Common Misconceptions

[Kiske]

Waterborne paint is required depending on the location that the vehicle is painted in VOC regulations. In the US Cali is the only state that required waterborne paints to be used.

As far as durability... the clearcoat used over waterborne paints is the exact same low-voc urethane clears used on solvent based paints... The solvent based clears actually adhere better to water-based paints. In regards to Subi/Yota's finish being sub-par it is mostly because of how little paint is applied. The more paint they put on a car the more money they spend. OEM manufactures have it down to the smallest amount. With the twins it really shows in the clear coat which is orange-peel filled due to a lighter amount of paint being applied. Less clear = less protections.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Pegasus

Impressive, a 2nd layer of opti coat eh. Hmmm, my plan has always been to get all of these in this order ASAP after I receive my FR-S
3M Crystalline window tint for UV protection and to keep the heat out so my interior doesn't bake. Gets upwards of 100F here in Houston.
Then Opti coat, then clear Bra and finally some 3M vinyl bits.
The 2nd Opti coat seems to be a good idea. How much did the 2 opticoats and Bra cost? My only problem now is to find good shops to do all this stuff.

The 2nd coat of Opti-coat is key, since you no longer have that protection once the clear bra has been applied. Think of the clear bra as your paint, since it does have a clear coat as well. The difference in applying Opti-coat to clear bra is that the installer will need to use a few extra layers of application since the clear bra soaks up the Opti-coat like a sponge.

[Alexm_09]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

I have a full clear bra on the front bumper, hood and fenders. I guarantee you wouldn't be able to tell.

Agree, i have one as well and I'm glad i got it! the few parts not covered are the only ones with rock chips

[993Fan]

Skip the clear bra, learn how to take care of the paint and enjoy it.

The plastic gets dinged up and scratched and looks worse than honest road rash on the paint.

[Seattle944t]

Originally Posted by Pegasus

I highly doubt it is an entirely different shock, with such a minor difference in suspension feel and the basic idea of the twins to be affordable: I am more than willing to bet it is slightly tuned or modified shock compared to the BRZ.

The shock housing is the same, but the valving between the twins is completely different. This has been stated in several articles about the twins from the engineering teams.

[Seattle944t]

Originally Posted by Pegasus

I have seen a car with a similar white pearl paint that my FR-S will have. Unfortunately the Clear Bra on this car was quite noticeable. I am debating having only Opti guard but I believe that I may indeed end up with the Clear Bra.

Xpel clear bras are completely transparent and super thin. It's hard to see even at the edges where most show a clear line due to the thickness.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by 993Fan

Skip the clear bra, learn how to take care of the paint and enjoy it.

The plastic gets dinged up and scratched and looks worse than honest road rash on the paint.

I'm in 993Fan's camp on this one.

I had a 06 miata that I put 88,000 hard road miles on and yes, it had "patina", but I viewed that as a badge of the road warrier it was (picture below).


So far, my FR-S (8,000 miles) has yet to collect its first hint of patina........ Maybe I jest don't see as good anymore ....

Besides, at age 71, who am I saving my FR-S for ?? .....

humfrz

[Mad1723]

Originally Posted by humfrz

I'm in 993Fan's camp on this one.

I had a 06 miata that I put 88,000 hard road miles on and yes, it had "patina", but I viewed that as a badge of the road warrier it was (picture below).


So far, my FR-S (8,000 miles) has yet to collect its first hint of patina........ Maybe I jest don't see as good anymore ....

Besides, at age 71, who am I saving my FR-S for ?? .....

humfrz

This car was made for driving. I get some people love to take care of the paint, me first, but it's not worth crying over every scratch. War marks!

[DylanFRS]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

3M. Had the car paint corrected, then Opti-coated, then clear bra done. A final coat of Opti-coat sealed the deal (pun totally intended). Anyway, yeah the clear bra is not noticeable at all and has saved my front end over and over.

I'll never buy a new car ever again and not get it done, and I've always had the same reservations you are having.

Ouch, how much did all of this cost?

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by dem00n

Different shocks? First time i've heard this....

Springs, yes...shocks?

Early articles and test drives claimed that they had different damping rates, mostly in the rear. This is what the OP meant by 'different shocks', that they have different valvings internally, not a huge difference but a difference nonetheless.

http://teinusa-blog.com/fr-s-or-brz/

A vendor who dyno'd the dampers claims they are the same between FRS/BRZ:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...9&postcount=19
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24324
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10416

It's all irrelevant though, if your just trying to be a punk and get sideways on public roads either will do and if you are actually going to compete and learn every nuance of the suspension you'll end up with an aftermarket setup anyway.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by DylanFRS

Ouch, how much did all of this cost?

I don't remember exactly. I little over a grand? I wasn't charged for the additional layer of Opti-coat on top of the clear bra.

[Frost]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

I have a full clear bra on the front bumper, hood and fenders. I guarantee you wouldn't be able to tell.

I also used the 3M clear bra on my car (done via 3M Trimline in Mississauga) and love that shit. My Echo hatch was used and it was already in meh shape on the front from previous road rash but I still threw it on since it would prevent more damage.

In all my trips to Quebec City and Montreal, I have yanked out more stones and crap out of it than I have fingers. None of them made it to the paint - definitely approve of this product.

Where did you get your OptiCoat done?

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Frost

I also used the 3M clear bra on my car (done via 3M Trimline in Mississauga) and love that shit. My Echo hatch was used and it was already in meh shape on the front from previous road rash but I still threw it on since it would prevent more damage.

In all my trips to Quebec City and Montreal, I have yanked out more stones and crap out of it than I have fingers. None of them made it to the paint - definitely approve of this product.

Where did you get your OptiCoat done?

I got it done at GTA In Detail in Mississauga.

[ZionsWrath]

If I did it again I would get a clear bra on the front bumper. The chips look god awful. I thought it would be OK without it since my last car (a 2003) factory painted bumper held up well for 60k miles.