ctandc72
Well-Known Member
I have a few pretty close friends who have done high end paint / auto body for years. I remember hearing them talk about a customer who had just spent a ton of money on a paint job on a Vette restoration. Guy planned on driving it a lot. Wanted to know if the 'high end' ceramic or other protective applications were worth it.
Their answer? If you don't regular detail it yourself or pay someone (who knows what they are doing) and if you can afford it and it's worth it TO YOU - go for it. They said otherwise most of the coatings don't protect anymore than simply keeping the car clean, and regular polishing / sealing.
Take that FWIW. I know one of 'em gets pissed when customers talks about using a semi-permanent coating over one of his paint jobs. He spend a ton of time wet sanding / compounding / polishing before this jobs leave his shop. Obviously he doesn't do run of the mill insurance / quick spray jobs.
Me personally, my routine for my new '17 will be the same as my other vehicles.
Right after Winter and right before Winter, I'll wash the car in dawn to strip everything off. Hit it with a claybar. Wash. Polish. Then Wipe on Wipe Off Sealant, usually 2-3 coats. Personally I really like the Ultima Plus :
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UOCSG4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I wash it regularly (foam cannon is amusing and I can do that or a 2 bucket wash in a 20 minutes if I'm in a hurry) and might throw another coat of Ultima on it every couple of months.
I daily drive my vehicles. Rain or shine or snow. My last car was 6 years old and the paint looked great, in fact most people thought it had been repainted.
Like someone else said. Buy an orbital, read the detailing forums, and if you have the time and some $ (not a ton) you'll be surprised how easy it is to teach yourself "paint correction" which takes care of anything beyond deep scratches that have breached the clear coat or base coat.
I also keep a bottle of quick detailer in the trunk so I can wipe off bird shit and other stuff that happens when you drive a car everyday. The Ultima did make a HUGE difference during pollen season and other stuff comes off much easier.
Just my 2 cents
Their answer? If you don't regular detail it yourself or pay someone (who knows what they are doing) and if you can afford it and it's worth it TO YOU - go for it. They said otherwise most of the coatings don't protect anymore than simply keeping the car clean, and regular polishing / sealing.
Take that FWIW. I know one of 'em gets pissed when customers talks about using a semi-permanent coating over one of his paint jobs. He spend a ton of time wet sanding / compounding / polishing before this jobs leave his shop. Obviously he doesn't do run of the mill insurance / quick spray jobs.
Me personally, my routine for my new '17 will be the same as my other vehicles.
Right after Winter and right before Winter, I'll wash the car in dawn to strip everything off. Hit it with a claybar. Wash. Polish. Then Wipe on Wipe Off Sealant, usually 2-3 coats. Personally I really like the Ultima Plus :
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UOCSG4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I wash it regularly (foam cannon is amusing and I can do that or a 2 bucket wash in a 20 minutes if I'm in a hurry) and might throw another coat of Ultima on it every couple of months.
I daily drive my vehicles. Rain or shine or snow. My last car was 6 years old and the paint looked great, in fact most people thought it had been repainted.
Like someone else said. Buy an orbital, read the detailing forums, and if you have the time and some $ (not a ton) you'll be surprised how easy it is to teach yourself "paint correction" which takes care of anything beyond deep scratches that have breached the clear coat or base coat.
I also keep a bottle of quick detailer in the trunk so I can wipe off bird shit and other stuff that happens when you drive a car everyday. The Ultima did make a HUGE difference during pollen season and other stuff comes off much easier.
Just my 2 cents
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