Sad experience with a STO-N-SHO plate holder

[meFiSTo]

Live and learn. Today I discovered that I ought to have been more careful in front end-in parking situations involving concrete stopper curb things. My recently installed STO-N-SHO plate holder met its demise this a.m. at 60 Acres Park when I was in a rush to park and get my morning jog/run in before work.

Let this be a warning to anyone installing this thing. It finds curbs and fails quite catastrophically when it does. Mine punched two little holes into the plastic routing/shield piece behind the bumper covers when the securement rails and mounting bracket were driven back and then up from the impact.

I can't bear to post pictures. It took about 15 minutes to extract the mangled mess. I'll zip tie the plate to the grill until I can get around to getting the original mounting hardware back in the bumper. Bleh. Some gnarly holes on the bottom of the bumper cover now too, but you don't really notice them. What with road debris strikes and all, this little bumper cover has taken a beating in its short life.

 

[D1JL]

Sorry to hear this.
But those darn things play havoc with splitters as well.



Dave

 

[rexdriver85]

Ouch. Sorry man. Anytime your beloved car takes unnecessary damage it really hurts.

 

[TheStig]

Perhaps i dont see the reason for having one.

 

[jfdana]

Well, I've had a Sto-N-Sho for a year now, so, perhaps, I can answer some questions.

1) The reason I have one: It allows the front end of the car to look the way it is designed to look, and looks best.

2) The downside: It does block airflow to the fmic. However, you can move the way the bracket holds the plate and also bend the plate so as not overly to block the airflow. Of course, I just take the plate off most of the time w/o any problems.

3) I did have the car dyno-tuned with the sto-n-sho on. Worked great.

4) I also have Cobb springs. I'm extra careful when I park. (disclosure: I have yet - in a year and a half- to parallel park for fear of curbing my wheels [OZ super turismo's]). Just lucky I can choose where to park. And I live in Maine, the home of the frost heave.

So I really am sorry to hear of meFISTo's woes.

I use my SnS daily and I'm very happy with the results. I am extra careful when parking.

 

[meFiSTo]

As to why I chose to get the SnS: Our state requires a front license and I figured this was a clean way to have it on there while drive around town, then easily remove it for at the track. I don't ask much of the car around town, so I was not overly concerned about the air flow effects to the FMIC.

For now, I'll keep the zip tie setup. Seems to be secure enough easy to remove for track days and then return for the drive home. I'll leave the slightly misshapen holes on the bottom of the bumper cover as a reminder to spend money where it matters.