Anyone do the ceramic coat deal?

[TexasHusker]

Seems this has gotten to be "the" thing. McGuiars actually has a spray that claims it is ceramic. Is that any different than spending hundreds or thousands of dollars for some tattoo'd bloke to do it?

I've got a LX 600 that has only been handwashed - no auto carwashes, and I'll soon have a 2010 LC 200 that is completely repainted. Thinking about any extras I should do for both.

 

[Joe T]

Yeah it works. Just need a good installer.

Had it done on my LX and weekend car and the paint correction sucked. They were supposed to set an appointment to fix it but didn’t. Minor waste of money.

 

[TexasHusker]

Yeah it works. Just need a good installer.

Had it done on my LX and weekend car and the paint correction sucked. They were supposed to set an appointment to fix it but didn’t. Minor waste of money.

What should something like this cost? And I assume a fresh repaint should be application only. ??

 

[Joe T]

I think I paid like $875 for the LX. They claybared and were supposed to buff it. I actually do not think they buffed it or at least not competently.


Reminds me I need to call them. The LX is pretty bad. My Mercedes needs to be hit in a couple spots.

 

[EscapeWagon62]

Ceramic is absolutely worth perusing.
The over the counter stuff, while somewhat effective, isn't near as effective as the stuff sold by dealers and aftermarket specialty shops.
Always best when car is brand new but can be done later if cleaned and prepared properly.
Costs can range from a few hundred to a thousand. Most dealer sales include the product and warranty. Specialty shops vary product and product plus warranty and over the counter is product only.
In all cases the product should be applied again over time. For dealer/specialty around 3-5 years depending on wash cycles. Over the counter depends on product and quality but assume annual at minimum.

 

[Joe T]

Yeah its the prep involved and I have always gone with the 3 year option.

It makes me avoid East Texas pin stripping it for a good 2 years. If that is your plan do an Xpel wrap or just plan to do traditional buffing detailing. The ceramic protects it some for normal stuff but it’s not a scratch guard.

Note have used this on nice cars and my nicer F250s that do see ranch duty.

 

[kcjaz]

I had my 2015 professionally done last year and am happy with it. The cost really depends on the amount of paint correction prep needed and the specific product selected. I had a lot of pin stripes and the PPF on the hood had totally failed and was really hard to remove. I went with a 5 yr product and I think I ended up $1600 or so. I think $1K of that was the paint correction prep. They did have a 10 yr product but that was over $2K.

The paint correction work they did really restored it to almost new looking. With the coating, washing it is so much easier. Mud and dirt essentially rinse off.

Is it worth it or not depends on the person. I’m glad I did it.

 

[Oakleyguy]

If you're interested in doing it yourself; I'd suggest Gtechniq CSL topped with EXOv5; This is hands down one of the best ceramic coatings that can installed with relative ease. This can used on top of PPF as well.

RE: the 200, make sure you wait around 30days after the repaint to allow the new paint to fully cure and out-gas.

For reference:
My plan currently is to do a minor new-car paint correction and decontamination; install Xpel on my doors (my front clip and windshield are already PPFed) and then apply the ceramic coating to the entire vehicle.

 

[hawkQTR]

I’ve tried both PPF and ceramic coating on multiple cars over the years, and there are a few things to consider when choosing between them.

If you want the best protection for your car’s OEM paint, PPF is hands down the way to go. It not only prevents micro-scratches but also acts like a tough plastic shield against sandstorms, road debris, and minor accidents. This makes it especially useful if you go off-roading, where branches and rough terrain can mess up your paint.

Ceramic coating, on the other hand, doesn’t really offer any real protection in those situations. Its main perks are its hydrophobic properties and a slight boost in appearance, but that’s about it. It can also get pricey, especially with premium brands, and it’s not permanent. How long it lasts depends on wear and tear, plus you have to be careful about what products you use to wash your car since some cleaners can break down the coating. Keeping up with it takes time and effort, unlike PPF, which can last 10+ years with barely any maintenance.

The biggest downsides of PPF are the cost and making sure you get it installed by a pro. But the technology has come a long way—some shops now do custom 3D cuts for a perfect fit, even removing things like door panels and headlights for a cleaner install. Some brands, like Xpel Ultimate, also combine PPF with hydrophobic properties, so you get the best of both worlds.

Looks-wise, PPF can give your car a slightly plastic-like shine, which might seem a little unnatural in certain lighting. But honestly, most people won’t notice unless they know what to look for. How it looks also depends on the PPF type, thickness, and your car’s color.

