My brother recommended a Ceramic coat to me as he has a vinyl coating on his Mercedes but he keeps his in his garage. He recommended that I get a ceramic coating and told me you would never have to wax the car again.I called a couple places and I picked the highest rated place for installing this coat. It cost me extra but I knew I would get a great job on it. The cost was 1200 bucks and comes with a 5 year guarantee. You can get a 3 year coat for 800 dollars. I have to say it’s one of the best upgrades I’ve done on the Passport. The one problem with this is you have to go to a hand wash car wash. If you take it to a machine car wash the warranty is void. I have to say the Passport looks like it just came off the assembly line every time I have it washed. When it rains, the rain just beads off the car. I can drive in a storm without using wipers. If you can find a reputable dealer who installs this I highly recommend this especially if you store your Passport outside.
Ceramic Coating
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Post some pics.
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A good ceramic would have a 9h hardness and car washes should not harm it. Hope they didn’t scam you
If I lived in a rainy climate, I’d for sure do the windshield.
How would it hold on top of the PPF Xpel and would it even do anything to protect the paint in SoCal weather? I already wax my vehicles 2x a year, before summer and winter and had no problems with that.
Just did it last week actually.
How would it hold on top of the PPF Xpel and would it even do anything to protect the paint in SoCal weather? I already wax my vehicles 2x a year, before summer and winter and had no problems with that.
Just did it last week actually.
2021 Honda Passport Elite (Modern Steel Metallic, Black Interior)
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Its not the mechanical harshness that is the problem, it has to do with the waxes that most car soaps have in them. Wax will ruin the ceramic coating. I have to use a special soap when I hand wash my car (Carpro Reset). I also have to tell Honda not to wash my car when I take it in to them for any service.
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You want GTechnique Halo, it's a product specific for PPF, For the windshield I recommend a proper and thorough cleaning/machine polishing then coating with Wolf's glass sealant or a CarPro Flyby Forte.
Glass is a PIA and requires attention, I retreat mine 2x in the summer season and once in the winter. It all depends on your wiper use and condition. They do tend to stay cleaner longer and are much easier to clean.
Ceramics are great provided you employ the correct and necessary steps leading to using a quality coating.
It's a super hot market with lots of competition for the consumer $. Imbedded in the game are lots of fancy advertised and gimmicky "coatings", Graphine being a huge buzz word. As are most things, there are opinions and claims as to which to use, what's best and...their life expectancy and longevity. I've vetted many products, learned technique, read, re-read, witnessed first hand all sorts of car care products. There is a ton of great information available as well as even more hype and misleading information on the subject and products. Find a trusted source, ask questions, ask to see results and for customer reviews. Are they certified installers of said products? Yeah, it's a thing. None of this is cheap, even the half assed and misleading.
And, yes, automated car washes are the cause of premature failure of a properly ceramic coated vehicle. Harsh soaps (high Ph), dirty equipment,, materials used to withstand the abuse, pressure points, force. It all adds up quickly.
Convenience at a price they are.
Warranty on such things...well, with proper recommended care and maintenance, you can expect 60% of what's claimed before the properties of the coating begins to show signs of failure. They don't last forever. Installer warranties are different from the product manufacturer and they can say whatever they want.
Void the warranty...Let me guess? the installer "recommends/provides hand washing "maintenance' washes, of course at an additional cost, perhaps a maintenance package? Brilliant business/marketing technique. Again, go back to the initial cost. Those who have/want can afford to. It all boils down to what you want to achieve and maintain.
I do my own work, use what I know as quality product, employ good technique and enjoy great results. It's always been important and is absolutely a passion. One that has become my retirement exit plan.
Ceramic coating is the way to go! I got Ceramic Pro Silver package which is a 5 year coating. I posted a picture on one of my previous threads below.
Ceramic Pro Coating, Weather Tech Floor Liners, OEM...
