I like the metal mainly because if you prep and paint them right, they last as long as a paint job.I have some rubber ones Ive collect over a few years,They get hard and brittle.As for looks you dont really notice them unless you look for them.The 400 car is my daughters(16 years old),that was her choice for her first car.The ho is mine,still under resto. and no where near orig.The sprint is a parts car,a tree fell on it before I ever got it.