paint protection

[tim]

Whats the opinion of paint protection for new cars,ie venture shield or supagard,is it any good or a waste of money  the paint will be black so will show dirt! thanks for any help

[Mark (smokey mow)]

I asked a similar question this time last year and following the suggestions went for the PPG film.  3000 miles later it's still looking good with the exception of a couple of small knicks where it's been hit by some particularly sharp stones.

I found it easy to fit myself to the arches using the aplicator kit, but it is important to make sure that everything is clean and dust free before you start.

[slater]

Had superguard applied to our new Civic seems to show every scratch, we had a cottage for our holidays and the lane to it had a lot of overhanging branches, when we went home the paintwork looked like someone had polished it with a brillo pad.  a lot of polishing later and it was as good as new, would I have it applied again? No

lewis

[Pistol Pete]

I had supaguard once, not impressed....the bits I can nornally remove using my fingernail came off, the others that I usually couldn't, didn't.

Having just got into the subaru world, where a lot are into detailing, it appears much better to do the following:

Wash it using the two bucket method and a lambs wool washmit (avoid swirl marks which show on black).

Go over it once a year using claybar to remove marks, polish (to remove swirl marks (from washing with a spunge) that a really show badly with back.

Then protect with a wax to stop dirt sticking.

Full details available here:

Scoobynet Car care for dark colours

Black is always going to show the dirt, so even with above or supaguard its always going to look dirty the day after you clean it, but doing the above will make it easier to clean off.

If you do go the supagaurd route, remember the dealer will sell it at a mark up ie you can and should see the price as the starting point for haggling.

Good luck

Pete

ps to be fair unless you want to really get into it, doing it yourself looks like lots of time and money , however I am planning on having my car detailed once a year/every other year, then just protect with wax, I have had a quote of £55 for a detail.

pps And a black car looks fantastic when it's just been cleans and polished.

[SteveD]

have been in the bodyshop trade 20 odd years and do work for ford ,suzuki and mazda and i can tell you its a load of crap just to get more money out of you when you buy a new car !how dealers are allowed to get away with it i will never know  

[nikpro]

I had supaguard once, not impressed....the bits I can nornally remove using my fingernail came off, the others that I usually couldn't, didn't.

Having just got into the subaru world, where a lot are into detailing, it appears much better to do the following:

Wash it using the two bucket method and a lambs wool washmit (avoid swirl marks which show on black).

Go over it once a year using claybar to remove marks, polish (to remove swirl marks (from washing with a spunge) that a really show badly with back.

Then protect with a wax to stop dirt sticking.

Full details available here:

Scoobynet Car care for dark colours

Black is always going to show the dirt, so even with above or supaguard its always going to look dirty the day after you clean it, but doing the above will make it easier to clean off.

If you do go the supagaurd route, remember the dealer will sell it at a mark up ie you can and should see the price as the starting point for haggling.

Good luck

Pete

ps to be fair unless you want to really get into it, doing it yourself looks like lots of time and money , however I am planning on having my car detailed once a year/every other year, then just protect with wax, I have had a quote of £55 for a detail.

pps And a black car looks fantastic when it's just been cleans and polished.

.............Blimey - I'm frightened to drive mine after I washed it with a bucket and me shower sponge - if I did all that I'd want it in a museum!

Don't understand the car detailing thing though.

[Nomexnomad]

When i bought my Focus, they asked if i wanted the Ford 'Diamond Bright' paint care and i declined at a cost of £299. The salesman said i would regret it and that he could always tell a car that had been done. When i traded it in, the same salesman remarked that the paintwork was in super condition and that it must be 'Diamondbrighted'!! Err no i said, just polished with a good brand polish once every two months.

When i bought my Smax, he decided to throw it in for free to prove to me that i was missing a trick here. They did inside and outside, and the result is less than impressive!

Inside the car has had no effect i can see whatsoever. I have young kids so i have had juice spilt, chocolate, yoghurt etc.. ALL have left marks after careful cleaning, and i will have to have it proffesionally valetted to get rid of the marks, so 'Diamond bright' does not work inside.

Outside looks no different (from what i can see) to any other car, and to be honest for the £300 it would of cost me, you can almost get a car wet sanded for that, and have a paint surface like glass.

The car is going back soon as i pick up a new company car so i am going to enjoy the same salesmans remarks when he tries to knock me down because of marks on seats or faded paintwork!

Blooming waste of time, as Steve say's it's a retail mark up to boost profits.  

[SteveD]

yup its all balls mr nomex , how can summat they apply with a cloth to your paintwork last the lifetime of your car   you are better using a decent wax then after apply auto glym hard wax   thats all you need

i cant believe trading standards have not been involved yet  

[tim]

thanks for the advice,will get some good polish and let the wife keep it clean, it is her car!

[slater]

QUOTE

will get some good polish and let the wife keep it clean, it is her car!

Like that will happen, my wife has never washed her car just tells me when she thinks its dirty

lewis

[dombanks]

i got my dad some of that autoglym carnuba wax stuff for chrimbo and he recons its brilliant best polish he's had. he washed his car when he visited and the dirt just wiped off..... but on a little bit he missed it wasnt as good.

he said on the motorway he could just watch the spray rolling off the car. they have a new focus with that dark browny-chocolaty-purply colour which before using this stuff showed the dirt almost insrantly now it looks great

edt: this stuff