2020 delivered... temporary PPF

[Full0bs]

Hey guys,

My order went from the line to delivered in 3 days!!! Picking up tomorrow a.m. and unprepared. No rock blockers or anything. I plan on getting ppf but it will be a week or two and i plan on putting 100+ miles of engine break in and brake bedding before then.

I planned to order track armour or something similar but i have no time.

i’m thinking of just going to home depot and getting some 6mil painters plastic and taping up with painters tape, trimming around the grills.

Anyone think it’s a bad idea, or have a better option?? I think painters tape by itself is too thin.

for those who say dont worry about etc... just know i’m too ocd.

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[Voodoo Velocity]

You haven't even started enjoying the car and you are stressed over these details?

If you are buying it to be a museum piece, knock yourself out.
If you are buying a car, either as a weekend terror, investing in protection will live long.
If you are buying a daily driver the protection will slow the inevitable (and soften the blow to your rationale).

These cars are blunt objects. They are not built by Rolex and they are not as fragile as a porcelain doll. Many of us invest in preserving the car, but it should be part of the enjoyment and not a dreaded obligation.

 

[Full0bs]

If anyone has any actual constructive comments that address my post i would appreciate it.

 

[DrumReaper]

If anyone has any actual constructive comments that address my post i would appreciate it.

It’s your money... your post... don’t mind those who come around without your best interest in mind.

I’m sure the responder doesn’t plan to wreck his ride but he has insurance... and he’d probably have a comeback like, “Well Insurance is mandatory,” or some answer of retort but he’s prepared if things he can’t control damage his ride, and you should do the same for for your personal convictions.

Enjoy your ride bro. I applaud you for wishing to protect your ride!

 

[lonegunman]

I drove my car over 2,500 miles before PPF and it survived with only a few tiny rock chips. If you want to do a 100 miles of break-in that is your choice. I didn't flog my car until it had a 1,000 nice miles and an oil change.

Are you picking it up locally? I drove 1,400 miles home with mine and didn't bother with blue tape or whatever, it survived just fine. Even with ZL1 rock guards, I picked up several small chips in front of the rear wheels, from the fronts. I had that area PPF'd really well. PPF on the trunk sill is a great idea too.

 

[Davesvt2000]

Painters tape works fine.

just remember to start up the hood and work your way down to the bottom edge of the hood.

first time I did painters tape I started at the bottom edge of the hood and went up about 10 inches.

made it five minutes down the toad and the wind was getting under the leading edge of the tape and flapping all over the place lol

 

[460Fred]

Time is not on your side, it wasn’t with me either.
Last Friday I cut a deal and picked up the car on Sunday. Tried to get track armor delivered overnight but I couldn’t find any that quick.
I took a chance and forgot how terrible LA area freeways were, constant construction for miles and miles. I was pleasantly surprised...no damage whatsoever, none.
I have since changed my mind about PPF. Maybe I’ll change back after a mountain ride tomorrow. I did get the front rock blokerz installed about an hour ago.
The OCD thing nobody can help you with. You do have an option to wait on your pickup. If it bothered me that much I’d wait. OCD overrides patience ;-)
Painter tape is used all the time on the track. You may have no choice but to use it.
Good luck and post some pictures

 

[Matti777]

Simple solution,,,,don't drive it until you have the PPF done.

 

[GT 550]

Agree.

The paint on these things is so soft that you need to be careful and tape down every piece of moving plastic so it doesn't flap, and get it tight across the panels so there's no movement due to wind resistance. I made the mistake of not doing this perfectly and had to get paint correction done before the PPF went on. Also remember even painters tape and new clearcoat isn't a match made in heaven.

The car has warranty, unless there's an urgency to break it in immediately I'd strongly recommend waiting until you can get the PPF done and then going crazy. Will be hard having it sit there while you wait but it'll be harder if a big rock dings the hood 100 yards down the road while you're doing the break in, then you'll kick yourself for not waiting. It's a GT350, you could sit in a deck chair and look at it for two weeks and still not get tired of it.

