PPF on a new GT4 delivery - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Hi all, I’m taking deliver of a new GT4 in June and I’m planning on getting PPF for the car. However I’m not sure what parts/how much to get covered - I’m planning on tracking the car. Any recommendations on what areas are susceptible to stone chips and marks?

All my Porsches which I take on track get the same PPF treatment. Full front inc mirrors, side sills with extended cover ahead of rear arches.I also do the rear sills and bumper. Just behind the rear wheels gets a reall battering however its much easier to do the whole rear bumper at the same time.

ollie260 said: Hi all, I’m taking deliver of a new GT4 in June and I’m planning on getting PPF for the car. However I’m not sure what parts/how much to get covered - I’m planning on tracking the car. Any recommendations on what areas are susceptible to stone chips and marks? Personally I'd do the whole car.

I got full PPF as soon as I took delivery. I don’t plan on tracking my car, simply did it to protect the paint. The guys I used did a fantastic job but there are a few problem areas. The Xpel template for the wing mirrors and spoiler isn’t great. The template only covers about 60% of the wing mirrors and seams are very obvious especially when the car is dirty. The Xpel template for the spoiler comes in 3 pieces and again, seams and relief cuts are quite obvious. I’m actually getting the PPF removed in those areas tomorrow. I feel there’s a fine line between protection and aesthetics. The guys I used managed to fully cover the side air intakes with the recessed GT4 lettering. Typically that area has the lettering cut out. When driving around, I can hear small stones/rocks hitting my car as it’s so low. Don’t know whether it’s the underside or the body but I’m very glad I’ve got PPF installed protecting the paint.

And for balance, personally I'd do naff all like I have with my current GT4 The only time I'd possibly get it done is on something like an RS product with exposed carbon fibre that you can't easily fix with a coat of paint. I'm well aware I'm not "normal" in the modern Porsche world when it comes to my views on PFF though

I agree with Twinfan above - it’s nuts. My (not GT4) 718 has done 55k - it’s got some patina, but it looks great - this obsession with perfection is very strange.

esuuv said: I agree with Twinfan above - it’s nuts. My (not GT4) 718 has done 55k - it’s got some patina, but it looks great - this obsession with perfection is very strange. One of the reasons I got it done is that my car is solid black. Chips and scratches are a lot more obvious. My friend has his in white with no PPF and you can barely his stone chips unless you try looking for them.

esuuv said: I agree with Twinfan above - it’s nuts. My (not GT4) 718 has done 55k - it’s got some patina, but it looks great - this obsession with perfection is very strange. Good to see I'm not alone, esuuv! The perfection thing is odd to me too. Don't get me wrong I really look after my car but I don't expect it to stay factory fresh for its whole life, My GT4 has around 13k miles now and is used on track, has been down plenty of roads covered in chippings etc. There are a couple of chips on the front bumper and plenty in the arches but it's not exactly peppered and in need of a complete respray as some seem to think it would be. Nice use of "patina" by the way, I get laughed at when I mention that to my PPF loving mates but to me a GT car with it in the right colour looks great

DallySingh said: One of the reasons I got it done is that my car is solid black. Chips and scratches are a lot more obvious. My friend has his in white with no PPF and you can barely his stone chips unless you try looking for them. I agree with this. My GT4 RS is Solid Black as well as my recent 3RS WP. Both have exposed CF which can't be touched up like paint. On colours like Silvers or Whites PPF not as crucial as chips don't stand out like sore thumbs.

Twinfan said: esuuv said: I agree with Twinfan above - it’s nuts. My (not GT4) 718 has done 55k - it’s got some patina, but it looks great - this obsession with perfection is very strange. Good to see I'm not alone, esuuv! The perfection thing is odd to me too. Don't get me wrong I really look after my car but I don't expect it to stay factory fresh for its whole life, My GT4 has around 13k miles now and is used on track, has been down plenty of roads covered in chippings etc. There are a couple of chips on the front bumper and plenty in the arches but it's not exactly peppered and in need of a complete respray as some seem to think it would be. Nice use of "patina" by the way, I get laughed at when I mention that to my PPF loving mates but to me a GT car with it in the right colour looks great I never get this PPF thing either. Customer of mine just spent £4k getting PPF done on his car because the one he traded in needed £2k worth of paint doing after he had used it for 5 years and didn't want that next time. Maybe it's me, but that just isn't logical?

On the subject of PPF there is a lot of uncertainty if you have to inform your insurer that this has been done ,they may class this as a modification ..best check first ...heard of one person where the insurer refused a pay out as not disclosed .

