Hey guys and gals I would like your opinion on a couple of issues. My 2011 c6 I just got has very low miles so condition of car is perfect. It is the crystal red metalic. I was thinking about getting the ceramic coating put on the car to help keep the shine. I was also thinking about having a clear bra for the front for rock chip protection. Are either of these worth it or am I wasting my money. Thanks for your help.

 

Congrats on the C6. Enjoy!!!
It fully depends on what you plan on doing with your car. DD,. Garage Queen, occasional road trips, etc.
The Clear bra will definitely protect from rock chips, and sandblasting on road trips. On any Interstate, the median shoulders are full of sand, and other debris that get blown up by 18 wheelers. Never follow them for any length of time. Pass them quickly!! If you are going to do clear bra, make sure you get the side mirrors done as well. Those take a beating...rocks seem attracted to them.
Ceramic will make the shine pop!
If your just going back and forth to local car shows, clear bra is not likely required.
Good luck in your decision.

 

You have not said what the cost of each item is in your area. Things to consider is how to plan on keeping the car. The ceramic is the rage right and looks impressive but believe that all coating are not created equal so be careful and do some checking out before spending many $$$$. If plan on keeping the car long term and front rock chip may be the right thing to do. Should cost you over $1000. if you want good quality protection.
Good luck, remember your car so its what is important to you.

 

Thanks guys. I priced both and the ceramic coating was 600 and the bra was 850. The only thing about the bra is I was told by a friend that has a corvette that you can still see the bra.

 

Well I have it on our 2018 XT5 which is frosted white and you cannot tell its there. This comes back to the type of material the shop using. Ask to see it on a previous customer car. To do the ceramic coating there is a process to ensure that paint correction is done first. So ask if he does any paint correction first[clat bar for sure] before giving him the job. Also, ask to see his work on other cars.

 

 

I had my entire '08 wrapped in clear bra, except the rear bumper. It has served me well.

 

My 2007 has 11 year old 3M clear bra on the entire nose/headlights and it's starting to yellow but in those 11 years it has saved the front end of the car, it's still perfect at 19,000 miles.
The best local shop just gave me a $650 bid to remove the old film, prep and install XPEL over the entire nose and headlight lenses. That is a reasonable price and I'll probably end up doing it because I intend driving this car as a DD and on trips. On my silver car the clear film is very difficult to see, nearly invisible.

 

What is XPEL.

 

Paint protectant urethane film:
http://www.xpel.com/products/

 

One of the best on the market. Used on high-end supercars. Should be a lot more than what you were quoted.

 

I thought so too, and asked twice. I better get back there and get it done!!

 

Another culprit of rocks and debris getting hurled at your Vette, is following another Vette in front of you. This weekend I did a road trip with 15 Vettes and I heard a lot of debris hitting my car. Ouch! Vettes have pretty wide tires and they tend to through off debris. Also, 18 wheelers through off debris to the sides as well, so stay as far away as possible.

 

Aside from Xpel, Suntek paint protection film is a popular choice.

 

If you get any kind of clear protection film installed get the whole panel done. Don't get half the hood or the front half of the fenders. I had the whole nose on my C6 done it goes to the edge of the nose so the film ends where the body panel ends. You can't tell it's there unless I tell you and you look very, very close.

T

 

These clear wraps (bras) are like two sides of a coin. They'll protect the paint just like the clear plastic covers your mom put on the sofa to keep it looking like new (why, I'll never understand). So, someday years and years later, you take the plastic covers off and have what looks like a brand new 10 year old couch?

On the other side of the coin, the clear "protective" bra takes the wear and tear, but with age and unlike clearcoat, plastic yellows and becomes brittle. The surface becomes a little dull too because it has taken the beating instead of the clearcoat, but it is much softer than acrylic paint. As the clear plastic ages, it becomes tougher and tougher to remove. 5 years is about the maximum before it degrades in both looks and its flexibility. After 5 years, the plastic becomes more and more permanently bonded to the paint surface.

So, if this is your forever car and probably like Marie Barone in "Everybody Loves Raymond", you want to preserve the couch so someday, after you're gone, someone else will enjoy the new paint, this is probably your mod then.

When I bought my 09 C6 in 15, it had a clear bra that the original owner put on brand new. Taking it off was one of the most miserable experiences I've had...and I used the preferred method of steaming it off like the pros use. If you have the rare opportunity to remove a 5/6 year old clear bra FIRST, before you put one on, then you might vow, like I did, never to put one on in the first place. Instead, I'll enjoy the actual paint, and in 6 years, I'll use the money to visit a pro detailer. With a pro paint correction, you cannot tell the difference next to a car that had a bra on, then removed.

 

Thank you BlindSpot you just made up my mind. I really didn't want it but wanted to keep rock chips off.
thanks again.

 

Had Xpel installed on my '13 when new. Front bumper, side mirrors and in front of the rear wheels. Vette still looks brand new.

 

Here's a whole forum dedicated to car care.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...discussion-10/

 

Thanks Jose will check it out.