Supaguard. Good or waste of time?
Discussion
I am currently negotiating a deal for a new car and they are using Supaguard protection as a potential deal clincher for me.
Is it worth it or am i better just polishing the car regularly? I plan to keep the car 3 years and it will be black so i want to keep the paint tip top.
Also if i get a scrape and repaint any panels i assume i will need to get the supaguard done again?
Is it worth it or am i better just polishing the car regularly? I plan to keep the car 3 years and it will be black so i want to keep the paint tip top.
Also if i get a scrape and repaint any panels i assume i will need to get the supaguard done again?
Not worth the dealer price £300 or thereabouts typically - although the interior treatment could be considered a worthwhile investment.
You can pick up the kit (external only?) on the Bay for £10-20.
But the first contact with a clay bar, fairy liquid/etc, or an abrasive like Autoglym SRP, and it'll be gone - so there's your money straight down the drain!
Invest in a bit of time, effort, and proper products, and you'll maintain the looks much better in the long run.
You can pick up the kit (external only?) on the Bay for £10-20.
But the first contact with a clay bar, fairy liquid/etc, or an abrasive like Autoglym SRP, and it'll be gone - so there's your money straight down the drain!
Invest in a bit of time, effort, and proper products, and you'll maintain the looks much better in the long run.
Edited by PJ S on Wednesday 6th August 17:40
Wot he said, particularly with regards to the markup the dealership makes.
If you have any paintwork done, it should be fully cured (30-60 days) before any potentially solvent-trapping wax is used on it - so yes it would need doing again, but not straight away.
Tol
giusto said:
Also if i get a scrape and repaint any panels i assume i will need to get the supaguard done again?
If the guard is still fresh, it's a total pain for the refinisher to make sure it's all removed before starting repairs.If you have any paintwork done, it should be fully cured (30-60 days) before any potentially solvent-trapping wax is used on it - so yes it would need doing again, but not straight away.
Tol
eldudereno said:
Don't waste your money, they're just trying to rip you off.
my thoughts when a dealer was trying to push it on a car we were buying a couple of years ago (£6k Megane)... We said no, then we were treated to the lovely video (during which I exclaimed "ah, great, Tiff Needell the media w
e"), we said no, then the business manager came out and we said no again.. Grrrr
giusto said:
OK, thanks, it seems like a no no, so what would you recommend instead?
I dont have the time to spend 4 hours at the weekend doing it, so a professional quality but simple polish/wax system would help. Any ideas?
Bilt Hamber Auto Balm - use the search for more info and threads.I dont have the time to spend 4 hours at the weekend doing it, so a professional quality but simple polish/wax system would help. Any ideas?
I find the whole topic of "Paint Protection" very interesting. It amazes me that new car dealers push these treatments, my question to the dealer would be to ask is there a problem with the paint ? why, when you are buying a new (or used) car are we told that we need to spend an extra £300 on additional treatment for the paint, how much does a car manufacturer spend on the development of a car, £Millions !! Do you think that they have not researched the whole area of how the paint stands up to the atmosphere, some-one out there must know how much Daimler-Chrysler, BMW or Volkswagen spend on developing a new car, but you are trying to tell me they forgot to put £20 of chemicals on the paint ! Modern car paint needs treating like our skin, and can be maintained by regular washing, and regular applications of a natural chemical-free hard wax, like our skin - paint needs protecting from the sun (UV), so by applying the correct wax it will not dry out and fade, it will then repel atmospheric contaminants. A layer of wax on the paint is like putting varnish on wood, by using a natural wax you can multi-layer it, giving depth of shine to the paint and lasting protection to the surface. The intervals that the car needs waxing depends on its use and where it lives. A "garage-queen" car may need waxing only once a year, whereas a car that lives outsidde and is used daily will need waxing every 3-4 months. It's simple. The next time a dealer tries to sell you a paint protection system, get them to show you the manufacturers approval for the products.
