To Ceramic Coat or not that is the ?

[RedZilla]

Not having used ceramic coat yet, my take for those wondering about the benefit is that the ceramic coating makes hand washing a much easier task for those that already hand wash, and it does add a significant layer of protection against the elements, dust and light dirt and of course protection from the sun I suppose. If you like your vehicle to look like it just came home from the detail shop, ceramic is the key, but you have to treat it just like you would a fine paint job.
It will still scratch and scuff just like paint, and of course offers nearly zero protection from dents.

PPF is a whole nother story and purpose.

 

[Cux211]

As said it’s all about the product to make it more confusing now there’s a million companies came out with a ceramic wax which is NOT ceramic coating it’s nothing more than a fancy wax marketing bs. The guy I use does a lot of high end vehicles ‘exotics’ he swears by expel I don’t remember the exact name but all he uses is expel ppf and ceramic coatings there’s several different levels of each within the expel line

 

[kroog]

You should wait at least 4 -6 months after delivery for the paint to completely cure, then get the true ceramic coat with paint correction.

 

[WhiskeyTango]

Love mine and would do it again!

I have antimatter blue (very dark close to black) and makes the truck much easier to keep clean. Also had windows, wheels, chrome and sun roof coated. Really makes the blue metal flake pop now as a positive!

 

[jonsnwoutdoors]

I'm an advocate of ceramic coating and PPF. My previous Super Duty I had ceramic coated by my local detailer using Gtechniq 5 year and I have to tell you it was the best thing ever! To be clear I do not drive through any car wash and only wash by hand. I put that truck through its paces hunting throughout the northwest and some nasty winters and it still looked like new when I sold it and helped me get a top dollar when I put it up for sale. My 2021Tremor I had the same thing done but I PPF'd the front bumper, hood, grill, front fenders and mirrors due to the fact it has a painted front bumper, and I was wanting additional protection from rock chips.

For me the benefits outweigh the cost as it looks freshly waxed after every wash and I like to keep my vehicles looking sharp. I find it way easier to wash and I don't have to wax my truck. I used Gtechniq 5 year again on my new truck and topcoat it with every few months with Gtechniq C2V3 as an added layer of protection which is just a spray on and wipe off that helps keep the shine and protection. Having said that you need a good detailer that will get your paint in the best shape possible prior to putting on the coating. I took my truck directly from the dealer to the detailer and as you can see in the pictures it is a night and day difference in the shine. I'm no way affiliated with the brand noted just a believer in how it performs as my wife's Audi has had it on for the past 4 years and it looks as good as new as well! I spent $1500 for the ceramic coating and $1000 for the self-healing PPF with a 10-year warranty. If you are willing to ONLY wash by hand, then this is the way in my opinion.

 

[Tremor2020]

I'm an advocate of ceramic coating and PPF. My previous Super Duty I had ceramic coated by my local detailer using Gtechniq 5 year and I have to tell you it was the best thing ever! To be clear I do not drive through any car wash and only wash by hand. I put that truck through its paces hunting throughout the northwest and some nasty winters and it still looked like new when I sold it and helped me get a top dollar when I put it up for sale. My 2021Tremor I had the same thing done but I PPF'd the front bumper, hood, grill, front fenders and mirrors due to the fact it has a painted front bumper, and I was wanting additional protection from rock chips.

For me the benefits outweigh the cost as it looks freshly waxed after every wash and I like to keep my vehicles looking sharp. I find it way easier to wash and I don't have to wax my truck. I used Gtechniq 5 year again on my new truck and topcoat it with every few months with Gtechniq C2V3 as an added layer of protection which is just a spray on and wipe off that helps keep the shine and protection. Having said that you need a good detailer that will get your paint in the best shape possible prior to putting on the coating. I took my truck directly from the dealer to the detailer and as you can see in the pictures it is a night and day difference in the shine. I'm no way affiliated with the brand noted just a believer in how it performs as my wife's Audi has had it on for the past 4 years and it looks as good as new as well! I spent $1500 for the ceramic coating and $1000 for the self-healing PPF with a 10-year warranty. If you are willing to ONLY wash by hand, then this is the way in my opinion.

This guy gets it.

 

[Brock]

My local dealer was only charging $575 to do hand clay bar, ceramic coating with lifetime warranty and interior protection. With my Ford pass points it cost me $234. They were talking about raising the price to $699

 

[Tremor2020]

My local dealer was only charging $575 to do hand clay bar, ceramic coating with lifetime warranty and interior protection. With my Ford pass points it cost me $234. They were talking about raising the price to $699

I hope they do more than that. There is quite a process to prep for a ceramic application, even it’s it’s off the lot. 1500 is more accurate

Strip wash
Clay bar
Rust remover
Wash again
Paint correction- this can be a one step polish or it can be a full 3 step polish depending on condition of the paint
Wash
Ceramic prep wipe down
Ceramic application
24 hour setup
Ceramic Detail

If you don’t prep it right you can get contaminants under the coating that will really show up after and you can’t get rid of without a ton of work. That’s why if they just hit it with a quick clay bar and then coat it I would be hella sketched out. If you are doing this on an 80k truck then I would make sure they do it right.

