Ceramic coating. Anyone else less then impressed after time?

Type-JZ

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although some disagree, IMHO, ceramic coating is a sacrificial layer(s). So, there's that, hydrophobic properties, and shininess; that's about it. your car will still be scratched, damaged, and stained by your environmental contaminates. If you're always the type to wash your care and use other car care products, then ceramic coating may not be for you. I haven't even washed my car for months really. I don't daily it, either though. Whenever i get back home, i spray it down w/ my NoRinse quick detailer and wipe the car down and i'm done.
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lawl

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Snow foam, rinse, snow foam, rinse, hand wash, rinse, clay towel, rinse. Wax, Seal......done.

Oh, and get a pressure washer and a foam cannon.
with ceramic I do: Foam, rinse, foam, wipe down with 4-5 microfibers (0 bucket method), rinse, leaf blower, quick towel, done.

And it'll look better than if I waxed it myself, because I suck at waxing :)
 

heavyD

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I have Opticoat Pro on my Golf R for two years now and after 2-bucket wash it looks like I just waxed it. Not sure what product the OP used or who applied it but that's not the norm for a good ceramic coating.

It's not a miracle product as over time road debris and contaminants will build up over the coating lessen the hydrophobic qualities but it's just a matter of using a fine clay bar to remove the contaminants. Also not all the coatings last forever as they vary from 2 to 5 or more years.
 
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stevescivic

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I had my car ceramic coated about 3 weeks ago and I'm loving it. The car arguably isn't much easier to clean and that is because I'm methodical in my washing techniques and whether it's really dirty or moderately dirty that the wash is exactly the same.

Where ceramic coat is awesome (and yes I paid over $1k CAD to have it done) is:
1. The shop that does it paint corrected my CBP paint - black being THE WORST and most difficult finish to maintain b/c it shows every flaw and imperfection in the paint and body. Before I even took delivery of my car that I knew it would be riddled with swirl marks of some sort from manufacturing handling + transport + people snooping around the car at the stealership before I actually bought the car. Paint correction takes time and skill to do properly so as not to damage or thin the paint out.
2. Honda paint is already thin and soft so even if you corrected the paint that a single hand wash is enough to "re-install" swirl marks on my car and being black... well I'd be back to having swirls. Having a hardened layer on top of the soft paint is effectively protecting the delicate paint which is a bonus.
3. Although I truly do enjoy washing and waxing cars that having a bunch of cars at home + kids + life + wife = no time to really do any of that often like I could when I was in my 20's and single. Ceramic coating and NOT having to worry about waxing is a godsend. My time is worth something and so no waxing means a lot of time saved.
4. Dirt doesn't stick/get attracted to the car as easily as it did before I got the coating done. I can now have it look 90% perfect even after driving around town for 2 weeks and I live in a very dusty city and there is construction of roads, neighbourhoods and building around me constantly and I just don't seem to need to wash the car as often.
5. The gloss is unreal - like being freshly waxed all the time.
6. Brake dust on my rims although still "sticky" requires less effort on my part to remove it.

So to me the ceramic coating (actually mine is CS-II titanium coating) was worth every penny despite it being so costly.
 

Ctrnut

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I had my car ceramic coated about 3 weeks ago and I'm loving it. The car arguably isn't much easier to clean and that is because I'm methodical in my washing techniques and whether it's really dirty or moderately dirty that the wash is exactly the same.

Where ceramic coat is awesome (and yes I paid over $1k CAD to have it done) is:
1. The shop that does it paint corrected my CBP paint - black being THE WORST and most difficult finish to maintain b/c it shows every flaw and imperfection in the paint and body. Before I even took delivery of my car that I knew it would be riddled with swirl marks of some sort from manufacturing handling + transport + people snooping around the car at the stealership before I actually bought the car. Paint correction takes time and skill to do properly so as not to damage or thin the paint out.
2. Honda paint is already thin and soft so even if you corrected the paint that a single hand wash is enough to "re-install" swirl marks on my car and being black... well I'd be back to having swirls. Having a hardened layer on top of the soft paint is effectively protecting the delicate paint which is a bonus.
3. Although I truly do enjoy washing and waxing cars that having a bunch of cars at home + kids + life + wife = no time to really do any of that often like I could when I was in my 20's and single. Ceramic coating and NOT having to worry about waxing is a godsend. My time is worth something and so no waxing means a lot of time saved.
4. Dirt doesn't stick/get attracted to the car as easily as it did before I got the coating done. I can now have it look 90% perfect even after driving around town for 2 weeks and I live in a very dusty city and there is construction of roads, neighbourhoods and building around me constantly and I just don't seem to need to wash the car as often.
5. The gloss is unreal - like being freshly waxed all the time.
6. Brake dust on my rims although still "sticky" requires less effort on my part to remove it.

