PPF, Ceramic Coating - which did you go for?
Discussion
Frrair said:
Hi OP
I too have a brand new GTS coming, I have arranged for a ceramic coating to be put on prior to collection. In fact the guy is independent and doing at the OPC for me.
Why? well I had a similar coating on my Ferrari which I had for not quite six years and despite it being near 16 years old it looked great, in fact you wouldn’t believe it’s age. It didn’t do lots of mileage it was mostly sunny days only but it was easy to clean and was never more than microfibre cloth dried.
^This. My old 996 turbo had this done. The paint continued to look as good as it does on this video and, as you say, was a doddle to dry off, for the whole of my ownership. It did not look like a 17 year old car: https://www.facebook.com/Staffordshirecarcare/vide...I too have a brand new GTS coming, I have arranged for a ceramic coating to be put on prior to collection. In fact the guy is independent and doing at the OPC for me.
Why? well I had a similar coating on my Ferrari which I had for not quite six years and despite it being near 16 years old it looked great, in fact you wouldn’t believe it’s age. It didn’t do lots of mileage it was mostly sunny days only but it was easy to clean and was never more than microfibre cloth dried.
My current car has the same coating, over the top of front end PPF, purely because that's what I wanted, as the only thing the ceramic coating didn;t prevent was stone chips and I don't want to worry unduly about using my car.
The PPF edges can be seen, up close, if you look really carefully, but I really don't care too much. For me, it's a car rather than an ornament and is there to drive.
Just for examples sake my Exige track car below has full PPF. There are two actual joins where two pieces of film butt up to each other in the pictures of the back end. I can just see it in the close up pic 2nd down. They had to do that as the rear clam is too big for a single piece of film. It's even harder to see in real life as the DSLR camera picks up the details and that's a join, on a flat piece of panel.
Paintshield. It's all about the fitters.
The car received PPF in March 2017. It's done multiple track days and been round Europe including the Alps and Dolomites since. These pictures were taken after I had the yellow vinyl done in November.
Paintshield. It's all about the fitters.
The car received PPF in March 2017. It's done multiple track days and been round Europe including the Alps and Dolomites since. These pictures were taken after I had the yellow vinyl done in November.
Edited by _Leg_ on Thursday 15th February 10:00
_Leg_ said:
I'm actually astonished dealers don't employ their own PPF guy and that the manufacturers don't offer PPF as an option when speccing cars.
]
Agree entirely with this. Half the issue for me is the amount of different detailers, options and most importantly price. If Porsche for example offered this as a spec'able option in the configurator, I'd expect a good 75% of us would select it.]
_Leg_ said:
Mastiff said:
^^^^^ Great looking car that ^^^^^
Thanks. Modified too. Goes like stink. A mate I race with has an identical (mechanically) blue one. We have fun at trackdays annoying bigger stuff. ;-)Porsche911R said:
_Leg_ said:
Thanks. Modified too. Goes like stink. A mate I race with has an identical (mechanically) blue one. We have fun at trackdays annoying bigger stuff. ;-)
komotec 465 ?But with 350bhp and 1100kgs as standard it's all about the corners so we focused on handling and weight (notwithstanding the weight of the PPF ;-) ). We have three way adjustable Nitron suspension that was developed specifically for the S3 Exige by Simply Lotus and Nitron, for example. It's quite astounding what a difference it makes.
We're just waiting for the prototype big wing and splitter to come from a carbon place I use. After that, we may look at more power because well, blokes and big numbers eh! :-)
Digga said:
_Leg_ said:
Mastiff said:
^^^^^ Great looking car that ^^^^^
Thanks. Modified too. Goes like stink. A mate I race with has an identical (mechanically) blue one. We have fun at trackdays annoying bigger stuff. ;-)But, although I have a 1996 Lotus Esprit V8, the Exige is my first foray into Lotus (Loti? Lotuseseses? I never know what the plural is) of today and I'm both impressed with the car and the people in the Lotus scene. Great car, well built (surprise) and the people are friendly and proper petrolheads.
Edited by _Leg_ on Thursday 15th February 13:19
Sorry I feel like I'm hijacking the thread. T'was not my intention. Pics of my Boxster S for PPF showing purposes. This car is a September 2012 and was full covered in PPF in September 2012 when new after being detailed. It's been on one Euro trip and it's my winter DD.
