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.