Does everyone PPF / Ceramic wrap their car?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 306
Likes: 169
Does everyone PPF / Ceramic wrap their car?
Hi everyone,
I've never heard of wrapping a car before this forum. I've never done it for any car of mine in the past. But it seems like on here everyone PPF / ceramic wraps their 911. Is this something you definitely recommend?
Is the benefit to avoid stone chips?
Why wrap it instead of just repainting it one day? Some wraps seem super expensive (more than a paint job?)
Thanks for any advice. Sorry if this q sounds dumb. I'm just not familiar.
I've never heard of wrapping a car before this forum. I've never done it for any car of mine in the past. But it seems like on here everyone PPF / ceramic wraps their 911. Is this something you definitely recommend?
Is the benefit to avoid stone chips?
Why wrap it instead of just repainting it one day? Some wraps seem super expensive (more than a paint job?)
Thanks for any advice. Sorry if this q sounds dumb. I'm just not familiar.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 2,928
From: Edmond, OK
I have never wrapped or PPFd a car before this one. Mine came with the front and mirrors done from the factory. To be honest after 13000mi I have mixed feelings on how it looks with PPF. The spots where the stones hit messed the PPF up and pretty sure a couple spots hit paint anyway. I can see the nicks in the PPF and the line going across the hood shows if the car is even slightly dirty. I will probably leave it on for awhile longer but I have a feeling I will pull it off eventually and not put anymore on.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 44
Likes: 39
Wrap the whole car. Use a good installer who will remove panels and hide all the seams. So straight from delivery to a reputable shop. Will cost around 6-8k. One can coat it themselves afterwards or have the shop do it for another $500. Double up on the stone guards for the fenders. After 9,000 miles of mostly canyons and desert B-roads the PPF is doing the job I’m glad my paint isn’t.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 44
Likes: 39
Wrap the whole car. Use a good installer who will remove panels and hide all the seams. So straight from delivery to a reputable shop. Will cost around 6-8k. One can coat it themselves afterwards or have the shop do it for another $500. Double up on the stone guards for the fenders. After 9,000 miles of mostly canyons and desert B-roads the PPF is doing the job I’m glad my paint isn’t.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 1,305
From: Chicago
Save your money. Read the review above. Wraps get damaged just like paint, the difference is you can’t fix it unless you re-do it.
Check out Dr Colorchip.
https://drcolorchip.com
PS - also watch out for super expensive Ceramic coatings. I paid a ton for Modesta and if you get a scratch, you have to really work to get it out - which means you then need to have the area re-covered. Not worth it.
Check out Dr Colorchip.
https://drcolorchip.com
PS - also watch out for super expensive Ceramic coatings. I paid a ton for Modesta and if you get a scratch, you have to really work to get it out - which means you then need to have the area re-covered. Not worth it.
Last edited by doug_999; Oct 5, 2022 at 07:49 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,120
Likes: 1,474
From: some where nice
Hi everyone,
I've never heard of wrapping a car before this forum. I've never done it for any car of mine in the past. But it seems like on here everyone PPF / ceramic wraps their 911. Is this something you definitely recommend?
Is the benefit to avoid stone chips?
Why wrap it instead of just repainting it one day? Some wraps seem super expensive (more than a paint job?)
Thanks for any advice. Sorry if this q sounds dumb. I'm just not familiar.
I've never heard of wrapping a car before this forum. I've never done it for any car of mine in the past. But it seems like on here everyone PPF / ceramic wraps their 911. Is this something you definitely recommend?
Is the benefit to avoid stone chips?
Why wrap it instead of just repainting it one day? Some wraps seem super expensive (more than a paint job?)
Thanks for any advice. Sorry if this q sounds dumb. I'm just not familiar.
PPF is to decrease chance of chips . painting the car can be considered a negative on resale .. Not OEM paint , fear of paint was done because of an accident etc
I never did before couple of years , but now I do the Track Pak which covers all the front .
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,100
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From: Doylestown, PA
Once you get the past the obsession that the car somehow has to be perfect, a 911 is a lot more enjoyable and fun when enjoyed as a car.
With that being said, if a rock chip ruins your day, PPF can reduce that fear and allow you to better enjoy the car. PPF is no panacea. It will show wear with the miles while protecting the paint underneath. Certain things will mark PPF until your replace it. Replace it? To keep things looking sharp, be prepared to replace it every 4-5 years. If you leave it on much longer than that, don’t be surprised if it takes some paint up with it. PPF has come a long way in recent years with some great leaps in product and adhesive quality, but I wouldn’t keep it on for 10 years regardless of the warranty nonsense.
I’m basically sold on ceramic coating as it dramatically simplifies clean-up of the car. Ignore the hype about preventing scratches and self-cleaning BS. In the real world, it saves you the hassle of waxing and keeps the finish looking great. I may be selective on which of my cars get PPF, but I have everything ceramic coated.
There is a group of car owners more obsessed with this stuff than the Porsche crowd — Tesla owners spend inordinate amounts of money to protect their cars. I have multiple friends with their own detail/installer shops. Tesla owners keep the lights on.
With that being said, if a rock chip ruins your day, PPF can reduce that fear and allow you to better enjoy the car. PPF is no panacea. It will show wear with the miles while protecting the paint underneath. Certain things will mark PPF until your replace it. Replace it? To keep things looking sharp, be prepared to replace it every 4-5 years. If you leave it on much longer than that, don’t be surprised if it takes some paint up with it. PPF has come a long way in recent years with some great leaps in product and adhesive quality, but I wouldn’t keep it on for 10 years regardless of the warranty nonsense.