In deference to 911R I will say the car has a slight mark in the film on the front bumper near the top, to the left of centre but you can't see it in the photos. Also there's a little bit of edge fraying at the bottom of the rear of the front wheel arches although you wouldn't notice unless you were washing it. Otherwise it's perfect still. This one has XPEL (I think 2 if memory serves) all over whereas the Exige has Sonoco (low impact areas) and Xpel2 (high impact areas). I don't really have any close up pics of the other cars to hand other than those further down this post. I'll try and take some really close up stuff/do the video I promised when the weather looks up.
In deference to 911R I will say the car has a slight mark in the film on the front bumper near the top, to the left of centre but you can't see it in the photos. Also there's a little bit of edge fraying at the bottom of the rear of the front wheel arches although you wouldn't notice unless you were washing it. Otherwise it's perfect still. This one has XPEL (I think 2 if memory serves) all over whereas the Exige has Sonoco (low impact areas) and Xpel2 (high impact areas). I don't really have any close up pics of the other cars to hand other than those further down this post. I'll try and take some really close up stuff/do the video I promised when the weather looks up.
Porsche911R said:
blackmamba said:
I don’t own 5 cars sadly. I have an older car that I look after fastidiously and it is polished and waxed at least once a year. Looks good and gets driven hard. The stone chips add to the patina in my view and I love that I remember when most of them happened. I touch them up and keep the car looking as good as I can. It really feels like my car.
I have a newer car that is used for trackdays that has PPF. I went for a track pack rather than full coverage, mainly due to cost. I find the protection has been good with very few marks or chips visible on the PPF. The edges have become visible due to dirt after 2 years but no other issues. I have to say I don’t like the look of PPF, especially if partial coverage. If I were doing it again, I would be tempted to go for full although I think it is expensive.
I was facing the same question as the OP, what to do with the new car? Someone on here kindly referred me to a detailer who was very helpful and talked me through the pros and cons of each. I was heading towards full PPF but the total bill with a few extras was looking like £4500. I get the whole “as a percentage of the car cost argument” but for me it is still a lot of money that I can use better elsewhere. I decided against it in the end as the worst case scenario was I spent the money and found I didn’t like the end result. Ceramics make sense to me for a daily / regular driver but as they don’t provide stone chip protection I would prefer to use a good wax as I like the process of applying and topping it up. I may get the front PU done with PPF but will just get the rest of the car detailed and waxed. If I pick up some stone chips, I will remember them fondly and live with them. It may or may not affect resale but that is not my priority and I doubt the difference would be more than the £4K difference in cost.
Interesting subject and lots of personal experiences - I guess ultimately it is up to the OP what he wants to do and everyone had to work within their constraints and approach to driving cars.
it also comes down to how you own the cars, Leg owns his cars and keeps them, 85% of cars are PCP hand backs, so a lot of people are PPFing cars they don't even own !!!I have a newer car that is used for trackdays that has PPF. I went for a track pack rather than full coverage, mainly due to cost. I find the protection has been good with very few marks or chips visible on the PPF. The edges have become visible due to dirt after 2 years but no other issues. I have to say I don’t like the look of PPF, especially if partial coverage. If I were doing it again, I would be tempted to go for full although I think it is expensive.
I was facing the same question as the OP, what to do with the new car? Someone on here kindly referred me to a detailer who was very helpful and talked me through the pros and cons of each. I was heading towards full PPF but the total bill with a few extras was looking like £4500. I get the whole “as a percentage of the car cost argument” but for me it is still a lot of money that I can use better elsewhere. I decided against it in the end as the worst case scenario was I spent the money and found I didn’t like the end result. Ceramics make sense to me for a daily / regular driver but as they don’t provide stone chip protection I would prefer to use a good wax as I like the process of applying and topping it up. I may get the front PU done with PPF but will just get the rest of the car detailed and waxed. If I pick up some stone chips, I will remember them fondly and live with them. It may or may not affect resale but that is not my priority and I doubt the difference would be more than the £4K difference in cost.
Interesting subject and lots of personal experiences - I guess ultimately it is up to the OP what he wants to do and everyone had to work within their constraints and approach to driving cars.
if the GTS is to be a PCP hand back then again no need to ppf it, that's £5k down the toilet
I've just had ceramic coating applied to my RS5. Of course it isn't going to provide any protection against stone chips but personally, it's worth it for the hours saved in keeping it 'clean enough'. As mentioned elsewhere - snow foam, rinse, dry - 30 minutes.
