Hey guys,
I've seen all kinds of beautiful xAs with body kits, 2 tones, etc., but almost nobody has any vinyl side graphics. I'd think that you could get yourself a nice looking car for little $$ that way, if you have a good eye for picking something.
xBs owners have no problem with using side graphics. Seems odd that almost nobody has posted pics for an xA, not even pinstripes. Is there a reason for this? I've been thinking about doing this myself, but was looking around for some ideas. Anybody seen any?

Actually I have been looking into this for a while now and it's hard to get any info directly form a human being at the shops that do stickers/vinyl. I wanted a custom job and there has been complete silence from the other end on 2 cali shops.

It's also not very popular at shows. An expensive paint job gets allot more attention.

I, for one, don't plan on any shows. I think the majority of xA owners are more budget-minded and are looking for more economical ways of fixing up their ride. I think I'll be playing with Photoshop and see how I can try out different designs that way. I may have to do this all by myself.

shoot me an e-mail and I will work with you on designs and ideas.

just from what i've observed around here.....

the scion community is focused on a "clean" look, and letting the car itself take front and center. You will find cars with a rollcall in the strong minority, and typically the only stickers on a scion are their club sticker. All three models have great lines and their owners put that foremost, and choose to keep the body clutter-free. Two-toning is often to accent the car's lines, and you'll notice this some in posts where there are questions about how to two-tone, where first consideration is always on where the colors hit the car's lines.

that said, i did see one sexy car on here with stars on the side. nice.

again, this is only what i've found from hanging around SL....my car's only non stock are trim rings and tint, so i'm sure there are others with far more expertise, but after a couple drinks, hell...i'm an expert on nearly everything.

here are some graphics that i had on my car a while ago. this was when this was over a year ago. what ya'll think?!

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/blimon63/DSCF0582.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c131/blimon63/100_0214.jpg

from back in the day....late '03...my 2nd car show with the xA..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/pandaist/scion%20xA/xAimportfest2.jpg

Nice comments from all! There are always many with logos. And it's certainly easier to find something nice when you are working with a white car.
Motoskin has a lot of very nice designs. Just the sort of thing I was looking for. And a great price as well. I'll have to keep this in mind when I'm ready to go ahead.

The designs are good starting points for creativity. Your imagination is the key as well as your personality.

I had a bunch of graphics on my car for a while, you can see it in my profile (not a good picture but you get the point). I do vinyl graphics for a living so I figured it would be the bet way to advertise, I decided it was just too much for the car so I recently took it off. I'm gonna put something else on it when the weather gets a little better, I just gotta figure out what I can do that wont take away from the car itself as much.

I think the silver scion on the commercials looked cool. I think it had some type of checkered design on the side with rear wing,

I thought it maybe worth it to get some wraps to go over the front air dam, hood and mirrors for bug and rock protection of the pain.

Not that I know much about wraps, but I was jerked around by a guy who did them. He told me the trucking company I work for should look into it to make the truck the color the company who uses them have them that way, then we could peel them off when that company turns it back in. He also mentioned his car and wrapping cars too. I inquired about wrapping my car vs painting it since he said that was basically what he was doing with the trucks. Well, turns out when I wanted to make my black benz white, it was too difficult, would cost too much in materials, not to mention labor. He said it would be thousans of dollars and he wouldnt attempt it.

Yes, finding a good balance is not easy. I've been looking around and I have found some pics of xAs with vinyl, but still trying to get the right feel for it. I'm also not sure how it would look with my flint mica, being a metallic paint, how a 'non-metallic' vinyl would look on it.

Well there are plenty of metallic vinyls out there. They come in a ton of colors and levels of metallicness(?) Part of what I had on my car was a flake dark blue.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a32/scionpilot/roswell_vip073.jpg

my sides are a metallic blake flake vinyl

Nice!! Just the type of thing I'm looking for. How do you like that vinyl, Scionpilot? Did you do that yourself, or professionally done?

I haven't seen any web sites that say anything about a 'metallic' vinyl. So it would seem that it would be a really good idea to do shopping where I can see what I'm getting in order to get a good match up with my paint. :question:
:ponder: If I did any on-line shopping for a DIY project, what level of 'metallic-ness' would be good? What unit is used for measuring that? :)

Nemesis XA has some vinyl as well....

http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/personal/14962_4.jpg

scionpilot....what have you done with the headlights????they really stand out!

xa-llent: Theres no real measurement for how metallic the vinyl is. It basically comes down to the fact that theres different companies who make the vinyl all with different levels of 'metallic-ness'. A lot of companies have a metallic and an ultrametallic. Most likely regular matallic is what your looking for, as the ultrametallic would be overkill and not match your stock paint. Too bad you dont live near here, I have A LOT of books full of sample vinyls that I could show you.

the vinyl is made by 3M, and was professionally put on, I tried once, but failed miserably.

