Always Red Dave

Different take. I have never had protective film like Xpel Ultimate on any of my Corvettes in the pas t but I am thinking of using it for the first time when my New built for me Z06 arrives next week at the dealer. Any of you guys that don't have film on your Corvette wish you did and if you were to order a new one would you or would you order protective film this time around? Thanks Dave

OnPoint

Dave, you're going to want to wrap the rear quarter panel (to protect the rear fender flare) and the rear brake vent area at a minimum on the sexy beast.

I learned the lesson the hard way with 2 different widebody C6s. Didn't protect the first one. Learned that lesson. Protected the 2nd. And when I got the C7Z, I knew from the get-go to protect that rear fender and brake vent.

Always Red Dave

^ Thanks what other areas did you cover?

Gearbox22

I was on the fence about Xpel but the dealer talked me into it. I had the full nose, rockers, and complete quarters done and they threw in the side skirts. On my 280 mile drive from the dealer picking up my GS, a sway bar link flew up from the car ahead of me and I quickly tried dodging it, but too late, it struck my car with a loud thud. Outside of a slight tear on the edge of the Xpel on my side skirt, no damage to the car. Now when I inadvertently drive over some gravel and hear all the ticks of the stones hitting my car, I don't sweat it. It wasn't cheap at $2.5K, but well worth it.

Foosh

Absolutely, I've not wrapped many cars and wished I'd wrapped at least the nose and hood. All the unwrapped ones have ended up with a fairly significant amount of road rash.

mountainears

See what I just posted....happy I did it, this would have certainly been a scratch in my car and was only protected because I did a full wrap...

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...or-itself.html

capecodvette

Dave, I have over 10 years experience with various PPF, from 1st generation product to current. I have filmed numerous cars, from small sections to very large surface area's. I have experience with XPel, 3M, Premier to name several.

You and I have discussed this very subject. I offered you one of the top installer's in New England, I offered you the experience of other products that are every bit as good as XPel if not better. I have shared with you the experience I have with quartz coatings.

Based on our discussions, I understand that this Z06 may be your last Corvettte (yeah right!). Spending this level of $s, why not give your Z06 finish a fighting chance with applying the right products.

Respectfully,
Capecodvette

Always Red Dave

^Tom, Thanks I appreciate your advice just very undecided who and where I will be getting the film put on from. DAVE

mountainears

It's a tough decision and a ton of money I think. And it's like buying insurance, if nothing ever happens you'll feel it was a waste of money. If you have something happen, like I did today, you'll be cheering....or if you have something happen and you didn't put the protection on you'll be crying.

Yes, you can re-touch the paint, or even re-paint. But that's not as quick as wiping it off if you ask me and I really am happy when I have to get something tough off the car like a ballistic bug splat that I can rub a little more on it and use potentially harsher chemicals without too much worry.

I'm a fan, so take the opinion for what it's worth. But my vote is decide on that installer and make sure they do the proper prep, any corrections that you want done prior and move forward. The hardest things about it are writing the check and being without the car while they are working on it, but in the end that stuff will be a distant memory.

Zaphod B

I did no wrap, and will not be doing so.

At ~6500 miles of all-weather driving I have a few small impact dings on the nose (that can only be seen from a couple of feet away) and nothing showing anywhere else. My mileage includes a 2000+ mile maiden voyage from New Hampshire to Texas with heavy tractor trailer traffic.

YMMV, but I stopped obsessing about paint perfection a few years ago and am happy with a clean shiny car that shows a little normal road rash.

bbrown450

Tampa Fl, daily driver. Use the see thru bra (sorry forgot who makes ) and very pleased with how little damage there is . When I traded in my 14' I had 35k and yes I had alot of pitting but had the front reshot for $450 by the dealer , no damage on mirrors at all. I just do not like the way it looks and I have seen alot. Too each his own ..

mountainears

We should leave the graphic / color films out of the discussion. Totally different material / purpose, very thin compared to the PPF's.

23/C8Z

Xpel is awesome.. this is my first car with it and won't be my last that's for sure. I like clean defect free paint. Just me

OnPoint

I covered the front/nose, including the splitter. Also covered the rockers and side skirts, and lower portion of the doors (up to the sharp crease on the lower part of the door - as such made for a perfect stop point). And then the entire rear quarter panel and brake vent panel.

I did more than what I consider the bare minimum (which is the rear quarter and brake vent panel), but only out of choice. Some people also cover the whole hood. I didn't do that.

Like I mentioned above, IMO the rear quarter and brake vent area are the number 1 priority area for the widebody vettes (GS and Z06). Anything beyond that is just icing on the cake.

owc6

Just curious, because I know you drive a fair amount, but at what milage do you start noticing "road rash"?

I ask, because my '14 has a couple of small dings, nothing that I would consider "road rash," neither did my '09, but my '05 has a rasher full. Most of which happened in one day! I was caught in a freak blizzard going over the Rockies in Wyoming during the first week of November '06. Sandwiched between a couple of semis.

Destrukt

He is right but I would also like to add make sure to protect the front bumper towards mid hood area as you'll get several rock chips there as well.

cvp33

Either $1,500 worth of wrap or wait 2 years and need $1,500 worth of paint work.

mountainears

I started to type a reply like I was going to try and convince someone to change their mind on a re-paint in a few years. But these debates go on forever and it's like debating politics on FB you may as well beat your head against the wall :-)

If the OP hasn't made up their mind by now.....

dvilin

Drove my 2008 for 7 years and my present 2015 for 2 years. Neither was wrapped and no regrets. No road rash a few chips easily repaired with drcolorchip. Would have to point them out as they truly are not noticeable..
I guess I am in the minority but spending that kind of money to protect it from possible chips is not for me. People will not admit it but they spend all that money on protection then starting worrying about keeping it pristine. What products should I use, how do you get it repaired, etc.
To each their own, I just have no use for it or trying to preserve a perfect car finish for the next owner.

4thC4at60

41,xxx miles on my '15. No wrap. Got a little road rash but not much.....

Don't have wrap on my 29-year-old Ferrari with 54,000 miles either.... car's got some rash so in a couple of years I'll have the front-end sprayed.