Hey Scotty,
My friend is planning to get his brand new high performance sports sedan PPF’ed. I know it’s not cheap for a quality PPF job but does PPF really protect the paint?
Yes paint protection film really does work.
But, a lot of them become yellow after 3-5 years, the film is usually non-self repairing so if they get damaged (and they get damaged very easily) it’s expensive to repair, and finally there’s the question of price, and usually they make the paint look a lot less glossy - tbh, I do not know; it’s a lot of money for a questionable product.
For about the same kind of money he could wrap it into some cool color instead, this will also protect the paint but make the car look even more fun.
Paints on modern cars are thin and some can chip easily. What would you recommend for protecting the paint?
It's true, it has been true for a while now.
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If you really value your paint, you can wrap it. (PPF, or like actual colored wrap)
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Personally, I do not take any extreme measures - I have a ceramic wax coating but nothing fancy as paint will likely look decent for 7-10 years of my ownership and after if it gets ruined prematurely I'll just repaint into a new / cooler color as I've done with other cars.
Like seriously, if your paint gets ruined regardless of a ceramic coating, why not spend the same kind of money to paint it, perhaps with a cooler paint job.
Could you please explain PPF, for those of us not in the know?
PPF stands for Paint Protection Film. It is a type of thermoplastic urethane (or self-healing film) applied to a vehicle to protect the paint from chips, scratches, etc.
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On paper, it sounds good and it's certainly not cheap. I just don't know how well they really work and how long they last. If I spend $2,500 on a partial PPF I want it to last at least 10 years.
when a "protective" film costs the same or more than the paint it's protecting then I'm already rolling my eyes
Oh you haven’t seen anything. A full body PPF (meaning the entire car) can run $5,000 to $10,000. A partial PPF where only the high impact areas are covered (such as hood, front fascia, side mirrors, A-pillars, side doors, etc) can run $2,500 to $6,000.
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It’s an investment for sure, but is it worth it? Say it lasts 10 years then a $2,500 PPF job is about $250 a year or $21 a month to protect your paint.
I have no idea what "PPF" is and am too lazy to look it up. Of course the vast majority of "paint protection" products are scams.
PPF stands for Paint Protection Film. It is a type of thermoplastic urethane (or self-healing film) applied to a vehicle to protect the paint from chips, scratches, etc.
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On paper, it sounds good and it's certainly not cheap. I just don't know how well they really work and how long they last. If I spend $2,500 on a partial PPF I want it to last at least 10 years.
I've never heard of any type of protectant or sealant one can put on clear coat paint that will last 10 years. None of the wraps, ceramic coatings or other 'miracle' products have ever panned out.. When there's something better than an old fashion waxing or polishing, do let me know!
