Quote:
Originally Posted by GoBlue It is saddening to see this elitist mindset on a forum like Team-BHP.
The OP is asking for an objective opinion on the effectiveness of PPF/Ceramic coating treatment for protecting the paint of a vehicle.
Judging the Kushaq's body panels/paint as "nothing special" is an avoidable response, even if your opinion may be so, it's best kept to self.
Do note that ceramic coat cannot prevent scratches, for which PPF is the only option. One may choose to get it done on the front/rear bumpers (if one so desires) - it will surely help to prevent scratches. |
If you approach it with economics behind it, then comments in post are out of context. Couple of days back i was at detailing studio and a Tata harrier pulled in. Front bumper has grazed against a wall. Car had Garware PPF. On closer inspection paint has peeled off and just replacement of PPF wouldn't suffice. Considering this owner was advised to get bumper repainted and then PPF could be reapplied.
Consider the cost involved here. Initial upfront cost of PPF + Repaint cost + cost of reapplying PPF. Even with insurance claim owner is spending way more than just repaint cost. Is it any wise investment here?
Similarly few high end cars which have ceramic coating regularly visit this detailing studio. Most of these needed heavy correction & in 2 years and they don't look as shiny or sometimes even worse than car of the same age with out ceramic. If the vehicle is exposed to harsh weather conditions on day to day basis then
water beading also will not last more than avg
6-8 months. Initial coating looks super good & wait for couple of years then return with the long term feedback. If vehicle is washed by your watchman or driver then one will notice faster degradation. There is a very limited protection against swirls as its a very light coating (microns). Unless you are regularly maintaining for next 5 years it won't last. With the warranty there are rider conditions.
Graphene is again a different story few reputed folks in the industry call it a marketing gimmick with out much added value.
Story is similar with PPF. With the upfront cost of investment on PPF you probably can get through with less than 50% of cost for any repaints on minor issues during the life of vehicle.
It's individual choice if you want to splurge, but if you purely look from
upfront investment cost vs periodic investment vs repair cost you will know what works best for your pocket and
returns you best bang for your
investment. It's usually head vs heart story
My previous vehicle was in top shape until the day had to part away with it. I was doing regular maintenance personally and once in a year visit to detailer for any swirl marks removal. Front bumper needed to be painted once and the back bumper had to be replaced. Now even these 2 repairs i didn't spend more than
20k during
4.5 yr period. No insurance was claimed. Once in a year detailer place was 3.5-4k. On average over 4 years it works out
36k .
If I would invested in ceramic, it would have costed good 30-40k depending on the quality of products used. Over 4.5 years I would have spent
Initial ceramic coating cost + repair cost + cost of recoating ceramic to the affected panels.
i.e 30K (ceramic coating) + 20K (repair cost) + 8K ( re apply to ceramic, rough estimate) = 58k. 36k VS 58K math is simple. With ceramic coating cost of maintenance over 4 year period was more and without tangible benefits.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vid6639 I am being honest and saving the OP 70-80K of money. I do not have PPF on my Corolla or my Ecosport and have it only on my Kodiaq. I have also tried for the sake of giving feedback to others and helping others 2 different types of ceramic coatings.
Ceramic is a sheer waste of money as you need to maintain it even more carefully and do regular top up coatings annually. You still can't prevent against scratches and need to clean the car perfectly else the coating goes away in a few months.
Unless you have a car in which the panel repair cost is worth more than PPF cost I do not recommend PPF to anyone. If you can maintain it well, you can save money on PPF.
I have seen ample cases where the person had put PPF on a car and met with an accident. Then he was upset that he spent for painting, tinkering and then on top of that additional for PPF for those panels.
On top of that PPF unbranded or low quality is worse than having no PPF at all. So if you go for PPF it should be XPEL or Hexis or Stek or equivalent brand which for a Kushaq will be more than 1 lakh. 5% of the car price for PPF makes no economical sense as well.
I have personally recommended PPF to others in the past for cars like Ciaz and W-RV but realised it made no difference even if I hadn't. |
Absolutely agree with every statement. It's a very sound & rationale advice.
Now a days lot of detailers are giving 5 year warranty on ceramic and some of them heavily use local brands or mark up products as their own brands. Reputed dealer who is using well established product will charge more premium to keep profit margins intact. Neither every detailer tells you the entire story and the term & conditions attached with it. It's like a fine print we tend to oversee. In some ways you are locked with them for regular wash, wax & top coating. This is crucial to extend any life on the ceramic coating. Also day to day maintenance using proper cleaning technique is recommended. Even the packages offered, you are investing upfront a substantial moolah. Bottom line it's not apply and forget product, but one that needs proper TLC over period, same results can be achieved with regular discipline regular maintenance. Is it worth it ? Call is yours, we are tend to get emotional with new purchases.