[seddon]

OP 1600 is alot for 4 coats, i had 10 coats on my ss and for 5 years i loved every minute of it. Ease of wasing the car is really fast literally 15 mins and im done. Water beeds off like crazy. I paid 2k for 10 coats on my zl1 including new car prep.

[pkincy]

The OP mentioned he did the "clear bra." Don't know if that means a wrap and how much of the car was wrapped, but it is too late to do any paint correction once the wrap is applied.

Does a wrapped car benefit from the coatings?

[Glen e]

Originally Posted by pkincy

The OP mentioned he did the "clear bra." Don't know if that means a wrap and how much of the car was wrapped, but it is too late to do any paint correction once the wrap is applied.

Does a wrapped car benefit from the coatings?

Yes, but applying coating to a clear film requires no paint prep so it better be cheap. You can apply it yourself for $75-90.

[ZL*Won]

Originally Posted by pkincy

The OP mentioned he did the "clear bra." Don't know if that means a wrap and how much of the car was wrapped, but it is too late to do any paint correction once the wrap is applied.

Does a wrapped car benefit from the coatings?

The paint correction comes before the wrap but a new car does not need much. Did the forward facing bumper and splitter in Suntek Ultra film. I am now thinking I will also do the entire hood in Suntek Ultra as well and hold off on the ceramic. Do the Ultima Paint Guard Plus every 4-6 months on rest of car. Will look the same and about $1200 cheaper than the Ceramic Pro.

[Sooner Cole]

Originally Posted by ZL*Won

Looking for input from those that have put ceramic coatings on previous cars or have long term experience with it. How did it hold up over the years, especially if you used the car as a daily driver? Do you really see a difference in the coatings or all they all pretty much the same?

Best price I have found on 4 coat Ceramic Pro is $1600 for car including paint correction plus extra $300 for rims/calipers. Not an insignificant amount so appreciate any input.

I see the reason for the clear bra and did that. Just trying to figure out if I should ceramic coat the car or its just a scam.

Thanks.

If I could only put only one option on my car, it would be a high quality Ceramic Coat. Not one of the cheap replica from Asia. Understand that you are not just putting a fancy wax on it, you are actually changing the paint hardness. Some of the more advanced coatings do not sell to the public and the retailer must be trained and certified before they can apply. Also, depending on the color, some applications are more difficult than others. Black is very difficult to paint correct and apply ceramic coat. Several auto detailed sent me to local specialist due to my car being black. My car now carries a 7 year warranty from the manufacturer and the detailer. I hear several people talking about clay bar, etc. That is fairly old school and not done that much by experienced retailers. There are a lot of good products out there, waxes, etc, that work well, but they are not the same as a good ceramic coat. I had my car, glass and wheels done in January and it is amazing. I wash my car once a week and it is a breeze. Nothing sticks to the car. Dirt, brake dust etc just flies right off. The coating is hydrophobic and the water beads up and falls off. I only use a small 16x16 microfiber to dry the entire car and it is guaranteed to stay that way for 7 years. I'm a believer!

[ZL*Won]

Originally Posted by 17ZL1Camaro

If I could only put only one option on my car, it would be a high quality Ceramic Coat. Not one of the cheap replica from Asia. Understand that you are not just putting a fancy wax on it, you are actually changing the paint hardness. Some of the more advanced coatings do not sell to the public and the retailer must be trained and certified before they can apply. Also, depending on the color, some applications are more difficult than others. Black is very difficult to paint correct and apply ceramic coat. Several auto detailed sent me to local specialist due to my car being black. My car now carries a 7 year warranty from the manufacturer and the detailer. I hear several people talking about clay bar, etc. That is fairly old school and not done that much by experienced retailers. There are a lot of good products out there, waxes, etc, that work well, but they are not the same as a good ceramic coat. I had my car, glass and wheels done in January and it is amazing. I wash my car once a week and it is a breeze. Nothing sticks to the car. Dirt, brake dust etc just flies right off. The coating is hydrophobic and the water beads up and falls off. I only use a small 16x16 microfiber to dry the entire car and it is guaranteed to stay that way for 7 years. I'm a believer!

What coating did you get? 7 years.....Crystal Serum?