Personal preference, I've always had it on my cars. I'd rather have a perfect-looking (IMO) car while I own it rather than painting it as/when I want to sell. I get that it's not for some people.

woodysnr said: On the subject of PPF there is a lot of uncertainty if you have to inform your insurer that this has been done ,they may class this as a modification ..best check first ...heard of one person where the insurer refused a pay out as not disclosed . Ouch.

deutsche.diagnostics said: I never get this PPF thing either. Customer of mine just spent £4k getting PPF done on his car because the one he traded in needed £2k worth of paint doing after he had used it for 5 years and didn't want that next time. Maybe it's me, but that just isn't logical? If the money isn't really important then why not when it's fresh out of the factory. It's not something you can easily do 5 years down the line.

deutsche.diagnostics said: I never get this PPF thing either. Customer of mine just spent £4k getting PPF done on his car because the one he traded in needed £2k worth of paint doing after he had used it for 5 years and didn't want that next time. Maybe it's me, but that just isn't logical? Completely! woodysnr said: On the subject of PPF there is a lot of uncertainty if you have to inform your insurer that this has been done ,they may class this as a modification ..best check first ...heard of one person where the insurer refused a pay out as not disclosed . A very good point, and that was an expensive mistake

I got PPF as mine's a keeper and is predominantly used on road where flying stones and debris is an issue. The GT4 is prone to rash on the rear bumper trailing edges, the sills, the sideposds, and of course any front exposed edges. It's very low, which makes it very susceptible. I had a custom package of track+a few other bits.... -Full front end: Bonnet (Wrapped Edges) Front Wings (wrapped Edges) Headlights/indicators. Bumper (wrapped edges) Mirrors. - Full Sills with side pods/inlets. - A-Pillars including top of roof and leading edge. - Rear sections behind rear wheels on the back bumper. I felt full coverage was a bit OTT for my needs especially with the ceramic coatings I had etc which help for UV protection etc. I've posted this before, but I had lots of other things done at the same time, end results here if you've not seen... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... Edited by kmpowell on Friday 21st April 14:48

kmpowell said: I got PPF as mine's a keeper and is predominantly used on road where flying stones and debris is an issue. OK, now that makes sense. I think the problem for me is no one I know ever keeps their cars, they buy them knowing full well 2 or 3 years they will be moving it on. That is why it doesn't make sense to me. It is like speccing an option you don't want yourself, you know you will not see more than 25-30% of your money back on come resale but "The next owner will get to enjoy it.". But if the car is a keeper, it makes more sense.

Mine is also a keeper but I still didn't bother with PPF. I just didn't think the financials added up, especially as it needs replacing every so often.

My Mrs has PPF on her Range and a few weeks ago, someone scraped the back of her car whilst we were at the gym. It must've been light contact as it didn't dent the bumper but the rear corner, centre section and boot lid had horrendous white scratches on it. God knows who it was or what kind of manoeuvre they were trying. Anyways, the guys who installed my PPF said they were positive that once they remove the PPF, there will be zero paintwork damage. After collecting my GT4 from them, I left the Range. They replaced the PPF and it was true what they said, zero damage to the paintwork and it's as if nothing ever happened. Saved us from getting the rear re-sprayed. I know people will ask; "but how much did the PPF cost vs a respray". The fact we could get this sorted in one day and she's not without her car is what made this a good choice for us.

Not a fan of PPF and wouldn't go to the expense of getting it applied. It's not on my GT4. I do however welcome new owners getting it done as someone like me buying it secondhand gets all the benefits without the cost.

Mine is collecting patina. Skipped PPF but got a ceramic coat to make it easier to remove the rubber marks from trackdays. It gets lighter with more stone chips so faster right….. .

Twinfan said: And for balance, personally I'd do naff all like I have with my current GT4 The only time I'd possibly get it done is on something like an RS product with exposed carbon fibre that you can't easily fix with a coat of paint. I'm well aware I'm not "normal" in the modern Porsche world when it comes to my views on PFF though definitely against the grain!

Twinfan said: Mine is also a keeper but I still didn't bother with PPF. I just didn't think the financials added up, especially as it needs replacing every so often. If it’s a keeper, and you don’t really care about its cosmetic appearance, then there is no need. My first Porsche didn’t have it. I used and abused it for 60k miles of road and track. When I sold it (to my best mate) there was barely any paint left on the front end and bonnet. It was down to the primer in a lot of places. He didn’t care. He just wanted the car. If I was trying to sell it privately or trade it, nobody would have been interested. PPF really only comes into its own if you use your car in a certain way. The way I do, I consider it essential. Close convoy on B roads/Highlands. Chasing friends on Trackdays etc. And then plan to move the car on after a couple of years. If you do Sunday drives on your own, then I probably wouldn’t bother. That’s how I see it, anyway.

Twinfan said: Mine is also a keeper but I still didn't bother with PPF. I just didn't think the financials added up, especially as it needs replacing every so often. I'm glad to see someone who thinks like me. Mine is a forever car but the paint doesn't look as good with PPF and I want to enjoy looking at it. For the cost of PPF, which arguably needs changing every 5 years, I can spray a few bumpers. Frankly at 4k for a full body PPF by the time you've done it twice you're probably not far away from a full respray. Obviously each to their own and I understand why some people go for it.

