points

I use Kenotec on my film and wax the rest. The shine is almost identical.

mikeearly

I've had all three of my Porsche's wrapped ... also my wife's RX350 and my Tundra .. so, yes I would do it again.

The caveats are finding a top-notch installer, full wrap on the hood (not the one half-way up the hood) and X-pel (for me)....

StormRune

I didn't say that it shines as well as the paint, but I'll allow that my 99% statement may be a bit high but not by too much. With a with a good install of a good wrap it comes awfully close. As I believe Penn4S first says there is some compromise and as many have stated it's a personal choice as to which plusses and minuses appeal to you.

Just for grins, I went out and tried to take a photo of the film on the front of my fender. Unfortunately it is cloudy here today but fairly bright. This is as high a resolution photo as I could upload. I doubt you'll see the line at first glance, especially if you weren't looking for it, and it's awfully hard to find much difference in shininess... but I can see just a little difference mostly due to a faint more "orange peel" there (the paint itself has some). The trees limbs help provide you something to compare with on both sides of the line. Just for the record, this film is a little over three years old and has 27k miles of driving and washes behind it.

911boy

I wonder how many guys that wrap are avid amateur detailers/enjoy washing their cars regularly?
I will never understand why anyone would wrap half a hood.

Gary JR

Dirt, sap, bugs, etc. comes off film easier than wax. That's how.

StormRune

Yeah, I agree with the half-wrap statement. My car came that way and the wrap is in such good shape I've hard a hard time justifying pulling it all just to complete the wrap on the whole front fender and hood. The quote I've gotten to do the whole hood wrap wasn't all that much more than the half.

Interestingly, they wanted $75/hr to remove the old wrap with no clear time limit. I have a heat gun and used that to help remove/replace my own rock guards. It's a little spooky but went off without a hitch. Be sure you know the proper technique first though and take your time!

StormRune

Materials and adhesives technology have come quite a way in the last 37 years. I find today's self-healing films today totally amazing. The dealer I've talked with about Suntek has a display that demos this. They have a sample "hood", about a 8" by 8" piece, and allow you to scratch the film with a brass brush. I scratched it fairly well as you can see in the video I took. After heating, the scratches truly disappeared as I watched.

911boy

Thats pretty cool.

Grunty

Yes. Of course.

JawJuh

That is insane! What company makes this kind of film? How much does it cost over normal film?

Drifting

Essential to get clear film over entire front of car and mirrors if you track. My GT3 has it and it has been well worth the money as I would have paid more to fix the paint from the crap flung on my car at the track.

If you don't track it. its debatable. Not sure I would take the time or money to do it on a regular porsche that I didn't track. It looks good, but yes the color doesn't shine the same on the front of the car with the film compared to the rest of the car, but you have to look really closely to notice.

Gary JR

Ii is the Xpel film of choice now. My guys in Greenville, SC use it.

https://www.fxxacebook.com/ExtremeColorsofGreenville/

StormRune

The one in the video I posted earlier (post 37) is Suntek, the one my installer prefers. Xpel Ultimate is the other highly preferred one, and I think that is what Gary Jr meant to type.

TTSPete

I chose just to have my mirrors and front bumper done. I guess you guys are right about finding a good installer. Mine doesn't seem to look as nice as the other cars here.

Al.Fresco

Now that's funny shiiiite!!!