PPL vs. Ceramic Coating vs. Nothing

I have XPel Stealth PPF (paint protection film), full coverage. Yes, it is expensive. The reason I did it was because I wanted the "satin" or "matte" look the PPF gave me. A bonus is that it is a physical barrier between your paint and the environment. Things like UV, bird crap, tree sap, light (and I mean light) scratches are not an issue with PPF. XPel comes with a 10-year warranty and, if you do need to replace a panel, you only need to replace that one panel, not the whole vehicle.

PPF gives you color options. A51 is a great color but, if you ever decide to switch it up, you can get a PPF in any color you want and wrap that rascal. If I decide to remove the PPF years down the road, I will have 100% brand new paint under the film. Ceramic coating is very nice and does a great job protecting your paint but you have to keep up with it, reapplying occasionally. PPF is one and done.

Anyway, that's my $0.02.

It kind of depends on your personal behavior.

As you said... PPF is expensive. But the nice thing is PPF it is a "set and forget" kind of thing. It get applied and generally speaking very low maintenance. So if you don't like washing you vehicle, PPF is the way to go. You do have to maintain it to keep it looking good, but you dont need to maintain it. If the PPF gets bad enough you can just re-wrap it.

Waxing, in my opinion, looks the best but you have to keep up with it. We're talking bi-weekly washes and a solid detail every 6-8 months in an ideal world. For most people that's simply not compatible with their life. But some people find that detailing their car is like therapy. Allows them to ignore the nonsense in their life and focus on making their vehicle look great for several hours.

Ceramic coating is the in-between choice. Less hands-on than wax, but you still have to do basic maintenance on your vehicle. Typically as long as you wash it once a month, you'll be good to go for 5 years of so. Personally, I prefer ceramic coating because I can do it myself for a relatively low cost (under $150). I also enjoy taking car of my own vehicles, and unlike waxing... if a few months go by where I am unable to wash my car it isn't going to destroy the ceramic coating.

WhiskeyCity

I have XPel Stealth PPF (paint protection film), full coverage. Yes, it is expensive. The reason I did it was because I wanted the "satin" or "matte" look the PPF gave me. A bonus is that it is a physical barrier between your paint and the environment. Things like UV, bird crap, tree sap, light (and I mean light) scratches are not an issue with PPF. XPel comes with a 10-year warranty and, if you do need to replace a panel, you only need to replace that one panel, not the whole vehicle.

PPF gives you color options. A51 is a great color but, if you ever decide to switch it up, you can get a PPF in any color you want and wrap that rascal. If I decide to remove the PPF years down the road, I will have 100% brand new paint under the film. Ceramic coating is very nice and does a great job protecting your paint but you have to keep up with it, reapplying occasionally. PPF is one and done.

Anyway, that's my $0.02.

I want to do this so bad (satin Black) but just can't bring myself to drop 10K on it ( local shop quote)

rayhil67

I want to do this so bad (satin Black) but just can't bring myself to drop 10K on it ( local shop quote)

YIKES, $10k??? Mine was 1/2 that. I wouldn't have done it for that price. I would have ceramic coated it instead. For me, I used the 381-days I waited for my order to save up the cash so it's not like anyone missed a meal or anything. If you don't mind me asking, where are you located? I'm in Central KY.

I chose the PPF route (Stek) and most places that PPF will put a ceramic coat on top which they don’t necessarily have to do but it just brings the color out even more so and makes it pop. Below I listed why I spent ~$6k on it.

I keep my vehicles a long time. They get scratched and scuffed a lot. You’ll see swirl marks too if you’re not careful enough -if you don’t wash it correctly or don’t go to touchless car washes. I also knew I would take this on trails and wanted to keep the Bronco protected from light trail rash.

It’s easier to clean as well and maintain. It has hydrophobic properties like ceramic. All PPF is not created equal and all installers are not created equal either. If you go this route make sure you go to the best. Saving money is the wrong way to approach PPF. With Stek I got a 10 year warranty. There’s also the whole peace of mind that it’s protected. It’s expensive but I felt the spend was worth the peace of mind.

WhiskeyCity

YIKES, $10k??? Mine was 1/2 that. I wouldn't have done it for that price. I would have ceramic coated it instead. For me, I used the 381-days I waited for my order to save up the cash so it's not like anyone missed a meal or anything. If you don't mind me asking, where are you located? I'm in Central KY.

In PA, got a quote from these guys https://www.acapfilms.com/ it was $9300 and change, thought that was high for a2DR. they have 4 locations in my area and are the closest reseller for XPel

Miko

I chose the PPF route (Stek) and most places that PPF will put a ceramic coat on top which they don’t necessarily have to do but it just brings the color out even more so and makes it pop. Below I listed why I spent ~$6k on it.

