All,

Wanted to check with everyone that has put on vinyl racing stripes. I would like to put white stripes on my red car but wandering on the longevity of the stripes. Was thinking about getting the stripes from houseofgraphix. Anyone that has done this, how good is the quality, how long have you had the stripes on and how are the stripes holding up? Since I live in San Antonio, Tx., I am worried about the vinyl cracking or fading due to sun. Also worried that they will only last a year or two and then look crappy. If I take the stripes off later, will the paint be noticibly fades where the stripes were not put? (will it be obvious that I had stripes if I take them off). I like the looks of having the stripes but don't have the money to have them painted on and just wanting to know what I would be getting into with vinyl stripes.

Thanks in advance,

Rich

 

I used to have vinyl stripes, had them for about 2 years. Took them off a few weeks ago because they got sun damaged after 2 years. Starting peeling/cracking/fading...taking them off was a bitch but after some polish and clay you can't tell they were there. Do NOT buy precut stripes. Go to a vinyl shop or sign shop and have them get you 3 10ft strips. I paid $60 for materials when I did mine. Install is easy if you take your time. I'm eventually getting new ones on, but probably painted this time.

 

no dont add any

 

do it. dont listen to the haters stripes look good on these cars when done right. Shoud last ya a few years too. Well worth the money IMO

 

i have stripes and love em, gonna get them redone this summer, after 2 years and 2 winters they are damaged a little bit.

 

Cool.. So about two years is the norm. Then need to be replaced. Is there anything that can be put on the vinyl to get them to last longer?

 

probobly not. its big stickers. Thers only so much you can do, but there also not expensive. Just replace in 2 years and your good. You can probobly get longer then that depending on if you park in the shade, etc. Its just the sun beating on the vinyl that ruins it after a long time. same thign with paint though

 

i have the fender stripes on mine and love them. and houseofgrafix is amazing i love them. great to deal with.

 

I actually have a buddy that does vinyl graphics. If you send him an email he can let you know the "tricks" to getting stripes that will last for a long time. He can probably even make you the stripes and I will let him use my car for a template if he needs it. His email is mike.zaiz@graffitiunltd.com.

 

I bought my car with vinyl stripes.. looked really bad in time. So I got them painted.
Even though there are things to make vinyl look good for a long time, I would not put stickers of any sort on my car. Just my 2 cents.

Here is paint compared to vinyl on my car.

 

my mothers mustang had vinyl stripes on since 2005 and i just painted them on this year, and they still looked pretty good when i took them off. was 1 crack on the trunk, that was really it

 

Still stickers... Save em for tha vtak.

 

Still a 4 banger Econobox with more expensive black lines on the car! lol. OP its up to you IDGAF what you choose, all im saying is with any decent vinyl you can have the look you want that will last a decent amount of time. Paint will have a better gloss and look nicer, but its also alot more money. Choose your battle

 

If the vinyl is done right it should not fade as long as it is applied and taken care of correctly. Most business use vinyl for all their vehicle graphics, even police cars that are subjected to weather 100% of the time, and even after 3 or 4 years the vinyl still looks good.

The difference is price is also a huge factor. Vinyl stripes are what, like $100 or $150? Getting them painted on *properly* is probably going to cost at least $500. With vinyl you can always take them off if you need to or want to.

 

I went a little off the beaten path with my stripes.

 

And when you get tired of them or want to change the color just peel the old off and put the new on. The second set is even easier. You have the old ones to mask off so you don't have to be so **** lining up the new ones.

Here's what I've been looking at. Search around on the site and you'll find a 5 year guarantee on most of the vinyls.

http://www.autotrimdesign.net/detail...category=28616

JMHO!

 

im lovin your wing i was thinkin about doin the same thing with mine but i didnt know how it would look. im gonna do that now

 

Yep sure is a 4 banger, with alot of money into it, faster then most 4's on the road. and no stickers.

 

get the strips. im getting my car vinyled on the 24th. as long as you get a good guy to do it and he knows what he is doing. it will last you a good 5 years. if you take care of it it can last up to 10 years. again. depending on how good the guy who does it is. my guy is an expert. garetys it will last 5 years. and he stands buy his word and i have seen tons of his work. AMAZING. plus vinyl yes may not look as good as paint. but if you dont like the strips you can take it off. if you paint it and down the road you decide you want something different your paying a couple grand to get it taken off and the part repainted. but just my 2 cents

 

stripes look insane!!! my cobalt is red with white stripes and i love it...... but they starting to fade and shrink. i live in the chi so u might have some problems but it does look great.. im gonna need to get them replaced but it does turn heads so i say go for it

 

This is true, but I have the money to get them off if I wanted, I knew what I was doing.

 

Make sure you buy premium 8-10 or (10-12) year vinyl if doing racing stripes and planning on leaving them on for more than a few years. The horizontal exposure areas to the sun (ie. hood, roof, trunk), are the worst places for failure. But a good quality vinyl will last several years, especially if not in the sun every single day.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. I definately like the look of the racing stripes, just wanted to see what I would be in for with vinyl. I am a firm believer on doing what makes you happy and not worrying what other people think. My wife thinks I should put a "real" flame paint job on the front of the car. We saw a Harley with an awesome flame paint job. Looked very life like. However, not wanting to drop that kind of money.

 

No to flames.

 

I say go for it. Ive had stripes from houseofgrafx.com since January and I live in Florida so they're exposed to direct sunlight a lot. I drive to and from work, which is near a bunch of cement plants and rock quarries so I am constantly driving behind dump trucks and tractor trailers and rocks always bounce up off the road and hit my car. There are scratches, nicks, and dents on my front bumper, BUT, nothing on the stripes. Stripes are mint as if I just put em on yesterday. Also, if you do decide to get them, put some soapy water in a spray bottle and spray the back of the vinyl and surface where you're applying the stripes so you can adjust them and move them around to line them up perfect. You can see my car on houseofgrafx.com, its in the gallery, its the silver one with black stripes.

good luck...