Stoli-RX8

Folks,

Just interested to see how many of you believe that some form of paint protection is worth while and why. Are you buying from the dealers or via 3rd party? If so then how much are you paying?

I just got quoted $980 for Ming and tint.

Cheers, Stoli

Kev

I'm going with Wax Guard, or more specifically ... Paint Guard and Nature Guard.

I'm getting a Velocity Red car and it'll probably spend a fair amount of time in the elements, so I'll do everything I can to care for it (including tinting and treating the leather to protect the interior).

I'm also getting the Electro Guard rust and corrosion inhibitor. It sounds a bit like Peter Brock's magic crystals with it's "electric pulse" to netralise the electro-chemical process, but the saleswoman was too scary to say "no" to!

BTW, I had a black Audi TT Quattro Minged - that was a big mistake!!! I could always see swirl marks in the duco.

If you have any paint treatment added to your car by the dealer, have a REALLY good look at it in the sunlight before you take delivery.

labrat

Although I'm an industrial chemist, and not really well versed in corrosion electrochemistry, talk about "electro-pulses" tends to activate my bullshit sensors somewhat. IMO the best corrosion protection for steel you can have is a passivated surface prior to painting, then an intact covering of paint. There are two things you need for rust: oxygen and water. Exclude those two from the steel surface and you don't get rust. Ask the sales person to obtain a technical document from the 3rd party vendor, and approach an electrochemist at your nearest university to comment on the treatment. Snake oil salesmen didn't die out in the 19th century.

I did go for the internal protection. There are recognised fabric and polymer protection systems which will chemically bond to fibres and plastics to change the properties of the surfaces of these materials, variously to resist soiling and add UV protection.

I'm a little wary of tinting of windows purely from a safety point of view, particularly vision under low light conditions.

Concerning paint protection: a regular application of a good quality polish should suffice. Modern paints are very resistant. I gave up a car I had for 12 years to get into my 8. The paint (except for dings, and where my cat had lept from the roll-a-door onto the boot) was in excellent shape, and with only twice a year polishing and use of a wash and wax shampoo.

Winning

Best friend of mine who owns a very reputable smash repair shop (BMW authorised and recommended smash repair), told me that the paint protection is a rip off. He can do it for me for $300-$400 and he uses the same product or better than these companies. The product itself only costing him $100-$200.

He reckons it's not worth your $950. The best way to protect your paint is to wash and clean your car regularly, or at least spray it with clean water once or twice a week just to wash off the dirt and harmful particles.

He told me paint protection is the last option you want to spend for your new car. You better buy something else for $950. The same with window tinting, don't do it through your dealer. They will charge you $495 and you only have to pay $150-$250 if you call a window tinter to come and tint your car at your place.

Kev

I unconditionally agree on the relative value of all of these protection items ... and the amount of margin they must have to play with in them!

I'm actually getting two cars and for $1395 each, Im geting :

Tinting
Wizz bang anti rust negative pulse emmitter thing-a-ma=doodle
Paint and nature protection
Fabric protecting
Leather protection

yeh, yeh, steak knives too!

Wildcard

My dealer tried to sell me the Ming stuff too. $600 for paint protection and $600 for tinting.

I went to a third party instead once I got the car. 'Solace' did paint protection for $245 and Window tinting for $295. They did a fine job too. Shop around, you will certainly get a better price outside the dealership.

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

I have my own views on this.

Yes - the dealers charge a lot. It is a cash cow for them. Why else do they all have someone who's job it is to sell you a pack after the deal is done?

Tinting as mandatory for any car I buy. It makes an noticeable difference to the amount of heat let into the car, and the effectiveness of the A/C. If I can't this "included" when I purchase any new car, I get it done elsewhere for a fraction of the cost.

Paint protection - I agree with the comments about maintaining the paintwork yourself. A tin of Meguairs Cleaner Wax is cheap, and give it the treatment once a year. And also a bottle of easy-wax (Eagle one has a wax as you dry product, Meguiars has something equivalent) works a treat. Every couple of washes, lasted 12 months on the SS. Plus a bottle of Meguiars Gold Class car wash. And a Lambswool washing mit. For around $60 you can't go wrong.

Fabric protection - probably worth it. Although I reckon they wipe over all the leather/vinyl surfaces with an Amourall rag. A couple of can of Scotch guard is cheap insurance.

Underbody/rust protection. Don't know why it is needed when the car has a 6 year body protection warranty. And half the panels are ally anyway. And how much weight does that black **** weigh? The electrical system, similar to cathodic protection, does have some valid use in industrial and marine applications but I don't really deem it necessary on a car.

If anyone in Brisbane wants the number of a contact for getting packs done for a great price, send me a PM. Nothing in it for me, just trying to help out some like minded enthusiasts...

Cheers,
Hymee.