Exterior 1st Gen Most liked posts in thread: GNAT - Exterior Refresh Planning

I like the Interscope MINI. Changing body color is a pain to do right & an expensive pain at that.

 

I don't know... I kinda liked that duct-tape stripe once I got used to it.

I've never seen a wrap (other than ones that are more advertising with a lot of detail and few open expanses of pure color) that look good after 6-10 months of daily use. Perhaps you could sell advertising space on the Gnat! He makes it to enough big MINI events... it might be worth it to sponsors to pony-up.

Maybe you could sell naming rights, so that it would become the "Gnat by Detroit Tuned" or maybe even, gasp, the "Paulo Uber Gnat" (though just having that name might promote the car to fall apart and rust prematurely )!

 

If you're looking for a new splitter, Jan makes the mother of all splitters--I had one (group4) tear off at 135mph; the RMW one has aluminum brackets that actually bolt onto the frame and to the splitter, which is thick and won't flex. Not to mention no turnbuckles on the front, so it's a very clean look. I have mine, just waiting for a few other parts until I install it (want to do them all at once to save time). Can't wait to get it on.

 

Nate you could also just wrap the rest of the car to look like its covered in stone chips....:lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

:cornut: THREADJACK-(maacodale) Your car makes me thirsty for a Panama Rum Lime Gimlet and I just can't imagine why?:lol::lol::arf:

Jason

 

That color combo is way cool. I really like that. If you are not leaving the blue, then what color will the tri-color stripes be?

Jim

That mock up work look familiar to me.

 

I an odd way I like the look of that. Very different and unique in a good way.

 

:cornut: Looks good to me but the main consideration is; does Nathan Like it?

Jason

 

Nathan, I met the wrap guy at Mid-Ohio who does a bunch of team cars. I'll get the info to you.

 

As you said the rust certainly needs to be taken care of. Patching the holes and such I would find a good body shop and see what they say, an estimate can't bee too much. As for the livery, I actually like it. A wrap is great in that you can go back in a few years.

 

I like the idea of the wrap vs a re-paint. It would be fairly easy to prep the car for a wrap.....no need to paint.

You can clear bra over the wrap to help prolong the life.

 

i like the idea of a wrap

 

If you think wrap, I've used this stuff with great success over the years. I have it on the daughter's Cabrio. Goes on easy and seems to hold up well. It' not just printed vinyl, it's actually base coat/clear coat paint on vinyl. I was skeptical at first, but it really bends and stretches just like vinyl with no ill effects.

FLX-Paint Home Page

 

That FLX - Paint stuff looks very cool.

It even says you can buff and wax it.

 

Looks to be mainly used as a color change or graphics, not a printed wrap..
It's plenty cool though, but with a printed wrap you get your graphics in with it, and not more vinyl applied on top of it.. So just depends on what your wanting...

 

Here is an idea. Have the full spa treatment done to Gnat + paint the front bumper & bonnet. The rear bumper could easily be reinforced from behind, bond on a piece of tubing. The side skirt can also be fixed & painted. Just a thought & a heck of a lot cheaper than a new paint job.

 

How about a custom plate?



Oh yeah... I took that pic about 30 min ago. Jealous much?

 

Bad week up here... 2 bikers airlifted out in separate accidents. I was calling my wife from the lobby (Skype is a wonderful thing) and a woman came in who had sat with one accident victim while waiting for the paramedics. He couldn't feel his legs and was taken by bus to a place where they could chopper him out. She came to Fontana looking for his son, who had skipped the ride to take a nap.

 

Crap. That's bad juju for sure. Be careful, Aaron