Is there a functional use for the sill plates, or are they more decorative? I've lived in the SW for most of my life, so I dont know how cars wear elsewhere, is why I'm asking the question.

 

Pure decorative -- but they DO look nice.

 

i've installed the optional sill plates. it's easy and it's educational. the optional ones are the same size as the stock ones. they do look much sharper, however i think the stock ones are more "functional." why you might ask? because the optional ones are only held on with double sided tape! yep that's right, those nice aluminum plates are taped on!

it's strange that the stock plastic plate has bunches of clips and posts to hold it in place and the fairly expensive metal plate has no clips or posts and only double stick tape.

seems kind of silly to make the change after having done it. IMO the tape defeated my purpose of putting in something a little tougher than just a plastic strip. cosmetics is the only reason to make the change now.