(G) Side rubbing strips

I have ordered 1.2 lounge, black, air con, interscope, fogs, brown leather and side rubbing strips. I am having huge trauma about whether doing the right thing to order side rubbing strips. Forget about practicality, does the car look better with or without these? I change my mind all the time about this. On some views, the car looks a bit cheap on the sides without them, and looks more substantial and expensive with. On other views, they ruin the line of car and just look like stick ons on a perfect design. Am I doing the right thing to order them? WHAT LOOKS BEST??? Help me....

I have already had to polish paint from other cars doors from my rubbing strips, without then, that would have been a car door dent.

Thanks - I guess they are practical but I need help on what looks better - with or without? What is the right thing aesthetically? I am the world's most careful parker - no supermarkets for me. I just want it to look right and not to regret getting these things stuck on.

i though the cars lines looked better without them but actually the car looks great with them as well Linda went for them and they look great, don't forget no matter how careful you are there will be an idiot who doesn't care and you will get a dent, put them on

Thanks Andy - my instinct is to get them and I think that it looks more expensive and substantial with them. Car can look a bit tall and narrow in black and so in black, strips look good???

Anyone else out there with any thoughts/preferences. I can still change my order but need to do it in next few day so any views very gratefully received.
Not the most technical or deep thread but just don't want to get it wrong...
Thank you!

I prefer the car with them...

for the sake of 20 quid and ur paint work, get them!

£20, WHERE DO YOU GET THEM AT THAT PRICE????

Hello. If your car is black they will blend in and look quite subtle anyway. The car does look a tall without them as you say, and a little plain. I don't have them cos I think they look a bit 'Clio' and modern, but I have side stripes instead.

As for parking dents - like you, I don't park anywhere near others in car parks - there is always some idiot that doesn't care and I don't think rubbing strips will cater for everyone elses door sizes.

Whatever you decide - you will love your 500! Good luck.

Isabel, they actually do not spoil the line of the car. I was definite about ordering mine; besides being very practical they also very much compliment the lines of the body kit if you so wish to have one fitted at some point in the future.

I also feel that they themselves are more than just utilitarian side strips as they are able to house a variety of different 500 badges which in turn improve the cosmetic appeal of them.

It is very difficult to avoid changing one's mind about these options as there are so many on this car. However I would be cautious about interfering with you're order once it's been made because it is possible that it will result in delays...like mine!

I understand you've already added side rubbing strips in you're order. Stick with it, I can assure you that you won't regret it!

My 500 Sport (about to be delivered) is black with rubbing strips. Black is a very dark colour so the stripes doesn't stand out.

Style or anti-style, I'd recommend you get them. There are idiots out there who doesn't care a f*** about 'dinging' other car's doors. I had my MK2 Punto Sporting for five years and I never had any dings in it. My current S'ka has no strips and already it has fallen victim to 'dinging'.

£70 for the strips, or £50 every time you want the dent sorted out? No contest.

I personally went without, purely because on the azure blue I felt they looked wrong. On darker cars, they do look OK though. Each to there own

P.S. Black with the brown leather sounds gorgeous!!

Does anyone know how much Fiat charge for these (inc fitting & colour coding)?