Opti-guard alternatives
 

Due to the excessive price of opti-guard in Perth I've decided to look at alternative paint protection products.

Just wondering what other products people have used in the past, how happy you've been with it etc. I don't want something that needs yearly maintenance, just want it to last.

I generally keep my cars for 3-4 years, so lifetime warranty doesn't really matter - 5 years will be heaps. Given how much I love this car, I might get the "newer" model in 4 years.

If there is something that appeals, I'll hit up a detailer for a great price for Perth 86 owners.

There's heaps of coatings out there, but opti-coat is the only 'permanent' one. All the others seem to be about the 2 years lifespan. Look up gtechniq and c.quartz for starters. I use c.quartz, very happy with it. Detailers get access to 'c.quartz finest' which is closer to opti-coat.

Hadn't heard about c.quartz - have seen a bit about gtechniq and it seems pretty good.

Tough Seal is the other one I've heard a bit about.

I'd stick to the glass/ceramic coatings instead of tough seal personally.

DIY
 

If you can drive the car and are willing to spend A$100 and 4 hours of your time, you yourself are capable of prep and application of Opti-Coat 2.0.

Ive heard the nightmare stories of people fucking it up and causing ripples on their cars etc.

I actually considered doing it myself, but when you add it up at say $400-500 you get;

-$100 in products you would have to purchase anyway
-$50 of cleaning products provided with the service

Which leaves us $250-350 for;
-Mobile service
-4 hours labour of polishing & clay bar
+lifetime warranty

I'd say its reasonable. It is unfair that applicator in WA is charging significantly more for than the east coast. But look at the bright side, us guys in NSW are paying $500+ in insurance premiums thanks to the shit drivers we have. Its all catch 22.

Not planning on doing it myself - happy to pay a detailer to do it, just not $850 when other detailers with other products charge about $450 and spend just as much time with the car.
Just looking at the products that other Perth detailers use and hoping the users on this forums have some opinions on them - positive or negative.

I'm actually becoming the C Quartz Finest Detailer for my city but I've been backing Opti guard for a long time.

i've been using cquartz. used it on my previous car and it always shines!

I know your frustration, but honestly if I was going to pay someone to do it, I'd just go with the opti-coat. It'll save you doing it again in 2-3 years time, and even though you get warranty with them, IMO not needed with the opti-coat.

Look at what all the detailers charge for 'check ups' for maintaining that warranty, the cheapest might be the most expensive. I'd get it opti-coated, then don't worry about warranty, but that's me. I know opti-coat is more than proven in the real world on customers cars to last years. Warranty might be important to you though, I don't know... Something else to think about.