Nobody using a car bra these days?

Aside from the various clear plastic films that are often installed on new cars to protect the paint, are very many people usuing the old-fashioned vinyl bras these days? They used to be pretty common. Granted, I wouldn't use one for daily driving but they do a good job on occasional long trips.

The reason I ask this is because I've tried to sell a nearly new one several times since I sold my '86GTB. I've sold it twice now, both times to useless flakes that failed to pay for it. Once was on eBay and the other time was through this site. I'm starting to think I'll never get rid of this thing, thus the question. Is nobody using these things any more?

JR

 

Probably not. When you need them the most - winter or other wet weather - is the worst time to put them on. I'd go with the clear film first.

But that's just me.

gp

 

You know, my experience has been that you need them the most on highway trips. Around town, there's not as much chance of a rock chip as the speeds are slower. On a highway, that's another story, especially around trucks. They can toss a rock through the air a great distance. The worst highways are the divided ones, with a concrete divider in the middle. Sand, rocks and other debris tends to collect up against that barrier and the trucks' vortices fling it into the air, every time they pull onto the left lane to pass slower traffic. I once had a freshly painted front valence ruined in about 100 miles of driving on a road like that, even though I tried to stay out of harm's way.

Rain? Winter weather? What's that?

JR

 

Jeff I sent you PM

 

I like all my 'ladies' without bras! Good luck with the sale though.

Best Regards,
John M

 

Well, nearly 150 replies and nobody admits to using a bra.

Interesting...

JR

 

I think they fell out of favor because unless they fit *perfectly* they will rub, and eventually wear, the paint. When I bought my Prelude 18 years ago it came with one, and to this day I still haven't used it.

 

Must be an American thing. I have very rarely seen these in Europe. Do what Italians do. (which is also period correct for the car ) ...

Drive it and don't worry about chipping the paint. It's what happens.

 

When I bought my Mondial it came with one. I'll never put that thing on it for sure.

 

I suppose that's true, although the first time I saw them used was in Germany, at the Porsche factory. They test drove each 911 after it was built and used a bra on the front to protect the paint. I don't know if Ferrari does this, as the only time I visited Maranello they were closed for the summer holidays.

I think the bras are a little misunderstood. I used them for 30 years on vairous Porsches and never damaged the paint on any of them. I think the horror stories you hear come from people that keep them on all the time, or don't make sure the paint and bra are both clean before installing them. I've seen worse damage occur when a clueless owner used a flannel car cover in the same way.

Either way, it seems nobody uses them so I'll probably be stick with this thing forever. The car is long gone and I don't see myself buying another 328.

JR

 

This must be what Ferrari is using these days on test drives:
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To me, keeping that stuff on is a bit like keeping the factory polythene on the seats.

 

First it was the bras' then there were the side skirts. What's next panties?

 

Vinyl car bras, IMO, went the way of fuzzy dice and steering wheel wraps.
They were a 70s/80s bling thing and people have moved on. They damage
the paint (by trapping moisture and abrasion from trapped dust), and IMO
are the vehicular equivalent of wearing satin shirts or bellbottom jeans.

The last car bra I had was in 1984 on a '76 Triumph TR-7

By the way, what do you mean by "150 replies"? Looks like about 13 to me

Jedi

 

A bra was always the first thing I bought for my cars in the 80's. I stopped buying them about 1990. I've never seen one on a 308.

 

No, we got diapers instead.

 

Sorry, I meant to say 150 views, not 150 replies. Although, viewing the thread without replying tells me that the viewer most likely doesn't use one either.

I never used them for "bling", just to protect the paint in some driving conditions. Used properly, they do no harm. Like I said, I didn't use one all the time, just when I needed to cover a lot of miles on a boring interstate.

But, I'm understanding a little more about the issue, from the comments I've received so far. It seems that Ferrari owners do not want them.

Have fun,
JR

 

LOL! Our cars are getting old after all...

 

people used those for "bling" purposes???

And people think long hair, spandex and shocking pink guitars was a strange fashion?