Lotus Emira - PPF (XPEL)

[papadop88]

Yeah for most people if you are only keeping 2-3 years, ppf isn't worth it. That said, there are certain cars that ppf is a requirement for in terms of resale. One of the first things people ask is "does it have ppf?"- but this is more of a concern on more exotic cars- GT3s, mclarens, etc.

I'm not super OCD with PERFECT ppf as I know its sacrificial. I'd rather wait until the ppf gets some damage from rock chips and what not over the years, then replace it.

PPF does have its cons though- it's expensive, and if you leave it on too long, could potentially damage the paint anyway. My installer was very confident though that there would be no issues on removal and he has done thousands of cars already. I hardly notice my PPF and i'd do it again (but i plan to keep the car 5+ years).

Correct. I've had this discussion with folks on overlanding forums as well as on my motorcycle forums. If you don't plan on keeping said toy long enough, PPF is absolutely not worth it. And if you have a great body shop, which one of my closest friend owns and does exotic car bodywork, it's always more worth it to repaint IF you have to.

I never follow too closely to other cars on freeways, which is where most of rock chips happen...unless you obviously track your car, in which I would say, definitely PPF it.

So long story short, PPFing is a personal choice based on risk, longevity, not caring about dusty cut lines and situation.

But having an exceptional installer absolutely matters when it comes to manipulating the film to cut down on lines and imperfections. Something to also be aware of is that many installers ( i call them hacks) will use glue on edges to make sure the PPF sticks and doesn't crease. Many won't know until it's time to remove/replace it and realize they can't take it off without destroying the paint.

 

[docron]

Yes, that relief cut is normal on the xpel template for that vent area. My ppf installer cringed when he originally saw that….lol.

He was able to lay the ppf without any relief cuts. No problems with mine so far.
i think there is a youtube video on an installer who installed ppf without relief cuts.

 

[Thirdgen89gta]

The only way to avoid seams like this is to pay for a Bulk install. Thats where they just use large uncut sheets and stretch it to fit. Exactly like they would for Vinyl.

 

[RoryBellows]

PPF isn't cheap so I can see people passing on it but I like being able to drive the car normally without the worry. When rocks get kicked up in the canyon I generally don't have to worry. Another huge plus of ppfing an Emira is that the black areas don't swirl. The shop I used did a custom seam to avoid the vent relief cut and it looked great. I'm bringing the new car to them as well.

 

[Medic518]

Depends on the installer.

^^This^^
Mine does not have those relief cuts. I used a very skilled shop with a lot of experience with exotic cars (just happen to be a shop owned by a friend).

 

[redgarl]

They seems to be relief cuts. Unfortunately on a car like an Emira, it is almost impossible to not have any.

It has nothing to do with the PPF brand unless it is a precut.

Honestly, I made a long post on PPF and I am simply not a fan.

 

[redgarl]

I view ppf as protection and nothing more. It’s a sacrificial barrier that will get worn over the years and need to be replaced. I absolutely hate painting panels because I always notice the difference in shades, so anything that I can do to help avoid a repaint. The creases are hardly noticeable.

It’s interesting that a bubble will bother you, but paint chips won’t haha

There for sure are pros and cons of ppf. I personally think it’s worth it on a car you plan on keeping a while

Yeah, but what is the point of preserving a paint you are NEVER going to look at?

Ironically, you are maintaining a paint, by making your car looking like garbage while dropping 7000$ every 8 years for a new install.

A really good PPF job will look seemless, but such install cost near 10 000$. A paint job will cost you less over 20 years than installing PPFs.

The worst is the resale value of the car will not even be affected if you install a PPF or not on an emira. If it was making financial sense, I would not argue about it, but this is not the case.

 

[RoryBellows]

Yeah, but what is the point of preserving a paint you are NEVER going to look at?

Ironically, you are maintaining a paint, by making your car looking like garbage while dropping 7000$ every 8 years for a new install.

A really good PPF job will look seemless, but such install cost near 10 000$. A paint job will cost you less over 20 years than installing PPFs.

The worst is the resale value of the car will not even be affected if you install a PPF or not.

PPF is usually clear so you do see your paint. Colored ppfs are because you want a different color and they are generally cheaper than respraying your car another color. clear ppf is does not make a car look any more garbage than a bunch of chips would. PPF is paying upfront and paint is paying on the back end. Pick your poison.

 

[scf100]

Had my entire car including windshield done with XPEL..........I drive it .....and on Interstates with all the crap getting thrown up I consider cheap insurance in the long run.....windshields are $4500 bucks.....my color would be hard to match for rock chips......paid $7,000.........added benefit is easy to clean after driving in a rainstorm......so I no longer worry when driving the car ......balls out that is..........