Mine came with a full detail, decontamination wash, phase 1 paint correction, and 2 layers of ceramic coating (one layer of 9ah and 1 layer of top coat) that will last 5 years and comes with a 5 year warranty. Each year you return for a maintenance wash and overview of the coating to maintain the 5 year warranty. They apply the top coat on any areas that they see deteriorating. As CaveGator mentioned, you have to hand wash and use certain products to maintain the coating. They actually gave me a hangtag to hang from my mirror every time I take it in for service to NOT WASH the car. Hoping that by me telling them not to wash and them seeing the hangtag they will not run it through the wash.
I use American Detailer Garage products on both the exterior and interior of the car. Nothing but great results from their full lineup of products. The detailer who ceramic coated my car recommended them. American Detailer Garage
Ceramic Pro Coating, Weather Tech Floor Liners, OEM...
Mine came with a full detail, decontamination wash, phase 1 paint correction, and 2 layers of ceramic coating (one layer of 9ah and 1 layer of top coat) that will last 5 years and comes with a 5 year warranty. Each year you return for a maintenance wash and overview of the coating to maintain the 5 year warranty. They apply the top coat on any areas that they see deteriorating. As CaveGator mentioned, you have to hand wash and use certain products to maintain the coating. They actually gave me a hangtag to hang from my mirror every time I take it in for service to NOT WASH the car. Hoping that by me telling them not to wash and them seeing the hangtag they will not run it through the wash.
I use American Detailer Garage products on both the exterior and interior of the car. Nothing but great results from their full lineup of products. The detailer who ceramic coated my car recommended them. American Detailer Garage
Here is another photo i took just the other day! Picture was right after a fresh wash. The ceramic coating keeps it looking new and takes half the time to hand wash it.
Here are some pictures of my car after Hosing off the pollen And some of the tools I use. I bought the weather tech floor mats and cargo mat also the window visor. I updated the interior with a Led kit (awesome).,Love the truck and the smooth ride with the 20 inch tires.The ceramic coat really sticks out until the pollen settles on the car
![Glove Gas Bottle Grass Font]()
![Wheel Tire Car Land vehicle Vehicle]()
![Car Vehicle Land vehicle Daytime Grille]()
![Car Mirror Vehicle Automotive side-view mirror Motor vehicle]()
![Tire Wheel Car Vehicle Motor vehicle]()
![Tire Wheel Car Vehicle Motor vehicle]()
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I also did my homework on the Ceramic coat. I was going to attempt to do it myself. But I watched on YouTube if you don’t apply it exactly right you can have swirls and high points on the passport. So I went to a reputable dealer who showed me the product(It looks like a airplane bottle of vodka) and how he decontaminated anything in the paint and than touches any thing up. I didn’t need that as I just bought it from the dealer within a month. Than the apply the coating and let it cure for 24 hours. He told me not to wash it for 7 days. He was very thorough and when I went to pick it up he gave me a pamphlet with all the information and the 5 year warranty. I am happy the way the car came out. I did a very thorough investigation on the car looking for swirls or high points and couldn’t find one.
Looks beautiful! I like that color.
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I watched this guy that I liked, switch from giving detailing tips to selling Ceramic Coatings and just lost interest. ceramic coating
What would stop a shop from buying his product, applying it, and charging for a Brand Name coating?
What would stop a shop from buying his product, applying it, and charging for a Brand Name coating?
Well, really nothing, except their reputation. Certified installers wouldn't risk that if they are smart. I believe if they sign on with GTechniq Home - Gtechniq USA. or Geyon Gyeon Quartz and become certified installer/shops they sign a legal and binding agreement for representation. It requires specific training and use of their products. Some of their products can only be purchased and installed by them.
These days these YouTube detailing "stars" are finding a bit more success by selling a branded label of a product that already exists. They purchase from chemical companies that will custom blend to the buyers request, create a label, then start marketing it via their channel. Why wouldn't they? Thousands of subscribers willing to throw $$ at stuff you peddle...It's a huge industry and one that changes and evolves quickly. This is where I suggest you do your research and ask questions, use trusted sources, etc. Just because it has someones name and
on it doesn't make it better.It's smart marketing. You as a consumer of these products need to be smarter.
