Mad Dog 98

Howdy!! I saw your new GS when I went to pick mine up. VERY nice!!

63VetteConv

I enjoyed staring at yours several times when visiting the cars as well! Beautiful spec—congratulations!

bigblock427

Thank you guys for your input. I appreciate it.

IAIA

Lotta questions:
First, if you don't put SunTek on the entire car, aren't there some areas that are shinier than others?
Also, if a rock hits your hood or fender, does the SunTek get damaged, even a bit? I can correct a paint chip. I can't correct a rip in plastic.
I will admit however, that the results are amazing...and I'm wondering whether that's from the sealer, or the SunTek. I use Zaino, and that provides a great shine too, but not like your car. Which leads me to the next question of whether the SunTek dulls or clouds up with time. And if you have to wax it or put a sealer on in 2 years, do you do that to the SunTek covering?

Mad Dog 98

The price they quoted me to Sun Tek the entire car was outrageous, $6K. When I think about it, the only parts of the car not wrapped are both doors (above the rockers), roof, hatch, and rear of the car. Those areas are just as shiny as the wrapped sections.

My Sun Tek is warrantied for 10 years against yellowing or peeling. If it lifts due to a rock tear or something, that will be something I will have to research.

My entire car was ceramic coated, including the Sun Tek wrap, which leads me to believe I will have it coated again in a couple of years. My car is in a garage and covered, so I may be able to get a year or two more before having to redo the coating. I hope this helps,

TXSteveF

Mad Dog 98

"Peace of mind"....exactly!!! The hard part is parting with your hard earned $$ for it.

bigblock427

I understand why some don't mind spending the money for that kind of protection. Everyone has their trade off point on value. I would not spend $4,000 or more, but I plan on spending some after more research.

Thanks guys.

DWS44

No, the finish will still match the rest or the car. I usually only do the front end of the car, and unless you get down on top of the panels and look for the edges of the material, you won't even know its there visually.

Most small stone hits will result in zero damage on the film, or maybe a very small mark. The newer films are very resistant to even that. Only once have I had a hit hard enough to take a small "chunk" out of the plastic, but even then, the film sacrificed itself and the paint underneath was undamaged. It did not look conspicuous and I traded that vehicle shortly after, so I never had the film replaced. In that instance, I'm sure it would have still been cheaper to replace the film on the panel than to have it repaint had that rock taken a large divot out of the paint.

I've never had the ceramic coating. I am a longtime Zaino user as well. I maintain the PPF covered areas the same as I do the rest of the car with all the same Zaino products. It works just as well on the Suntek as it does the rest of the painted surfaces. Aside from the protection from rock chips, the other nicety of having the PPF is that it protects from bugs and bird crap w/o worrying about wiping it off instantly before it can mar the paint. Bug guts and bird crap have virtually no effect on the PPF and the bugs baked in the sun wipe off much easier.

As to longevity, the longest I have had a vehicle with PPF is my Jeep that I've had for almost five years. It is a daily driven in all weather conditions, and sits outside a large percentage of the time. As of now, the Suntek looks as good as the day it was installed.

Hope that helps.

TXSteveF

DWS44

Maybe I've just been lucky then, as I've never had any staining from from such occurrences. Certainly nothing to level I've had of paint etching from finding a bird spot that's been sitting on paint in the hot sun all day from sitting in the parking lot at work. Either way, I wouldn't argue with the advice of an experienced installer, and agree its probably not the best to leave it there indefinitely, PPF or not.

IAIA

So can I conclude that it's the ceramic coating and not the SunTek that gives it that amazing shine (and maybe the florescent lighting, too!)?
If so, I'm all over that if I can treat the car myself (buffed my C5 and C6 with Menzerma products followed by Zaino polymer sealant). Not worried about chips even though I've been known to exceed 100 (as we all do!) because I can usually touch up and color sand if necessary.
But that shine!!! That, I want!

TXSteveF

IAIA

I finally understand how those car show vehicles look so freakin' shiny! I was never able to duplicate that no matter how many coats of Zaino I applied.

0AccentFL

DALE#3

Different installers in various area's will charge,well what they can get really.On 3M's end of it.How much more $$ would a nose job only cost now with the new film.
Just for rough numbers,say i was quoted a grand.How much now?

bigblock427

Dan, thank you for your reply. Can you provide me with the names of the installers in my area? Also, can you provide a website that has the technical information for the film you are talking about? Or can you give me specific product details?

Thanks,

0AccentFL

0AccentFL

0AccentFL