Stongard installed on my P5
 

Hey guys. Just had the Stongard clear bra product installed on my P5 today. Took some pictures and posted my reactions on my page. See http://www.nramsey.net/ and click either on the link at the top of the main frame or on the "My Protege 5" link on the left.

The product is a bit visible if you look at the difference in texture. The Stongard uses a 3M product which when installed has a slight orange peel texture, but I believe the protection this gives you far outweighs the slight visual downside. If you take a step back about 3-4 feet the product becomes invisible as you can see in the pictures. The stuff has a 30 day "curing" time at which point any small bubbles, wrinkles etc should vanish. I didn't notice any in my install. I really think installer skill will prove vital with this product. They warranty the product for as long as you own the car if you have a qualified installer install it, but not if you do. For the $70 I paid to have it installed, I think that's a bargain. It took them about 4 hours to install the stuff on my car...only $70? What a deal!

It sounds like this Stone Guard product is similar to he "Heli-Tape" that we used on the leading edge and sidepods of the Indy-Car*, that I used to work for. The "helicopeter" tape is made by 3M, just like the Stone Guard product. I emailed there company for more info as I would LOVE to apply this to my front hood.

Applying the heli-tape is a ART, and it takes quite a bit of time, I would certainly pay the extra money if the DID IT RIGHT.


Later, Speedbump.


* Richie Hearn, Memo Gidley & Norbeto Fontana
DellaPenna Motorsports
Lola- Ford
Swift-Toyota
Reynard- Toyota

Yep, I believe this is that exact product. I believe there are several companys using the stuff but I chose Stongard because their kits appear to be cut better, and having their headquarters about 10 blocks from where I work will be nice if I have to take it back for any reason :)

Nate

I think you will love it as I do and not be cursing when you find a chip had you not done it. I had mine on from day 1 and now I don't even know it is there. However I think it depends on the colour as to if it is more visible or not. The dark colours seem to show it up more, whereas on the silver and the yellow it seems to just blend in.

BTW do the 2002.5 have silver colour gauges instead of white?

Yep. Just noticed today that they almost exactly match the center dash silver color. Kewl :)

Hey, I just noticed that nramsey got his car from the same dealership I did. Not only that, it looks like he lives in the same city I do. Small world I guess. If you see a silver 2001 ES, gimmie a honk :)

Does anyone have a pic of their 2k2.5 Silver Gauges? I'd like to see what they look like!

Hehe, small world! I live way down south Bellevue...almost Newcastle.

Hehe, I live up near Crossroads. You're probably down in Newport Hills area? I've lived in Bellevue for about 10 years now. Graduated from Newport HS in '97.

Stonegard
 

Hey,
The stonegard looks nice. You said it costs about $70? Nice. I'm sure you can wax over it, right? I guess you have to be careful though, theres a blue IS300 in the parking lot at work here and it has some stonegard thing on it too, but you can see where it ends because of a white wax line on it. Hmmm.

Re: Stonegard
 

No, $70 was for the INSTALL, the whole shebang was $650 total including install and tax :) . Yep, you can wax right over it, but like you said you need to be carefull about the edges for wax buildup.

Yep, I live in the Newport Hills area. I grew up in Portland OR though and graduated from Grant HS in '97. Moved up here for work :)

$650??? Ouch!

Well, when you think about how much it covers that's not really that bad. Covers the entire front surface area of the car, mirros, fender flares, door handle cups, door edges and top of rear bumper.

Here is a pic of the kit...the top is the full kit, the bottom is the partial kit. The kit material alone costs about $450.

http://www.stongard.com/images/patterns/050018.gif

Still dude, that's a lot of money to spend on some vinyl tape. :)

I know (or rather hope) it's better than that though.