Bob, I painted my headlights

If I had it to do over again, I'd get white....that color just seems to stand out more.....

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2192/xavk3.jpg
i was looking to get something airbrushed on my car....but this route was alot more affordable :)

Miss B, we have GOT to get you off of those hubcaps......

But your graphics look good!

As nice as all these graphics are they are not really half as nice at paint would be. I think if your VERY thoughtful and plan out a Vinyl it might work but my taste says what I see here is not really hot.

I see more problems later on also as you can paint over paint but a sticker you have to take off and there will be the outline of the vinyl and faded paint on the outside after time.

I think it;s better to save your $$ and get a nice paint job. Just my thoughts. He he you might see my car with Vinyl some day so who knows.

well, im competely satisfied with my decals whether other people like them or not.
and yes, i need to get off hubcaps lol. I get my rims on saturday so thats covered :)

Actually yours do look like they are painted on from the pics. But I think it's different for a guy. I mean it's all subjective and based on opinion so I am not saying I am "right" but it's my opinion that most decals can look cheap if not thought out right and designed well.

I don't mean logo's in the window or sides but big more meaning full graphics.

Hows this for some vinyl graphics! Check out the S.E.R.T. xA featured in the current Siphon mag.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/denzinz/SE_ist-frLG2.jpg
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=145020&highlight=roof+scoop

Hows this for some vinyl graphics! Check out the S.E.R.T. xA featured in the current Siphon mag.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/denzinz/SE_ist-frLG2.jpg
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=145020&highlight=roof+scoop

He he, that's a racing car though. I most certainly would not want to drive that daily. It's not my taste. I love the spoiler and front lip though :) yum!

I should prob. leave this thread alone or I will get some hate coming my way soon :)

This is more my style if I could afford it, but paint so you can only see it in certain light not graphics. Still this is a bit much and I would have to really think it over even if I had the $$. and of course in Salsa Red not Orange.

http://a506.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/52/l_114203fe7f17cc15bb197638a492a591.jpg

Infini Said:
Actually yours do look like they are painted on from the pics. But I think it's different for a guy. I mean it's all subjective and based on opinion so I am not saying I am "right" but it's my opinion that most decals can look cheap if not thought out right and designed well.

That's kinda the point here, Infini. Not having to go the big expense for paint, but getting a good job done with the vinyl can be very nice as well. Something a regular guy can afford that isn't looking for car shows and going all out. It's an area that's not really been explored. Seems to be all or nothing around here, with just a few people in this mid-range option.
There's also new vinyl that's full color, and some that's somewhat transparent. Even seen those little flames on some of the new PT cruisers? A black flame that sorta fades out. Not sure if it's vinyl or something else, but it's on a clear material. Looks pretty neat.

Nice! Sounds like there only going to be more and more improvements to the Vinyl. You are correct it does seem to be all or noting at times around everywhere not just here.

Well I look forward to seeing other peoples Vinyl work in the future. Maybe I will change my mind and get Vinyl :)

this is the furthest i can go without the feeling of over doing it...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/moaid/magic8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/moaid/mod.jpg
...like em clean...

anyone looking for high quality awesome graphics that no one else is riding around with needs to check out this website. Just click on the Sha_Do portion and check out the vinyl setups. I got a quote before for $1200 shipped to the U.S for a graphic combo I wanted.
http://www.artfactory-inc.com/graphics/index.htm
http://www.artfactory-inc.com/graphics/gallery/img/20041007_01.jpg

ooooh some nice stuff on that site :)

Cool! It has a vitual install applet so you can see what different colors and designs look like. They even have a body type close to the xA. Will have to play with that some more.

As Infini said, there are 2 types of metallic - the regular and the 'ultra' metallic/large flake, which is too much for what I'm looking for.
I have found that there are some new kinds of vinyl:
a wood grain that would allow me to make the car look like a PT cruiser :eyebrow: :no:
a reflective type, just like reflective tape.
and color changing! Several colors to choose from, too.
The down side is that some of these have shorter life spans and cost more. You may only install them on a vertical surface, requires special care, and even them may only last 2-3 years. I would say that if I really wanted any of the special types, unless I plan on changing the vinyl every 3 years, I'd be better off with paint. I would then have to agree that paint would be a better option. 'Regular' vinyl has a life span of 5 years, which I think is long enough.