So to me the ceramic coating (actually mine is CS-II titanium coating) was worth every penny despite it being so costly.
yeah im with you with all your points this is why I had it done also. Sacrificial layer to protect the clear coat. after 3-5 years have the car re polished and have a new coat applied. I love the ease of cleaning.
 


17CivicTypeR_Brian

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I notice mine is much easier to wash and dry. You do need to put on some Carpro Reload or something similar about every couple weeks to really maintain that super gloss, super clean, super hydrophobic business.
My problem is the ceramic coat does absolutely nothing for stone/rock chips. I picked up a huge one today on my roof and it really pisses me off considering how carefully I drive and whatnot. Got it touched up already and it looks ok, but still sucks.
 

Ctrnut

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I notice mine is much easier to wash and dry. You do need to put on some Carpro Reload or something similar about every couple weeks to really maintain that super gloss, super clean, super hydrophobic business.
My problem is the ceramic coat does absolutely nothing for stone/rock chips. I picked up a huge one today on my roof and it really pisses me off considering how carefully I drive and whatnot. Got it touched up already and it looks ok, but still sucks.
That's the price of driving the car. Ppf is great but even it has its limits of performance as well. Sometimes we just have to live that ahhpening
 

boosted180sx

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I notice mine is much easier to wash and dry. You do need to put on some Carpro Reload or something similar about every couple weeks to really maintain that super gloss, super clean, super hydrophobic business.
My problem is the ceramic coat does absolutely nothing for stone/rock chips. I picked up a huge one today on my roof and it really pisses me off considering how carefully I drive and whatnot. Got it touched up already and it looks ok, but still sucks.
its bound to happen sooner or later when you drive the car. Don't get too sad.

About the Reload, I just spray CarPro Hydro2 every once in a while and call it a day instead of reload. I do have reload for days I feel like applying it though.
 

FK8 Twigs

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I had mine done last year and don’t regret it at all. I live in the city and don’t have to worry about the shitty towels they use at the hand wash place anymore. It also sits outside and so far I’ve not paint damage or even any chips for that matter.
 

parshisa

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Ceramic coating is commitment. If you're ready to - go for it. I did both of my cars myself and absolutely love it. Now i need to figure out what to do with all of the waxes and other crap I had
 


17CivicTypeR_Brian

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Gotta get PPF over the entire car. It helps, trust me.
Yep I've been avoiding it since I barely drive it over 40mph. It only takes once apparently!
 

boosted180sx

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How do yo ulike it? I just ordered their prep and iron sprays.
I've used mohs and rim before but it was my first time using Trim yesterday actually.

I'm a big fan of Gyeon. The Gyeon coatings are really beginner friendly and really easy to apply. Applying coating is all in the prep work so make sure to prep it right and give it enough curing time.
I used to use Prep but it gets expensive after a while. I have since switched to McKee N-914 diluted 1:8 as a paint prep. N-914 can be diluted to be used as paint prep, waterless wash, clay lubricant, and rinseless so it has all sorts of uses.

Mohs flashes fast so you don't have to wait like 5 mins like some products. I usually work the panel in 2 sections at a time (the hood into 3) and give it 45-60 sec before leveling it off. I know some people wait much longer but i feel like it becomes pretty tacky while wiping if i leave it on for a long time.

Also instead of Gyeon's WetCoat and Cure, I use CarPro Reload and Ech2O. No real reason why I chose CarPro for those 2 except that I already had some and didn't feel like spending money on gyeon products which does the same thing.
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