The GT8! Carbon fibre bodied £200K 440BHP 7 Speed V8.
Discussion
AOK said:
What are the benefits of PPF? At several thousand pounds, isn't it better to just put that money towards a front end respray after 5 or so years once you've picked up a few stone chips?
For those looking to incubate their car as a collectors piece, what is the need for PPF? Likewise, if you're going to drive it my understanding is that it won't stop stone chips coming through to the paintwork anyway. So what's the actual benefit, other than it being "the thing to do" nowadays?
I've always said that if you're not going to drive the car then there isn't any point in having film on the car, but I know people that have done it anyway. If you don't have film on the car, then it will never look perfect. It will slowly get worse and then when you get a respray, the whole process starts again. The film will stop the stone chips, but of course it has its limits. Also, you don't have to worry about swirl marks etc with the self healing film. The car will always look good and never fade. Granted, it's not cheap but I can honestly say that I would have it done. For those looking to incubate their car as a collectors piece, what is the need for PPF? Likewise, if you're going to drive it my understanding is that it won't stop stone chips coming through to the paintwork anyway. So what's the actual benefit, other than it being "the thing to do" nowadays?
paddy328 said:
I've always said that if you're not going to drive the car then there isn't any point in having film on the car, but I know people that have done it anyway. If you don't have film on the car, then it will never look perfect. It will slowly get worse and then when you get a respray, the whole process starts again. The film will stop the stone chips, but of course it has its limits. Also, you don't have to worry about swirl marks etc with the self healing film. The car will always look good and never fade. Granted, it's not cheap but I can honestly say that I would have it done.
Interesting, many thanks."If you don't have film on the car, then it will never look perfect"
... maybe I should do some more reading about it. I would have thought the opposite would be true - that a layer of anything covering the metallically flecked, highly polished and swirl free surface would take away from the overall appearance, albeit minimally. Not that it would enhance it.
I had (what I imagine is factory installed) film to the front end of my 2014 SP10 and it looked orange-peely and generally awful. A finger nail would probably leave a lasting indentation and bug splatters were difficult to remove as the film's surface was so soft. I imagine the stuff you are referring to is a completely different material?
On a final note, I guess one hesitation I've always had about PPF is about removal / replacement. Surely this comes at a similar cost to the application and involves heat guns etc dangerously close to the paintwork? As a plastic, does it not discolour as it gets old, at a similar rate that a modern paint coat would anyway?
I'm not trying to talk the stuff down whatsoever, simply trying to understand why its popular and work out whether it would benefit me! Thank you in advance
jgph said:
Hi paddy, thanks for that. Given your warnings on outfits other than Paintshield, should I be worried with my Topaz full cover on a GT12?
As far as I can see everything is good so far.
I wouldn't be worried. If it looks good and has no bits lifting up, I think you'll be fine. As far as I can see everything is good so far.
The film I had from Topaz is essentially invisible unless you look for the edges (that in most place are concealed). So what you essentially have is a car that is detailed beforehand and pretty much always looks like that afterwards (well for a few years)
The film makes it incredibly easy to clean (one of the main reasons for me getting it, Aston Martin paint is so soft that it feels like you only need to look at it to get swirls in it). And the modern films are both self-healing (they have a polymer outer coating that's essentially mobile when warm) and offer more protection than you might think. My Rapide certainly appears to have avoided any scratches or stone chips after a 2000 mile European roadtrip
The problem is, they aren't cheap. But if you plan on keeping the car and using it, it feels like a good investment
The one thing I cant comment on is what happens when the film needs to be replaced (they normally seem to have warranties lasting 5-10 years depending on type). Maybe Paddy has more experience of that?
The film makes it incredibly easy to clean (one of the main reasons for me getting it, Aston Martin paint is so soft that it feels like you only need to look at it to get swirls in it). And the modern films are both self-healing (they have a polymer outer coating that's essentially mobile when warm) and offer more protection than you might think. My Rapide certainly appears to have avoided any scratches or stone chips after a 2000 mile European roadtrip
The problem is, they aren't cheap. But if you plan on keeping the car and using it, it feels like a good investment
The one thing I cant comment on is what happens when the film needs to be replaced (they normally seem to have warranties lasting 5-10 years depending on type). Maybe Paddy has more experience of that?
