Is Tt Worth Getting Ceramic Coating

Has anyone had a ceramic coating on their RAV4 recently? How much was it? $ Thinking about hand wax or ceramic coating …… How often does it need to be done?

I paid $1000 for ceramic coating, primer and rust proofing. Lifetime refinish.

I got the primer free from the dealership. I hope it still works.

I’ve heard that PPF yellows and starts to wear out after 6 years or so.

Depends on which brand you buy. I bought Striker and I live in Florida. We get a lot of heat and sun.

Which brand is better

You can’t just use up the ceramic coating and leave it. Make sure you can afford to maintain it and have it inspected every year (make sure the company you buy from does this). ppf is an option, but it also has a lifespan that usually depends on the amount of time it is exposed to the sun. You will need a garage. Wax is good, but if you want it to look close to ceramic coated, you will need to use sealers and detail sprays on a regular basis. These are great options, but know what you’re getting into before you decide so you don’t waste money.

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do now, I don’t mind doing a little bit of work, but there’s a lot of stuff I don’t really know about, even though I used to detail cars as a kid. The companies I’ve worked for probably know about it, but to be honest, it’s mostly used cars that come in beat up and we make them look brand new, even though they’re for sale, so we just wax them occasionally, like if someone wants it.

I try to get everything on it, it’s beautiful but black always stands out, my car is gray and you can see the swirls already.

Cost

Last summer it was $1,000 for 5 years of Owner’s Pride body and interior maintenance.

I had mine done less than two weeks after I bought the car. Paint correction (absolutely necessary) ceramic, 3 year warranty, $900.

Black is hard to maintain.

These are a waste of money. The biggest destroyers of paint are weather and lack of maintenance. My 2016 is pearl white, washed weekly, no coatings on the paint, polished every few years and still looks new.

Kenny. My 16-year-old car is the same. I live in Wisconsin and we put a lot of salt on the roads here in the winter. I wash my car at least 3 times a month. It currently has over 198,000 miles on it. should hit 200,000 by mid October. No rust on the body or underneath.

I wouldn’t waste my money on a car that low. I just put 70,000 miles on my RAV4 and I have a notebook full of problems and repairs. I would never buy another one.

My 2023 RAV4 Magnetic Gray Metallic paint has just been coated with Graphene Ceramic Coating. Metallic paint needs special attention. The local guy cleaned the RAV4, blew it dry everywhere, looked for paint corrections, polished the paint and then applied a small bottle of GC. He said to let it dry for 24 hours. He prefers that I not drive it, but if there is an emergency, that’s fine. Suggestion: Wash with pH neutral soap. Dry with a waffle towel or blow dry.

I hired a very good independent detailer for only $400.

I only wax once a month. You can get a bottle of Turtle Wax for $6 and it lasts about 6 months. Whenever my car gets wet, I dry it with a microfiber cloth and it looks brand new.

I can’t believe how much everyone spends, this is what I was charged: ceramic coating: 1999cad, rust protection 1798cad, ppf 850cad, all plus tax on top 😡😡😡

I bought a new Rav4, drove it home and washed and waxed it and continue to do so, waxing twice a year with Maguiars.

Do you use liquid wax?

https://www.amazon.ca/Meguiars-Ultimate-Liquid-Wax-Synthetic/dp/B097YT699Z/ref=asc_df_B097YT699Z/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode= df0&hvadid=459396136528&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16827748457370292169&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy= 9000749&hvtargid=pla-1377446129205&psc=1

Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax – Advanced polymer technology for deep, rich shine and long-lasting protection – Get a mirror-like finish with this premium car wax – 16 oz.

No, I use Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax.

Polishing first and polishing the area between the front and rear doors also works well.

PPF for the entire car (except the hatch) is expensive where I live.

I agree about the PPF. The paint on the newer RAV4’s is really thin. I have a 2023 and 4 months after I bought it I got some cracks on the hood and bumper so I had a paint correction done and then PPF’d all the front end. now I love it because I don’t have to worry about those little chips anymore.

It can be done anytime, but now it may take a two step correction.

I’m not a fan of PPF, but you can definitely do a color correction, or even just a color enhancement for a completely different look, shine and brightness. Then ceramic coating. There are a lot of ceramic coatings on the market now that are very easy to apply, and I would recommend that you save a lot of money by doing it yourself.

Ceramic doesn’t do much protection, PPF is 100% protection. And it’s not too late to do it.

Can you add PPF to your car at the dealership after it leaves the factory? I don’t know why the front end doesn’t come standard with PPF – almost all new cars have severe chipping.

