Historically, car bras have been the primary focus of sports cars owners and hobbyists. Consequently, most people hardly ever consider car bras and are equally not conversant with their advantages and disadvantages. Well, this article covers all that and more.

Before we continue, car bras have nothing to do with the best bra for backless bra, big boob problems, must have bra accessories, or any other bra things.

What is the Purpose of Car Bras?

Sometimes, car bras are also known as masks, mainly designed to protect the car’s front end. Unlike doors, trunks, hoods, and even roofs, front ends usually take a lot of damage, especially from highway debris, bugs, and rocks.

The unwritten rule is that anything that can hit the car’s front end will at some point in time. And this will result in more dings, chipped paint, and scratches compared to any other place on the car.

Car bras typically offer protection by covering grills, bumpers, and the whole part of the car hood. Many drivers usually use car bras only when taking on long road trips. You may rarely encounter many road hazards while commuting daily, but long trips on the highway are a different story altogether.

Road debris, construction hazards, and objects flying from trucks passing by are common on road trips, especially the long ones.

Car Bras Pros and Cons

One of the most asked questions is whether the car bras damage the paint. The answer is their primary purpose is ultimately protect the paint, and that is the most significant advantage of car bras.

However, car bras can cause damage if you don’t maintain them regularly, like waxing and washing from time to time. Besides, any car accessory has risks when you poorly maintain them.

Pros

• Protect the car’s front end from scratches, dings, and chips
• Where the risk of highway debris exponentially goes up, it does provide peace of mind
• When it comes to sports cars, it gives a more sophisticated look
• It reduces the risk of damage especially to low-to-the-ground cars
• It helps maintain the car’s appearance and its resale value

Cons

• Any dust under the vehicle can act as an abrasive and tends to scratch the paint after some time, you, therefore, need to install it on a clean car, preferably waxed
• It can lead to differential fading on older cars. However, it’s not much of an issue with the modern car paint
• You must remove and clean when it gets dirty
• Failure to secure the car bra tightly can cause flapping and if severe enough, damage the paint

Recommended Car Bras

Car bras don’t usually have a universal fit; they are instead custom fit. Ensure you find your car’s year model and specific make.

Best Car Sports Bras

The Colgan Sports Bra has a sleek, sporty look as is custom fit. It’s reasonably priced (around $100) and has proven over the years. Colgan sports car bra is a perennial top seller.

Essential product features comprise of:

• A limited warranty lasting up to 3 years
• Slick surface on the exterior to help in cleaning
• Low profile racy look
• Available in different finishes like carbon fibre
• UV treated vinyl fabric to prevent oxidation and sun damage
• To help prevent scratches, it has a soft flannel inner lining

Affordable Car Bras

LeBra Car Bra is an all-weather workhorse and is reasonably priced usually $75 to $80. It’s a prevalent model.

Essential product features comprise of:

• A limited one-year warranty
• For most model’s tool-free installation
• To protect the car from elements, the exterior has a leather grain vinyl
• To prevent the car from scratching, this car bra has a knit inner lining
• The two-piece construction does allow easy engine and hood access

Premium Car Bras

The Colgan Custom Original provides a sporty look with premium construction and materials. It costs around $100 to $200.

Essential product features comprise of:

• A limited warranty of three years
• Unimpeded engine airflow
• Multiple designs available for several models like T-style and full front
• UV treated high-end vinyl exterior layer
• The two-piece style allows easy engine and hood access
• The thick, soft flannel inner lining which protects against any scratch

Car Bra Installation

Installation of car bras does range from 15 minutes tool-free on few models up to 1-2 hours on some models. Ensure you check the descriptions of the products to get a rough idea of the required time.

Alternatives to a Car Bra

A clear bra. They are car bras made from transparent adhesive film. Compared to traditional car bras, their cost is a bit high and ranges from $2,500 going upwards. The primary reason for the additional cost is that these car bras are custom fit and therefore may need professional installation.

Generally, a clear bra provides excellent protection, and its look is less intrusive than a traditional car bra. The only disadvantage is that the film tends to yellow over time. Also, if you don’t maintain them well, they can look cheap.

Bug deflectors – they are low profile guards which fit where the front of the hood and the grill usually meet. They are mainly made of acrylic, help prevent chips from bugs, scratches, and any flying rocks. They typically cost close to $100, quite cheap compared to clear bras and other car bras.

