Protective Film Question
Discussion
I've placed an order for a 2020 Vantage AMR with 7 spd manual. I chose Sabiro Blue for the exterior. My dealer (USA) told me most people don't get the protective film option. I haven't on any other make I've ever owned but am curious if there is a reason I should reconsider. It is usually offered as an option during the purchase process & I've always considered it a waste of $.
I'm very much looking forward to owning this car. I've driven quite a few Astons and toured the factory but have never owned.
I'm very much looking forward to owning this car. I've driven quite a few Astons and toured the factory but have never owned.
PPF is incredible, it saves your paint from damage and makes cleaning your car easier, I'm not sure what the option consists of but I'd guess people aren't ordering it because they'll arrange for their car to be paint corrected, detailed and PPF'd after collection, which you should definitely do!
PantsFire said:
PPF is incredible, it saves your paint from damage and makes cleaning your car easier, I'm not sure what the option consists of but I'd guess people aren't ordering it because they'll arrange for their car to be paint corrected, detailed and PPF'd after collection, which you should definitely do!
That’s been the case for me. I don’t know what the US situation is but over here AML will put little patches of stone guard protection around the rear wheel arches. if you’re getting the car properly PPF’d those need to come off so it’s easier just to delete them from scratch
Viahuerto said:
I've placed an order for a 2020 Vantage AMR with 7 spd manual. I chose Sabiro Blue for the exterior. My dealer (USA) told me most people don't get the protective film option. I haven't on any other make I've ever owned but am curious if there is a reason I should reconsider. It is usually offered as an option during the purchase process & I've always considered it a waste of $.
I'm very much looking forward to owning this car. I've driven quite a few Astons and toured the factory but have never owned.
I also have an AMR Vantage coming. The protective film option is some PPF on the rear quarter arches protecting from stone chips. There may be a couple of other areas too. As mentioned the car will likely need a detail to correct the paint. You are better off leaving the film pieces off, having it corrected then filming the car after. I would suggest a minimum of front end, sills, mirrors and arches but personally I’ll be getting the entire car done. I'm very much looking forward to owning this car. I've driven quite a few Astons and toured the factory but have never owned.
Speculatore said:
Its a great option BUT..Do not let them apply it. If you collect a new car the paintwork will not be the in the best shape possible with swirl marks and small paint issues. Find a place that can detail the car and apply the protective film at the same venue.
What he said If course you could and on a classic that really is the way to go
On a new car I’d like it to stay looking mint for a number of years rather than seeing the paint gradually deteriorate everytime it gets washed or stone-chipped.
And l’ll use the many hours I save from having the car cleaned in 5 mins rather than an hour (being careful not to introduce swirls etc) to drive the thing!
It’s pure personal choice at the end of the day
On a new car I’d like it to stay looking mint for a number of years rather than seeing the paint gradually deteriorate everytime it gets washed or stone-chipped.
And l’ll use the many hours I save from having the car cleaned in 5 mins rather than an hour (being careful not to introduce swirls etc) to drive the thing!
It’s pure personal choice at the end of the day
stevenotwet said:
Speculatore said:
Its a great option BUT..Do not let them apply it. If you collect a new car the paintwork will not be the in the best shape possible with swirl marks and small paint issues. Find a place that can detail the car and apply the protective film at the same venue.
What he said 
New Vantage is quite susceptible to stone chips on the front end, particular right on the nose and around the shut line for the bonnet, simply because the nose is really low. As noted above, Aston offer rear quarter film pads in front of the rear wheels, which are worth having as the body steps out a chunk toward the rear of the car.
I think if you're concerned about it, there's a good halfway house option of having PPF to the front end (so bonnet, nose, front wings back to rear wheel arches), and don't worry about the rest such as the doors, roof, rear end etc. In normal conditions that will cover all the areas that get the most debris spat at them. That's still around £1800 though, so it comes down to how much you value keeping the paint in pristine condition.
I think if you're concerned about it, there's a good halfway house option of having PPF to the front end (so bonnet, nose, front wings back to rear wheel arches), and don't worry about the rest such as the doors, roof, rear end etc. In normal conditions that will cover all the areas that get the most debris spat at them. That's still around £1800 though, so it comes down to how much you value keeping the paint in pristine condition.
My V12s roadster has full front end PPF...
it was corrected, PPF installed then ceramic coated on top...
id really say it enchanted the paintwork, its cobalt blue.
but I'd definitely find somewhere good and not cheap out on it, our daily rs4 also has it and it looks crap... the vantage can't notice it at all.
it was corrected, PPF installed then ceramic coated on top...
id really say it enchanted the paintwork, its cobalt blue.
but I'd definitely find somewhere good and not cheap out on it, our daily rs4 also has it and it looks crap... the vantage can't notice it at all.
