Hi all
Getting a brand new white SUV. Am thinking of getting paint protection for the vehicle and will cost approximately $1000. Have done a bit of research into each of the brands, Opti Coat, Ceramic Pro. Pompanazzi etc.
I was wondering whether it would be better to just get the car professionally polished and waxed every 6 months?
Looking to add additional gloss to the vehicle, protection against droppings and ease of ongoing maintenance/wash
appreciate your thoughts
Paste wax doesn't last anything close to a year, and synthetic waxes (sealants) only last a few months depending on the abuse they cop.
Same as above. Paint protection at dealership is just plain rip off.
Get it cut/polish/wax and claybar annually.
Whats the cost for that type of service done professionally?
For a white car, you shouldn't have to worry about paint swirl and scratch removal. When it's brand new, it's probably good enough to just get wiped with a coating prep and then coated with something like one of the three you mentioned in your post. "Probably" is the key word, as dealerships can sometimes do crap jobs on caring for the paint, so if you know it's in perfect condition, you can save some money right there.
Regarding your choice of a coating or a regular polish and wax, I'd be more inclined to choose the former with a white car, but if you've got an SUV then you might be the type to abuse the car a bit on dirt roads and such (I can only guess). If it's getting abused, then a regular polish and wax could be better. It depends on how you're treating the car. If you're going to look after it, then I recommend getting it coated, and then only give it a coating boost once every couple of months or so. There are coating toppers out there, kinda like a quick detail spray, but designed for coatings. Carpro's Reload is one example and they basically add some slickness and protection to your car's paint and windows.
I should warn you that you still need to be alert to bird droppings and rain deposits as they will still cause damage if you don't clean them off quickly, even if your car's paint is "protected". As you already know, the main benefit of protection is to ease the washing/drying process and for looks.
i personally got paint protection even with white cars
haven't noticed paint fade etc but the washing process is significantly noticeable. washing the car takes way less than half the time of one that doesn't have it
even with paint protection, i'd still recommend waxing it. there's never enough layers for protection =)
How many condoms do you use at once?
I used to sell paint protection for a living…. it’s a waste of money.
It’s glorified wax and does nothing to protect your car anymore than a good clean and wax twice a year would do.
Hi jimbo,
Interesting to hear.. I'm currently considering paint protection as it's cheaper than building a car port to protect my car from tree sap, and bird shit.
So it's all marketing gimmick? What about the warranties?
Thanks for your time.
Paint protection warranty also not worth the paper its written on.
I ended up leaving the job as i could not in good conscience look people in the eye and tell them that PP was worth the money they were paying.
Multiple tests etc have found the you get the same long term benefits by regualrly cleaning your car, and waxing car 2 - 3 times a year
It comes down to personal choice i guess.
The only PP i would maybe consider is "ceramic" but even then reports are starting to show that too is not worth its salt.
A wrap is probably another thing to consider, does no damage to your paint work being fitted/removed
Long term solution.
can get clear (or a new colour if you want)
I tried to get the dealer i worked at to let me sell wraps.. they of course refused as the PP could be applied by the dealer and the margins were huge…. they charge 2K in some cases and it costs them max 250-300 to apply.
Thanks for the honest reply mate. I was considering paint protection as it costs around 5k to put a car port in.
I might look into cheap alternatives to get a carport put in instead.
Yeah, I heard about dealers ripping people off with the paint protection costs.
Good on you for leaving the job for that reason.
Interesting about the wraps. How much more expensive are they?
@boonjin:
i am honestly not sure now …. but it varied depending on the quality.
I believe around $2000 for a full car wrap, yeah it isnt cheap but its a good solution if you want something long term.
@jimbobaus: A wrap kinda defeats the purpose of painting the car though. It's like grandma with the plastic wrap on her good couch. It'll always look new underneath, but it'll look cheap on top and be uncomfortable to sit on. If you care about the appearance of the pain when it's time to sell you'll need to keep it under cover where possible and clean/wash/wax regularly.
I just bought a new car too and they tried to sell me paint protection for $1800. I nearly died laughing.
I usually get my windows tinted by taking it to a place myself, he tried to BS by saying if I got it done through them I get a transferable lifetime warranty on the window tint.
What's the vehicle make and model? How deep is your pocket?
Car polish/wax every 6 months maybe over the top. 1 year once will be my choice…
I'll skip the paint protection as I am not convinced of it. A good wax once a year would provide a better outcome.