gmundster said:
I find the whole topic of "Paint Protection" very interesting. It amazes me that new car dealers push these treatments, my question to the dealer would be to ask is there a problem with the paint ? why, when you are buying a new (or used) car are we told that we need to spend an extra £300 on additional treatment for the paint, how much does a car manufacturer spend on the development of a car, £Millions !! Do you think that they have not researched the whole area of how the paint stands up to the atmosphere, some-one out there must know how much Daimler-Chrysler, BMW or Volkswagen spend on developing a new car, but you are trying to tell me they forgot to put £20 of chemicals on the paint ! Modern car paint needs treating like our skin, and can be maintained by regular washing, and regular applications of a natural chemical-free hard wax, like our skin - paint needs protecting from the sun (UV), so by applying the correct wax it will not dry out and fade, it will then repel atmospheric contaminants. A layer of wax on the paint is like putting varnish on wood, by using a natural wax you can multi-layer it, giving depth of shine to the paint and lasting protection to the surface. The intervals that the car needs waxing depends on its use and where it lives. A "garage-queen" car may need waxing only once a year, whereas a car that lives outsidde and is used daily will need waxing every 3-4 months. It's simple. The next time a dealer tries to sell you a paint protection system, get them to show you the manufacturers approval for the products.
Absolutely well put and spot on !!!I am very local to a drive through style car wash, at which my teenage step
brother works for along with loads of other young lads!! They apply supa guard for a couple of well know dealerships at a price of £125 and then the dealer sales the package for £400 !!!
Product cost price £10
Labour for teenage lad to wash and wax with suparuard £20
Profit for car wash company £95
Profit for dealership £275 split between sales person and company!! priceless LOL
Go and find a good detailer who would either sell the correct products to maintain your new car, or detail your brand new car and sell the correct wax for you to carry on the maintainance and you would still only be in of the price for the dealers paint protection!!
I would love to repeat some of the tells my brother has said
Edited by kds keltec on Thursday 7th August 11:50
completely agree. complete waste of time and money.
there's another product i noticed at the motorshow that's giving a 5 year written guarentee. think it was called glare. anyone had any dealing with it?
from my point of view it's goes against what i'm doing as it will do me out of repeat protection business. just wondered what people thought.
there's another product i noticed at the motorshow that's giving a 5 year written guarentee. think it was called glare. anyone had any dealing with it?
from my point of view it's goes against what i'm doing as it will do me out of repeat protection business. just wondered what people thought.
mneame said:
completely agree. complete waste of time and money.
there's another product i noticed at the motorshow that's giving a 5 year written guarentee. think it was called glare. anyone had any dealing with it?
from my point of view it's goes against what i'm doing as it will do me out of repeat protection business. just wondered what people thought.
Hi mathew there's another product i noticed at the motorshow that's giving a 5 year written guarentee. think it was called glare. anyone had any dealing with it?
from my point of view it's goes against what i'm doing as it will do me out of repeat protection business. just wondered what people thought.
I have not tried that one, but have tried another product from the USA which
give a 5 year guarantee!! Tried it for months on my wifes car 2 years ago and did not last more than 6 weeks and found it only as good as an average wax say from halfords!!
I have been painting and detailing cars for 20 years now ! and have just moved into detailing solely recently (found loads of pictures from the 90's of the cars i wet flatted and detailed , Capri's , cortina's , jags , mgb's and bettle's in the back ground lol good cars are better now)!!
Over the years have experimented with everything to do with paint, and i myself have been suckered in so much with the hype of protection products, which is now a massive industry!!!!!
If a company can give a 5 year guarantee for protection product (which is proberly possible with the technology of today) , It would have to be like concrete its self to last 5 years of some of the most harsest envoriments around!! Then dont you think it would have to be applied be specailist technicians??? As surely there would be many public people buying it and applying it incorrectly and to the wrong areas and would never be able to remove it too re apply it correctly lol ??????
No its not worth the money.