I keep my vehicles a long time. They get scratched and scuffed a lot. You’ll see swirl marks too if you’re not careful enough -if you don’t wash it correctly or don’t go to touchless car washes. I also knew I would take this on trails and wanted to keep the Bronco protected from light trail rash.

It’s easier to clean as well and maintain. It has hydrophobic properties like ceramic. All PPF is not created equal and all installers are not created equal either. If you go this route make sure you go to the best. Saving money is the wrong way to approach PPF. With Stek I got a 10 year warranty. There’s also the whole peace of mind that it’s protected. It’s expensive but I felt the spend was worth the peace of mind.

Thanks, I never heard of STEK

I see there are 2 different STEK installers in Langhorne, PA, I going to look into this today. If you paid 6K for a 4DR, I would think 2DR should be under 5K

WhiskeyCity

PPF gives you color options. A51 is a great color but, if you ever decide to switch it up, you can get a PPF in any color you want and wrap that rascal.

A full PPF isn't the same thing as a complete vehicle wrap. To attempt a "color change" with full PPF would leave original color seen at the body panel edges. Just my experience.
Even a color change wrap leaves the door jams original color.

rayhil67

Thanks, I never heard of STEK

I see there are 2 different STEK installers in Langhorne, PA, I going to look into this today. If you paid 6K for a 4DR, I would think 2DR should be under 5K

$6k was a cash deal and included front door tint and windshield top strip tint. They ceramic coated after as part of the deal. I would think a 2 door is less for sure. STEK, Expel, Kavaca Ceramic PPF IMO are at the top with 3M close by.

sportcoupe

A full PPF isn't the same thing as a complete vehicle wrap. To attempt a "color change" with full PPF would leave original color seen at the body panel edges. Just my experience.
Even a color change wrap leaves the door jams original color.

Yes, I mispoke, you're correct. PPF isn't the same as vinyl wrap but they are functionally "similar". My door jams are not wrapped so it looks a little different when I'm doors off but not that noticeable.

WhiskeyCity

I have XPel Stealth PPF (paint protection film), full coverage. Yes, it is expensive. The reason I did it was because I wanted the "satin" or "matte" look the PPF gave me. A bonus is that it is a physical barrier between your paint and the environment. Things like UV, bird crap, tree sap, light (and I mean light) scratches are not an issue with PPF. XPel comes with a 10-year warranty and, if you do need to replace a panel, you only need to replace that one panel, not the whole vehicle.

PPF gives you color options. A51 is a great color but, if you ever decide to switch it up, you can get a PPF in any color you want and wrap that rascal. If I decide to remove the PPF years down the road, I will have 100% brand new paint under the film. Ceramic coating is very nice and does a great job protecting your paint but you have to keep up with it, reapplying occasionally. PPF is one and done.

Anyway, that's my $0.02.

This looks SICK! Did you go with ceramic over the PPF? I am seriously considering going with Xpel Stealth too.

Thank you all for the quick responses. I have been pricing things out and really LOVE the look of the matte stealth PPF. Not necessary but looks amazing! Since my bronco goes into production on 8/7 I have a little bit of time to think things over. Maybe I ceramic coat it for the time being and enjoy the shiny paint for a year or so, and then stealth it while I save? decisions.. decisions lol

Hello and welcome to the Bronco Nation, @therealsteffenj! You are wise to weigh the pros and cons of PPF and ceramic coating sooner than later. I added both to my Bronco with little more than 100 miles on the odometer and have had no regrets. That said, I haven't (yet) taken it on tight trails that are potential "pin-stripers," so their true worth has not yet revealed itself. I will keep you posted once I venture into hostile environments. I am certain that the PPF has spared my finish from the bug and light pebble impacts I've sustained in the 2,200+ miles I've clocked since installation.

I went with a 'measured' approach... PPF on the 'front clip' (front of hood, fenders, rocker panels) where it's most likely to catch a rock, then ceramic coating over the whole thing (and wheels). I think it was around $4200 to have all of that done and ceramic tinting applied to the front 4 windows. I did NOT have the bumpers or fender flares coated, and kinda wish I'd had PPF applied to the windshield and headlights.

That said, it looks great and has been super easy to maintain, as long as I keep it washed (after the harsh winter my detailer applied a maintenance coat of ceramic and it's releasing dirt better now). I had considered the full-body 'matte' PPF over the A51, but didn't want to put down that much $$. I've been washing by pulling into wash bays and mostly just pressure washing it, going over it with a mitt, then towel drying.

therealsteffenj

This looks SICK! Did you go with ceramic over the PPF? I am seriously considering going with Xpel Stealth too.

Sorry for the late response, was on the beach last week. Yes, ceramic over PPF. It's slick as snot.

This was all great info, thank you all! Still tossing around a few ideas as I have till September (give or take) to figure it out. Aug 11th build date!