I LOVE THIS CAR !!!
Discussion
Robert,
The full kit including fitting is somewhere north of £500. It's the only way of significantly reducing stone chips (no wax can at several microns thick, despite what the bottle says) but you can see the edges especially when you get white polish in them. I've fitted a few bits myself (the easy flat ones with no visible edges), not recommended as a DIY task!
The full kit including fitting is somewhere north of £500. It's the only way of significantly reducing stone chips (no wax can at several microns thick, despite what the bottle says) but you can see the edges especially when you get white polish in them. I've fitted a few bits myself (the easy flat ones with no visible edges), not recommended as a DIY task!
Lance,
It's the thought of the edges of the Armourfend that would put me off. I was also told recently that on light coloured cars it can go slightly yellow after a couple of years, although I don't know how true this is?
I recently read a thread about the Zymol polish where someone had applied it to a Subaru. Apparently after 8 months driving, he had only picked up one stone chip, (although he didn't say how many miles had been covered), so I thought it's worth a try.
It's the thought of the edges of the Armourfend that would put me off. I was also told recently that on light coloured cars it can go slightly yellow after a couple of years, although I don't know how true this is?
I recently read a thread about the Zymol polish where someone had applied it to a Subaru. Apparently after 8 months driving, he had only picked up one stone chip, (although he didn't say how many miles had been covered), so I thought it's worth a try.
I have Armourfend on the bottom part of the airdam of my Subaru P1 - it does seem to work quite well, but it is noticable. Haven't been tempted to do it on the TVR, as as far as I can see the cost of it is about the same as a couple of bonnet resprays.
cheers,
Craig
>> Edited by craigalsop on Wednesday 17th July 09:27
cheers,
Craig
>> Edited by craigalsop on Wednesday 17th July 09:27
they sound compelling but alas! I recall a discussion in this last week in another TVR thread, I remember nubbin having a good reply (u there duncs?). The end choice is you either go the armourfend route of resign yourself to a respray every few years (also about £500)depending how perfect you want to keep the car. I'm inclined towards the latter but I'm interested in how the armourfended cars perform
...I think the car's aerodynamic shape plays a part too. I had an Imprezza for 20k miles which strangely suffered almost no stone chips or bird strikes, yet I've wacked two crows already at not particularly high speed in the Tamora. I just dunno...
Having said that if I got round to it I'd Zymol mine just for the looks and finish. I cheat with Halfords non-abrasive/non-residue quick wax. It's quick...!
Having said that if I got round to it I'd Zymol mine just for the looks and finish. I cheat with Halfords non-abrasive/non-residue quick wax. It's quick...!
ARMOURFEND
I have the full Armourfend kit, ca. 513 quid fitted at TMS on new car.
Up to now I am fairly happy- 2200 miles and only one chip. Sods Law It is on the wing about an inch further up than the Armourfend.
One point: I have noticed that dead insect residue-yellowish in colour cannot be removed from the Armourfend even if car is washed immediately after the drive during which the insect gave its life headbutting my car. Abrasives cannot be used. Are there any specilist cleaners for Armourfend?
NUMBERPLATE
Lance,
I have also thought about a smaller plate-it helped alot on my Griff 500. However I am worried about the rad as well. Just look at all the dead insects on it let alone stone damage etc. How about a mesh and then a smaller plate?
By the way in spite of no ABS and that absolutely infuriating seatbelt crap when the hood is down the car is fab
ALTHOUGH a Tamora S 390bhp 4 litre and with carbon body like the Tuscan R and Tuscan S brakes and seats would be something to aspire to in 2 years time
I have the full Armourfend kit, ca. 513 quid fitted at TMS on new car.
Up to now I am fairly happy- 2200 miles and only one chip. Sods Law It is on the wing about an inch further up than the Armourfend.
One point: I have noticed that dead insect residue-yellowish in colour cannot be removed from the Armourfend even if car is washed immediately after the drive during which the insect gave its life headbutting my car. Abrasives cannot be used. Are there any specilist cleaners for Armourfend?
NUMBERPLATE
Lance,
I have also thought about a smaller plate-it helped alot on my Griff 500. However I am worried about the rad as well. Just look at all the dead insects on it let alone stone damage etc. How about a mesh and then a smaller plate?
By the way in spite of no ABS and that absolutely infuriating seatbelt crap when the hood is down the car is fab
ALTHOUGH a Tamora S 390bhp 4 litre and with carbon body like the Tuscan R and Tuscan S brakes and seats would be something to aspire to in 2 years time
Check it out Gentlemen,
I just got my TVR website up, finally... The article will be published in the American TVR Times. But it wont be possible to have all the information that's on the site in the magazine article. The whole site is devoted to the restoration and upgrade of my 1971 TVR 2500. I'd greatly appreciate any input you could supply. Here's the website address:
www.greateasternsalvage.com/TVR/okay_everyone.htm
I just got my TVR website up, finally... The article will be published in the American TVR Times. But it wont be possible to have all the information that's on the site in the magazine article. The whole site is devoted to the restoration and upgrade of my 1971 TVR 2500. I'd greatly appreciate any input you could supply. Here's the website address:
www.greateasternsalvage.com/TVR/okay_everyone.htm
The Tamora now has a coat of Zymol Titanium Wax, (starter kit £109, which included car wash, pre-cleaner, titanium wax, leather treatment and a few applicators), so I'll keep an eye on the situation with stone chips.