But I will say it doesnt matter what product you use on the car from a budget £20 wax to Zymol Royale (£7800) ... it will be a waste of time unless the paintwork is correctly prepared before wax is put on the paintwork.
Anyone can wax a car... but it takes skill and knowledge to prepare the paintwork correctly and its this that makes a difference.
Preparation is key
Therefore its worth getting a pro detailer to prepare the car so all you need to do is wash and wax it regularly. I recommend to my customers wash once a week (if possible) but the main thing is to wax every 2-3 months.
But I will say it doesnt matter what product you use on the car from a budget £20 wax to Zymol Royale (£7800) ... it will be a waste of time unless the paintwork is correctly prepared before wax is put on the paintwork.
Anyone can wax a car... but it takes skill and knowledge to prepare the paintwork correctly and its this that makes a difference.
Preparation is key
Therefore its worth getting a pro detailer to prepare the car so all you need to do is wash and wax it regularly. I recommend to my customers wash once a week (if possible) but the main thing is to wax every 2-3 months.
Mr OCD said:
No its not worth the money.
But I will say it doesnt matter what product you use on the car from a budget £20 wax to Zymol Royale (£8146) ... it will be a waste of time unless the paintwork is correctly prepared before wax is put on the paintwork.
Anyone can wax a car... but it takes skill and knowledge to prepare the paintwork correctly and its this that makes a difference.
Preparation is key
Therefore its worth getting a pro detailer to prepare the car so all you need to do is wash and wax it regularly. I recommend to my customers wash once a week (if possible) but the main thing is to wax every 2-3 months.
EFRPI But I will say it doesnt matter what product you use on the car from a budget £20 wax to Zymol Royale (£8146) ... it will be a waste of time unless the paintwork is correctly prepared before wax is put on the paintwork.
Anyone can wax a car... but it takes skill and knowledge to prepare the paintwork correctly and its this that makes a difference.
Preparation is key
Therefore its worth getting a pro detailer to prepare the car so all you need to do is wash and wax it regularly. I recommend to my customers wash once a week (if possible) but the main thing is to wax every 2-3 months.
(edited for recent price increase)
Try Rob from Gleammachine.net
Have the dealer get Rob in rather than his valeters to do the PDI treatment, and not to wash it.
If it's arrived from the factory with nothing major, then it'll cost you less to have Rob make the car as pristine as it should be, before you pick it up.
After that, it's up to you to maintain with advice from here, and Rob himself.
Have the dealer get Rob in rather than his valeters to do the PDI treatment, and not to wash it.
If it's arrived from the factory with nothing major, then it'll cost you less to have Rob make the car as pristine as it should be, before you pick it up.
After that, it's up to you to maintain with advice from here, and Rob himself.
Edited by PJ S on Friday 8th August 15:32
PJ S said:
Try Rob from Gleammachine.net
Have the dealer get Rob in rather than his valeters to do the PDI treatment, and not to wash it.
If it's arrived from the factory with nothing major, then it'll cost you less to have Rob make the car as pristine as it should be, before you pick it up.
After that, it's up to you to maintain with advice from here, and Rob himself.
+1Have the dealer get Rob in rather than his valeters to do the PDI treatment, and not to wash it.
If it's arrived from the factory with nothing major, then it'll cost you less to have Rob make the car as pristine as it should be, before you pick it up.
After that, it's up to you to maintain with advice from here, and Rob himself.
Edited by PJ S on Friday 8th August 15:32
Make it part of the deal that the dealer allows your detailer on-site to do the pre-delivery prep to your car. Make sure they can facilitate and provide a good working area. I Have done quite a bit of work on new cars from main Audi dealers recently and I have to say a handover bay is a great place to work!!
As for the supaguard, its a no from me i'm afraid. I Was speaking to a guy tonight who openly admitted that when he worked for Peugeot that they would often open the pack, take the sticker out, put it on the window and sell the packs off!!! Recons that once the car leaves the showroom the average customer would not have a clue if the car had been treated or not!!!!
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