armourfend or not to armourfend !!!!!!!
Discussion
I've had an Elise which was so heavily chipped I had some protection film put on my Exige as soon as I got it.
It's not "Armourfend", but is much cheaper, stronger and can be cut to individual car shapes on the car, so you can decide how much or little to have.
You can see it, but it's not too noticeable. It's in this months Evo (Exige buying guide) and it hardly shows up in the pics at all.
I'm considering a Tuscan S (or R !) and I'm in two minds as to do it or not since they are so beautiful
Mark
It's not "Armourfend", but is much cheaper, stronger and can be cut to individual car shapes on the car, so you can decide how much or little to have.
You can see it, but it's not too noticeable. It's in this months Evo (Exige buying guide) and it hardly shows up in the pics at all.
I'm considering a Tuscan S (or R !) and I'm in two minds as to do it or not since they are so beautiful
Mark
I went through this debate - decided not to get it and I'm now very glad. Apart from the fact I think it looks rubbish (would you do this to a Ferrari for example ?) how do the stones know where to hit the car ? I reckoned if I got bad chips I would be better off spending the money respraying and making the car look like new again. Luckily (?) I've only got one stone chip on my car - and guess what - it wouldn't have been where the amourfend would have been.
Cheers,
Andy.
Cheers,
Andy.
Nick Elliott said: Front srvice bonnet respray cost about 150 GBP + VAT and that is for a pearl colour, front bonnet Armoufend 109 GBP + VAT + fitting so not such a big difference.
Nick
Nick, where did you get that quote from? Seems very reasonable. Was it from a reputable TVR paintshop/dealer? Even after only seven months, my service bonnet could do with a makeover. Reluctant to use anyone unknown!
Yes I had the front of my old Griffith resprayed at TMSs body shop. Damn good job, and only cost £220 ish IIRC?
Saw some Tuscans at Donington last weekend with armourfend. Must admit I didn't like it.
Don't seem to have any stone chips on front of new Tuscan after 2200 miles....
So there's no way I'd get it armourfended.
Saw some Tuscans at Donington last weekend with armourfend. Must admit I didn't like it.
Don't seem to have any stone chips on front of new Tuscan after 2200 miles....
So there's no way I'd get it armourfended.
Not wishing to labour a point, but why is my front end so chipped but other people post no marks at all!!! Hubbie was at Essex meet Sunday and saw an older Tusc of similar colour but perfect paint. And before you say anything, no I dont drive close to the car in front, yes I do drive fast (within the law of course)
Am I just unlucky?
Am I just unlucky?
lady topaz said: Thanks guys. At the risk of sounding really D'oh what and where is the TMS bodyshop?
Just here: www.tmstvr.co.uk/
They're at Melton Mowbray in Leics.
Cheers Paul
s2k said:
lady topaz said: Thanks guys. At the risk of sounding really D'oh what and where is the TMS bodyshop?
Just here: www.tmstvr.co.uk/
They're at Melton Mowbray in Leics.
Cheers Paul
Thanks Paul, will give them a call and suss them out. Interested to hear what they quote hmmm!
lady topaz said: Not wishing to labour a point, but why is my front end so chipped but other people post no marks at all!!! Hubbie was at Essex meet Sunday and saw an older Tusc of similar colour but perfect paint. And before you say anything, no I dont drive close to the car in front, yes I do drive fast (within the law of course)
It's really down to the paint quality, the orignal paint on the front of mine seemed to chip quiet easily and the cheese grater went really strange I think they called it micro blistering & was re-painted by TMS under warranty & is still perfect.The main and service bonnets have both been re-painted twice since leaving the factory as there was a defect in the paint the first time on the main bonnet and the service bonnet did have a couple of small stone chips & they tend to show up a lot on Atlantis Helycon.The paint work now is even better than new & due to the numerious coats of paint seems more resistant to stone chipping.
Nick
Nick Elliott said:
lady topaz said: Not wishing to labour a point, but why is my front end so chipped but other people post no marks at all!!! Hubbie was at Essex meet Sunday and saw an older Tusc of similar colour but perfect paint. And before you say anything, no I dont drive close to the car in front, yes I do drive fast (within the law of course)
Really think this is something I need to investigate further. You may be right Nick, but I cant believe the state of my service bonnet. Looks like its been tracked,(which it has'nt) Maybe the finish was poor to start with! Thanks as always for your assist.
It's really down to the paint quality, the orignal paint on the front of mine seemed to chip quiet easily and the cheese grater went really strange I think they called it micro blistering & was re-painted by TMS under warranty & is still perfect.The main and service bonnets have both been re-painted twice since leaving the factory as there was a defect in the paint the first time on the main bonnet and the service bonnet did have a couple of small stone chips & they tend to show up a lot on Atlantis Helycon.The paint work now is even better than new & due to the numerious coats of paint seems more resistant to stone chipping.
Nick
Ah well then! I've had most of my amourfend removed from my nero black tuscan S. The front panel looked awful but I've left bits on where the rear part of the roof connects, where the boot lid closes, and the top of the rear spoiler and around the two rear wheel arches. My thinking is that if I have to pay for the front panel to be sprayed occasionally (yearly?) so what 
Regarding paint chips, I was told that TVR had reformulated the paint to make it 'softer' as the previous formula was so hard it was very prone to chipping. Later cars should not suffer from the front end chipping as much as earlier models due to this change. Hence the respray being harder wearing than the original.
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