I’m basically sold on ceramic coating as it dramatically simplifies clean-up of the car. Ignore the hype about preventing scratches and self-cleaning BS. In the real world, it saves you the hassle of waxing and keeps the finish looking great. I may be selective on which of my cars get PPF, but I have everything ceramic coated.
There is a group of car owners more obsessed with this stuff than the Porsche crowd — Tesla owners spend inordinate amounts of money to protect their cars. I have multiple friends with their own detail/installer shops. Tesla owners keep the lights on.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,273
Likes: 6,729
Once you get the past the obsession that the car somehow has to be perfect, a 911 is a lot more enjoyable and fun when enjoyed as a car.
With that being said, if a rock chip ruins your day, PPF can reduce that fear and allow you to better enjoy the car. PPF is no panacea. It will show wear with the miles while protecting the paint underneath. Certain things will mark PPF until your replace it. Replace it? To keep things looking sharp, be prepared to replace it every 4-5 years. If you leave it on much longer than that, don’t be surprised if it takes some paint up with it. PPF has come a long way in recent years with some great leaps in product and adhesive quality, but I wouldn’t keep it on for 10 years regardless of the warranty nonsense.
I’m basically sold on ceramic coating as it dramatically simplifies clean-up of the car. Ignore the hype about preventing scratches and self-cleaning BS. In the real world, it saves you the hassle of waxing and keeps the finish looking great. I may be selective on which of my cars get PPF, but I have everything ceramic coated.
There is a group of car owners more obsessed with this stuff than the Porsche crowd — Tesla owners spend inordinate amounts of money to protect their cars. I have multiple friends with their own detail/installer shops. Tesla owners keep the lights on.
With that being said, if a rock chip ruins your day, PPF can reduce that fear and allow you to better enjoy the car. PPF is no panacea. It will show wear with the miles while protecting the paint underneath. Certain things will mark PPF until your replace it. Replace it? To keep things looking sharp, be prepared to replace it every 4-5 years. If you leave it on much longer than that, don’t be surprised if it takes some paint up with it. PPF has come a long way in recent years with some great leaps in product and adhesive quality, but I wouldn’t keep it on for 10 years regardless of the warranty nonsense.
I’m basically sold on ceramic coating as it dramatically simplifies clean-up of the car. Ignore the hype about preventing scratches and self-cleaning BS. In the real world, it saves you the hassle of waxing and keeps the finish looking great. I may be selective on which of my cars get PPF, but I have everything ceramic coated.
There is a group of car owners more obsessed with this stuff than the Porsche crowd — Tesla owners spend inordinate amounts of money to protect their cars. I have multiple friends with their own detail/installer shops. Tesla owners keep the lights on.
PPF is one of those things that I just can’t get myself to spend the kind of money on that it requires - and I fully believe it’s an all or nothing deal with PPF.
I will say there is some added value in resale. A car with a quality full body PPF is an easier sell, particularly for remote, sight-unseen buys. Might not be worth the 5-8k that the PPF costs, but I’d say several thousands of dollars potentially (particularly for a black car, IMO).
Racer
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 361
Likes: 190
From: Northern Virginia
Mine has PPF for the front and ceramic on top. I have to believe PPF will protect from all those small chips. I used to have a black car and after a few years, the front bumper really showed all the chip damage.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 954
Likes: 963
From: ATL
I wrapped and coated the car, first time I've had a PPF'ed car. I'm pretty happy with it. The PPF does incur some damage of its own so the car doesn't look flawless anymore, but I think the film has not been completely punctured. The PPF is doing its job. On my inaugural road trip with the 911, I was on a highway next to a tractor trailer that hit a bump and spewed a couple pounds of concrete washout all over the front and side of my car. No damage. I felt very vindicated in that moment.
I hadn't ceramic coated my car before either. I used to secretly despise cleaning my cars because every time I'd inevitably find some new imperfection, and because it was often a pain in the *** to really get clean. Between the film taking all the damage and the coating maintaining a slick finish, cleaning the car is way easier and far less heartbreaking. I'm more likely to do a quick wash on the weekends, which is a big plus for me.
I'd recommend a good ceramic coating to anyone because of how much easier maintenance washes are, but PPF is only for certain kinds of people. If you really hate seeing damage to your paint, PPF might be for you. Some people don't mind, and for those people I'd recommend against it; it's a costly proposition to wrap the entire car. If PPF is for you, I'd recommend at least full coverage (tucked around the edges) of the hood, front bumper, and front quarter panels.
I hadn't ceramic coated my car before either. I used to secretly despise cleaning my cars because every time I'd inevitably find some new imperfection, and because it was often a pain in the *** to really get clean. Between the film taking all the damage and the coating maintaining a slick finish, cleaning the car is way easier and far less heartbreaking. I'm more likely to do a quick wash on the weekends, which is a big plus for me.
I'd recommend a good ceramic coating to anyone because of how much easier maintenance washes are, but PPF is only for certain kinds of people. If you really hate seeing damage to your paint, PPF might be for you. Some people don't mind, and for those people I'd recommend against it; it's a costly proposition to wrap the entire car. If PPF is for you, I'd recommend at least full coverage (tucked around the edges) of the hood, front bumper, and front quarter panels.
Drifting
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,290
Likes: 2,154
I have no plans to PPF or ceramic coat my new 911 when it arrives hopefully in Dec. My toys are garage queens. I had a 2015 vette that I kept for 7 years and 14K miles without any protection. When I traded it in, it had a couple of small rock chips on the front nose. It didn't bother me in the least and could only be noticed if I looked hard. I don't mind having a "5 foot"* car after several years of use.
* For those who never heard the expression, it means it looks perfect at a distance of 5 feet.
* For those who never heard the expression, it means it looks perfect at a distance of 5 feet.
Last edited by Staffie Guy; Oct 5, 2022 at 10:15 AM.