PermaPlate a ripp-off?

Having worked in the car industry I can tell you that these products are where the dealers net profit really jumps - so they push their "value added" products to increase the profit margin. Probably the actual cost of the product and having the wash guy apply it is about $50. So as AdminCoop said it is not worth it. Now after you get your car wash it good with a mild car wash product and a soft sponge. Then dry it and apply a good polish - you should be all set for a while.

 

I have the ivory interior (since December) and haven't noticed any stains yet. I did spill some coffee one day and immediately blotted it and it left no spot whatsoever (the coffee beaded).

If you want, a few cans of ScotchGuard wouldn't hurt. I have used it on my upholstery in the house and have found it really helps keep my dining room chairs clean (a little damp sponge and a firm vacuuming on a regular basis). I also have a little Bissel GreenMachine which uses warm water and cleaning solution and then sucks it out. I used it on my last car, which was 10 years old when I sold it and the prospective buyers were just amazed at how spotless my interior was. (And believe me, I ate in that car a lot and did get plenty of spills on the seats over the years.)

 

Yes, the original formulation was. It was taken off the market and reformulated in 2000. Again, use it in a well ventilated area, and don't just hop in the car right after you've done it, I suggest letting the doors sit wide open for an afternoon if possible.

Personally, I think just dealing with spills as they come (blotting immediately, cleaning as soon as possible) is probably the best way to handle it. Some folks have posted that the fabric is very stain resistant. By all means, if your wife is concerned about Scotchguard, don't get the dealer recommended stuff either, they're all probably bad for us, we just don't know it yet.

 

i just got my '04 back from the body shop for a nasty scrape on both passenger-side doors. my wife tried to mate the car with a fire hydrant last summer... (we're still happily married, and i still love her AND my prius...)

the body shop guy put it this way: your silver car is clearcoated, so you don't need to have the permaplate. and you didn't need it in the beginning, either. and it probably came off with the first automatic car wash you put your car through, too.

funny thing is: a few months ago, i noticed that after a rain, the water beaded up on the hood and the sides of the car, but not at all on the roof. did the permaplate guys "forget" something? did the multiple carwashes take the permaplate off the roof, and if so, why not the hood???

imnsho, i'd suggest you get the interior coating and pass on the outside.

 

Invest in a good set of seat covers instead. GTCovers.com are well regarded here (search for the threads) as are the more-custom looking WetOkole.com covers.

Then, buy the all weather mats to protect the carpet. That should set you back less than the "value added" stuff, doesn't introduce any more chemicals you have to apply yourself, and leaves the car "stock" once you remove the seat covers and all weather mats.

 

can you afford the leather seats?

i got them and they're great, and fairly immune to many spills that would really screw up fabric....

 

I don't have a Prius but I couldn't help but comment on your PermaPlate question, as mine is in the shop getting it done right now.

When I bought my car I got leather, I wanted it protected so I opted in for the full PermaPlate "in/out" coverage. This was $595. The difference here is that I get to have it applied once a year for 5 years. I get 5 applications for $600 bucks... not bad.

Also, there is a PermaPlate website. On it they describe all of the things you can do to your PermaPlate in order to keep it under warranty. Nowhere does it say you HAVE to use the optional PermaPlate maintainance products. Here's a quote from their site:

" Question: Are the maintenance products required to maintain my warranty?

Any cleaning and care products suitable for automotive use can be used on your vehicle without affecting your warranty. We recommend the Perma-Plate maintenance products as they are specially formulated to work with your original Perma-Plate application. You will find the Perma-Plate maintenance products easy to use, offering the highest quality vehicle protection. "

The products they sell are recommended, but certainly not required. The same goes for any wax products you use, although they say that since your paint has been PermaPlated it doesn't really need regular waxing.


In response to plusaf, your mechanic might be right. The PermaPlate website suggests an automatic car wash only if it does not subject your paint to any sort of automated grinding or scrubbing. They suggest a "touchless" automatic car wash.

No, I am not a PermaPlate employee

 

My wife, Cindy, is the Prius owner. I have a deisel Mercedes that I love as much as she loves her Prius. I saw this posting and felt compelled to respond after my rip-off experience with PermaPlate. I purchased the PermaPlate coatings to protect my windshield (over $2000 to replace in a newer Mercedes!) I paid $988 (plus tax) for their absolutely worthless product. My windshield has been hit by 3 rocks in the year that I have owned my car, and EVERY SINGLE ONE cracked it! My wife's unprotected Prius windshield is STILL fine 4 years later!(?!) This coating did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to protect my windows. What's WORSE was to discover that "they are incredible sticklers with their warranty" (the words of my Mercedes dealer) and denied my claim, as I was unaware of a STRICT 30 day policy. You see, the first chip happened while on a vacation over the Holidays. I called my dealership who who told me that I had to contact PermaPlate directly (I SURE wish they would have mentioned the strict 30 day limit to me then!) Once I returned home and called them, they were incredibly quick to point out my 30 day time-lapse and void my warranty. I received an official letter stating the claims denial the next day. My windshield has received two additional chips in it over this past year that I have refused to replace it myself.
I do hold my dealership partially responsible for convincing me to purchase such a worthless product, and to neglect informing me of such a ruthless policy that they were obviously aware of themselves. So please do not make my same mistake! Save your time and money by simply declining this completely unnecessary option.

 

you have to report the damage within 30 days?

 

A second on the seat covers. Picked up a nice set on ebait for slightly less than $100 that covered the front and rear completely. They fit almost as well as OEM, seem robust in material and construction, and are pre treated against spills.

I usually get white cars, as they stay cooler, are easier to keep clean, don't oxidize near as fast, and let you fly below the radar. Those so-called paint protectors are mostly snake oil and commercial car washes make short work of them, and your paint.

There is no liquid product that will protect glass from flying rocks. Except maybe a 2" layer of cast Lucite.

PT Barnum lives...

 

SO this is an old thread but found it searching on Google so I thought I'd bring it up. Just got my first Prius and the dealership like most others tried to sell me on it. I wasn't interested however I had such good credit I was able to chat the guy into renegotiating my interested, blah blah blah, basically ended up with inside and out application for about $1 more a month on my payment, which I was fine with. All I have to do is schedule a time and go have it done which haven't done yet. Have I made a bad choice by getting this? I'm not regretting it for the money. Just don't want to get it if its going to be worthless or do the opposite of what they say.

Thanks!

 

I agree with the consistent feedback that any liquid protection system is unlikely to live up to it's expectation. We biought the permaplate windshield protection for $499 because we viewed it more of a 5 year windshield repair/replacement insurance instead of being something almost magical in its performance. We live on the front range of Colorado for about 20 years. in that time we have had to replace windshields 5 times! Our insurance does not include windshield replacement unless it is more than our $500 deductible. So we bought this with that understanding.