Looking for LeMans style stripes for my V6 coupe with low profile spoiler. Two wide stripes, over the top & bumper areas. Found the best?!? at Express Graphics, pre-cut and shaped to follow body contouring, but looks like they overlap in areas. Won't that look like crap where overlapped? More of a chance for lifting & peeling? I'm not going to install these myself, but wondering if even a pro install will have issues. Any advise (besides paint, which is too many $$$ and issues with any body repairs - the wife drives this, too!) would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

Overlapping with vinyl is a necessaty due to the contours of the body. Most of the overlaps will be on the bottom sides of the bumpers and barely visible. Next time you go to a show, look at some of the striped cars. See how close you have to be to see the lines. Ive done mine twice and most people think they are painted until they touch them and feel the vinyl. Check to see what kind of vinyl they use. 3 m metallic vinyl has a criss cross patern in it that I didnt care for. Thats why I switched to oracal vinyl. Much glossier due to the smoother surface. KEEP THE STRIPES CLEAN!!!!!! Keep a bottle of vinyl/rubber cleaner/protectant in the car. The vinyl will stain faster than paint, so it must be cleaned and kept moist. I use mequires, but there are quite a few great products availible. If your having someone install them, see if they have a preferred place to get their stripes or a certain brand they like to use. Most quality installers will. If they just dont care and "use anything", I would shop around some more.

 

Bird pooh will stain my vinyl stripes in a matter of a couple hours. That's just **** near unmanageable in real life.

 

It seems to me that it would be far better in the long run to have the stripes painted on the car. The stripe kits are about $200. Figure another couple hundred to get them installed... $500 USD after tax. How much more would it be for paint? Maybe another $500? And then you wouldn't have to worry.

 

http://www.stangmods.com/2010-Mustan...es-p/00507.htm

$200. Use "stangmods" as a coupon code and you'll save $10.

 

Thanks for the good advice. My local body shop would paint them on for $500. The RIGHT paint job is more like $1500. Difference is proper prep, clear coat, etc. And if I ever have problems (dents, rock chips, God forbid an accident), vinyl much easier to replace. So I went ahead and had vinyl done yesterday. Hope you all like the pics.

My stripe "guy" stated that a problem with the kits out there is not only quality of the vinyl, but also the age. Says they start to go bad after several months; vinyl striping has a shelf life. Not so sure I subscribe to that, but he's done awesome work and seems to know his stuff.

One last thing - you mention the stripes stain easily. I've got crap water where I live, and water stains a constant frustration when I wash the car (even with the best car wash soap that is supposed to repel spotting). Not sure I want to use anything even mildly aggressive to clean the vinyl (like diluted CLR). Suggestions?

 

That right there looks REALLY hot!

 

Get a water filter for your wash water hose, one that filters out the stuff in the water that leaves the hard water spots.