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Money saving in a round about way...

Taadaa
Taadaa Posts: 2,113 Forumite
I have got a new beetle as of last week, and although it will mostly be weekend driving, I will do alot of motorway/dual carriageway driving.

Basically I want to purchase a cover for the bumper and part of the bonnet to protect against stone chips. Cheapest one I have seen was £125 :eek: and ideas where I can get one cheaper?
I have had many Light Bulb Moments. The trouble is someone keeps turning the bulb off :o

1% over payments on cc 3.5/100 (March 2014)

Comments

  • anewman
    anewman Posts: 9,200 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    £125 doesn't seem bad considering how much a full re-spray of a panel from stone chips would cost, although I do not know how good or bad these covers look.

    Have you tried ebay?
  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,082 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    My father in law had to have his rear bumper looked at and resprayed in two places. That cost £120!

    You can't control where the chips are is the problem. I've just washed my car today and I do all fast road driving. I've got two around the front bumper area where you'd expect, but there's a lovely one on the bonnet and one on the passenger door.

    What do these covers look like? They sound horrendous :o Like leaving the plastic wrapping on your dining chairs.
    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
  • Taadaa
    Taadaa Posts: 2,113 Forumite
    Lol they aren't that awful - it's not just the cost though, its the inconvenience as well - I would find it hard to get around without a car if it had to go in for a few days.

    http://www.red9design.co.uk/newbeetle.htm but this is just for the bonnet cover, ideally I would want one that covers the bumper as well. I did find one for eighty dollars, but I don't want to get caught out with some tax. E bay has a similar just bonnet one, but again not bumper.
    I have had many Light Bulb Moments. The trouble is someone keeps turning the bulb off :o

    1% over payments on cc 3.5/100 (March 2014)
  • vikingaero
    vikingaero Posts: 10,921 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    All cars get stone chips - it's a fact of life.

    In 3 years time if I saw your car for sale I'd think it could have had a respray due to accident damage as the paintwork would be out of character with the rest of the car.

    As you drive mainly at weekends there are often fewer trucks on the road. The simple cheap solution is to hang back further from the car or lorry in front.
    The man without a signature.
  • i agree with the dining chair comment,a good way to describe these things.
    i think they look terrible,cars will get stone chipped,as others have said its a fact of motoring.
    the front bumper is plastic so it wont rust,so just wait til you decide to sell it on and have it touched up.
    ...work permit granted!
  • Taadaa wrote: »
    I have got a new beetle as of last week, and although it will mostly be weekend driving, I will do alot of motorway/dual carriageway driving.

    Basically I want to purchase a cover for the bumper and part of the bonnet to protect against stone chips. Cheapest one I have seen was £125 :eek: and ideas where I can get one cheaper?

    Just don't drive too close to the !!!! end of the car you're following. Even cheaper..
  • steveo3002
    steveo3002 Posts: 2,731 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    if your on about the black vynil covers...be aware certain conditions like damp hot days can ruin the paint if moisture sits under it
  • Or it'll end up like them people who put door "protectors" on the edge of doors to stop them gettin bashed. But they just collect grit and make a right mess underneath...
  • They are very popular in the states. They're called a Bra over there.

    http://www.car-stuff.com/volkswagenbra.htm

    Just buy from the US, and have them courier it to you. It'll be a lot cheaper even with shipping and tax.
  • custardy
    custardy Posts: 38,365 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    those things are !!!!!!.i dont get the point of buying a car for its design and then ruining it?
    you can get clear adhesive panels ot protect paintwork which is a better option but tbh i would just keep the car clean and very well polished.
    if its an issue then use a company that comes to you to fix small paint issues
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