Also, for me I put a lot of value in seeing how clean the car can be - however fleetingly. That 'just detailed' look will last for ever in my mind :-)
Also, for me I put a lot of value in seeing how clean the car can be - however fleetingly. That 'just detailed' look will last for ever in my mind :-)
_Leg_ said:
I'm both impressed with the car and the people in the Lotus scene. Great car, well built (surprise) and the people are friendly and proper petrolheads.
A mate is on his third Elise. He's had Mk1, Mk2 and now a new "S". He loves them and uses them, roof off, as near to 'everyday' as he can.He's also got a McLaren 650s, but says that although he loves it and it's fast, very, very, very fast, the Elise is more fun and involving. It's acutally the one car he'd keep above all.
I done the Lotus thing twice once with Lotusmotorsport Elise car 008
and later with a tricked up exige with 46MM Ohlins 3 ways and AP brakes, with aero testing at Mira.
I could keep up with GT3 back in the day all those years a go.
Not a lot has changed with Lotus bar they got heavy...
I would like an Elise cup though, or when they bring out a charged cooler Exige at an ok price I might buy one.
but atm it's a been there done it. the new Exige is too heavy on consumables for me to jump to those, rumors of heat soke are poor added with the old engine and high CofG it holds little appeal atm and they look bloody expensive and still fall apart.
and later with a tricked up exige with 46MM Ohlins 3 ways and AP brakes, with aero testing at Mira.
I could keep up with GT3 back in the day all those years a go.
Not a lot has changed with Lotus bar they got heavy...
I would like an Elise cup though, or when they bring out a charged cooler Exige at an ok price I might buy one.
but atm it's a been there done it. the new Exige is too heavy on consumables for me to jump to those, rumors of heat soke are poor added with the old engine and high CofG it holds little appeal atm and they look bloody expensive and still fall apart.
Edited by Porsche911R on Thursday 15th February 14:08
Porsche911R said:
I done the Lotus thing twice once with Lotusmotorsport Elise car 008
and later with a tricked up exige with 46MM Ohlins 3 ways and AP brakes, with aero testing at Mira.
I could keep up with GT3 back in the day all those years a go.
Not a lot has changed with Lotus bar they got heavy...
I would like an Elise cup though, or when they bring out a charged cooler Exige at an ok price I might buy one.
but atm it's a been there done it. the new Exige is too heavy on consumables for me to jump to those, rumors of heat soke are poor added with the old engine and high CofG it holds little appeal atm and they look bloody expensive and still fall apart.
LOL. You're funny. You talk absolute sand later with a tricked up exige with 46MM Ohlins 3 ways and AP brakes, with aero testing at Mira.
I could keep up with GT3 back in the day all those years a go.
Not a lot has changed with Lotus bar they got heavy...
I would like an Elise cup though, or when they bring out a charged cooler Exige at an ok price I might buy one.
but atm it's a been there done it. the new Exige is too heavy on consumables for me to jump to those, rumors of heat soke are poor added with the old engine and high CofG it holds little appeal atm and they look bloody expensive and still fall apart.
Edited by Porsche911R on Thursday 15th February 14:08
te like it's fact. _Leg_ said:
LOL. You're funny. You talk absolute ste like it's fact.
still been there done it and nothing they make atm has moved the game on 10 fold, the Exige 430CUP looks a hoot but it's daft money.te like it's fact. I am sure a charged cooled sport 410 will arrive so will take a look at that.
I look forward to your mira wing designs In the tunnel, lets see some pics.
The only fact here is I already been down the Exige route with custom made dampers and brakes 15 years a go.
The new Exige design has a few major flaws, it is what it is., it don't post any outstanding lap times which it should with that power to weight, in fact it's quite a slow car and really does not perform like it should, the latest CUP 380 times have been VERY poor.
I am looking forward to the 2020 Elise, lets hope they can bring some thing new to the party.
Edited by Porsche911R on Thursday 15th February 14:37
_Leg_ said:
Sorry I feel like I'm hijacking the thread. T'was not my intention. Pics of my Boxster S for PPF showing purposes. This car is a September 2012 and was full covered in PPF in September 2012 when new after being detailed. It's been on one Euro trip and it's my winter DD.
