I recently replaced my 2000 Jeep Cherokee with an 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I had a bug guard and vent visors on the old Jeep. The vent visors were functional and looked good, but the bug deflector was strictly cosmetic. I liked the look on that Jeep, and they made it stand out from the many that didn't have it.
I got the new Cherokee in silver and it's looks a little bland to me. I'm definitely getting the visors because they are functional, but I haven't pulled the bug deflector trigger because I'm not sure if it's soooo 2001 or not. Unfortunately I haven't seen any in person so I can't make a decision on it.
So what do you think, are bug deflectors out of style?
The Jeep.
(http://images.dealer.com/autodata/us/stockphoto-color/2008/USB80JDS051A0/PS2.jpg)
The Bug Deflector
(http://www.weathertech.com/images/items/vehicles/Grand_Cherokee_S&B.jpg)
The vent visors
(http://www.weathertech.com/images/items/vehicles/Grand_Cherokee_SWD_set.jpg)
I really like the vents, I have them on my Dakota. Leave the windows cracked without worry of rain and they ad a bit to the look. Never been a fan of bug deflectors though. Probably because I see so many of them that have broken places ~
JM
Quote from: dcal on February 26, 2009, 08:19:32 AM
So what do you think, are bug deflectors out of style?
The Jeep.
(http://images.dealer.com/autodata/us/stockphoto-color/2008/USB80JDS051A0/PS2.jpg)
The Bug Deflector
(http://www.weathertech.com/images/items/vehicles/Grand_Cherokee_S&B.jpg)
The vent visors
(http://www.weathertech.com/images/items/vehicles/Grand_Cherokee_SWD_set.jpg)
Fashionable or not they still eliminate stone bruises on the leading edge of the hood.
Quote from: ducpainter on February 26, 2009, 08:30:49 AM
Fashionable or not they still eliminate stone bruises on the leading edge of the hood.
^ yeah, that.
I always liked the look and functionality of the vent visors. Depending on the maker, some bug deflectors can be garrish. That one doesn't look bad. I always liked them as insurance against rocks/other debris chipping the paint.
Quote from: ducpainter on February 26, 2009, 08:30:49 AM
Fashionable or not they still eliminate stone bruises on the leading edge of the hood.
Unless you get a rock or two caught between the deflector and the hood edge. Don't ask me how I know. :P
Yeah a deflector will not make the paint on the nose of your hood look good, but it covers the paint it is destroying and does not get as dinged up by rocks so your hood looks better over all. Once you take the deflector off, though, you'll see all the damage it did.
Quote from: DCXCV on February 26, 2009, 12:20:45 PM
Yeah a deflector will not make the paint on the nose of your hood look good, but it covers the paint it is destroying and does not get as dinged up by rocks so your hood looks better over all. Once you take the deflector off, though, you'll see all the damage it did.
Well once it's there, it's there. I was worried with my last one that the rest of the paint would fade and if I ever decided to take it off the nose would look bright and shiny while the rest was faded. But I never ended up wanting to take it off, so there it stayed for the duration.
The vents are nice, just don't get "chrome" and accent it with "chrome" door handles, vinyl edging, and rearviews. As far as the bug deflector goes, it's right up there with the "car bra", imo. It protects your paint from one thing while causing a totally different issue all together.
Quote from: Jarvicious on February 26, 2009, 03:56:45 PM
The vents are nice, just don't get "chrome" and accent it with "chrome" door handles, vinyl edging, and rearviews. As far as the bug deflector goes, it's right up there with the "car bra", imo. It protects your paint from one thing while causing a totally different issue all together.
With the exception of chrome lined barrels, I'm against all things chrome.
I'm not really concerned with the functionality of the bug shield. Its function defeats its purpose (protects from chips, but causes other issues), so it's purely cosmetic. Which is incidentally why I'm so concerned about putting it on. Once it's on there it's on there.
I'm a little confused about the responses stating that the bug deflectors cause damage. Must be some different brand than the ones I've used. Both the ones I've had were attached to the underside lip along the front edge of the hood. One used 3M doublestick tape and the other (best in my opinion) actually had me remove the plastic strip along that same edge and screw the deflector into the same holes where that strip was attached. I think I have seen some that were doublestick taped to the top of the hood on others vehicles but would not use one of those models.
Quote from: Mojo S2R on February 26, 2009, 05:19:29 PM
I'm a little confused about the responses stating that the bug deflectors cause damage. Must be some different brand than the ones I've used. Both the ones I've had were attached to the underside lip along the front edge of the hood. One used 3M doublestick tape and the other (best in my opinion) actually had me remove the plastic strip along that same edge and screw the deflector into the same holes where that strip was attached. I think I have seen some that were doublestick taped to the top of the hood on others vehicles but would not use one of those models.
I think the damage that's done is the uneven fading if you decide to remove it 5 years down the road. At least that's what I'm concerned about.
bug deflectors are ugly and pointless. Sure, they keep rock chips off your hood, but it makes it look ugly in the mean time.
as for the window vent thingies....had them on my mitsu....LOVED them
Quote from: dcal on February 26, 2009, 04:25:52 PM
With the exception of chrome lined barrels, I'm against all things chrome.
In that case, be careful with the bug deflector.
Brass loves to hide behind them after you go shooting.
Heh, in NJ empty casings in the car could put me in prison for 5 years.
Quote from: dcal on February 27, 2009, 06:30:00 AM
Heh, in NJ empty casings in the car could put me in prison for 5 years.
Wow.
I hadn't heard about that.
Quote from: Mojo S2R on February 26, 2009, 05:19:29 PM
I'm a little confused about the responses stating that the bug deflectors cause damage. Must be some different brand than the ones I've used. Both the ones I've had were attached to the underside lip along the front edge of the hood. One used 3M doublestick tape and the other (best in my opinion) actually had me remove the plastic strip along that same edge and screw the deflector into the same holes where that strip was attached. I think I have seen some that were doublestick taped to the top of the hood on others vehicles but would not use one of those models.
Just my personal experience with the one that came on my 98 Tacoma, YMMV. Could have something to do with the amount of dirt/rocks/mud/sand that got under it from off-roading. But the OP was looking at one for a Jeep and I often make the mistake of thinking trucks are for off-roading. Mine was attached by screws under the hood, but still managed to scuff up the top of the hood in a few places before the sun exposure in AZ made it brittle and I inadvertantly snapped it off.
Quote from: DCXCV on February 27, 2009, 07:15:00 AM
Just my personal experience with the one that came on my 98 Tacoma, YMMV. Could have something to do with the amount of dirt/rocks/mud/sand that got under it from off-roading. But the OP was looking at one for a Jeep and I often make the mistake of thinking trucks are for off-roading. Mine was attached by screws under the hood, but still managed to scuff up the top of the hood in a few places before the sun exposure in AZ made it brittle and I inadvertantly snapped it off.
My last Jeep did it's fair share of off roading. The bug deflector held up pretty good actually.
(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3314315026_251555ca59_o.jpg)
(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3320/3314315044_3fb87f7626.jpg?v=0)
(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3314315058_f877f1ab40.jpg?v=0)
My new Jeep is not going to see any off road time. I can't afford to keep a toy truck around, and this one needs to get me to work and back.
Fair 'nuff. Mine does double duty, but certainly looks like it :-)
Ah, NJ off-roading. I remember those days.
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z166/trdtaco98/AZ%20Rocks%202006/748b.jpg)
(notice the AZ mudhole at the bottom of the pic)