 

[redgarl]

PPF is usually clear so you do see your paint. Colored ppfs are because you want a different color and they are generally cheaper than respraying your car another color. clear ppf is does not make a car look any more garbage than a bunch of chips would. PPF is paying upfront and paint is paying on the back end. Pick your poison.

That is NOT what I am saying... you are better off with rock chips over the years then looking at your car with a wrap and all the imperfection of the install. Ironically, people believe that XPEL is a quality product when it is pure garbage. STEK is the way to go.

If you have dark colors, your seemlines will be lighter and you will see a beautiful decal of every of your panels, leaving a beautiful contrast while adding another layer of orange peel over the already indecent amount of it on the emira panels.

By the way, there is plenty of old cars that are looking amazing and went through the years without a PPF. Dealers and all are playing with emotions when it comes to this because they are playing with people insecurities. I would be surprise to see how many of you who did apply a PPF actually did a paint correction before... I am pretty sure the answer is not a lot.

In my case, I will drive the car around 4000km per year, almost never going to see rain and it will sit in a super clean garage. A paint correction and a ceramic coating will be enough and it will make me enjoy my car way more than looking at yellowing plastic that I need to strip every 8 years.

 

[redgarl]

Had my entire car including windshield done with XPEL..........I drive it .....and on Interstates with all the crap getting thrown up I consider cheap insurance in the long run.....windshields are $4500 bucks.....my color would be hard to match for rock chips......paid $7,000.........added benefit is easy to clean after driving in a rainstorm......so I no longer worry when driving the car ......balls out that is..........
View attachment 84142

What are we doing here? Flexing?

My 14 years old KIA that I drove during canadian winters, never was repainted and had no PPF. Even after all these miles in harsh winter condition, the paint is still looking good. I don't know anyone repainting a car because of rock chips. The bumper is the only real part that can make a difference.

Matter of fact, the resale value of your car will be the same. It is not a Ferrari 458, it is a depreciating Lotus Emira. The maths don't math, which is my only point.

 

[scf100]

To each his own......I have a dozen collector cars.....I drive everywhere......I hate rock chips....that is all..............I also know what it cost to paint a panel....have built a couple frame off custom vehicles.....if I drove a KIA I could care less about the paint.......I have never bought a car or collector car as an investment so don't care about end values...I buy to enjoy....ask my wife how my math works!

 

[Foxy87]

That is NOT what I am saying... you are better off with rock chips over the years then looking at your car with a wrap and all the imperfection of the install. Ironically, people believe that XPEL is a quality product when it is pure garbage. STEK is the way to go.

If you have dark colors, your seemlines will be lighter and you will see a beautiful decal of every of your panels, leaving a beautiful contrast while adding another layer of orange peel over the already indecent amount of it on the emira panels.

By the way, there is plenty of old cars that are looking amazing and went through the years without a PPF. Dealers and all are playing with emotions when it comes to this because they are playing with people insecurities. I would be surprise to see how many of you who did apply a PPF actually did a paint correction before... I am pretty sure the answer is not a lot.

In my case, I will drive the car around 4000km per year, almost never going to see rain and it will sit in a super clean garage. A paint correction and a ceramic coating will be enough and it will make me enjoy my car way more than looking at yellowing plastic that I need to strip every 8 years.

XPEL is pure garbage… alright bud

The real gamechanger here is the self healing feature and the piece of mind when having a tight garage and kids.

 

[Bimmernate]

Yeah, but what is the point of preserving a paint you are NEVER going to look at?

Ironically, you are maintaining a paint, by making your car looking like garbage while dropping 7000$ every 8 years for a new install.

A really good PPF job will look seemless, but such install cost near 10 000$. A paint job will cost you less over 20 years than installing PPFs.

The worst is the resale value of the car will not even be affected if you install a PPF or not on an emira. If it was making financial sense, I would not argue about it, but this is not the case.

huh? PPF is clear, and unless you did an absolute terrible job on the install with giant bubbles everywhere, you generally can't tell the car even has ppf unless you look REALLY close, even with a template job.

Guess my car "looks like garbage" and I feel terrrrrrible because I can't look at my paint!

