I like the microfiber towels for waxing... until they get dropped ONE TIME, and then they need to go right in the trash. Same for the applicator pads. Washing hasn't gotten the little bits of crap out, and I can now state with absolute assurance that vinyl striping looks like hell if you scratch it.

Also curious if anyone has any tricks to get the 'stain' from birdiepooh off the striping. I'm talking about the lingering reminder that somebody left the poop on there too long.

 

You can very carefully try goo gone. Also, I think Mother's has some products that can clean stripes. They're upholstery stuff will clean vinyl, and they have a protectant too.

 

Are the OTT stripes paint or vinyl? I had just assumed they were paint, but I've never looked too close. Seems like vinyl wouldn't hold up all that well, and $675 is a lot to charge for some tape.

 

Mine are a dealer add-on, but I think the factory is tape also. Don't really know.

Thanks... I'll look at the Mother's next time I'm out.

 

Painted stripes on a Ford GT were a $5,000 option. Mustangs get vinyl stripes. Ford sucks putting them on.

 

Man that makes no sense to me. When I bought my Mazda3 a couple years ago, it had the cheesiest tape pin striping on it when I went to look at it. I had them remove it immediately and take it off the bill. It just peeled right off by hand and there was no trace of it after one good car wash. I can't imagine how that would hold up over a few years of daily driving.

I guess it looks like I'll be saving some money on my eventual order then. Thanks.

(Sorry for the slight hijacking!)

 

Ford doesn't know which shells will be which model when they get painted. It'd be insane to pull say GT500 off the line and put it back in the paint booth for stripes for a reasonable cost.

 

Try some quick detailer and/or clay with it. Should take it off without damaging the stripe itself.

 

Bon-Ami works great on stripes. I used it with great success before.

 

"Hasn't scratched yet!"

 

Isn't that a glass foam cleaner ! Works great on glass, but vinyl stripes. I don't know.