[7WSM]

Originally Posted by 17ZL1Camaro

If I could only put only one option on my car, it would be a high quality Ceramic Coat. Not one of the cheap replica from Asia. Understand that you are not just putting a fancy wax on it, you are actually changing the paint hardness. Some of the more advanced coatings do not sell to the public and the retailer must be trained and certified before they can apply. Also, depending on the color, some applications are more difficult than others. Black is very difficult to paint correct and apply ceramic coat. Several auto detailed sent me to local specialist due to my car being black. My car now carries a 7 year warranty from the manufacturer and the detailer. I hear several people talking about clay bar, etc. That is fairly old school and not done that much by experienced retailers. There are a lot of good products out there, waxes, etc, that work well, but they are not the same as a good ceramic coat. I had my car, glass and wheels done in January and it is amazing. I wash my car once a week and it is a breeze. Nothing sticks to the car. Dirt, brake dust etc just flies right off. The coating is hydrophobic and the water beads up and falls off. I only use a small 16x16 microfiber to dry the entire car and it is guaranteed to stay that way for 7 years. I'm a believer!

You do know that the Koreans did develop the coating technology right? And you do know that most of these other "manufacturers" don't even formulate these products they get it 3rd party and rebrand it to their own. Actually I am willing to bet most of the car detailing products out there are made by only a few companies out there.

[Glen e]

Originally Posted by 7WSM

Actually I am willing to bet most of the car detailing products out there are made by only a few companies out there.

Exactly correct.......and dr gnaassi at optimum....

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by ZL*Won

I am hearing great reviews about this product. Anybody use it?

http://www.autogeek.net/ultima-paint-guard-plus.html

Yeah like Glen said, like Crystal Sealant, good product, but a lot of have started to use Carpro Reload, even easier than CS, but better gloss and more hydrophobic.

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by ZL*Won

I am hearing great reviews about this product. Anybody use it?

http://www.autogeek.net/ultima-paint-guard-plus.html

Like Glen said, good product like Crystal Sealant, but a lot of us have started to us Carpro Reload, even better than CS, more hydrophobic and I feel that it is easier to apply than a polymer sealant.

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by 17ZL1Camaro

If I could only put only one option on my car, it would be a high quality Ceramic Coat. Not one of the cheap replica from Asia. Understand that you are not just putting a fancy wax on it, you are actually changing the paint hardness. Some of the more advanced coatings do not sell to the public and the retailer must be trained and certified before they can apply. Also, depending on the color, some applications are more difficult than others. Black is very difficult to paint correct and apply ceramic coat. Several auto detailed sent me to local specialist due to my car being black. My car now carries a 7 year warranty from the manufacturer and the detailer. I hear several people talking about clay bar, etc. That is fairly old school and not done that much by experienced retailers. There are a lot of good products out there, waxes, etc, that work well, but they are not the same as a good ceramic coat. I had my car, glass and wheels done in January and it is amazing. I wash my car once a week and it is a breeze. Nothing sticks to the car. Dirt, brake dust etc just flies right off. The coating is hydrophobic and the water beads up and falls off. I only use a small 16x16 microfiber to dry the entire car and it is guaranteed to stay that way for 7 years. I'm a believer!

Claying is still done and is not old school...the clay itself is old school, like Nanoskin and Carpro Polyshave, the material is different but the "claying" process is still done.

But I hear what you are saying, newer things have come along and waxes and such are old school.

[7WSM]

I don't think waxes are going away anytime soon. I still think waxes do have a different look to them compared to a coating. Or maybe I am a little crazy. :dunno: And if you were to speak about old school, Collenite 845 is possibly my favorite wax of all time.

[Glen e]

Originally Posted by 7WSM

I don't think waxes are going away anytime soon. I still think waxes do have a different look to them compared to a coating. Or maybe I am a little crazy. :dunno: And if you were to speak about old school, Collenite 845 is possibly my favorite wax of all time.

Waxes indeed do have a purpose, they actually have an appearance that is a little bit deeper than some of the coatings and Sealants. They are excellent to you use for car shows. The problem with waxes is they just don't last anywhere near like a sealant on a coating for a DD. Esp in climates with hot summers like the south and the west. They last literally less than two months.

Agreed 845 is great stuff, esp for winter protection. It is actually not a pure wax, it's a hybrid sealant/wax.

[flyinlow]

Originally Posted by 2010REDSS

Zaino disciple here....and have been for 15 years......

Can you give me some specifics on Blackfire and the pros that made you switch??

Getting ready to do the whole Dawn wash, clay bar, polish routine on the Z/28 and my wife's vert first weekend in June and maybe I need to try something new??

Would love your compare as you have used both. Thanks!!

Was going through some threads on the corvette forum and lots of good reviews, watched a video on applying it (they did it with machines) but looked pretty easy, plus it has better shelf life than the Zaino stuff does. So I figured I would give it a try.

Here is the link to the video: