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Paint Protection? PPF or Wrap?

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SB6, Oct 3, 2024.

  1. SB6

    SB6 Member

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    So while researching the Gen 5s, I saw some talk about the paint being "thin." Is that just certain colors, or just in general? What have you guys done for this? PPF? Wrap?

    I ended up with a Guardian Gray Prius Prime, and am looking into PPF for the above reason. I found someone who does it, and he quoted me ~$2000 for just doing the front, or ~$6000 for the whole car if I really want to go that route. But he recommended getting the car wrapped instead of full PPF, cause he said he could do ithe wrap for around $2300 -- a good bit less than PPF.

    What is PPF better than getting a wrap, or what's the difference? Maybe a dumb question
     
  2. Xse

    Xse Junior Member

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    I wouldn’t wrap the whole car the frt is where protection is needed My Prime is PPF wrapped the windshield post,mirror, the whole hood,fenders,frt bumper
    Pricewise @ $1200. Canadian
     
    soft_r likes this.
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    I wouldn’t bother; just wash and wax. Definitely don’t tailgate.
     
  4. soft_r

    soft_r Member

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    Front bumper and hood areas, absolutely. The paint knicks easily. I regret not getting mine done right away. Now I'm stuck with road debris scratches on the hood.

    Personally I wish I had done doors because I already have two scratches in mine from parking lot idiots.

    But yes, the paint does feel thin given how many chips the hood has from highway driving.
     
  5. TGTGUUD

    TGTGUUD Member

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    Don’t. It’s not a Ferrari, not worth it.
    Rock chips won’t hurt resale value.
     
  6. TGTGUUD

    TGTGUUD Member

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  7. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    PPF will provide more protection than a wrap.
    The wrap will offer some protection.

    PPF (the good ones) can actually ‘heal’ itself when it gets damaged.
    Wraps do not.

    Wraps do allow a greater level of personalization.

    If you are only looking for protection, get a good PPF from a good installer.
     
  8. myktek

    myktek Junior Member

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    I'm debating on how much I want to PPF my car. On my other car, I did front bumper, hood, fenders, mirrors, lights and roof but that is more of a collector car for me.

    I'm prob going to do front bumper, hood, mirrors, lights. Fenders are easy to take off can prob be repainted pretty cheaply and replaced easily so I'll prob forgo that this time.
     
  9. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    I wish I had done my front bumper, hood, mirrors*, and maybe front fenders. My car is red, and I'm really starting to see chips. They stand out on red because the primer is white or very light gray. I expect the same would be true of black, blue, or maybe gray. Chips are probably hard to see on yellow, and nearly impossible to see on silver and white.

    At this point, I'll probably wait for a few more years, then have the hood, bumper, and mirror caps resprayed and then PPF them. I think they're currently too far gone to waste money on PPF, but nowhere near gone enough to have them resprayed already.


    *If you don't paint your mirrors to match your car, then don't waste money to PPF them. A new pair of OEM mirror caps costs barely more than $50. I only plan to eventually PPF mine because I had mine painted red.
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Absolutely pointless, adolescent response, but I can’t help myself, a sentence anagram:

    My car is really chipped, and I’m starting to see red. :)
     
  11. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    I applied Simoniz glass coat to my Blizzard Pearl 2012 Prius v within 6 months of acquiring the car. The treatment lasted 10 years of never waxing it.

    I reapplied glas coat after 10 years, I'm good again for another 10.

    Water has always beaded after washing without ever waxing the car.
     
  12. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    Get a small piece of wrap and a small piece of PPF apply them and find out for yourself what the difference is.
    So many opinions - so little time.