I know some people here have had their hoods resprayed due to rock chips. Im thinking of getting this done and then later having a clearbra installed. There is a local shop that is very good and does high end cars - ferraris, porsche, etc. They do a steller job and bake the paint properly after spraying. But I've heard some people say that aftermarket paint is not as strong as the original. is this true? Will the new paint on the hood be more vulnerable to debris (on areas that are not covered by the clearbra)?

Id like to hear opinions from people that have had their hoods repainted. Is it worth it? Or should I just leave it alone. I just bought an 03 TT. And the hood has quite a few small nicks and a couple big ones.

 

I think everyone will agree that original factory paint is the best, but if you want to cover up those nicks then go ahead and repaint it and then have ventureshield applied...I have heard that they have a clear bra pattern that will cover the entire hood...

 

that is for sure. quality isn't the same as durability. u can get better quality finish than OE paint but the durability on OE paint is hard to beat. btw, u can't apply clearbra right after fresh paint otherwise u'll have more problem later. at least wait for a month for the paint to cure but if u drive within the time frame most likely u'll get chips again. my honest opinion, since it's not a new car why not just enjoy as is. u'll feel better knowing painting it is always an option later to make it perfect so why bother now.

 

thanks for the suggestions. Well I have other cars, so I can definitely avoid highway driving until I get the clearbra installed. City driving should be okay I think.. I usually drive with plenty of room in front of me. It's just that when you get something new, you want it to be perfect.

 

completely understand that part.

 

my car is in a very reputable shop right now and they quoted me $800 to re-spray the front bumper (not the hood.) pretty good deal and probably worthwhile to do every 4 years or so. i've never had a car that attracted rocks like this car.

- chuck

 

dude, you are getting jacked if they are charging $800 to respray a bumper with no damage.

 

I got quoted around $400 for just the bumper. This is from a shop thats highly recommended. Theyve also worked on my other car and did an excellent job.

 

there's your typical road damage - plus, my color is (presumably) harder to color-match since it's pretty metallic.

it's regarded as the best shop in the area so it sounds like a good enough deal for me.

- chuck

 

whats the recommended wait time before waxing?