front bumper and dont do the hood at all. I got quoted 1200 for standard protection which includes 24 inch hood, partial fenders, full front bumper , headlight and A pillar.
I am sure the answer is its needed to avoid rock chips as the car sits low but my question is it enough only for the front bumper and dont do the hood at all. I got quoted 1200 for standard protection which includes 24 inch hood, partial fenders, full front bumper , headlight and A pillar.
I would do at least just over the vents on the hood. If one looks at the clear bra in the area of about 24 inches on the hood you can see little marks on the 3M that have deflected stones. Didn't go to the paint. The upper part of the hood that I don't have the protection on does not have any stone hits on it.
I would spend the money and get the xpel done. I had the front of mine done and the hood and I have 0 marks. Now the Xpel has a spot or two where it looks like something hit it, but thats in the Xpel, not the paint. I have done 4 or 5 track days, some mountains runs, and have 5K miles on the car. My windshield looks like it was sandblasted. My lower air dam has some spots and one of the cameras took a small rock to it. Those parts were not covered (wish I did now) but if I didn't have the bumper/hood done, I can only imagine how it would look. My recommendation would be to spend a little more money and get some of the front end protected and it's good for years.
I you decide to get a bra do not buy the GM version. They may have redesigned them by now, but I wouldn't take that chance unless I know for sure. Here's why. The bra would not stay tight, and kept slipping causing a loose section seen here on my previous '16. Luckily I was able to buff out the scuff makes where it rubbed. The Speed Lingerie is expensive, but it is the best from what I read. I went with the Novistretch for my '19 Grand Sport. I know it won't help if a larger projectile hits the bumper, but the chances of that are slime. It will help with the smaller stones, and the bugs. That's good enough for me.
Last edited by Rebel Yell; 02-22-2019 at 01:28 PM.
I had Xpel Ultimate installed on our 2010 Grand Sport in 2013, covering the full nose, half of the fenders and hood. After 39K miles the covered areas were still chip-free, but we did have chips further back on the hood. For that reason, we spent the additional money to have Xpel Ultimate Plus installed on the full front of our new `19 Corvette.
No bra.... suffer the bugs and chips... drive your car a lot, have the front re-sprayed about the four, five year point.... bras make you look like a kid with his pants hiked too high and a pocket protector in the shirt...
I see lot of xpel lovers here but I like suntek better, its more clear and looks better on darker cars
Xpel tends to turn yellow on a white car and I had the issue before.
02-22-2019, 06:28 AM
Bra needed?
NoviStretch is an outstanding product...takes 20 min to install, take 3 min to put on or off and really protects the car AND lets the car breath... Major benefit over other bras is that if it gets wet, it dries out very easily cause of the mesh material.
