Should I - Ceramic, PPF or wax it?

rossyl

rossyl

Member
Messages
3,312
Hi All

I've been mulling this over, and would be grateful for other opinions.
  • I live in London
  • Car is bright yellow
  • Car is parked On The Road under a... Cover
  • Car needs to be cleaned every time before putting the cover on
  • I've parked my cars (4200, the AM Vantage) in the same spot for 6 years
  • I've only had damage once, when someone scraped a bumper parking and drove off
Ceramic
  • Paint is protected from light marring caused by the cover
  • Car should stay cleaner during general use, makes putting cover on easier
  • Car should looks great!
  • Cost ~600 every 2.5yrs

PPF (Nearly whole car)
  • Paint protected from any scratching or marring
  • Paint protected from scrapes (obviously body work is not from dents)
  • Car won't have swirling
  • Car should stay cleaner
  • £~2,000 once

Rent a Local Garage in a Block of Flats
  • It would be away from home, wouldn't know if something went wrong
  • If in an apartment block, it might attract the wrong attention.
  • Concerned about security
  • Wouldn't have to wash it!
  • £2,200 a year

Rent a space in a Professional Secure Garage
  • I'd never see the car
  • I'd drive the car a lot less, it would be a pain to get to
  • £2,000+ a year

Do Nothing
  • Cheap!
  • I still have to wash the car, before putting in the cover
  • Paint likely to get swirl marks from cover
  • £Free!


What would you do?
 
Last edited:
allandwf

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,995
I'd do nothing, if my cars look ok from 6 feet away that's fine for me, I can't see them when I'm driving them. I know many others don't take this approach though, and enjoy cleaning and detailing their cars, I hate it lol. :)
 
Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,221
Detail it. PPF it. Ceramic coat it. Washing will be so much quicker. Honestly, you’ll be staggered at the difference.

What did you buy in the end, by the way?
 
StuartW

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,321
It's a tough one but from those options, I think I'd go PPF for the long term benefit and the once only cost. Also would be an advantage when it comes to resale if that was a factor to be considered
 
Contigo

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
Nice move mate that's one car I keep coming back to and the Huracan. I'd honestly do nothing and just wipe down the car (towel dry) before putting the cover over it.
 
sionie1

sionie1

Member
Messages
1,317
Look at the graphene treatments that are coming out, looks to be possible better than ceramic and similar costs.
 
Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,221
Mine's got a carbon-ceramic coating and it's superb. I'll try to find a link. Stu at F1 Wax did it. Top bloke, meticulous and talented.

edit: here you go. I was wrong. It's a silicon carbon thing. Whatever, it does a good job. https://ceramicguard.com/
 
rossyl

rossyl

Member
Messages
3,312
sionie1 said:
Look at the graphene treatments that are coming out, looks to be possible better than ceramic and similar costs.
Click to expand...
SPS Graphene in the USA looks good, apparently might be ArtDeShine in the UK. But, the customer service of ArtDeShine is non-existent. So, I'd rather not risk it, given its a little unproven at this stage. Given a ceramic coating lasts a couple years (I know they say more), when I eventually refresh it, if Graphene had more evidence by then, I'd go for that.
 
sionie1

sionie1

Member
Messages
1,317
I’ve had ceramic pro and gtechniq 1 system on each car. The gtechniq has better water repellency but I do use the full kit now which I didn’t do with Ceramic Pro. Either way the systems are good.
 
hashluck

hashluck

Member
Messages
1,525
Consider Feynlab self-healing coatings. Sort of sit between ceramic coating and PPF in terms of both performance and cost.
 
highlander

highlander

Member
Messages
5,223
Totally out of step here but where is the fun and enjoyment of a cars beauty if it is "as good as it gets" for 2 years plus with ceramic unobtanium coating or whatever next? Old school yes, but paint correct yearly by machine and polish/wax every 3 months of use (so twice if a summer toy) and stand back and admire your weekends work, satisfied with what you have achieved .........
I'll get my coat
 
allandwf

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,995
highlander said:
Totally out of step here but where is the fun and enjoyment of a cars beauty if it is "as good as it gets" for 2 years plus with ceramic unobtanium coating or whatever next? Old school yes, but paint correct yearly by machine and polish/wax every 3 months of use (so twice if a summer toy) and stand back and admire your weekends work, satisfied with what you have achieved .........
I'll get my coat
Click to expand...
A few steps up from my, just chuck a bucket of water on it, technique! lol
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.