protecting paintwork
Discussion
Hi all, I am a new member and I apologise if this post has been put in the wrong section!!
I am a new comer to the TVR world, having just placed my order for a new 3.6 Tuscan for Sept 1st 2003. The dealer has advised that I get the vehicles paintwork protected. This is in the form of what looks like plastic sheets applied to the nose and other areas likely to be damaged by stone chips. It seems a sensible thing to do, but I dont feel the price (800 pounds) is sensible. Has anyone had a similar protection applied to their vehicle, but through a private company? I would imagine that the cost through a private company may be alot cheaper so if anyone has any experience or knowledge in this area it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Steve
I am a new comer to the TVR world, having just placed my order for a new 3.6 Tuscan for Sept 1st 2003. The dealer has advised that I get the vehicles paintwork protected. This is in the form of what looks like plastic sheets applied to the nose and other areas likely to be damaged by stone chips. It seems a sensible thing to do, but I dont feel the price (800 pounds) is sensible. Has anyone had a similar protection applied to their vehicle, but through a private company? I would imagine that the cost through a private company may be alot cheaper so if anyone has any experience or knowledge in this area it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Steve
I think your dealer is suggesting armour fend, i asked for this on mine and the factory refused to do it, there alternative was a rubberised paint which is supposed to do the job, unfortunately it was not that good.
I find the only real alternative is to have the front resprayed when it gets too bad, this only cost about £600
I find the only real alternative is to have the front resprayed when it gets too bad, this only cost about £600
The worrying thing is that the dealer stated that respraying the front in the paint I have chosen could work out very expensive. Its a new type of paint in Nebula black, its a great looking paint, with what looks like glitter in it, when the light hits it lots of colours shine from it and I was told it could cost over 1000 pound to have just the front done!! You are correct, it was Armour Fend, I was kind of hoping that there maybe somewhere that supplies this service at a more reasonable price!! Looks as though I may have to just spend the 800 on getting it done.
Stephen,
Having just had a full front-end respray, I was also wondering about paintwork protection and, in particular, Armourfend.
However, there seems to be a fairly mixed reaction towards this product, with a bias towards negative opinions. If you do a forum search you'll see what I mean.
Not really the same kind of thing, but I was wondering about giving this Toughseal stuff a try. Don't know what you think?
Hope that helps,
Richard
Having just had a full front-end respray, I was also wondering about paintwork protection and, in particular, Armourfend.
However, there seems to be a fairly mixed reaction towards this product, with a bias towards negative opinions. If you do a forum search you'll see what I mean.
Not really the same kind of thing, but I was wondering about giving this Toughseal stuff a try. Don't know what you think?
Hope that helps,
Richard
Steve,
Welcome to TVR ownership by the way...
I guess you are buying from Castle TVR? I got my new Tuscan S on 1st March with Cascade Copper...can't get more expensive than that! and I took their advice in getting the Armourfend, although I was informed that I could have got it cheaper elsewhere...I got Castle to do it as it was just convenient at the time.
There has been lots of debate on here as to whether its worth having or not but as with anything...its down to the guy who is spending his hard earned cash as to what additional investment he wishes to spend to protect his overall investment.
I think I know the colour you have gone for, the factory sent me this as a sample back in Feb which they were experimenting with it but I didn't go with it. But a guy who comes to the Mid-Essex meet did go with it and he got it delivered last month, it does look amazing & he has also gone with Armourfend. He has had 3/4 Tuscans over the last number of years and feels its a worthy investment...so hope this helps.
By the way if you are new to TVR ownership, why don't you go along to the Mid-Essex meet every 2nd Sunday of each month. This is turning into a huge event, last 2 months we had over 60 TVR's there. They are meeting this Sunday, although I will be at the Rockingham speedway this Sunday representing TVR for the parade lap.
If you want some details on the meet just let me know.
Alan.
Welcome to TVR ownership by the way...
I guess you are buying from Castle TVR? I got my new Tuscan S on 1st March with Cascade Copper...can't get more expensive than that! and I took their advice in getting the Armourfend, although I was informed that I could have got it cheaper elsewhere...I got Castle to do it as it was just convenient at the time.
There has been lots of debate on here as to whether its worth having or not but as with anything...its down to the guy who is spending his hard earned cash as to what additional investment he wishes to spend to protect his overall investment.
I think I know the colour you have gone for, the factory sent me this as a sample back in Feb which they were experimenting with it but I didn't go with it. But a guy who comes to the Mid-Essex meet did go with it and he got it delivered last month, it does look amazing & he has also gone with Armourfend. He has had 3/4 Tuscans over the last number of years and feels its a worthy investment...so hope this helps.
By the way if you are new to TVR ownership, why don't you go along to the Mid-Essex meet every 2nd Sunday of each month. This is turning into a huge event, last 2 months we had over 60 TVR's there. They are meeting this Sunday, although I will be at the Rockingham speedway this Sunday representing TVR for the parade lap.
If you want some details on the meet just let me know.
Alan.
RichardR said: Stephen,
Having just had a full front-end respray, I was also wondering about paintwork protection and, in particular, Armourfend.
However, there seems to be a fairly mixed reaction towards this product, with a bias towards negative opinions. If you do a forum search you'll see what I mean.
Not really the same kind of thing, but I was wondering about giving this Toughseal stuff a try. Don't know what you think?