Look, I get there are pros and cons to ppf, and you can think whatever you want. But i would say, the majority of people buying used would prefer a car that had the original paint protected rather than one with rock chips already. I know I would, and I'd pay a little more for that. Maybe you don't value that and that is fine, you are entitled to your opinion

 

[Kaz]

I think if your driving habits allow it, bare paint is always so beautiful. Unfortunately for me my Emira is canyon-duty car it's 95% weekend canyons. It gets tons of abuse, windshield chips, front bumper, hood, the entire side, rockers, rear upper quarter panels. I am maybe 18 months of owning my Emira and I will be replacing several large panels of my PPF because it's so chewed up already from rocks...again the environment I am driving is pretty hostile and it's all at high speed, around other cars with sticky tires flinging all sorts of nasty stuff up in the air that my car then hits. If it's a regular street car on normal roads I think you could be strategic and cover just the lower rockers but...oof even then that's sketchy lol. PPF install was flawless on mine looks perfect, coated on top for gloss, looks amazing when clean. But yes, bare paint is nice...and absolutely no way my car would survive even a single weekend without PPF it would get some serious chips and dings right away.

 

[RoryBellows]

Had my entire car including windshield done with XPEL..........I drive it .....and on Interstates with all the crap getting thrown up I consider cheap insurance in the long run.....windshields are $4500 bucks.....my color would be hard to match for rock chips......paid $7,000.........added benefit is easy to clean after driving in a rainstorm......so I no longer worry when driving the car ......balls out that is..........
View attachment 84142

eos without black pack is super nice.

 

[redgarl]

huh? PPF is clear, and unless you did an absolute terrible job on the install with giant bubbles everywhere, you generally can't tell the car even has ppf unless you look REALLY close, even with a template job.

Guess my car "looks like garbage" and I feel terrrrrrible because I can't look at my paint! View attachment 84147

Look, I get there are pros and cons to ppf, and you can think whatever you want. But i would say, the majority of people buying used would prefer a car that had the original paint protected rather than one with rock chips already. I know I would, and I'd pay a little more for that. Maybe you don't value that and that is fine, you are entitled to your opinion

Where the F did I say a PPF was OPAQUE? I said that a PPF is Fing visible!

Here you go, have fun and learn... and yes, XPEL if Fing garbage and you would know if you had made a little bit of research before dropping 7K on a subpar precut install.

XPEL is the brand with the biggest part of the market because it forcing their installer into an ecosystem, but it is not the best choice at all. It is the most popular and also literally the worst.

 

[redgarl]

huh? PPF is clear, and unless you did an absolute terrible job on the install with giant bubbles everywhere, you generally can't tell the car even has ppf unless you look REALLY close, even with a template job.

Guess my car "looks like garbage" and I feel terrrrrrible because I can't look at my paint! View attachment 84147

Look, I get there are pros and cons to ppf, and you can think whatever you want. But i would say, the majority of people buying used would prefer a car that had the original paint protected rather than one with rock chips already. I know I would, and I'd pay a little more for that. Maybe you don't value that and that is fine, you are entitled to your opinion

But they are not going to pay more for it.... and a PPF is often a time bomb in disguise. It is all about the installer and if you cannot trust their work, you might actually get damage when removing the damn thing.

Ironically, all your effort to protect your paint is the biggest risk factor you are introducing.

It is funny to see people living in summer climates talking about PPF when I am living in dead end Canada with the harshest roads conditions with something called winter full of abrasive, sand and calcium, and I can manage to understand that 5000km of summer driving will never get you to the point of having to repaint your cars because of rock chips.

By the way, let's not talk about the paint issues with the pannels. This is going to age like fine milk when having to remove those PPFs on those Emiras in 5 to 8 years.

You guys got brainwashed for paying the stupid tax. I got it, I am fine with it, but don't tell me I am in LALA land because I know it will take almost 20 years of PPF a noticeable difference. Let's drop 25k on PPFs maintenance on a 100k$ car over 20 years because that is the sane thing to do...

///SARCASM

 

[seriously]

PPF is not just clear, it provides a deeper gloss. this is certainly a personal decision, but the peace of mind is certainly worth it to me. Also, I'm not sure you'd get your money back if you ever sold the car, but it certainly adds some value to a used car to know it was PPF from day 1. The paint will be pristine.

As many have said, it's all about having a top quality installer. Especially one that will fix any mistakes or issues over time. My installer offers a 10 year warranty on the work and will check the car and fix anything anytime I bring it in. No questions asked. It's part of the package I purchased. It's all he does and he is contracted with high end car dealers so he's doing it all the time. He is confident in the product lasting that long. Garge kept, I expect it to last longer.

 

[767Driver]

Still in my first 24 hours of actual ownership, but I am very happy with my PPF install including windshield, especially on a brand new car. Looks amazing and the protection gives me peace of mind since it will be driven a lot.