However, bug deflectors protect a lesser surface area, which can be a downside. They usually don’t cover mirrors, grills, or bumpers. Bug deflectors don’t look out of place on many car models although they are popular with pickup trucks.

Doing Nothing – It’s always an alternative. Clear bras are costly that it can be affordable to simply have any scratch touched up at the local auto dealer. But most deflectors and car bras are cheaper than repairing the scratches.

Conclusion

According to us, deciding on whether to purchase a car bra or not narrows down to three things:

• If you prefer the look
• Your willingness to do routine maintenance
• If the car bra falls within your budget

A car bra will be a good idea if you agree to these three things. Plus, your car would thank you if only it could talk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the leading manufacturers?

There are many car bra manufacturers, but the famous ones are:

• Speed Lingerie
• Colgan
• Coverking
• LeBra
• Covercraft

There are relatively few OEM alternatives available, unlike car covers.

What are the common categories or features to put in mind when buying a car bra?

Car Bras are relatively straightforward products without many alternatives or even complexity.

Most common features and options include:

• Accessories (mirror covers and bras)
• Colour (Factory colour matched versus traditional black)
• Additional styling features (stripes)
• Coverage (partial vs full front end)

What are the most common materials?

Car bras can be made from different materials. However, the most common is UV resistant vinyl and carbon fibre.

What is the biggest complaint from customers?

Fit. If it’s possible, try going for a custom fit model. Products which are universal or semi-custom can work perfectly well, but they tend to get lower feedback.

The second complaint is fading on low-end models and fabric tears. With car bras, what you pay for is what you truly get.

In terms of car bra advantages and disadvantages, do you think the benefits outweigh the disadvantages?

For a few car products, yes! But with car bras, it’s usually a matter of preference.

If you are in a dilemma as to which baby car seat to buy then the answer is simple! Buy the Evenflo Triumph 65 DLX seat and you will not regret it. This car seat is an innovative product which will save you a small fortune. A baby or child can travel safely in the Evenflo until they weigh 65lbs so this seat is certainly going to last you for years. The concept behind the seat is that babies weighing between 5 and 40 lbs should be placed in the seat with it rear facing for optimum comfort, and then once your child grows; the seat can be made forward facing. The forward facing position can be used from your child weighing 20lbs until they are 65lbs.

The Evenflo Triumph 65 DLX seat is reasonably priced compared to similar types of travel systems so is ideal if you are on a tight budget as you will only have to buy the one car seat. It comes with different features than other car seats such as a tension knob which is located at the side of the chair. By turning the knob with your hand you can easily control the tightness of the harness. The harness itself has a 65lbs harness weight rating which makes it suitable to use all the way through your baby’s development. Unlike most other car seats, the Evenflo has the advantage of having a multiple position recline feature for ultimate comfort.

The Evenflo triumph 65 DLX seat comes equipped with an extra foam seat cushion which makes it the most comfortable ride ever! This is because the foam is made from energy absorbing foam and so mimics the effect of a mattress. This makes it ideal for longer trips as baby can easily drop off to sleep. Also if the baby has a dirty diaper the comfortable cushion detracts from the diaper discomfort so you can finish your journey before changing the baby. This is a very convenient point as nobody likes hearing their baby screaming with discomfort while they are trying to negotiate busy traffic!

The infant head support pillow and the covers are all easily removable and fully washable although it is recommended that you use a delicate cycle on your machine to prolong the quality. The support pillow is so well designed that your child’s delicate head will not flop forward when the car is moving and because the Evenflo Triumph 65 DLX Seat is slightly higher than comparable models, your child can see out of the window while he or she is travelling. This is a bonus with older children as they tend to be nosy and the view keeps them occupied!

The specs of ‘Evenflo Triumph 65 DLX Seat, Lincoln’ are:

• Manufacturer: Evenflo
• Product Dimensions: 28.1×22.1×20.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 23.6 pounds

A lot of thought has gone into the design of this car seat. The loosening mechanism is so good that you are able to remove a sleeping baby without disturbing them. The seat is also a little wider than other car seats so children can play with their toys to while away the time on longer journeys. The seat also comes with a drinking cup holder which conveniently folds away when not in use.

