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Beautiful. Did you do the entire car or just the key parts? I visited with the PPF installer last week and discussed my inbound Boxster GTS 4.0. They are recommending I do the entire front and the two side bottom rocker panels. I am also going to have the entire car done with ceramic coating
Beautiful. Did you do the entire car or just the key parts? I visited with the PPF installer last week and discussed my inbound Boxster GTS 4.0. They are recommending I do the entire front and the two side bottom rocker panels. I am also going to have the entire car done with ceramic coating
I did their track package with includes front bumper, front fenders, hood, a-pillar, 4-6" on roof leading edge, mirror caps, rocker panels (up and over the scoop), and a little bit on the rear bumper (basically just aft of the tires on the lower surface). I did not do the headlights. I had the option but both Porsche and Xpel recommend against. I did the ceramic over everything (paint and PPF) as well as the wheels/calipers. They also did the exhaust tips for some reason. It came out really nice. All the little fine surface scratches that I could see when I picked it up from the dealer are gone. I can see the seam on the PPF on the roof but I really have have a hard time seeing any of the other seams. Even the roof seem you have to be looking for it. The detailer that showed it to me when I picked it up said it was the darling of the week. He really liked the carbon fiber seats and GTS interior. It was there from last Tuesday at 9am until today a 1pm. They really took their time and did a great job.
Thanks for the detailed reply. I am coming at PPF from a different perspective. I have the first year 2000 Boxster S which I have been driving for 20 years - possibly before PPF was even invented I have always put the car away for the winter (I am in the Northeast). It took Porsche bringing back the 6 cylinder for me to take a bite again and I have ordered a heavily spec'd Boxster GTS 4.0 - and I have decided that I want to enjoy driving the car - even in the winter. I have ordered a set of Porsche OEM winter tires and my dealer said protecting the car with PPF is mandatory. I do not track the car and it will only be used from pleasure driving. The PPF shop (which my dealer, the largest in the NE (?) exclusively uses) said that the entire car was unnecessary. Their recommendation was the entire front of the car (the painted trim around the windshield optional - any feedback on that?) - the lower rocker panels including air intakes, mirrors, and the small quarter rocker area in back of the rear wheels. That is it. I inquired about doing the whole car, adding the roof, windshield etc. however they said it was not necessary. I am, however, going to do the complete car with CQUARTZ ceramic coating.
Sounds good for a weekend/fun car in the winter - or something I am missing??
It sounds like you are on a good path. I have a 2013 Audi TTS that I have snow tires for and drove all four seasons. I never did PPF for the TTS and wow - it looks like someone sand blasted the paint on the front lower bumper. The rest is not too bad but I vowed that I would not do that to another car. My wife drives a 2009 C4S that we picked up CPO in 2015-ish. We put PPF on half the hood and front bumper when we got it since she also planned to drive year round. It looks much better than the Audi where the PPF was installed. Unfortunately, it didn't get PPF from new and there are actually some chips under the PPF. We also found we didn't love the seam on the hood over time. I've had my car since the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and it only has 42 miles on the odometer. I was waiting (not so patiently) to get the PPF done so I would not have any chips under my PPF. I kept the TTS to be my winter beater (AWD / heated seats) and really do not plan to drive my Cayman all winter - at least at first. This week it is supposed to get into the 60s (deg F) and I'll probably take a day off work and go put some miles on the car. Porsches are meant to be driven.
Buzzlulu; FWIW I just took delivery of my GTS 4.0 a week ago. The dealer down here has a good relation with the PPF shop which is less than a mile from the dealership, so no long trips for the unprotected paint. I live in a very rural area lots of backcountry roads and state highways not too much interstate driving. I can pretty much drive all year round down here.
I had the front bumper and full hood and full front fenders, mirrors , headlights, rockers ( from the bottom up to the seam just above the side intake vent) rear wheel arches and valance behind the rear wheels. I also had the windshield done in Wincrest, it is 10 mils think and does not require any special care other than mild soap or ammonia free glass cleaner. It cured super clear and looks like part of the windshield.
I think getting your rockers done would be a good idea. A shot of the car just before picking it up at the PPF place for the 80 mile drive back home, no way I was gonna drive THAT far with all the micrometeorites zooming about on the road. I think even for a weekender PPF is worth it on as much of the car as your deem necessary. These new metallic paints which have an ability to look different in various lighting environments are just about impossible to touch up convincingly IMO. Others may know more...
Last edited by patdonahue; 12-07-2020 at 09:34 PM.
Preview from my detailer post PPF and Ceramic application - can't wait to pick up in person. Will start a separate post with some pics and impressions!!
Preview from my detailer post PPF and Ceramic application - can't wait to pick up in person. Will start a separate post with some pics and impressions!!
I send all my cars to Wes for PPF & ceramic coating too.
12-07-2020, 07:48 PM
I have always put the car away for the winter (I am in the Northeast). It took Porsche bringing back the 6 cylinder for me to take a bite again and I have ordered a heavily spec'd Boxster GTS 4.0 - and I have decided that I want to enjoy driving the car - even in the winter. I have ordered a set of Porsche OEM winter tires and my dealer said protecting the car with PPF is mandatory. I do not track the car and it will only be used from pleasure driving. The PPF shop (which my dealer, the largest in the NE (?) exclusively uses) said that the entire car was unnecessary. Their recommendation was the entire front of the car (the painted trim around the windshield optional - any feedback on that?) - the lower rocker panels including air intakes, mirrors, and the small quarter rocker area in back of the rear wheels. That is it. I inquired about doing the whole car, adding the roof, windshield etc. however they said it was not necessary. I am, however, going to do the complete car with CQUARTZ ceramic coating.
