Help me pick a bug shield

I've been wanting chrome for 2 years but haven't found one yet, 2nd choice would be clear.

Luckily no nicks yet (knock on wood)

08HybridOK said:

I've been wanting chrome for 2 years but haven't found one yet, 2nd choice would be clear.

Luckily no nicks yet (knock on wood)

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There's chrome ones on e-bay. You can find them cheaper elsewhere. I think they are made by Stampede?

Thanks, but I think $130 is out of todays budget, but I'd really like to see one on a light colored escape :yes:

Mine was only 70 bucks!Pro Trim Ohio!Installed!

Have that clear sticky stuff applied to the hood. It'll keep the hood from being chipped and will keep your airflow over the hood as designed. Bugshields upset the air flow and kill mpg. The clear sticky stuff has a trade name, but I am brain dead and can not think of it at the moment. Definitely better than some ******* bugshield. :calvin:

jonas1022 said:

Have that clear sticky stuff applied to the hood. It'll keep the hood from being chipped and will keep your airflow over the hood as designed. Bugshields upset the air flow and kill mpg. The clear sticky stuff has a trade name, but I am brain dead and can not think of it at the moment. Definitely better than some ******* bugshield. :calvin:

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I, like kkreit, really do not want to put a bug shield on my Mariner either ( although, I think the one on our Escape looks real good). This sticky stuff is something I would like to hear more about. Please post back if you can think of the name of it, Jonas.

Some of my Bullitthead buddy's have it on their Mustangs. I see if I can find the posting. I think there was an ebay vender that sold the stuff and you could do it yourself. But the conscencous is to have it done for the best results. It's apparently a bit of a PITA to work with unless you do it for a living. I don't know personnally.

Yeah -- I priced the clear 3M stuff when mine was new. It was alot ($150-->$200) to have a small strip put on the front edge of the hood. You can buy DIY kits, but there's a lot of curves to mold around. (I tried a DIY tint kit once, and never again!). I'm not patient enough.

I found the chrome bug shield online for $99 shipped. I don't think the modern bug shields really affect airflow/MPG much. I'm sure the flat ones of the 80s did (the REAL bug shields). Mine on my Sport Trac is the low-profile AVS -- which didn't affect MPG at all. I wish AVS made the low-profile one for us.

Hello kkreit01.

My vote, was the dark tint bug shield.

On your light colour car, it would contrast nicely.

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I think I'd go with the standard dark color, too. The problem with the chrome and clear ones is that it seems like that bug splatters would be much more noticeable on those, but be pretty well hidden on the dark shield.

Oh man -- seems like everyone prefers "smoke-colored". I was leaning towards "clear" -- that way if I didn't like it, I could always paint it to match. If I buy a smoke one, I'm stuck with it.

Regarding "bug splats", I typically keep them clean/polished.

I really don't know how I get rock chips? I don't drive gravel roads.

Well, the only reason I said dark is to hide the bug splats. Maybe others were thinking that, too. If you can keep it clean, then I would say go with the clear. It does sound like you're really leaning towards the clear.

Do they have bug shields, with " ESCAPE" logo over there?.

I've have owned several bug shields, especially when I lived out in the country and drove like 100 miles a day just to work and back. I've also owned the dark tint, and smoke color shields. I prefer the smoke color on dark cars/trucks, and clear on the white or light color machines. It just depends on the paint color.

You will find a shield , that suits your preference kkreit01.

I think the dark tint one would look nice. I actually like the look of my escape with the bug sheild better then with out. I think trucks look good with them. Im not fan of the chrome at all. I think if you painted it it would chip for sure. Put again its really up to you its your truck and a personal preference really.

nicker22 said:

I think the dark tint one would look nice. I actually like the look of my escape with the bug sheild better then with out. I think trucks look good with them. Im not fan of the chrome at all. I think if you painted it it would chip for sure. Put again its really up to you its your truck and a personal preference really.

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For painted shields, get a clear and then paint the backside. Been there and done that one too, with a logo of my own design. I did the logo on the back, in reverse of course, then painted the body color over that. All on the backside. Clear front acted like a clearcoat of paint. No chips! Promise! :angel:

Improvising. Yeah, that's another option.

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First of all I just wanted to mention that I am brand new to these forums and I am a proud owner of a new "used" 09 Escape 3.0V6 4wd.

I just installed a new AVS Bugflector II Smoke (PN:24818, Cost $49.99 @ O'Reilly) and I am very happy with it. Right now I only have it on with the 3M tape, I couldn't find a drill to install the screws. I don't see much of a point to clear bugsheild and yes you will see the bug splats so much easier. True you could repaint, but to make the paint adhere better there would have to be sanding involved.

But it is your decision and my only other input is to watch out for the 08', 09' model escapes. Under the hood on the passenger side is rubber stripping that helps airflow into the air filter box. I had to place one of the portions of the bugsheild under this stripping to make it fit right. Just something to keep in mind.