I've owned lots of cars and have never gotten the film on the others. I guess since its an option on the AM option list I wondered if it is a necessity. I live in California & plan to drive the car very frequently so it will be exposed to the elements (such as they are). In the mean time I've had an excellent record so far avoiding dings and debris damage on my other cars. Seems to make sense to get the car and then explore aftermarket options later. Clearly I wouldn't cheap out as I'll be spending a fair amount to get the car in the first place!
In the US you drive on the pavement so it's a nice smooth surface and free of surface dressing chips and all you need to watch out for are pedestrians. We don't get paintwork swirls in the UK so you must be getting Aston "seconds" in the US 
Our Vantage has paint protection film at the strategic points as mentioned above including lower rear wings. I chose not to have PPF applied to a previous Caterham and the rear wings were trashed by stone chips after a year. One difficulty of PPF is applying it to an area with multiple contours which requires a heat gun and even then it can be problematical. My present Caterham has a new type of PPF which is called P1 and is sprayed onto the surface in 6 separate coats and is now the preferred PPF option (locally), for Mercedes and Porsche.
Best to get it done prior to delivery otherwise you risk paintwork damage and if then fitted retrospectively you are just protecting damaged paintwork ... or you have to have the damaged paintwork repaired prior to applying PPF.
Your other option is to not have any PPF applied and just park it in the garage and look at it now and again, preferably on a Sunday evening from a comfy rocking chair and sipping from a deep champagne goblet. Pour yourself three measures of Harris gin, one of Ogilvy vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet, shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel ... then just sit back and admire the beauty of British engineering at it's very best
Our Vantage has paint protection film at the strategic points as mentioned above including lower rear wings. I chose not to have PPF applied to a previous Caterham and the rear wings were trashed by stone chips after a year. One difficulty of PPF is applying it to an area with multiple contours which requires a heat gun and even then it can be problematical. My present Caterham has a new type of PPF which is called P1 and is sprayed onto the surface in 6 separate coats and is now the preferred PPF option (locally), for Mercedes and Porsche.
Best to get it done prior to delivery otherwise you risk paintwork damage and if then fitted retrospectively you are just protecting damaged paintwork ... or you have to have the damaged paintwork repaired prior to applying PPF.
Your other option is to not have any PPF applied and just park it in the garage and look at it now and again, preferably on a Sunday evening from a comfy rocking chair and sipping from a deep champagne goblet. Pour yourself three measures of Harris gin, one of Ogilvy vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet, shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel ... then just sit back and admire the beauty of British engineering at it's very best
Blue7 said:
In the US you drive on the pavement
You'd be locked up over here for that
Sidewalk issues aside I am considering PPF after a respray now too. I always thought that as PPF was the cost of a respray (well with the top charging companies at least) it wasn't a good economic decision, since if it was all yellow and chipped after 5 years it needed to come off anyway. But I think these days that they can self heal (with some hairdryer heat?) and thus wont look tatty and are less prone to yellowing? Am I right here? If so it will extend the time the paint looks good and minimise the personal heartache of seeing primer revealed bit by bit by your mates on runs!
Viahuerto said:
I've placed an order for a 2020 Vantage AMR with 7 spd manual. I chose Sabiro Blue for the exterior. My dealer (USA) told me most people don't get the protective film option. I haven't on any other make I've ever owned but am curious if there is a reason I should reconsider. It is usually offered as an option during the purchase process & I've always considered it a waste of $.
I'm very much looking forward to owning this car. I've driven quite a few Astons and toured the factory but have never owned.
The default protective film is a very small area just in front of the rear wheel arches which is not nearly enough.I'm very much looking forward to owning this car. I've driven quite a few Astons and toured the factory but have never owned.
I’ve never had PPF on the basis that I didn’t like the ‘line’ where it ends. However, on my new Vantage, after 3,000 miles, the front and sides of the car are really badly stone chipped - so bad in fact I’d consider it a paint/spraying defect and I’m going to be going back to my dealer to get their thoughts. As a comparison, other cars I own that live much harder lives than the Vantage, have virtually no stone chips.
Not sure if my paint is particularly bad/soft (Scopus Red - Q palette paint) but if I was ordering a new one then I’d seriously consider having the latest self healing PPF for the full front of the car and the sides.
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