AOK said:
Interesting, many thanks.
"If you don't have film on the car, then it will never look perfect"
... maybe I should do some more reading about it. I would have thought the opposite would be true - that a layer of anything covering the metallically flecked, highly polished and swirl free surface would take away from the overall appearance, albeit minimally. Not that it would enhance it.
I had (what I imagine is factory installed) film to the front end of my 2014 SP10 and it looked orange-peely and generally awful. A finger nail would probably leave a lasting indentation and bug splatters were difficult to remove as the film's surface was so soft. I imagine the stuff you are referring to is a completely different material?
On a final note, I guess one hesitation I've always had about PPF is about removal / replacement. Surely this comes at a similar cost to the application and involves heat guns etc dangerously close to the paintwork? As a plastic, does it not discolour as it gets old, at a similar rate that a modern paint coat would anyway?
I'm not trying to talk the stuff down whatsoever, simply trying to understand why its popular and work out whether it would benefit me! Thank you in advance
Film from years ago used to yellow and look bad, but the self healing stuff these days is a different story. I know what you mean about the film robbing some of the finish from a perfectly polished panel and for the most part it doesn't. I've got a very good eye and I often have to check to see if the film is on the panel, but there are one or two colours that will show the texture of the film more than others. Paintshield currently use suntek film. Others use this two, but many also use expel, especially the new guys just starting out. The expel film is a good product, but has more orange peel in the film."If you don't have film on the car, then it will never look perfect"
... maybe I should do some more reading about it. I would have thought the opposite would be true - that a layer of anything covering the metallically flecked, highly polished and swirl free surface would take away from the overall appearance, albeit minimally. Not that it would enhance it.
I had (what I imagine is factory installed) film to the front end of my 2014 SP10 and it looked orange-peely and generally awful. A finger nail would probably leave a lasting indentation and bug splatters were difficult to remove as the film's surface was so soft. I imagine the stuff you are referring to is a completely different material?
On a final note, I guess one hesitation I've always had about PPF is about removal / replacement. Surely this comes at a similar cost to the application and involves heat guns etc dangerously close to the paintwork? As a plastic, does it not discolour as it gets old, at a similar rate that a modern paint coat would anyway?
I'm not trying to talk the stuff down whatsoever, simply trying to understand why its popular and work out whether it would benefit me! Thank you in advance
Wherever you have the filminstalled, make sure it's a self healing film. Yes, there is always a risk of removing paint when the film needs to be removed, but the risk is quite low, unless it's had a smart repair and then the risk is much higher. All they do to remove it is get it warm with hair dryers and carefully pull it off. No heat guns needed.
Edited by paddy328 on Friday 4th November 12:38
FFM said:
great insights!
high-level, what price someone should expect to pay for a GT8 PPF and/or detailing?
I will be using elite detailer. Amazing work and has worked on pretty much every supercar you can think of. He's charging circa 4.5K+vat for the whole car. I would definitely recommend checking them out. https://www.instagram.com/elitedetailer/high-level, what price someone should expect to pay for a GT8 PPF and/or detailing?
RobDown said:
I was probably going to go to Topaz (in West London) who did my Rapide. I think Tim (Schmee) uses them too and guess that's where his GT8 will be going.
Wonder if there's some possibility of a grp discount - presumably cheaper for them once they've done the templating for the first car?
You bet it will be.Wonder if there's some possibility of a grp discount - presumably cheaper for them once they've done the templating for the first car?
Good question, I can definitely ask the guys there because I've got a few things to book in as is.
My DBSV came with front end film that showed its age (2009). No heat needed to peel it off, just patience. Have to say it had done its job well. That said the bonnet film had been removed prior to my ownership so has a few chips. Once I've had the front end resprayed I will then take a view.
No build date on mine so far, i was told that they wanted to have them all built this year, but that feels increasingly unlikely. And to be honest I don't mind an early 2017 delivery; I wouldn't get much time to use it over Christmas anyway
I know I've asked before but has anyone got any particularly good insurance quotes coming through. I'm guessing Admiral will struggle with this....
I know I've asked before but has anyone got any particularly good insurance quotes coming through. I'm guessing Admiral will struggle with this....
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