I is worth doing PPF
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 237
Likes: 185
I is worth doing PPF
I was quoted $2000 for Suntek PPF,doing the front hood mirrors doors .
Ive added a Bodykit they are going ppf the body kit as well .
My neighbor did a PPF for his 2023 BMW M8 he used Xpel .
He paid 9k for it .
I am not doing that .
Is it really worth doing PPF ?
Ive added a Bodykit they are going ppf the body kit as well .
My neighbor did a PPF for his 2023 BMW M8 he used Xpel .
He paid 9k for it .
I am not doing that .
Is it really worth doing PPF ?
Popular Reply
May 23, 2024, 05:41 AM
Racer
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 373
Likes: 351
From: Barrie, Ontario, Canada
That type of question on here will get the same response from 2 groups of people:
1) those that didn't get PPF will say it's a waste of $$ and not needed
2) those that got PPF will say it's the best thing ever and needed
If you are comfortable paying for PPF then it's worth it to you....Who cares what anyone else thinks. It obviously will help with chips / scratches, nobody can deny that, but if the rock or something is big enough, nothing will prevent damage. I did get my 23 C8 PPF'd, & Ceramic coating applied. I was ok spending the $$, so I like it and that is all that matters.....
1) those that didn't get PPF will say it's a waste of $$ and not needed
2) those that got PPF will say it's the best thing ever and needed
If you are comfortable paying for PPF then it's worth it to you....Who cares what anyone else thinks. It obviously will help with chips / scratches, nobody can deny that, but if the rock or something is big enough, nothing will prevent damage. I did get my 23 C8 PPF'd, & Ceramic coating applied. I was ok spending the $$, so I like it and that is all that matters.....
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 53
Likes: 53
From: Dallas
Your front end will get torn up, get PPF done in my opinion unless you are okay with scratches and such.I had PPF on mine when I bought it front another owner or I would have done it myself. I am adding carbon and doing PPF on those pieces myself.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 406
Likes: 213
My front has not been torn up 2020 c8 7500 miles
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
X2. My 2022 HTC had PPF entire car. I bought it from the 1st owner with 900 miles on it. He paid over $8k for the PPF. I paid zero.
Didn’t like the feel of it. Just me maybe and the installation was perfect.
No PPF for me on my ZO6. Just make no sense to me.
Didn’t like the feel of it. Just me maybe and the installation was perfect.
No PPF for me on my ZO6. Just make no sense to me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 2,329
From: Simi Valley, CA
2022 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Depends on which part of the country you live in and what the roads are like, but for me front ppf (hood, fenders, bumper, mirror caps, a-pillar) means no nasty rock chips in the paint after two years. Well worth the bucks I spent.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,865
From: Virginia
I'm owned 42 Corvettes and quite a few other sportscars and never had PPF and never had any stone/debris damage worth mention. So that's like $999,999,999, I've saved over the years. Well maybe not quite that much, but a lot. 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,825
Likes: 2,477
From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
I also think PPP is way way overpriced. It reminds me of some of the Detailing prices people are getting for ceramic. It’s just ridiculous. I use PPF in the areas that I consider high traffic like the leading edge front end , behind the wheels, etc., etc. but I refuse to pay thousands of dollars to get somebody to put it on my car. I buy the Xpel 4 inch PPF kits off Amazon and apply it myself. over 30,000 miles on my C7, I had very little rocks and debris damage. For long trips I use a novi stretch which protects the entire front end and I also do my mirrors. I don’t think PPP is bad, I just consider the prices that some people quote to be a total rape.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 781
I had a 2005 SLK350 that had 3M PPF. After 15 years (2020) the PPF had many scratches and stone chips etc. (I use my cars to go skiing) I decided to remove it and .... paint looked new. PPF installer told me a new front/hood piece would be a few hundred dollars but I traded the car for C8 and got a premium price since the SLK was going to be easy to sell. I have already have a few scratches and rock chips in the PPF but not really noticeable and when it has more I will replace the needed piece.