Like most baby equipment (especially folding down a stroller) this car seat does take a little practice but once you have got in to the habit it is super easy to use. It is very easy to install and comes with a step by step picture guide which is very straightforward. We’ve listed a few pros and cons for your convenience:

Pros

• Excellent safety ratings
• Will last a long time
• Will save you money
• Offers the ultimate experience in comfort
• Has multiple recline positioning

CONS

• The buckle can seem fiddly until you are used to it
• Because it is a little wider, an extra back seat passenger may be a little cramped.
• The buckle does not always make a reassuring clicking noise although it is definitely fastened.

The Evenflo Triumph 65 DLX Seat has been designed and manufactured to an extremely high standard and features impressive innovative design features as well as safety. A leading consumer magazine rated it the best car seat and gave it five stars. It really is a ‘no-brainer’ whether to buy this car seat! It has been classed as meeting or exceeding federal safety standards and it even exceeds Evenflo’s own side impact standard. If you want to be stress free when you are driving safe in the knowledge that your baby is safe from harm then look no further than the Evenflo!

Britax Frontier 85 Combination Booster Car Seat is a robust baby car seat. You can use the seat in its harnessed position for seating an infant or use it as a booster for a child. The seat can be easily converted and is suitable for the children weighing up to 120 lbs. You get the benefit of using the same seat until your baby grows up as a child and can sit on a normal car seat. The Britax 85 seat will be useful for your child for about nine years and that is a substantial saving for you.

Main Features of Britax Frontier 85 Combination Booster Car Seat:

Convertible Seat: The Britax Frontier 85 Combination Booster Car Seat is innovatively designed as a convertible booster seat and includes many comfort and safety features as well as maximum capacity to harness. The Britax Marathon Frontier 85 Car Seat is the best choice in its class of front-facing with five-point harness and weight capacity 25 – 85 lbs. for 2 yrs. and up. Next, you can convert it to a booster from 40 to 120 lbs.

Extra Safety: It has a tangle free patented, five-point harness provided with ten different options for adjusting the height. You can harness it to a maximum height of 20″. It is designed to distribute the forces from an impact and the additional Harness Ultra Guard System will resist any forward movement. The seat is constructed in such a way that it offers a barrier on its sides and nullifies the effect of the impact forces due to a collision.

Two different positions for the buckle allow for properly securing the child according to his size when he is growing. The special tether webbing is patented, can absorb energy and also resists the frontal movement of the body as it anchors at two different points at the top of the seat. The seat comes with an anti-slip base to provide extra grip and prevents the slips.

The excellent safety design of the seat completely protects the child from any side impact as the forces are distributed to minimize the intensity of the impact. The seat shields the head and body completely and retains the head, the neck and the spine in perfect alignment to prevent any serious injury. Britax Marathon 85 seat is made extra strong to counter the forces in the unfortunate event of a crash.

Easy to Install and Remove: The lower latch connectors make it quite easy and fast to install the Britax Frontier 85 Combination Seat. This seat is compatible with numerous car models. The refined push button system is very useful for installing the seat in a secured way and the same button helps, if you like to take out the seat.

Comfort and Cushioning: The armrests are configured such that the child can rest his/her arms on them in a natural position. This Britax seat is provided with useful cups for holding water bottles and snack boxes. There is no match for the quality of cushioning to the Britax Frontier 85 car seat that is made with the best quality of foam and fabric used for upholstery. They use only soft and durable materials to cushion the seats. When you want to clean the booster covers, just take them out and wash in your washing machine.

The specs of ‘Britax Frontier 85 Combination Booster Car Seat, Rushmore’ are:

• Manufacturer: Britax USA
• Product Dimensions: 28.4×20.1×20.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 23.6 pounds

Pros:

The Britax Frontier 85 Combination Car Seat is most safe and is designed and manufactured with impact absorption and advanced crash technology. The materials used to make the seat are most suitable to endure extreme crash and impact testing. It is also approved for aircraft travel in harness the mode.

Cons:

This seat is comparatively a costly. It has a large base and cannot fit in many car models. A few customers have also felt that mechanism for back reclining makes it difficult to align the back rest.

Britax Frontier 85 Car Seat is the first choice of most parents as they concern for the safety of their child and they understand that the seat will serve for almost eight to nine years.