[Taxdr1965]

I know a lot of people ppf the front of the car. I did it once and after a year it didn’t look so good. I ended up resprayng the bumper.

Now I am trying to decide if I’m should try ppf again, or just ceramic coat the car and know in 3 years I will respray. My car is racing yellow, so I don’t think hard to match color.

What are you guys doing? I know ceramic coating does not stop rock chips.

I bought AvalonKing ceramic coating that I plan to put on the car

 

[718S]

I can’t get myself to spring for PPF. Lots of money and I’ve seen a bunch I didn’t think came out good. If you do it you got to do a lot of the car. Front, rockers, etc. I’m going to see how it goes without. Heck if it gets real bad I’ll respray or trade in. Lol

 

[Taxdr1965]

I didn’t have it on my r8 and you could see the rock chips only if you looked for them. I did have ceramic coating which made car wash easier. Might skip the whole ppf.

 

[Porsche2018]

I prefer the PPF without a doubt but you have to find a good technician. On the 718 CS I did the full front, backs of mirrors and rocker panels and on the 3RS and 2RS I did the entire car to include the carbon fiber door sills. I did the headlights on the 3RS but did not do it on the 718 or 2RS.

 

[Snrubel]

Ppf 100%. I did partial front, full rockers, mirrors, A-pillars, front of roof, and rear impact with XPEL for ~$1200. It looks great (in that you can’t really see it). Clean-up is fast and easy without worrying about scratches. The cleaning ease alone is worth the money irrespective of the protection.

 

[Baka1969]

I can't see having to respray a car every three years with most use. Unless the car is intentionally and highly abused. If that is the case, even PPF won't help.

PPF is not a miracle shield. Rocks can and will go down to the bare metal if given the right environment.

 

[GTS]

I chose not to install PPF. It's not an appreciating asset or a show queen, so I'm not that worried about a future respray.

 

[718S]

I can't see having to respray a car every three years with most use. Unless the car is intentionally and highly abused. If that is the case, even PPF won't help.

PPF is not a miracle shield. Rocks can and will go down to the bare metal if given the right environment.

Baka- PPF is not a permanent solution either. I've heard many recommend replacement every 5 years or so... and if you don't replace it... yellowing and/or very costly removal is a potential side effect.

I think many understand the costs of PPF installs... and they do vary a lot. But has anyone done a respray? How expensive was that? And like PPF installs.... getting a good painting shop would be pretty important as well.

 

[Baka1969]

Baka- PPF is not a permanent solution either. I've heard many recommend replacement every 5 years or so... and if you don't replace it... yellowing and/or very costly removal is a potential side effect.

I think many understand the costs of PPF installs... and they do vary a lot. But has anyone done a respray? How expensive was that? And like PPF installs.... getting a good painting shop would be pretty important as well.

Hi,

I don't remember where, but, I've heard the expression a long time ago: "the paint is only original once".

A respray can significantly reduce the resale of a car. A properly done PPF that lasts (say) 5 years may just be worth the money. Especially if it means retaining the original paint. Plus, I suspect that the technology for paint protection film will continue to improve.

Don't forget that paint correction is always an option over a total respray. Again, a car would have to be severely abused to require a respray within 3 years. Lastly, if I were buying a used four year old Porsche and it had already been resprayed, I'd pass and move on to one that was better cared for.

 

[Nosmo]

OP - It's been said in the thread. PPF is fine as long as you understand it's not paint enhancement film. Whether you see it or not, the shine of the paint is lost behind the film. However, I've gone this route as it is my daily driver and it does protect from small debris to an extent. Ultimately, a good respray is around the same $$ as ppf from the start. The choice is the time value of money.

 

[alanhats20]

I just picked up a 2018 Boxster factory officials car, 14 mths old
CPO
All of those get PPF complete fronts at delivery
They where able to repair a couple spots with the pro installer
Heat gun and polish
They replaced the right fender PPF

The car is silver metallic and looks great with plenty of shine.
I will put Opticoat on it next week
They put it on over the PPF
They tell me it will enhance the shine, in my research it it seems that this works great.
My two other P cars, white had Opticoat, no PPF, Really like the Opticoat
Car stays cleaner longer.
Easy to wash.

