Ceramic Nano Coating or PPF

[N7turbo]

My PPF looked brand new after 6 years on my Mazda. Zero flaws or issues.

That's great. That's not everyone's experience. Here, it will get messed up by bugs and rocks.

 

[Mazdiod2]

That's what it's for

 

[SKL]

That's great. That's not everyone's experience. Here, it will get messed up by bugs and rocks.

Agreed.
I've seen many crappy wrap jobs.

Both my cars are graphene coated (all exterior including wheels) and they get maintenance washes about 4 times a year. Each wash is $60, which includes full interior, wheels/tires, and touchups if needed.

Every time it rains, it's basically a free car wash. Dust/dirt slides right off the car.
Snow doesn't stick. Salt rinses right off.

 

[N7turbo]

Both my cars are graphene coated (all exterior including wheels) and they get maintenance washes about 4 times a year. Each wash is $60, which includes full interior, wheels/tires, and touchups if needed.

I think this depends on your definition of clean. I have one of the best consumer coatings and the car still gets dirty, it just cleans up easier and looks better when clean. Sure, rain rinses the car off, but the rain here leaves dust/dirt spots behind and looks awful.

It enables a weekly/bi-weekly rinseless wash in the garage which is lower effort and time than the full outdoor wash. This keeps my car looking stunning most of the year and it won't accumulate many scratches. By comparison, a friend's 1-year old Hyundai Elentra is riddled with scratches and swirls from automatic car washes. I was shocked when I looked close.

One great thing about ceramic coatings is that even though it is labor intensive, I can do all detailing work myself, whereas I cannot do PPF myself. Ceramic coatings cost me under $100 since I have all supplies already. But a solid 2 days needs to be blocked off. You can do it in 1 but it is exhausting. I prefer to do the full detail in one day, then come back to the car in the morning and do the panel prep and coating. I coat every surface except the glass.

 

[SKL]

I think this depends on your definition of clean. I have one of the best consumer coatings and the car still gets dirty, it just cleans up easier and looks better when clean. Sure, rain rinses the car off, but the rain here leaves dust/dirt spots behind and looks awful.

It enables a weekly/bi-weekly rinseless wash in the garage which is lower effort and time than the full outdoor wash. This keeps my car looking stunning most of the year and it won't accumulate many scratches. By comparison, a friend's 1-year old Hyundai Elentra is riddled with scratches and swirls from automatic car washes. I was shocked when I looked close.

One great thing about ceramic coatings is that even though it is labor intensive, I can do all detailing work myself, whereas I cannot do PPF myself. Ceramic coatings cost me under $100 since I have all supplies already. But a solid 2 days needs to be blocked off. You can do it in 1 but it is exhausting. I prefer to do the full detail in one day, then come back to the car in the morning and do the panel prep and coating. I coat every surface except the glass.

For one, I don't use car washes and never will. My maintenance washes was done by the same person that did my coatings.
I guess what I mean by clean is most debris is washed off - not as if the car was washed.
However, I do have indoor parking at home and I avoid parking under trees wherever I go.

 

[N7turbo]

However, I do have indoor parking at home and I avoid parking under trees wherever I go.

That makes a huge difference.

 

[SKL]

That makes a huge difference.

Yea for sure.
Not only that, detailer did the final coating in my parking garage that maintains 75-80° all year long.
So I left her in there to cure for the full 72 hours.

 

[GTXT23]

First time poster as well as first time Mazda owner here. Just bought a brand new CX-5 GT Machine Gray Metallic (3 weeks old).
I'm looking into a PPF shield for the entire front end as well as a ceramic coating.

Looking to you guys for advice, is this warranted for the MGM paint? I've read that the red paint is thin (or most of Mazdas' paint for that matter).
I can get the full front PPF (hood, bumper, fenders) and 2 layers of the ceramic nano coating for $2200 USD and wondering if all of this is necessary and/or needed?
She's the first new car I've ever owned and I want to take care of her as best I can.

It appears that you posed the same question you did in 2/2018---How did that work out --?
A suggestion --- save $ 2186.43- and drop $13.57 on Hybrid- Turtle Wax brand Ceramic spray- a few rags - and go wild - Since your 5 is new - ---some experts say it takes months for the FACTORY clear coat chemicals to fully cure on to the paint and best left alone -to create a durable carapace -- Possibly just drive it for a while before doing anything extreme-
Remember that there are multiple layers of CLEARCOAT applied over the paint - ( some manufacturers obviously do a superior job over others- and use higher quality products )
It is last line of defense against , Sun Damage , Bird Droppings , Rock Chips, Road Salts , Tar, Other drivers etc. -- regardless -- Any aftermarket protectant gets applied to the pore less clear coat - not the paint .
Clear Coat is already protecting the paint -- -- It often can be improved upon depending on your circumstance and the vehicle- are you living in the Mojave desert with no garage ? Are you living somewhere that has freeze winters and they apply salt to the roads --- you get it -

If you have deep pockets -- there are custom paint shops that usually deal with vehicles that start at 6 figures and they will wet sand down the factory clear - and reapply products that are substantially superior to the existing economy grade clearcoat.

- - In concurrence with others here -- I am ...... far more concerned about ignorant drivers who are happy to swing their door open at full tilt to put a nice dent into the door of a new Sig Machine Grey CX5 -- This can be devastating as it breaks up a smooth and finished union of the clearcoat , the paint , the primer and the steel .- on an atomic level -- Also the front bumper and leading edge of the vehicle take quite a bit of abuse -- and the side mirrors , just from daily driving - Iam more concerned about those areas - Clear adhesive products which go on like decals -- have proved to protect well -- but they can fade and yellow and peel with time -