If you have already purchased the vehicle, where can you get PPF?

You will probably need clay protection first. I sprayed PPF on the front end, hood, lights and back of the mirrors (be sure to use a self-healing agent like xpel). Then I did my own ceramic coating.

What is the consensus on ceramic coating?

What are the prices?

It’s hard to say. Typically, the vehicle will need some level of paint correction for rubs, swirl marks, etc. before any coating can be applied. Then the warranty comes into play. You really need to talk to a local professional to get a realistic estimate.

Do it …… We did a ceramic coating on my 2021 RAV4 XLE Premium last year and it worked great!

If you have the money, go for it. If not, it’s just a daily driver.

Totally worth it. Suggest you go with something reputable that offers a warranty on the car. Anyone can order a specific type/version on Amazon, but it’s best to find a specialty shop. Good luck with that.

In the long run, doing it right (the product and the upfront work) is great. It’s not maintenance free, but the car is easier to clean. And it’s not a shield against damage.

How long do ceramic coatings typically last?

If we’re talking about professional coatings (and not the crappy ones on eBay/Amazon), there are several options. 3/5/7/9 years. The paint needs to be meticulously cleaned/washed, color corrected and polished (yes, even if it’s new). Also the paint/coating needs some curing time.

Thank you! If it’s going to be done, it should only be done by a professional. But what kind of maintenance does the clear coat need after 7 years? Does all of the original paint need to be removed? I usually keep the car for a while.

It depends on the condition. I am an auto detailer and have applied many coatings (not yet certified). I wash my cars by hand. Never wash the car. Touchless car wash or not. The chemicals used are corrosive and will shorten the life of the ceramic coating. It won’t disappear in 7 years with proper care. If it is gone or not to your satisfaction, you will need to have it re-treated.

I hand wash and dry my car. Every 6 months I wipe it down with a “booster” or whatever the manufacturer recommends. I wiped down my wife’s Grand Cherokee (currently at 17,000 miles) a little over a year ago. It wipes just as well now as it did last week. Same with my truck. did it 5 months ago. Applying the paint was the easy part (under the right circumstances). It’s the work before that is the hardest part to achieve perfection.

The spray on/wipe off stuff claims to be as good as a professional paint job, which is a scam. I consider it glorified spray wax. There’s a lot more to a professional finish than just spray on/wipe off.

The pro stuff is ridiculously overpriced, and the consumer stuff is hit or miss. I stick with inexpensive, old-fashioned Corinthian and wax, twice a year. A wax is probably less than a couple of dollars.

The ceramic coating is definitely worth every penny. When it rains, my car is still clean and shiny. Water runs right off.

If there is dust on it, the dust flies right off as you drive.

People often ask me how I keep my car so clean and shiny. Sometimes I don’t wash my car for over a week and it still shines.

PPF Vs Coatings 

So I would definitely recommend it.

That’s not the case where I live. One time I didn’t wash my car for two weeks …… It rained at least three times and the car was still clean and shiny. I’m kidding …… I’ve been a big believer in ceramic paints since they came out!

It’s great for cars, but it sucks for you.

Money better spent on PPF.

Compare apples to oranges. ppf and coatings are completely different things.

Sure, but both are expensive, one protects better against abrasive contact, one protects against more chemical damage, and is easier to clean and takes longer to clean. Modern paints are very fragile and scratch and chip easily, so I prefer PPF. e.g. etchings dropped by birds, etc., which I love, but both products protect against them.

I’ve used both and spent about $850 for the PPF and about $925 for the Ceramic Pro. As long as you know how to wash your car, I don’t think you need ceramics, just wash and wax often for a fraction of the price of ceramics. Especially now that the price of ceramics has skyrocketed, if it’s done by a pro. The DIY stuff is fine, but that’s a niche market, provided the applicator knows how to do the paint correction themselves.

I don’t think it’s worth it, but I don’t care if the exterior is spotless.

I’ve been using graphene on my race car for 5 years. It has lasted 1.5 years and is like the first day of use.

As others have said, preparation is the most important part.

If you plan on keeping your car for a long time then it is worth the investment, but if you trade it in every few years then it can be expensive to give it up after that.

It’s beautiful, but overpriced.

This is the best $14 I’ve ever spent. It starts with clay, then cleaning polish, and finally “Turtle Blend Ceramic”!

This stuff is very inexpensive, easy to use, and durable!

You don’t have to spend a fortune, ceramic coating is as easy as waxing your car. cerakote and even turtle 🐢 and other brands are great. I’ve tried NEXGEN and it works well, but it’s not as water resistant as other ceramic coatings.