vinyl wrap instead of respray
Discussion
Hi all,
I've got a 1997 caterham in bare aluminium, I've always fancied having it painted (to save on the elbow grease required when polishing) , but recently it looks like these vinyl wraps might be a decent alternative. I had a look at one companies website (www.totally-dynamic.co.uk) and they claim that the average family sized saloon can be vinyl wrapped for around £1500, so I imagine that a caterham would be substantially less given that its probably less than half the surface area. And you could have a pretty wild 'paintjob' for not much effort.
Firstly, does anyone know of any caterhams that have been vinyl wrapped? has anyone seen any vinyl wrapped car close up, how does it look?
Secondly, are there any drawbacks to vinyl wrapping? the above website claim a life of 3-5 years.
Theres a 996 t3 in the classifieds at the moment that is wrapped, looks good in the photos.
I've got a 1997 caterham in bare aluminium, I've always fancied having it painted (to save on the elbow grease required when polishing) , but recently it looks like these vinyl wraps might be a decent alternative. I had a look at one companies website (www.totally-dynamic.co.uk) and they claim that the average family sized saloon can be vinyl wrapped for around £1500, so I imagine that a caterham would be substantially less given that its probably less than half the surface area. And you could have a pretty wild 'paintjob' for not much effort.
Firstly, does anyone know of any caterhams that have been vinyl wrapped? has anyone seen any vinyl wrapped car close up, how does it look?
Secondly, are there any drawbacks to vinyl wrapping? the above website claim a life of 3-5 years.
Theres a 996 t3 in the classifieds at the moment that is wrapped, looks good in the photos.
Not sure if it can be polished, I'd presume not, so I guess it might look tatty quicker than a proper paint job, mind you my aluminium looked pretty tatty after a year of trackdays anyway, never did manage to get it back to that mirror finish that the previous over maintained. I never was one for polishing.
Yes, I was wondering whether the bonnet louvres or the holes around the front suspension and exhaust would cause trouble.
I'd always been lead to believe that the £1200 that people say it costs TSK to spray means doing all your own prep work, ie removing wings, suspension, screen etc. I'm lazy , so I'd be looking for a drop it off and collect it type approach.
Yes, I was wondering whether the bonnet louvres or the holes around the front suspension and exhaust would cause trouble.
I'd always been lead to believe that the £1200 that people say it costs TSK to spray means doing all your own prep work, ie removing wings, suspension, screen etc. I'm lazy , so I'd be looking for a drop it off and collect it type approach.
Cheers for the info everyone, I will continue to investigate, but from looking into it more, it would appear that it might start to appear tatty fairly quickly, maybe a matt finish (a la the GT3 in the classified) doesnt wear so much.
I've owned the car for about 8 years now, and I have always used autosol , but I dont think I have the patience to get it back to proper mirror like the previous owner had. And I think to keep it mirror you need to polish it every weekend, I'm not really the polishing type of owner.
I've owned the car for about 8 years now, and I have always used autosol , but I dont think I have the patience to get it back to proper mirror like the previous owner had. And I think to keep it mirror you need to polish it every weekend, I'm not really the polishing type of owner.
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