Stick on Shields.. Your thoughts?

OK. To keep it simple, I think 348 / 355s look better with shields.
And, I really don't care what anyone else thinks. Others are free to do to their car whatever they want.
The question here is:
Do I really want to spend an extra several hundred $ to get a particular type of shield?

I am certainly no tight-arse when it comes to my car, but for me we are starting to enter the realms of the ridiculous when we would throw in the bin a factory enamel shield in order to stick on an expensive non-factory metal one.
Bearing in mind the car left the factory wearing neither....

This is all only my opinion of course, but I think 355s simply look better with a Challenge grille and the badges. Whether or not this offends a purist I really couldn't care less!
All of these changes are easily reversible at sale time, after all.

Same reason I had my brake calipers painted red even though my car is not a Serie Fiorano.
I just like the look of it.
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In andwer to your question Harry, yes but not in 1995.

Steve, agree, I think it's each to their own. Ferrari do not supply enamel stick on shields though, the only ones they do for a car without indents is a plastic shield. The reason I did a compare is because someone asked if there were any differences between what's on offer and frankly the answer is yes. If guys want to leave the car without, or go with the legit plastic ones, or go for a cheaper enamel one then that's cool, do as you like. I went to the bother of buying a few sets so I could post up a proper comparison, I then gave away the ones I didn't want. Everyone can do as they like, the aim was not to persuade anyone one way or the other, it was simply to allow people to see them side by side so they can choose how to spend their money. Unsurprisingly the most expensive ones are the best representation of the originals and are the best made. That's not saying go buy them, it's just stating a fact.

 

Not having a go at you, Pete. I really admire your passion for your car.
All I'm saying is that unless a particular 348/355 left the factory with the indented fender and shields, anything else is not really "legit".
The question then becomes are you prepared to spend hundreds of $/£ on shields that LOOK more original - but aren't?
Some people may, some may not.
TBH I have no idea exactly what shields are on my car. I haven't studied them that closely.
But, to my eye the car looks better with them than without!
And that's all that matters.

 

You're right Steve, that's what matters.

 

Thanks for teaching this American a new word "aghast".. I had to look it up.. For the record I wasn't aghast, I was simply saying with might I add a smidgen of sarcasm that the 348/355 forum deals multi-thousand dollar major services, 50-150k costs of entry/ownership, I just found it funny that the most popular thread lately was a $100 US sold shield or the Supertweaks ones.. And my opinion was don't settle for less than the best but if you wanna put Transformers stickers on it, to each their own..

I was just tossing it around.

 

The fact of the matter is everyone is going to like what they like.
I don't dislike anyones car that has them im not worried about what you do with your car.

The thread was simply asking if we as a group liked or disliked them.

there will always be people on both sides of the fence. I think its the price of them I dislike the most.


What about the actually sticker that Ferrari sells?

 

Those are basically very cheap ($10 per shield if that in the UK). I actually quite like them and would personally have them over most of the after market enamel shields. In post #3 I've put up a shot of one on my car prior to putting the Yoshis on (shot also on post #3). I prefer the yoshis but that's not to say I dislike the authentic stick on ones from Ferrari. And you are right, bearing that in mind the price I paid for the yoshis is barking mad. My only defence is the context with my car - after the work I've had done the price of yoshis is pretty insignificant. I threw a thread up with a list of all the work, if you look at it that'll make sense (almost make sense anyway )

 

...Yes I also bought these and very happy with the quality and the look. Soo much better than resin in my opinion and half the price of the Yoshi's. The curvature of the shields matched my fender perfectly and the sprayed on adhesive coating on the back is 'strong' so line them up right the first time !!

Beware the cheap Indian ones. Thicker shield, poor quality and they use a cut out piece of double sided tape for adhesion..!!!
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Do you have a pic of the magnetic ones?

 

What is that orange button just below your shield?

 

That's the old school manettino used to turn on all the driver aids. Only euro cars got them due to American liability laws.They've moved it inside the car and now onto the steering wheel in newer models. (It's a euro side marker/blinker)

 

Thank you!

 

p.s. Or is that on turning off the manettino. Anyway, sorry for that, couldn't resist.

Are we about done with shields? Essentially the price goes up exponentially as they get 'better', whether you're prepared to pay for the yoshis is your business but it could be argued that the premium is difficult to justify?

Just as an aside, I've been in touch with Ferrari to see if, now they clearly have the machining for it, they have any intention of selling the thin enamel shields they're now putting on LaFerrari. I'll post up their reply.

Would quite like to see the magnetic ones though. Be good if they are converted from the legit Ferrari resins. In fact, may give it a year or two but would almost be tempted by that. If they aren't the proper resins would be pretty easy to make some up if you can find some thin, flexible magnetic sheeting to cut to the right shape.

 

Here is a pic of the shield on a 348 GTC its "legit" from the factory but no indented fender I am afraid.....so you can in fact make your 355/348 look "legit"
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Hadn't noticed that but looked on the GTC shield shot I've got from over here in the UK and it's the same, looks to be slightly thinner shield with no indent. It's the same design as on the 288 GTO and F40 (although those are indented), they changed to the more modern detailing with the 355 I believe and with the 355 it was an indented fender. Strange no one has copied the earlier shield as you'd think it would be easier to replicate.

 

You're welcome. While you've got your dictionary out, have a look at "overreaction".
You'll see a picture of both of us.

There you go. Didn't know that. Very cool. Perhaps I should have said:

"All I'm saying is that unless a particular 348/355 left the factory with shields, anything else is not really legit"...
Your car obviously meets that criterion...

This thread can probably be summarised as

1) Some people don't like shields at all
2) Some people like shields but only if they were originally on the car when it left the factory
3) Some people like shields but only if they look like they were originally on the car when it left the factory, and
4) Some people like shields but aren't fussed about how original they are, given that they aren't original...