Quote:
Originally Posted by CincyJohn
I don't understand half of these posts. PPF and ceramic coating are two entirely different things that serve two entirely different purposes.
PPF's main (sole?) purpose is to protect against rock chips, scrapes, etc.
Ceramic's main (sole?) purpose is to bond with/on top of the clear coat to provide a smoother surface which thereby has a lower coefficient of friction meaning that dirt/bird poo/rain (with dirt inside) don't stick as easily.
Is this really that difficult to understand?
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Exactly. Both will protect your car, but in different ways and from different things.
Both have roughly the same skillset requirement for paint correction before application. PPF requires an entirely different and significantly higher skillset to apply at that point.
Ceramic may not be scratch-proof, but it is (to varying degrees) more scratch-resistant than clearcoat. It's like a watch face. A mineral crystal watch face is certainly not scratch-proof, but it's harder to scratch than plastic. Sapphire crystal faces are harder yet to scratch, but as a co-worker of mine discovered (much to his displeasure) it's still possible to scratch the face of a $5,000 watch.
So there is some middle ground - at least theoretically - where a ceramic coated car would shrug off a potential scratch unscathed, while an uncoated car would get scratched.
Ceramic coatings are also more resistant to pollutants and such. Again, not impervious, but better than your paint alone.
Still, the primary function is to create a deeper shine that lasts longer than wax. The protective qualities, however limited, are a secondary benefit.
Personally, if I were to go PPF I'd probably skip straight to vinyl wrap. I think the car should've been offered in British Racing Green anyway. But for budgetary reasons I'm going to DIY a paint correction and ceramic coat and just enjoy the still-very-nice Trueno Blue.