THe pre-cleaner, (HD-Cleanse), was pretty hard work, but the paint surface was noticeably smoother afterwards, despite the fact that my car has presumably been polished at the factory/dealer fairly recently.
The wax itself was a doddle. You melt it in your hands and then use the palm of your hand to apply it to the body work, (I think the neighbours may have thought I was applying suncream to the new car to protect it
), leave it for 60 - 90 seconds and buff it off with the supplied cloth. Another bonus is that it doesn't leave the usual white dust all over the bodywork that you sometimes get with other products.
The smell was amazing, (more like a product from Body Shop than a car polish
). I just hope it's protective qualities are as good.
THe pre-cleaner, (HD-Cleanse), was pretty hard work, but the paint surface was noticeably smoother afterwards, despite the fact that my car has presumably been polished at the factory/dealer fairly recently.
The wax itself was a doddle. You melt it in your hands and then use the palm of your hand to apply it to the body work, (I think the neighbours may have thought I was applying suncream to the new car to protect it
), leave it for 60 - 90 seconds and buff it off with the supplied cloth. Another bonus is that it doesn't leave the usual white dust all over the bodywork that you sometimes get with other products. The smell was amazing, (more like a product from Body Shop than a car polish
). I just hope it's protective qualities are as good.I'm here Lance! I wish you'd mentioned your stereo a couple of days ago - I've just sent off for a new one, even though it hasn't arrived yet!
My front end respray has been costed at nearly £1000 - I appreciate that it is an insurance job, but that's a lot of money. They're doing the bonnet to make sure it matches. I think Armourfend is a better invesment than constant resprays. Stone chips are visible, and yo'll get fed up with them, and balancing up the look of a chipped car, against "when to re-spray".
I'm also having the rear undertray body-coloured - only £70, and I think it brings the rear end together - I asked for this when I ordered, but of course that wasn't possible, said the factory!
Grigio - a coat of Zymol over the Armourfend might be the way to stop both yellowing from insect juices, and from UV light, although Armourfend told me it doesn't yellow. Just a thought.
Oh, and the Insurance company Punto? Well, this week, I are mostly driving a E-class Merc 200 Kompressor!! Nice upgrade from an Omega! Nice car, but a raucous engine (quick though) a notchy auto 'box, and flimsy, mass market interior. Even Merc are building down to a price these days...
>> Edited by nubbin on Tuesday 16th July 20:47
My front end respray has been costed at nearly £1000 - I appreciate that it is an insurance job, but that's a lot of money. They're doing the bonnet to make sure it matches. I think Armourfend is a better invesment than constant resprays. Stone chips are visible, and yo'll get fed up with them, and balancing up the look of a chipped car, against "when to re-spray".
I'm also having the rear undertray body-coloured - only £70, and I think it brings the rear end together - I asked for this when I ordered, but of course that wasn't possible, said the factory!
Grigio - a coat of Zymol over the Armourfend might be the way to stop both yellowing from insect juices, and from UV light, although Armourfend told me it doesn't yellow. Just a thought.
Oh, and the Insurance company Punto? Well, this week, I are mostly driving a E-class Merc 200 Kompressor!! Nice upgrade from an Omega! Nice car, but a raucous engine (quick though) a notchy auto 'box, and flimsy, mass market interior. Even Merc are building down to a price these days...
>> Edited by nubbin on Tuesday 16th July 20:47
I've seen some amourfended cars in dealers, and they still get stonechips! on the armourfend area
not quite stonechips, but marks/dents,etc.
Plus you still see the edges and you can't repair a dent in the armourfend.
I have had very good results with the MER stonechip kit, it takes a bit of practice (non visible chip first!) and a bit of courage (sanding down wet/dry and polish pads with the electric drill)
it also polishes out light surface scratches/etc.
My 4 year old griff now looks near perfect (when washed and polished) from a few feet.
The ones I've done well I can't find, and others the repair is just visible(but much better)
If you are prepared to spend the time, I would recommend this/ and save the money for an eventual respray(non-insurance rates).
I'll probably treat my car to a respray when it's 7-8 years old. I'm contuously torn between driving it and not caring about paintwork, to polishing it and admiring it in the gararge :-)
Tough life, isn't it.
PS you can get the kit in Halfords, the video you get with it is quite good.
Barry
not quite stonechips, but marks/dents,etc.
Plus you still see the edges and you can't repair a dent in the armourfend.
I have had very good results with the MER stonechip kit, it takes a bit of practice (non visible chip first!) and a bit of courage (sanding down wet/dry and polish pads with the electric drill)
it also polishes out light surface scratches/etc.
My 4 year old griff now looks near perfect (when washed and polished) from a few feet.
The ones I've done well I can't find, and others the repair is just visible(but much better)
If you are prepared to spend the time, I would recommend this/ and save the money for an eventual respray(non-insurance rates).
I'll probably treat my car to a respray when it's 7-8 years old. I'm contuously torn between driving it and not caring about paintwork, to polishing it and admiring it in the gararge :-)
Tough life, isn't it.
PS you can get the kit in Halfords, the video you get with it is quite good.
Barry
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