Time will tell
Good luck

A respray does not sound good to me

 

[RotorOver]

Since I can’t stand knowing I have rock chips (whether they are easily spotted or not), it’s PPF for me. I’d either respray or touch-up the chips then apply the PPF to the front clip, rockers, A-pillars and mirror caps. It will cost you about $2k at a good installer. Both Xpel and SunTek offer 10 year warranties on their top products and I’ve used both on my latest two cars.

Not sure where people get they that they don’t hold up- dropped off my BMW for service, it has Xpel on the bumper SunTek on the hood, fenders. The car was parked in a spot after service before I got there to pick it up and a truck delivering a car to the dealership clipped the bumper of my car and a couple others. The Xpel sacrificially took the damage at the front right corner of the bumper, without a trace of damage to the paint. The dealership paid for the re-install. Needless to say it will go on all my sport cars in the future.

 

[InTgr8r]

@RotorOver I'm with you 100%
PPF saved the carbon fiber roof on my E92 M3 just yesterday.
I had it on the lift higher than normal and opened the garage door onto it.
PPF was ruined but the CF roof is perfect.



I also track my cars and PPF stops the molten rubber from etching into the paint.
Plus IMO, respray is never the same as factory paint.


I do agree it can be very expensive, but I view it as additional insurance and when amortized over 5-7 years its really not that bad.

 

[splinter]

...I did it once and after a year it didn’t look so good...

The PPF or the paint beneath?

Our Xpel is holding up nicely some two years on. With track days and whatnot it's a remarkable material imho.

I correct, polish and protect it as the seasons pass to keep it looking sharp (similarly to my non-PPF vehicles).

Nevertheless it's merely another consumable that requires eventual replacement.
But by then its OE paint underneath will be almost a virgin coat.

 

[InTgr8r]

PPF products have changed a lot over the last few years.


Yellowing was a problem a few years ago and looked bad especially on white or light colours.
The yellowing was not actually the film, but the adhesive that bonds it.
That is no longer the case with new films.


Also new PPF is self healing.
Minor rubs and scratches heal themselves.

 

[Porsche2018]

@InTgr8r is absolutely correct.

 

[vhs]

Also new PPF is self healing.
Minor rubs and scratches heal themselves.

A little heat does magic.

 

[RussellHodgson]

I didn't PPF my 718 CS. It is now just over two years old and the front looks fine. It no longer looks perfect, and has some bug splatter, very tiny dings (but nothing you'd notice unless you did a close inspection.) But this is to be expected - it is a car that I drive every day in all weather as well as multiple tracks days a year.

 

[Yuro]

OP - It's been said in the thread. PPF is fine as long as you understand it's not paint enhancement film. Whether you see it or not, the shine of the paint is lost behind the film. However, I've gone this route as it is my daily driver and it does protect from small debris to an extent. Ultimately, a good respray is around the same $$ as ppf from the start. The choice is the time value of money.

Are we talking here about clear plastic paint shield or that hard coating that goes on as a liquid? I've seen cars with the liquid coating over the paint shield. I don't know how long that lasts, but it looks too glossy to me....The paint is so far in there and the shine is artificial looking. I'm not a fan...and that has to be pricey.

I just buy light metallic colors. If they get chipped, you have to really look for the chips. On our Caymans, we don't have to worry about rust on the front. Even if it goes through the paint, the nose is plastic and the hood is aluminum. Neither will rust.

I sold my Arctic Silver '06 with 140K on it. It had some chipping but it wasn't visually ugly. I still got lots of compliments on that car because it just looked wonderful.

 

[Nosmo]

hi @Yuro - no plain ppf. I wouldn't want anything liquid hardening over the paint.