Ok, been playing with the idea of just pinstripes, and using Photoshop to get a better idea of how things would look. Any suggestions??
http://www.competitivetravels.com/MySpace/greenpinstripe.jpg
http://www.competitivetravels.com/MySpace/purplegraphic.jpg
http://www.competitivetravels.com/MySpace/redgraphic.jpg
http://www.competitivetravels.com/MySpace/redpinstripe.jpg
http://www.competitivetravels.com/MySpace/violetpinstripe.jpg
http://www.competitivetravels.com/MySpace/wideviolet.jpg
http://www.competitivetravels.com/MySpace/aquagraphics.jpg
I like the idea of a violet color becuz my interior light is UV. Suggestions??

please remember that you cannot do withwith vinyl that u can do with pain. So keep your photoshop designs simple. I do vinyl and digital Which is the program we use to cut the vinyl. but theres my imput on the subject if you have any questions about anything as far as viny gose just sk.

These 'vinyl' designs came from a web site that sells these, so they're not my own design. I just put them on the car to see what they would look like. They're a little rough since I had to do the edges by freehand.

If your goin to do pinstripes don't do viynl. Find yourself a good pinstripper to do the work for you as it looks so much better and is far more unique. Here r some shots of my pinstripes. Cost me $40, all hand layed, with a one off color and black dual stripe.

These r old pix be4 I got my rims n other mods. Pix don't do them justice as the blue really pops in the sunlight.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/417686677_a0dbdbdf02_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/176/417686675_c451fb9e4f_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/417686686_aa2101389c_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/417686681_070a456afb_b.jpg

Vinyls make your car look corny.

Vinyls make your car look corny.

I think so as well, but only if they are not thought out and done right. I have seen some really cool Vinyls on cars recently.

here's what i did to my last ride.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/nuvz/SIDE.jpg

VERY nice!! :clap:
Picking out the right vinyl can certainly be very cool, like all of the examples posted. Pinstripes by hand does look better than vinyl stripes, and you can't go wrong with that price!
Plenty of good choices to make here. Any comments on colors that go good with Flint Mica?

Vinyls make your car look corny.

I think so as well, but only if they are not thought out and done right. I have seen some really cool Vinyls on cars recently.

Yeah, I do like graphics on a car to be extremely understated (I don't mind a large rear window decal), like a nice bit of pinstripe work. But oversized sutff thrown onto the side of a car just looks ugly.

So would you say that the kind of stuff you see done in some of the Scion commercials isn't something you like?
Speaking of window decals, has anybody tried one of the vinyl rear window overlays, like you see in pickups?

if you want a "nice" set of graphics, try competition graphics. they have handled the vast majority of team emotion's cars and i have been very fond of how they turn out. but be ready to put down a pretty penny for the kits, i have heard that they can run upwards of 2k.

http://www.competitiongraphics.com/

there you go lazy people.

http://www.t-emotion.com/wallpaper/Z_1024.jpg

But oversized sutff thrown onto the side of a car just looks ugly.

:tap: whatever guy...

Yes, I think that would then include the xAs in many of the Scion commercials, which I find confusing. But everybody has their own taste.
Actually I was thinking of something that would actually accent the smallness of the car.
Once again - - Has anybody tried one of the vinyl rear window overlays, like you see in pickups?

XA-llent thanks for looking at my graphics it I can be of any help let me know. Those are some old pics I got a set of 18" chrome omni wheels it really makes the car. I bought the graphics offline for $150 and it took about 4-6 hours to put on some of those curves are difficult. My friend does graphic work out of his shop here in NY. Well i hope this helps a little good luck finding the right graphics.

Everybody has it's own taste - Agree to that.

IMO - Vinyls on side looks really nice. Once again, if one wants their ride to be classic .. leave it stock.

I am working on something for my ride. It's custom made vinyls. Trying to be original. If you noticed my ex-ride had vinyls on the side with my nick name "Nuvz" ... hardly noticeable to someone who wouldn't know !! I was the fisrt one to dare put stripes to my ride over here .. after a month or two ... a few rides could be seen with stripes.

Anyways I'd like to xpress my appreciation to NEMESIS_XA - nice decal man ... and a special WoW for MissBenilda - ur ride is original and rocking.

Keep moding.

i too have been looking for some vinyls for my srp xa. a simple yellow stripe. any suggestions?