The cost of PPF depends on how much paint correction is done. I saw a 2 week old black C8 that already had swirls and looked terrible. The solid darker colors will show up paint faults much more than metallic or light colors. I have full PPF with 10 hours paint correction and now that paint has been sealed by the PPF so always look great. Twice a year I DIY ceramic and the shine is great with little effort.
I think if you are very careful with your car and wax etc and depending on color you don't need PPF and just paint the chips, but my car suffers abuse.
The cost of PPF depends on how much paint correction is done. I saw a 2 week old black C8 that already had swirls and looked terrible. The solid darker colors will show up paint faults much more than metallic or light colors. I have full PPF with 10 hours paint correction and now that paint has been sealed by the PPF so always look great. Twice a year I DIY ceramic and the shine is great with little effort.
I think if you are very careful with your car and wax etc and depending on color you don't need PPF and just paint the chips, but my car suffers abuse.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,907
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From: Scottsdale AZ
Racer
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 373
Likes: 351
From: Barrie, Ontario, Canada
That type of question on here will get the same response from 2 groups of people:
1) those that didn't get PPF will say it's a waste of $$ and not needed
2) those that got PPF will say it's the best thing ever and needed
If you are comfortable paying for PPF then it's worth it to you....Who cares what anyone else thinks. It obviously will help with chips / scratches, nobody can deny that, but if the rock or something is big enough, nothing will prevent damage. I did get my 23 C8 PPF'd, & Ceramic coating applied. I was ok spending the $$, so I like it and that is all that matters.....
1) those that didn't get PPF will say it's a waste of $$ and not needed
2) those that got PPF will say it's the best thing ever and needed
If you are comfortable paying for PPF then it's worth it to you....Who cares what anyone else thinks. It obviously will help with chips / scratches, nobody can deny that, but if the rock or something is big enough, nothing will prevent damage. I did get my 23 C8 PPF'd, & Ceramic coating applied. I was ok spending the $$, so I like it and that is all that matters.....
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From: Pittsburgh
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Is it worth it? That depends on whether you want a blemish free paint job on your car
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For my 2014, having PPF (Xpel) added to my car was well worth the cost (@$2K for entire front end, rocker panels, behind rear wheels, mirrors). No way would pay $9K for the stuff.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,927
Likes: 2,036
From: Columbus OH
I've had several cars with PPF. My biggest complaint besides the cost is that marks in the film from a sizeable rock hit will not self-heal and stick out like a sore thumb. While the paint underneath is protected, the film looks awful, and until you get enough rock hits to make it cost-effective to replace the film you have to live with the blemish. With unprotected paint, you at least have the option to apply touch-up paint. Not so with film.
When I know I'm going to do extended highway driving or a drive where there is a significant potential for rock chips, I put on a Novistrech bra. It has served me well and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than PPF film.
When I know I'm going to do extended highway driving or a drive where there is a significant potential for rock chips, I put on a Novistrech bra. It has served me well and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than PPF film.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 308
Likes: 298
From: NJ
I put only a bikini bra on my 2002 WRX and the bumper and rest of the hood was damaged with all the rocks/debris around here. I put it on my 2013 BRZ and to this day, no damage. I didn't put it on my wife's 2016 Outback thinking it was higher up off the ground and the entire front end has chips all over it. I put Xpel on the entire front end of the C8 and have not regretted doing so. Not sure what your friend had covered for $9K. That would be a full car coverage in my area. I did the entire front end plus tint on the front windows for $2700.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 2,368
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From: Northern Virginia
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Depends on where you drive and the condition of the roads. I also make it a point to sat WAY WAY behind the vehicles in front of me so that they are not tossing rocks and other debris all over my C8.
Coming up on 6000 miles and my car looks as good as it did the day I drove it off the showroom floor.
And, you can repaint the front ~2x for the price of a standard "track" PPF job.
Coming up on 6000 miles and my car looks as good as it did the day I drove it off the showroom floor.
And, you can repaint the front ~2x for the price of a standard "track" PPF job.
