Are coatings worth it?

**Ronkh** · 07-06-2014, 03:22 PM

Just a little background...

I coated this about 5 months ago.
It was coated with Pinnacle Black Label Coating.
A fast "not too careful" job since it was hot.

It has not received a wash since I coated it. (might have seen one touchless, but think that was my gf`s car)

It sits out 24/7

So today I finally decided to give it a bath and hit it with Hydro2

After:

Now this shot is very revealing since it`s Florida. (think love bugs)

To give a perspective, here is the Vette after about 75 miles in love bug season.

Of course, then it rained (this was about 2 min after it started.

This is the hood after I drove about 5 - 6 miles at about 55mph

THis is after about 8-10k miles since it was coated

**silverfox** · 07-06-2014, 03:59 PM

I don`t think the ease of maintenance post application... that coatings provide can be overstated enough. They are game changers in so far as keeping the car clean effortlessly. Wax on the other hand.....

**Klock** · 07-06-2014, 04:06 PM

Very cool! Coatings are well worth it, and only getting better. Pbl is very forgiving in application, and the durability is awesome. When paired with hydro2 you get truly amazing results with both protection, and looks!

**Ronkh** · 07-06-2014, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by silverfox

I don`t think the ease of maintenance post application... that coatings provide can be overstated enough. They are game changers in so far as keeping the car clean effortlessly. Wax in the other hand.....

Oh, it`s still gonna get waxed

Gotta live up to my title

**Old Pirate** · 07-06-2014, 04:33 PM

Yes they are Ron, all exterior products ( including coatings ) that are use in protecting the finish of a vehicle are worth their weight in gold, because if one didn`t use anything the paint shop will have car`s line up like the car washes. All we can do is inform the public about all the products that are available to them in terms of protection and shine they give and all of us can should them what they can do. BTW how`s my C7 doing?

**Ronkh** · 07-06-2014, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Old Pirate

BTW how`s my C7 doing?

Doing well

Needs a wash

**Old Pirate** · 07-06-2014, 04:51 PM

Be there soon to give it a needed wash......

**tropicsteve** · 07-06-2014, 09:03 PM

I say it gets a big

**mrclean81** · 07-06-2014, 09:51 PM

I coated the wife`s car with OC 2.0 back in November, and purposely let it go the entire winter without so much as a visit to the coin op car wash. Come April and I finally washed it (it was horrific after 5 months of snow and mud) and it looked like it did the day I applied it. The OC really held up well and is still going strong. I`m sold on coatings.

**Justins00ss** · 07-07-2014, 10:04 AM

Yeah they definitely are worth it. Although I polished off my CQUK recently to try out some other products/tools etc. I am most likely going to re-coat it here shortly.

**Woob** · 07-09-2014, 01:03 PM

Coatings are awesome, but always need maintenance, proper prep, and understanding they aren`t perfect.

**PapaChop** · 07-09-2014, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Woob

Coatings are awesome, but always need maintenance, proper prep, and understanding they aren`t perfect.

What maintenance? Be careful washing it - like you would any other LSP. The end. And they require the same level of prep that wax or sealant does to look its best... Well, with the addition of an IPA\Eraser wipedown prior to application.

**RaysWay** · 07-09-2014, 05:14 PM

"A picture is worth 1000 words" comes to mind when seeing these examples. Coatings are clearly the king of protection

**Stokdgs** · 07-09-2014, 11:47 PM

As I washed my 2009 Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Grand Cherokee today that I coated with Opti-Guard (2010-11 vintage) over 3 years ago, I am reminded that there is absolutely nothing better for a vehicle`s paintwork and wheels, etc., than a really good coating to keep the surfaces protected and always glossy..

All the beautiful metallic particles are still "up at the top" of the paint and there is no swirls, marring, lack of clarity anywhere, including the clear bra parts..

The wheels are pretty much brake dust free and if any ever sticks, it washes out with car wash soap and no hard scrubbing, just agitate the soap with a wheel brush, and its gone..

I use Car-Pro Reset Concentrate on it to wash and it always leaves the Opti-Guard looking and feeling very smooth and glossy...

It works so good, I am now trying to find a way to do Something to the paintwork, so I can say I worked on my car for once...

Maybe I may try some Optimum Finish on it with the softest pad I have, just to see what it will do...

It never really gets dirty like all my neighbor`s cars do, it always looks great, and even in all the rain I used to deal with in WA., I always had the cleanest-dirty-car (I know, an Oxymoron), in the neighborhood..

So, at the end of all these years - I would also vote for Coatings and holy-cow -they are worth it to me !
Dan F

**silverfox** · 07-10-2014, 04:54 AM

With a coating you welcome rain instead of cursing it. Its a huge mental adjustment from wax days when you knew all that attracted dust was going to turn into a water spotted nightmare once the first drop hit it. The car practically washes itself now when it rains or driving in it.