Paint Coating Durability Shootout Recommendations

David Fermani

David Fermani

Forza Auto Salon
Paint Coating Durability Shootout Recommendations





I’ll be picking up my new company car (2011 Fusion – white) and wanted to experiment with a coating durability shootout. So far, I’ve had excellent results with Optimum Opti-Coat: http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...imum-opti-coating-durability-test-review.html



I’m about to finalize this review, but in the meantime would like to prepare for the next one to come. What coatings are available that would be a good comparison to OC? I have the ability to test/compare 6 total products. I will basically be taping off a 1 foot strip of bare finish/glass/trim down the entire center of the vehicle and will coat each remaining ½ with separate products. Maybe some of the manufacturers/resellers that frequent this forum would be willing to put their product to the test? Those products/manufacturers/resellers whose product doesn’t have long term staying power need not apply as this test may not show your product in the best light. Let me know if anyone is willing to take on this challenge or any products (coatings) you’d like to see me compare.
 
Just as a kick in the groin, I think you should do Xzilon. I know its not a coating, but a panel of Z2 would be fun for reference. I'm kinda bummed you keep your car for one year only. I was looking forward to a long term test.
 
21 months on this vehicle actually. Don't forget the environment it's in too. ;)



I'm tempted to enter a 50 layer Z2/Z5 applicant for shitz and giggles! :chuckle:
 
David Fermani said:
21 months on this vehicle actually. Don't forget the environment it's in too. ;)



I'm tempted to enter a 50 layer Z2/Z5 applicant for shitz and giggles! :chuckle:
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Yeah, it does get lots of sun. Not daring enough to get black? And 50 layers would be hilarious. You'd probably make 1/2 the corvette forum catch a heart attack when it faded in 4-5 months.



And wow has time flied by!
 
Yup, time sure is flying.



The only thing that's black is my wife's van and the interior of the Fusion. To hell with black or anything dark for that matter. Those days are over with my current extra curricular activities.
 
Another variable to consider, David, is that you've said you're trying to get moved back up here to Michigan. Assuming you'd be keeping the same company car at that point, it would be good to consider what coatings would be good to use for a salt and sand test during our winters.
 
David Fermani said:
That and I'd just keep the car parked near the Rough Assembly Plant to test out real protection abilities.
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Yeah talk about a serious test; I've seen some pretty nasty things on cars parked near the GM plants here in Lansing. In fact I went to high school right across the street from a GM plant. If only I'd had IronX back then!
 
I can't remember seeing the last brand new Mustang that didn't have acid rain etching? Good thing my Fusion is produced in Mexico!!vv:doh:
 
I know nitro seal's not a coating, but since its supposed to be extremely durable,

I think it'd be cool to see how it compares to them.



Is there anything out there that claims to have more durability than opticoat?
 
In that case, assuming you'd use opticoat in your mix, it seems that you'd really be

comparing how the less durable products stack up against each other while

treating the opticoated section as a benchmark?



I've been curious about how the other products out there stack up to each other

durability wise for a while now. Especially curious about products like Body Wrap

vs Aquartz & C1. The only one I've had a chance to use is opticoat (which I love).



Definitely looking forward to this test.
 
Will probably do these (for now):

Opti-Coat

Cquartz

Aquartz

Wolfs



Will try to contact Meg's to see if they'd like to offer up their product. May look into GlassCoat, but this seems a little too "New Car Dealerish" even though they do advertise if being permanant?
 
It seems to be a very worthy test to do as coatings get a lot of discussion. Eventualy these could be the 'mass population' solution to what all detailers aim for in one sense; paint care finish protection and preservation.



One thought/proposal prior to doing the test. Perhaps there could be a gathering/classification of coatings for a couple of reasons



1) To make clearer to all of us what exactly is out there right now? Professionally applied only products, consumer applied products, mid/long term durability, involving a product performance guarantee etc. etc.



2) To allow for trully comparable products (in terms of claims at least) to be tested.



3) To lay the ground for future testing.



In any case I am looking forward to the progress and results of this effort. Thank you David!
 
David Fermani said:
seems a little too "New Car Dealerish"
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Actually from a marketing perspective, that would be a good thing. On one half of the car, use the "permanent" or "long lasting" coatings that new car dealers commonly try to sell people on, and on the other half use the type of coatings we use on the detailing side of the world. Either the result will be that you can show customers how much money they're wasting at the dealerships, or you'll surprise all of us by demonstrating that maybe the products new car dealers use aren't so bad after all (and that we detailers might actually want to look into them for our own purposes.)
 
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