Ok, my car goes to the body shop on July 2 for striping. I've discussed with the shop owner at length about having the stripes painted on versus installing a pre-cut kit such as RiderGraphix. According to him, to do the stripes right, he recommends roughing up each panel, laying out and painting the stripes and then re-clear coating the panels affected by the design (retro-Boss 302 style).

That is going to be a LOT more than I want to spend but I'm not ruling it out.

But he also said that the tape kits are good quality items and if down the road you want to change design or remove them altogether, it was a piece a cake. True...

However, he also showed me a brand new Roush Stage 1 that was in for a tape stripe repair since the owner was a little too aggressive with the power washer in trying to remove bugs from the front fascia. He had a 10" tear in the stripe!

So - would you suck up the expense and just paint the stripes on OR, would you go with the Vinyl kit and save several hundred dollars? I'm also going to paint the area between the tail lights, the rear spoiler, both rockers, and the lower lip/flange of both bumper assemblies.

Opinions?

 

I put vinyl on, but I'm saving my money to have em painted on. I keep catching the edge when I wash. Got a couple little nicks that way. I'd love to have clearcoated stripes. Man, that would be soooo much sweeter. If I did go vinyl ever again though I'd have em profesionally installed. I'm to much of a perfectionist, and the little bad spots bug me.

 

Why don't you just use a sharpie?

 

If you plan on keeping the car for longer than say 5 years, then paint them on. Its worth it in the long run, as you'll need to replace the vinyl stripes after that long of time.

 

Paint them on! they look better and if you go with a metaflake paint it gives it that little extra look you can't get from vinyl.

 

Painted stripes don't distort the clear finish.Here is a pic of my 06'GT and the 07'GT.Check out the reflection.

 

I did the same thing. I'm going to have mine painted next year after I return from my next trip to the Middle East courtesy of Uncle Sam.

 

Spend the money and paint them on.

Richard

 

Mine came painted and if I had to do it I would have had them painted. It cost more but it adds value to your car. Anything else seems a waste in the long run. People alwalys feel my strips to see if its painted or that other stuff

 

Your car is BEAUTIFUL!

Thanks for the reply!

 

I wasted $300 by going vinyl first. I ended up having my stripes painted 3-4 months later. Don't waste the money on a stripe kit and install that you will be unhappy with within a year (maybe less). It is well worth it to paint them and it sounds to me like he is going to do it the right way!!!!!!!

 

Even with painted stripes,people are always checking to see or feel if there is a ridge.I hate nit picky folks who can't keep there fingers up their nose instead.

 

But wont you have a grin on your face when they cant find the hard edge there looking for?

Go big or go home! Haha