Durability of Paint for Those W/out Clear Bra.

[GT_Dave]

My main concern is getting the paint properly prepped before someone installs PPF. To me that is the key and while many Graphic or Tint guys can properly install the PPF, few can do paint correction properly. What did it run you at X-Treme and what did they do? I have heard great things about them.

I was only looking for added protection based on what the car had experienced previously as an indicator. I had the full front bumper covered, the headlights, mirrors, side fenders back about 16", and in front of the rear wheel wells. I left the hood alone because I had them install a hood stripe earlier that provides some protection. If I remember correctly it cost me about $375.
The transition from film to no film on the fenders cannot be detected unless you view it from about 10" away. The edges are even better. My car is Comp Orange, a darker car may be more apparent than a lighter color due to the film areas have a much smoother surface and better gloss than the paint. X-treme may be able to help with, or provide the paint preparation for the film. You need to check with them. They do a lot of different applications, I would think they are prepared for almost anything.

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[Kurac]

False..


*edit*

I don't disagree with the inclination to protect the paint on any vehicle.

I bought this car because it's the least expensive high performance "track ready" machine that can come (somewhat) close to a GT3 RS - which I would buy and put PPF on if I could afford the Porsche - but I can't. PPF on this car, for me, is a waste of money. I didn't order it - so it's not even the color I wanted - and the paint job is cheap and thin (would you PPF the base model Mustang? same paint job..). If I'm going to spend $3-5k to protect a paint job it had better be a good paint job and the desired color to begin with.

Because I plan on keeping this car in my family, I'm not interested in preserving the OEM paint job for the next guy - so it makes more economical sense, to me in my situation, to put a good ceramic coating on it for now then respray it at a quality shop in 5-7 years.

False?

I dont treat any of my cars like garbage. Our daily drivers are wrapped as well. If you like rock chips, and “patina”, then go for it. I like the look of a clean vehicle and no rock chips. If you are paying $70K plus and don’t add a little more for paint protection, ... If I were shopping for a used sports car and it didn’t have PPF, I simply pass on the car as a potential purchase. If the owner is that cheap to not put PPF on the car, what else did they skimp on?

EDIT: just realized your car is black, it boggles my mind why you wouldn’t wrap it. I had my whole front end forward of the A pillars wrapped and front of the rear fenders for $1600. Pocket change when you are buying a car for 70 large

 

[Zcobra1]

You would be shocked at how many Ferrari's DO NOT have ppf applied, and no not all garage queens, many driven often, and no ppf.......I was surprised.

I bought mine used with 26,000 miles and had no ppf, since she already had road scars, I did not bother and got a few more added during my ownership. Surprisingly the car is not real beat, so it probably matters some where you drive, roads, who you follow, and avoiding trucks and other vehicles that kick up crap.

 

[HizliBullet]

yup since the car is low is gets hit with tiny rocks, its inevitable..i got PPF and some of the chips were hard enough to poke through the film

 

[Freedom]

I understand protection because of the cars value, but clear bra frankly looks like piss and edges get gunked up after awhile and would drive me nuts.
Repainting the front bumper here cost less than $700 and looks factory new. Though, I know some of you guys probably hate the idea of repaint.

 

[Tomster]

I understand protection because of the cars value, but clear bra frankly looks like piss and edges get gunked up after awhile and would drive me nuts.
Repainting the front bumper here cost less than $700 and looks factory new. Though, I know some of you guys probably hate the idea of repaint.

Look up the cost of the OEM stripes. For the front impact areas it would be about double the cost you quoted. And that $700 you quoted is low.

I know because I was considering it on my old white track pack that didn't have PPF

 

[Freedom]

Look up the cost of the OEM stripes. For the front impact areas it would be about double the cost you quoted. And that $700 you quoted is low.

I know because I was considering it on my old white track pack that didn't have PPF

Ah right the oe stripes. Paint is definitely cheap but those stripes are expensive.
Labor is cheap in my town so $700 might actually be an overestimate for paint and labor.

Considering PPF/Vinyl are estimated 5 year cycles, wouldn’t hurt to repaint and new vinyl after 5 years away. Stripeless can also freshen up the style?

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