Painted or vinyl stripes?

[n201mw]

I know this is more of a personal opinion type thing but I was wondering what people think is the better way to go. I have the vinyl stripes (factory rallies) on now but I was thinking I would like to extend them to the mail slot area and have them replaced with painted on ones. I also plan on having a clear bra out on this spring so if Im going to paint them I want to have the stripes changed before I do that.

Some pros and cons would be great. Thanks everyone!

[oldsmobubble]

I went with painted ghost flames, it was about $350 more than the vinyl, and more of a personal touch

[Ladybugsmom]

Personally, I prefer painted. Especially if you want pinstripes, too - my pinstripes are handpainted, and up close, you can see the brush strokes - a very personal touch.

[mhood]

Personally, I have grown to prefer neither. I *thought* I wanted them but the longer I look at my car clean, the more I'm glad that my car is clean...she's a clean machine.

[Iggy]

We had black ones on when we got the car, but we wanted white ones instead. I had them take off the black and paint the white ones on. It really is a matter of personal preferrence though.

[Archias]

I prefer vinyl honestly, for some reason I think it tends to stand out better. Painted stuff sometimes gets lost in the shine if you have a glossy clean ride. Im a fan of high contrast.

[Cam#7]

I have an IBM with painted SIM stripes. My dealer did an excellent job; same pin stripe as the decal. I live by a lot of mature trees and worried about bird crap and tree sap. You also have worry about sun fade in the long run and polish build up.

I can not see any disadvantage in having them painted other than it's permanent and cost extra money. I paid $800 to have them painted versus the factory $470; well worth the difference. Also buy having my dealer do it, he'll back up the factory paint warranty.

[NYJets77]

I would think vinyl stripes and a polishing machine are mortal enemies, so you'd have to polish by hand (which is almost what she said).

[mrh923]

I think painted looks so much better. My dealer has an example in their show room of a hood that has the vinyl on one side, and painted by the body shop on the other. There is no comparison. The vinyl creates a raise in the hood and wax can get underneath the stickers too. Just paint them and do it right the first time.

[RubyCamaro]

I vote painted. Our local dealership orders all un-striped cars & paints on stripes themselves. They look nicer IMHO & no issues with them chipping off (at least as easily). I'm sure everyone has their own thoughts. Look at them both yourself & do what you like.

[RiCorvette]

I went vinyl and rationalized that I would paint the stripes when it came time
to repaint the car since I intend this and a Challenger to be 'my' last cars...
...family use vehicles being a different category of 'expendable' or 'replaceable'

Machine Polishing with vinyl stripes is a PIA and does warrant more care and an extra step of taping off to minimize the possibility of screwing up the edges.

[Kwik]

I agree with Mhood. I just have a thin pair of hand painted stripes down the side. Lime green and plum crazy.

[2010 2-Tone]

I say paint them. It is really up to you.

[JWild]

I have a black car with flat black vinyl stripes, I love how menacing it makes the car look and in the future I was thinking about having them painted on, however I was concerned abouth the flat black getting lost in the shiny black of the car if they were painted. Anybody else have a black on black combo, anyone have their black stripes painted on their black car?