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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Two very different purposes that compliment each other. PPF (Paint Protection Film) is a clear plastic based film that protects against impacts (rocks, debris, etc), bird droppings, sap, and even scuffs & swirls from washing with a mitt or drying with a towel (even microfiber). Most modern ones are "self-healing" and will to some extent smooth back out under heat (sitting in the sun, pouring hot water on them). They work very well and do not yellow or fade the paint (unlike early versions), and are pretty much invisible if installed properly. If you like driving your car a lot, I highly recommend at the very least doing it on the major impact areas (on front engine Corvettes this was the front bumper cover and mirrors, on the C8 it's pretty much the entire front end and the lower sides). They also make it great for cleaning as you can come home after a drive, use some quick detailer and a microfiber and wipe all the bugs/dirt off without worrying about scuffing the paint.
Ceramic coating is more for ease of maintenance. It is a wax replacement that is very hydrophobic (repels water) and makes the paint (or PPF) very slick so that water/dirt doesn't stick to it and comes off very easily. I've driven cars with ceramic coating on several thousand mile trips through lots of rain, and had them look reasonably clean without doing anything to them. It also makes it much easier to wash as you can pressure wash the car and then use a high power leaf blower to blow it dry without touching it with a towel.
My recommendation is both PPF on the hi-impact areas and ceramic coating on the entire car.
Two different purposes as far as I know. If you want a great shine and easy washing go with the Ceramic coating and if you actually believe a thin sheet of plastic can protect your car from stone chips then go the wrap route. I tried the plastic wrap years ago and was not impressed with either the protection or the look. Others will say it's better now. I wash my car when it needs it and throw a coat of polish on it when it needs it, and drive it as much as possible.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Two very different purposes that compliment each other. PPF (Paint Protection Film) is a clear plastic based film that protects against impacts (rocks, debris, etc), bird droppings, sap, and even scuffs & swirls from washing with a mitt or drying with a towel (even microfiber). Most modern ones are "self-healing" and will to some extent smooth back out under heat (sitting in the sun, pouring hot water on them). They work very well and do not yellow or fade the paint (unlike early versions), and are pretty much invisible if installed properly. If you like driving your car a lot, I highly recommend at the very least doing it on the major impact areas (on front engine Corvettes this was the front bumper cover and mirrors, on the C8 it's pretty much the entire front end and the lower sides). They also make it great for cleaning as you can come home after a drive, use some quick detailer and a microfiber and wipe all the bugs/dirt off without worrying about scuffing the paint.
Ceramic coating is more for ease of maintenance. It is a wax replacement that is very hydrophobic (repels water) and makes the paint (or PPF) very slick so that water/dirt doesn't stick to it and comes off very easily. I've driven cars with ceramic coating on several thousand mile trips through lots of rain, and had them look reasonably clean without doing anything to them. It also makes it much easier to wash as you can pressure wash the car and then use a high power leaf blower to blow it dry without touching it with a towel.
My recommendation is both PPF on the hi-impact areas and ceramic coating on the entire car.
I did PPF in 2005 on an MB SLK350. It did 2 things: prevents small stone chips from getting to the paint and locks in the paint shine. I took the PPF off in 2020 and the pait looked perfect. On the C8 I did the entire car and can see where stone chip may have occurred but were protected.
Ceramic coating I just used Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic (DIY) and that is inexpensive and so far equal to a professional job that cost 20 X the price. You still need to wash the car but drying time is about 1/4.
I have PPF on the entire front of my C8 including mirrors caps and headlights. I also have the entire car ceramic coated (also including the PPF portions). Two different products with different purposes.
I opted for Xpel's new Ultimate Fusion PPF which was released late last year. Its top layer is supposed to be permanently infused with ceramic coat during the film's manufacturing process. Super easy to clean because it's hydrophobic and stays slick and glossy for an always wet look.
Last edited by switchlanez; Sep 26, 2023 at 07:45 PM.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by gdb069
Ceramic coating I just used Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic (DIY) and that is inexpensive and so far equal to a professional job that cost 20 X the price.
The new DIY products are pretty good, I used 303 Graphene Nano and it's doing pretty well. Not quite up to professional ceramic, but some of that is probably in the prep/application. They also don't last as long as professional ceramic, which I've had still going strong 3-4 years after having it done. But for the price, if it even last just a 6-9 months, they could be a great deal.
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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Originally Posted by EvanZR1
Two very different purposes that compliment each other. PPF (Paint Protection Film) is a clear plastic based film that protects against impacts (rocks, debris, etc), bird droppings, sap, and even scuffs & swirls from washing with a mitt or drying with a towel (even microfiber). Most modern ones are "self-healing" and will to some extent smooth back out under heat (sitting in the sun, pouring hot water on them). They work very well and do not yellow or fade the paint (unlike early versions), and are pretty much invisible if installed properly. If you like driving your car a lot, I highly recommend at the very least doing it on the major impact areas (on front engine Corvettes this was the front bumper cover and mirrors, on the C8 it's pretty much the entire front end and the lower sides). They also make it great for cleaning as you can come home after a drive, use some quick detailer and a microfiber and wipe all the bugs/dirt off without worrying about scuffing the paint.
Ceramic coating is more for ease of maintenance. It is a wax replacement that is very hydrophobic (repels water) and makes the paint (or PPF) very slick so that water/dirt doesn't stick to it and comes off very easily. I've driven cars with ceramic coating on several thousand mile trips through lots of rain, and had them look reasonably clean without doing anything to them. It also makes it much easier to wash as you can pressure wash the car and then use a high power leaf blower to blow it dry without touching it with a towel.
My recommendation is both PPF on the hi-impact areas and ceramic coating on the entire car.
Hey! I have partial front PPF and a full ceramic coating on my car. I'm super particular about my car's paint and keeping it clean and free from scratches, chips, etc. The bumper/mirror/headlights PPF has been awesome for preventing rock chips/road-rash. The ceramic coating has been great for preventing microscratching and making it super easy to wash and detail. I think it depends on what you want, and if you're doing this work yourself, how much time you want to spend. Based off my personal experience, I'd recommend a combination of both! A front PPF job will give you some great protection and wouldn't be nearly as time consuming as a full-body PPF. Just a ceramic coating won't fully protect from rock chips and other road objects hitting the paint, for me it was a no-brainer to get the PPF so it was covered. For the rest of the car, the ceramic coating is much easier to apply than the PPF, and whether you wash your car often or only every once in a while, it will keep the paint much cleaner between washes and makes it super easy to wash given the water beading... it also gives you the opportunity for contactless wash options. I use Chemical Guys ProBlow to dry the car after a wash and that saves so much time and potential scratches. I got my PPF/ceramic done by a local detail shop and all-in it cost roughly $1200 with labor included. TOTALLY worth every penny IMO and I'll be getting both reapplied in 3-4 years
