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

 

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

 

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

Interesting...

JR

 

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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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