At the end of the day, it comes down to how you use your car. If you go off-roading, deal with crowded parking lots where people ding your doors, or just want to protect your paint without worrying about scratches, PPF is the best choice. But if you mainly care about making your car look good, live in a rainy area, and PPF is out of your budget, ceramic coating might be a better fit.

 

[evolute]

If you're interested in doing it yourself; I'd suggest Gtechniq CSL topped with EXOv5; This is hands down one of the best ceramic coatings that can installed with relative ease. This can used on top of PPF as well.

RE: the 200, make sure you wait around 30days after the repaint to allow the new paint to fully cure and out-gas.

For reference:
My plan currently is to do a minor new-car paint correction and decontamination; install Xpel on my doors (my front clip and windshield are already PPFed) and then apply the ceramic coating to the entire

This guy is correct, csl and exo is the diy solution for sure. I have personally installed this numerous times and it is just about being organized.
The cost of this is mostly labor. I think a good range would be 1-2k depending on the market.

 

[Joe T]

I’ve tried both PPF and ceramic coating on multiple cars over the years, and there are a few things to consider when choosing between them.

If you want the best protection for your car’s OEM paint, PPF is hands down the way to go. It not only prevents micro-scratches but also acts like a tough plastic shield against sandstorms, road debris, and minor accidents. This makes it especially useful if you go off-roading, where branches and rough terrain can mess up your paint.

Ceramic coating, on the other hand, doesn’t really offer any real protection in those situations. Its main perks are its hydrophobic properties and a slight boost in appearance, but that’s about it. It can also get pricey, especially with premium brands, and it’s not permanent. How long it lasts depends on wear and tear, plus you have to be careful about what products you use to wash your car since some cleaners can break down the coating. Keeping up with it takes time and effort, unlike PPF, which can last 10+ years with barely any maintenance.

The biggest downsides of PPF are the cost and making sure you get it installed by a pro. But the technology has come a long way—some shops now do custom 3D cuts for a perfect fit, even removing things like door panels and headlights for a cleaner install. Some brands, like Xpel Ultimate, also combine PPF with hydrophobic properties, so you get the best of both worlds.

Looks-wise, PPF can give your car a slightly plastic-like shine, which might seem a little unnatural in certain lighting. But honestly, most people won’t notice unless they know what to look for. How it looks also depends on the PPF type, thickness, and your car’s color.

At the end of the day, it comes down to how you use your car. If you go off-roading, deal with crowded parking lots where people ding your doors, or just want to protect your paint without worrying about scratches, PPF is the best choice. But if you mainly care about making your car look good, live in a rainy area, and PPF is out of your budget, ceramic coating might be a better fit.

PPF will also remove some requirements for paint correction as it covers up micro scratches. Did the side door placards on a Ford truck (the shiney black trim) and it got rid of all the micro scratches.

I may have to do it full body on my black lx….

 

[hawkQTR]

I’ve tried both PPF and ceramic coating on multiple cars over the years, and there are a few things to consider when choosing between them.

If you want the best protection for your car’s OEM paint, PPF is hands down the way to go. It not only prevents micro-scratches but also acts like a tough plastic shield against sandstorms, road debris, and minor accidents. This makes it especially useful if you go off-roading, where branches and rough terrain can mess up your paint.

Ceramic coating, on the other hand, doesn’t really offer any real protection in those situations. Its main perks are its hydrophobic properties and a slight boost in appearance, but that’s about it. It can also get pricey, especially with premium brands, and it’s not permanent. How long it lasts depends on wear and tear, plus you have to be careful about what products you use to wash your car since some cleaners can break down the coating. Keeping up with it takes time and effort, unlike PPF, which can last 10+ years with barely any maintenance.

The biggest downsides of PPF are the cost and making sure you get it installed by a pro. But the technology has come a long way—some shops now do custom 3D cuts for a perfect fit, even removing things like door panels and headlights for a cleaner install. Some brands, like Xpel Ultimate, also combine PPF with hydrophobic properties, so you get the best of both worlds.

Looks-wise, PPF can give your car a slightly plastic-like shine, which might seem a little unnatural in certain lighting. But honestly, most people won’t notice unless they know what to look for. How it looks also depends on the PPF type, thickness, and your car’s color.

At the end of the day, it comes down to how you use your car. If you go off-roading, deal with crowded parking lots where people ding your doors, or just want to protect your paint without worrying about scratches, PPF is the best choice. But if you mainly care about making your car look good, live in a rainy area, and PPF is out of your budget, ceramic coating might be a better fit.

It's really crazy that in less than 24 hours of writing this comment, someone rammed into my GR while trying to park... Thankfully, the PPF took the full damage and protected the car which now makes me more biased when i say PPF all the way!