It sounds like you want to look after it, for a GT350 I'd even get it trailered to your house and then the PPF place. Minimise the opportunity for regrets...

Just my 2c

 

[Interceptor]

I sold and delivered a "smartcar" when they were hot, to a dealer 600 miles away. I promised no nick's chips etc...
I went to Lowe's or Home Depot and purchased clear plastic carpet protector. Cost was like $15.00. If I remember correctly it is 3 foot wide, maybe 15-20 long. Neat thing about it is the back is sticky. So I just wrapped the front fenders grill everything.
Took my knife and opened up the grille areas, covered headlights and everything.
When I got to dealer 600 miles away for inspection, peeled it off like painters tape.
Car was nice and clean, no bugs, chips etc...

 

[Interceptor]

This is not the hard vinyl plastic stuff, very lightweight, they use it in model homes in walkways, sticks to carpet.

 

[lightrules]

congrats man. definitely snag some track armour or trakk tape and protect that beauty. have fun.

 

[526 HRSE]

Hey guys,

My order went from the line to delivered in 3 days!!! Picking up tomorrow a.m. and unprepared. No rock blockers or anything. I plan on getting ppf but it will be a week or two and i plan on putting 100+ miles of engine break in and brake bedding before then.

I planned to order track armour or something similar but i have no time.

i’m thinking of just going to home depot and getting some 6mil painters plastic and taping up with painters tape, trimming around the grills.

Anyone think it’s a bad idea, or have a better option?? I think painters tape by itself is too thin.

for those who say dont worry about etc... just know i’m too ocd.

Nobody is concerned that he said "100 miles of engine break-in"?

 

[Caballus]

Agree with @GT 550 and @Matti777. If you plan to PPF, recommend you take it to the PPF shop immediately, despite the temptation to just put a few miles on it. Also, recommend you emphasize to the shop the importance of not abusing the engine and that it will blow if they rev when cold or no load (it's ok to over emphasize in order to make your point).

Reason for recommendation:
With my first GT350, I picked it up from the port and drove it straight to the PPF place, which was 350 miles, give or take with back roads to avoid too much pre-break-in Autobahn time. Got lucky and had zero scratches or dings when I arrived. Pure luck. Sold it 3.5 years later with PPF still intact and still zero dings or scratches.

Had no choice but to put about 1000mi on the current one before ppf. Picked up a small ding, which I got fixed prior to PPF. Came out perfect, but quite a bit of drama when you consider you have to wait at least 6 weeks (advisable 90 days) prior to PPF after painting a spot. This is true even for small touch-up. If you don't, it voids the 10 year warranty. So, your choices at that point are to cover all but the panel(s) that get touched up and return later for that portion(s), or you can wait for everything. Either way, in addition to dragging out the process, you can easily see the additional risk you incur.

Side note. I asked the PPF shop whether anything has changed in technology since the first car. Learned the following:
1. They have managed to make it thicker, while maintaining the translucence.

2. Along with the thickness, it's also more durable. With my previous car, I would make an impression with my fingernail to show someone how it self-corrects. He explained that with the new stuff, you would almost have to damage the film to make an impression. It "bounces back" before an indentation can be made--if that makes sense.

3. Because of 1&2, nearly all now have a 10 year warranty (Suntek, Expel, etc). Warranties used to vary between 3-5 yrs.

4. All have gotten better at pre-cut patterns. Previously, all of the manufactures used the same patterns--they all bought from a single pattern maker. The patterns were not tested and didn't fit well. Now, each makes their own patterns using good laser technology. There is also room for the installer to adjust pre-cut sections during installation. This guy is still generally anti-precut but gave credit where due.

Whatever you decide; good luck.

 

[imbadatthis]

Painters tape and don't tail gate.

PPF is actually capable of filling in small imperfections including swirls and clear coat chips.

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