Hope that helps,
Richard
Richard,
This sort of paint sealant is ok but when professionally applied it's quite expensive. Had it applied to a new red Type R Civic and it lasted about 3 months before the gloss finish it provided, faded and water stopped beading on the paintwork - always a sign of lack of polish/silicone etc.
So I went back to using Mer polish on the bodywork - which gives the same protection and isn't unrealistic in its claims and sealed it with Turtle Wax Diamond sealant. This lasts about three months... and it's cheaper.. Use this on the TVR as well...
Thanks for the tip off - it's always useful to get an opinion from someone who's actually used the product.
**999** said:
RichardR said: Stephen,
Having just had a full front-end respray, I was also wondering about paintwork protection and, in particular, Armourfend.
However, there seems to be a fairly mixed reaction towards this product, with a bias towards negative opinions. If you do a forum search you'll see what I mean.
Not really the same kind of thing, but I was wondering about giving this Toughseal stuff a try. Don't know what you think?
Hope that helps,
Richard
Richard,
This sort of paint sealant is ok but when professionally applied it's quite expensive. Had it applied to a new red Type R Civic and it lasted about 3 months before the gloss finish it provided, faded and water stopped beading on the paintwork - always a sign of lack of polish/silicone etc.
So I went back to using Mer polish on the bodywork - which gives the same protection and isn't unrealistic in its claims and sealed it with Turtle Wax Diamond sealant. This lasts about three months... and it's cheaper.. Use this on the TVR as well...
I think I'll check out the Mer polish - seems to get a general thumbs up. Try info@armourfend.com or www.armourfend.com they were very helpful after I collected dozens of stone chips after Bruntingthorpe.
Just gotta get the front resprayed before seriously considering the application of armourfend.
Rich
Just gotta get the front resprayed before seriously considering the application of armourfend.
Rich
Just been to a Palmer Motorsport day (by the way, the Jaguar JP1 is awesome and will be available as a trackday car for £35k) and the instructors there told me they covered the front of their cars in 'helicopter tape'(?)to protect them. Does anyone know what this is or was I having my leg pulled?
I have Armourfend on my Tamora. I have been very pleased with it, but there are a few provisos:-
1) It has gained a couple of indelible marks, I'm not sure what from, which are embedded in the plastic.
2) After a recent track day, the car sustained heavy stone damage, including paint break-up UNDER the Armourfend - but it was exceptional damage - prior to that, normal stone ships were conspicuous by their abscence.
3) It cost me £500 inc. fitting and fitter's travel costs.
4) It has yellowed slightly in some areas (behind the front wheels)
5) The kits are not large enough to cover all potential damage areas - I have stone chips above the line of the plastic, although again, these happened on the disastrous track day.
6) Yes, you can get plain sheets, on 30cm/60cm wide rolls. It's about £25 per foot of the 60cm stuff. Fitting could be a real diaster though!!
Overall, until my track day blues, I thought the stuff was great, and the best available, even though it's a bit of a compromise. I think it would look best on darker paints, which would not show the slight yellowing and indelible marks. It polishes up well, and if you keep the edges clean, it shouldn't show up the join.
"Helicopter tape"? See here
>> Edited by nubbin on Thursday 8th May 10:16
1) It has gained a couple of indelible marks, I'm not sure what from, which are embedded in the plastic.
2) After a recent track day, the car sustained heavy stone damage, including paint break-up UNDER the Armourfend - but it was exceptional damage - prior to that, normal stone ships were conspicuous by their abscence.
3) It cost me £500 inc. fitting and fitter's travel costs.
4) It has yellowed slightly in some areas (behind the front wheels)
5) The kits are not large enough to cover all potential damage areas - I have stone chips above the line of the plastic, although again, these happened on the disastrous track day.
6) Yes, you can get plain sheets, on 30cm/60cm wide rolls. It's about £25 per foot of the 60cm stuff. Fitting could be a real diaster though!!
Overall, until my track day blues, I thought the stuff was great, and the best available, even though it's a bit of a compromise. I think it would look best on darker paints, which would not show the slight yellowing and indelible marks. It polishes up well, and if you keep the edges clean, it shouldn't show up the join.
"Helicopter tape"? See here
>> Edited by nubbin on Thursday 8th May 10:16
I had the "helicopter tape" put over the Griff's main beam lamps after the last time I had to replace one. It was recommended to me by Steve Howard (Insane Racing) as the stuff they put on their race Tuscans.
I personally don't like the look of Armourfend as you will always get the ridge line around te edge of the coating. You also can't polish the car properly IMO because you can never polish the paint work under the plastic. However, it's your money so it's your choice. If you have it fitted you will have to have something exceptional happen before needing a re-spray.
My 92 Griff has more stone chips along the nearside sill than on the nose but careful application of touch up paint an it's not very noticeable. That might be partly down to the colour though.
I personally don't like the look of Armourfend as you will always get the ridge line around te edge of the coating. You also can't polish the car properly IMO because you can never polish the paint work under the plastic. However, it's your money so it's your choice. If you have it fitted you will have to have something exceptional happen before needing a re-spray.
My 92 Griff has more stone chips along the nearside sill than on the nose but careful application of touch up paint an it's not very noticeable. That might be partly down to the colour though.
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