 

[Cux211]

I hope they do more than that. There is quite a process to prep for a ceramic application, even it’s it’s off the lot. 1500 is more accurate

Strip wash
Clay bar
Rust remover
Wash again
Paint correction- this can be a one step polish or it can be a full 3 step polish depending on condition of the paint
Wash
Ceramic prep wipe down
Ceramic application
24 hour setup
Ceramic Detail

If you don’t prep it right you can get contaminants under the coating that will really show up after and you can’t get rid of without a ton of work. That’s why if they just hit it with a quick clay bar and then coat it I would be hella sketched out. If you are doing this on an 80k truck then I would make sure they do it right.

Yes, gotta love the people that think you just wipe it on or think these bs ceramic waxes are ceramic coatings

 

[andrewstclair]

i had ceramic coating on the last truck and it was slightly easier to clean but it scratched just the same. i would never waste my money on it again. i will spend the money on the ppf

 

[Lewagner]

Debating the second I pick my truck up I head to my local car detailer to have it ceramic coated. What am I gaining, never have ceramic coated any of my vehicles as of yet, but started to see some chatter on this topic outside of here. Cost would be $1500 to do the truck, with a lifetime warranty as long as this shop stays in business I guess lol. Thoughts???

I had mine coated with a lifetime warranty. I'm hoping it will help keep the paint in good condition considering the truck is too big to fit in the current garage. My last truck was 16 years old and the only thing that was looking is age when I sold it was the paint.

 

[Lewagner]

What’s the right ones?

Ceramic Pro

 

[gsea]

I like quick and easy and use a foam canon and Chemical Guys or griots products for washes during the Summer and usually don't keep up on it during Winter (periodic touchless drive-throughs to keep the salt off). I have all the fancy waxes, polishes, and clay bars but the reality is I really just don't take the time to use them. Foam it and rinse it and good to go.

Would I get benefit from a Ceramic coating without ruining it?


Have never done Ceramic but have put PPF on in the past and found those to be helpful. I'm a fairly heavy offroader and lots of highway driving, so more concerned about scratch protection than detailing. I like a clean rig but not entering any concours d'elegance any time soon!

 

[Tremor2020]

I like quick and easy and use a foam canon and Chemical Guys or griots products for washes during the Summer and usually don't keep up on it during Winter (periodic touchless drive-throughs to keep the salt off). I have all the fancy waxes, polishes, and clay bars but the reality is I really just don't take the time to use them. Foam it and rinse it and good to go.

Would I get benefit from a Ceramic coating without ruining it?


Have never done Ceramic but have put PPF on in the past and found those to be helpful. I'm a fairly heavy offroader and lots of highway driving, so more concerned about scratch protection than detailing. I like a clean rig but not entering any concours d'elegance any time soon!

So I am getting some ppf installed on the front end for highway rock chips and the rest is getting ceramic. Not a lot of people do this but I ceramic the windshield too. Kinda weird but makes the bugs come off soooooo much easier.

If you are off-roading a lot and are going to hit branches ceramic coatings will do nothing for you. Always go with the ppf in that scenario. I am using this for the occasional rough road but mostly taking the sxs to do the dirty work.

 

[WhiskeyTango]

Ceramic Pro

Agreed, That’s who I went through to have mine done, couldn’t be happier

 

[Cux211]

i had ceramic coating on the last truck and it was slightly easier to clean but it scratched just the same. i would never waste my money on it again. i will spend the money on the ppf

That sounds half right ceramic coating really doesn’t do shit for scratches and rock chips maybe might help for very fine line scratches but that’s debatable, the way it should be done is ppf the high impact areas then ceramic coat over everything, or if you have an extra several grand ppf the whole truck

 

[Enscheff]

I was quoted like $7k to PPF my antimatter blue Tremor, and since I could have the truck painted at least twice for that much, it didn't make any sense. Perhaps those wraps make sense to protect a $10k custom paint job, but for factory paint? I can't see the point.

So I spent $1800 having the truck paint corrected and two layer ceramic coating done. It looked super shiny, but I was under the impression it would stay cleaner longer if stuff couldn't stick to it. Well, it didn't stay cleaner longer. Then I realized it will only protect against minor scratches that the shop literally just buffed out for like $250, so why would I pay $1800 to protect against $250 scratches?

I suppose I'm just a guy who doesn't fully appreciate a shiny truck, and I am certainly not going to be cleaning the thing weekly...or even monthly. So at this point I'm chalking ceramic coating up as a waste of $1800 that I made because I was looking at cool things to do to my new truck. My mind may change after I've washed it a few times, but I simply don't care about my truck looking clean all the time.

Now if someone could sell me a product that kept dog hair out of my truck, I'd pay handsomely.

 

[Debonnaire19]

Ceramic Pro

Hanks!

 

[Debonnaire19]

Thanks!

 

[Grabber]

I recommend ceramic coating. Makes this washing the beast a lot easier. Make sure you get the wheels done also, as it makes cleaning the brake dust a lot easier.