Xpel or Ceramic Coating; Help Me decide
 

Car will be a daily driver. What have others done, benefits of each, costs to maintain. Help me decide

Accurate statement.

Use Xpel on the high risk areas for rock chips such as the nose, lower hood, rockers, etc.. Everywhere else can be ceramic coated. The guys who do my cars do not like to ceramic coat areas where the clear bra will be applied because it apparently negatively effects the adhesion of the clear bra to the car.
S.

I would do the ceramic coating, and do it myself, especially with a new car where there should be no significant paint correction required. Basically, ceramic is a layer of diamond hard clear coating on top of the existing paint, so if the paint is imperfect you are clear coating over an imperfection that you will still see and then cannot correct once coated, Not a real issue with new paint, or at least minimal to correct with a small buffer before applying the ceramic. If rock chips are a concern, xpel the nose and rear quarter where prone to chips. In my opinion, to expel the entire car is cost prohibitive. From what I have been quoted, it would be cheaper to repaint the car. If its a daily driver, I think I would just drive it and not worry too much about chips... spoils the experience.

If you have chips thru the Xpel, then those serious chips were made by some serious rocks.
Xpel is not meant to protect from something that damaging but it can protect from many abrasions/ light impacts.

Good stuff but like all clear films, it has its limitations.

Dare to Compare
 

I had ZR1 #1 front end covered with PPF, #2 ZR1 was purchased used with 8 coats of ceramic. I was always a PPF fan, but after seeing the ceramic on #2, it has a couple little pits from rocks, but it honestly looks better than the PPF. I buffed out the small pits in the ceramic and I still have some very small bubble spots in the PPF which drives me nuts.

I had 3M on my last Z06 and when I tell you, it stopped a very serious abrasion from getting thru to the paint, I am not kidding.
I would have had to repaint the entire hood had it not been for the clear film.
I'll go with the film every time, based on my experiences.

Depends on where you live and drive, ceramic offers no stone or chip protection, just makes maintenance MUCH easier, have used clear plastic protection since 2003, has made resale much easier, if the plastic is in good shape I sell the car/truck with it, if not I remove the plastic and the car/truck is brand new, my last 4 vette's have been 100% wrapped, works for me

My thoughts, too.

Both

I did both on my 488 and have just Xpel on both Corvette's. From actual experience, my carbon road bicycle fell over and the end of the handle bar hit the side of the 488 just in front of the wheel. After returning to a normal heart beat, I found a tear in the protective film with no marks on the paint. I scheduled a new front panel and you cannot see any marks. There is absolutely no yellowing on my 2014 Corvette and all the panels are just like new as installed. I will not have a sports car without this protection! Washing is so easy and fast too, I might add.

Most likely going to do what I have on my Z06...Xpel on bumper and headlights...ceramic coat rest of car including wheels myself....

Both...ppf...then ceramic coating over top of the film to give that hyperbolic property as well as bring some more shine back to the paint.

It's not advised to put it on under ppf for the reasons you mentioned..better to be put on top for added protection.

I put Xpell ultimate on my 14 Z51. Best money I ever spent. I did the entire front end and fenders, the rear fenders, splitters, exterior mirrors, and the first third of the top and the vertical windshield frames.

4 years and 26,000 miles of dealing with Florida gravel trucks later the paint is still perfect.

I got 2 different major rock strikes (hood and mirror) at speed that actually ripped the film but saved the paint.

Make sure you find the installer that is doing the Ferraris etc in your neighborhood as the install is 99% of it looking good. And covering all the angles on the front clip of the ZR is not something for an installer that hasn't done something like that before. If the installer stretches it in order to make it fit (distorts the reflection) or if he doesn't wrap the ends it will look like crap.

When it gets here my ZR will sit until the paint fully cures and then the next stop will to be covered.

PM me for the best installer in Central Florida if that helps anyone.

Wouldn't ceramic affect the self healing properties of the ppf?