In deference to 911R I will say the car has a slight mark in the film on the front bumper near the top, to the left of centre but you can't see it in the photos. Also there's a little bit of edge fraying at the bottom of the rear of the front wheel arches although you wouldn't notice unless you were washing it. Otherwise it's perfect still. This one has XPEL (I think 2 if memory serves) all over whereas the Exige has Sonoco (low impact areas) and Xpel2 (high impact areas). I don't really have any close up pics of the other cars to hand other than those further down this post. I'll try and take some really close up stuff/do the video I promised when the weather looks up.
Hi there - looks epic that - please can you tell me the base colour of the car (Agate ?) and the decal colours - very nice indeed In deference to 911R I will say the car has a slight mark in the film on the front bumper near the top, to the left of centre but you can't see it in the photos. Also there's a little bit of edge fraying at the bottom of the rear of the front wheel arches although you wouldn't notice unless you were washing it. Otherwise it's perfect still. This one has XPEL (I think 2 if memory serves) all over whereas the Exige has Sonoco (low impact areas) and Xpel2 (high impact areas). I don't really have any close up pics of the other cars to hand other than those further down this post. I'll try and take some really close up stuff/do the video I promised when the weather looks up.
RSVP911 said:
Hi there - looks epic that - please can you tell me the base colour of the car (Agate ?) and the decal colours - very nice indeed
The car is Agate. I'm not sure of the wheel and vinyl specific colours but the wheels are tri colour. A lighter bronze on the face, slightly darker on the edges of the spokes and much darker bronze inside the wheel. Done by Jorvik Engineering in York.The wing mirrors, headlights and stripe are a satin grey with a bronze stripe on the mirrors and stripe. Vinyl Image in Liversedge did that (and also the yellow on the Lotus).
I did the wheels on a whim because I liked the colour then realised they made no sense on the car and I needed to bring the bronze into the bodywork somehow but didn't want to overdo it. This is what Johnfrom Vinyl Image and I came up with. I'm pondering something along the sills but not sure.
Hi all,
New to the forum but lucky enough to have a
Porsche 911 C4 Gts on order also and have been pondering between all of the options available but still looking at the most viable without throwing away money.
Would I be right in saying most would agree
Best way to protect the car inc against stone chips would be to
PPF front end of vehicle inc wing mirrors and full front.
And possibly ceramic coating on the rest of the car to help maintain its showroom condition.
I'm not someone that would enjoy spending hours on end cleaning there car but if a snow foam, rinse and dry could keep it looking good that would be great.
Now the attempt to select the right company/person to do the works? 🙈
I'm based in kent
Thanks in advance
New to the forum but lucky enough to have a
Porsche 911 C4 Gts on order also and have been pondering between all of the options available but still looking at the most viable without throwing away money.
Would I be right in saying most would agree
Best way to protect the car inc against stone chips would be to
PPF front end of vehicle inc wing mirrors and full front.
And possibly ceramic coating on the rest of the car to help maintain its showroom condition.
I'm not someone that would enjoy spending hours on end cleaning there car but if a snow foam, rinse and dry could keep it looking good that would be great.
Now the attempt to select the right company/person to do the works? 🙈
I'm based in kent
Thanks in advance
_Leg_ said:
The car is Agate. I'm not sure of the wheel and vinyl specific colours but the wheels are tri colour. A lighter bronze on the face, slightly darker on the edges of the spokes and much darker bronze inside the wheel. Done by Jorvik Engineering in York.
The wing mirrors, headlights and stripe are a satin grey with a bronze stripe on the mirrors and stripe. Vinyl Image in Liversedge did that (and also the yellow on the Lotus).
I did the wheels on a whim because I liked the colour then realised they made no sense on the car and I needed to bring the bronze into the bodywork somehow but didn't want to overdo it. This is what Johnfrom Vinyl Image and I came up with. I'm pondering something along the sills but not sure.
I'd leave it - it's absolutly perfect - such a nice car - well done you ! The wing mirrors, headlights and stripe are a satin grey with a bronze stripe on the mirrors and stripe. Vinyl Image in Liversedge did that (and also the yellow on the Lotus).
I did the wheels on a whim because I liked the colour then realised they made no sense on the car and I needed to bring the bronze into the bodywork somehow but didn't want to overdo it. This is what Johnfrom Vinyl Image and I came up with. I'm pondering something along the sills but not sure.
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