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I agree with you 100 percent! On Facebook there is a ad as you scroll down that is called “Last Coat” he says it’s ceramic and all you have to do is spray it on and wipe it off. He must have made millions on that scam!
Gtechnq is what my detailer applied. Here is my ride after it was applied. I think the coating is worth the money.
Absolutely, It's my go to for many reasons. I love the results obtained with it. The red is Deliscious and looks wet all the time. CSL then 2 coats of EXOv4...close to perfection for me.
Ordered a couple bottles of Armor Shield IX ceramic coating last weekend during a Memorial Day sale. I settled on that one because of the recommendations from a dude called Pan the Organizer on Youtube who does detailing videos. He recommended it because of not only the results, but also how easy it is to apply. He mentioned the older ceramic coatings could be tricky, but many of the newer generation ceramic is no harder than waxing a car.
The most important part of ceramic coatings is the prep work. And it can be labor intensive. You're basically locking the paint under a glass shield so if it looks like shit beforehand it's going to stay that way. Typical order is 1. Strip wash to remove old sealants 2. Iron and tar removal chemicals 3. Clay bar 4. Machine polish 5. Isopropyl alcohol wipedown and finally 6. Ceramic coating
I'm pretty sus on the fact any ceramic installer would recommend ONLY hand washing. If the coating is so durable why would you need to baby it so much? Ceramic coatings can hold up to a very wide range of PH, including any soaps a car wash would use. I love hand washing my car because it's enjoyable but I don't have the time or facilities to do it all the time.
I can't justify spending $1k+ on a coating when it's something you can easily do yourself at 1/10th the cost. Certainly there are a few 'tricks' to getting it right but a few hours of tutorials on Youtube and you should be good to go. Just because someone claims to be a 'professional detailer' doesn't always mean anything. I know some detailers that are complete hacks.
Do your homework and remember at the end of the day it's just a car.
The most important part of ceramic coatings is the prep work. And it can be labor intensive. You're basically locking the paint under a glass shield so if it looks like shit beforehand it's going to stay that way. Typical order is 1. Strip wash to remove old sealants 2. Iron and tar removal chemicals 3. Clay bar 4. Machine polish 5. Isopropyl alcohol wipedown and finally 6. Ceramic coating
I'm pretty sus on the fact any ceramic installer would recommend ONLY hand washing. If the coating is so durable why would you need to baby it so much? Ceramic coatings can hold up to a very wide range of PH, including any soaps a car wash would use. I love hand washing my car because it's enjoyable but I don't have the time or facilities to do it all the time.
I can't justify spending $1k+ on a coating when it's something you can easily do yourself at 1/10th the cost. Certainly there are a few 'tricks' to getting it right but a few hours of tutorials on Youtube and you should be good to go. Just because someone claims to be a 'professional detailer' doesn't always mean anything. I know some detailers that are complete hacks.
Do your homework and remember at the end of the day it's just a car.
He recommends it because he is partially sponsored and compensated by them. Does he personally use it on his own vehicle, no. Where he does use it is on customers cars that he sells to, as a detailer. So, all the labor intensive prep work you mention done by a trained individual doesn't warrant $1000? Easy? How many cars have you actually polished/corrected? So watching a few hours of YouTube will be sufficient to assess and determine the proper course to be taken on correcting the surface...Yeah. Sounds like the birth place of said hack detailers. It's not that you need to baby the coated car, it's following a recommended method using specific products to preserve and prolong the properties of the coating. I know ceramics are not for everyone, be it cost, work involved, choice or belief that they are worth it or work at all.
If you've committed to applying one, you are the type of owner that appreciates preserving and protecting your purchase and has pride in ownership. So, if you choose to run it through a tunnel wash, why bother ceramic coating it? It's a waste of money.
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