Even if you're selling the car after say 2yrs and 10k miles, is it really going to need more than £4k of paint? Bonnet and bumper would only be £2k-£3k, surely. These aren't collectors cars - there are too many of them. Completely immaculate examples with totally original paint aren't going to be worth substantially more than one with an average level of wear and tear. That's why I've taken the "I'll fix it when it's broke" approach. I get where jackwood is coming from re. use though, that may affect how soon and how likely a repaint might be required.

Twinfan said: Even if you're selling the car after say 2yrs and 10k miles, is it really going to need more than £4k of paint? Bonnet and bumper would only be £2k-£3k, surely. These aren't collectors cars - there are too many of them. Completely immaculate examples with totally original paint aren't going to be worth substantially more than one with an average level of wear and tear. That's why I've taken the "I'll fix it when it's broke" approach. I get where jackwood is coming from re. use though, that may affect how soon and how likely a repaint might be required. No right or wrong answer Just preferences.

jackwood said: No right or wrong answer Just preferences. Of course, exactly as it should be!

jackwood said: If it’s a keeper, and you don’t really care about its cosmetic appearance, then there is no need. My first Porsche didn’t have it. I used and abused it for 60k miles of road and track. When I sold it (to my best mate) there was barely any paint left on the front end and bonnet. It was down to the primer in a lot of places. He didn’t care. He just wanted the car. If I was trying to sell it privately or trade it, nobody would have been interested. PPF really only comes into its own if you use your car in a certain way. The way I do, I consider it essential. Close convoy on B roads/Highlands. Chasing friends on Trackdays etc. And then plan to move the car on after a couple of years. If you do Sunday drives on your own, then I probably wouldn’t bother. That’s how I see it, anyway. That's exactly my view and how I mainly use my cars too. B roads and road trips with friends are most susceptible to road rash and chips when following. I tend to go with the middle PPF option, bit more than just front end but not the full car. Paying just over £2k for that these days.

Collecting my new BGTS in July. MD said they do traditional PPF or SPF (sprayed on type PPF). I asked them to give me a price. Whats the going rate so i dont get @#$*?

jay2000 said: Collecting my new BGTS in July. MD said they do traditional PPF or SPF (sprayed on type PPF). I asked them to give me a price. Whats the going rate so i dont get @#$*? I think you're referring to PPS (paint protection spray). The concept sounds really cool but I don't like the idea of a brand new car being disassembled and put back together again as that's how PPS needs to be applied. Also, the theory behind PPS sounds great but I can't find a single video where it's been tested like PPF has (scratching it and then heating it). If you damage any panel with PPS on, it may protect the original paint but I imagine you will need to get that panel re-sprayed which is a hassle. I feel PPF is so much easier in this regard. I paid just over £5,000 for full PPF on my GT4 and the installation is awesome. Not sure where you're based but I used Carttitude in Manchester.

jay2000 said: Collecting my new BGTS in July. MD said they do traditional PPF or SPF (sprayed on type PPF). I asked them to give me a price. Whats the going rate so i dont get @#$*? It's important to bear in mind that PPF costings are made up of several items. Preparation of the paint (this will vary again if a used car), the PPF (which brand of PPF you use, the materials, and the physical application), other things such as ceramic coatings etc. So not all costings are equal and sometimes you end up comparing apples and oranges. OPC/Topaz are typically the most expensive, but IMO you are better off going to a local specialist who is approved by the PPF manufacturer i.e. XPEL. As detailed in my post on the previous page, my car was brand new but I opted for a full stage 1 machine polish/correction, then XPEL PPF application (using a 'track pack' and some custom bits in key exposed areas), then I had ceramic coatings overlayed everything, and also had my wheels/callipers/springs and other areas ceramic armoured, plus glass treatments/coating. It came to £3k inc VAT, which was less than Topaz wanted to charge me just for a Track PPF installation.

G40R_JL said: Mine is collecting patina. Skipped PPF but got a ceramic coat to make it easier to remove the rubber marks from trackdays. It gets lighter with more stone chips so faster right….. . Looks like First Cafe, local car club's haunt. Edited by 993rsr on Friday 28th April 18:20

This PPF lark looks an easy way to make money if they can charge £5k for a few days work.

Armitage.Shanks said: This PPF lark looks an easy way to make money if they can charge £5k for a few days work. Too bloody right!

I don’t think PPF is necessarily good value, but does give you some peace of mind when hooning about. I think my first 8 or so Porsches never had PPF, now my last 5 I have had it fitted from new. Perhaps a sign of the times, but each to their own, you pay your money and take your choice….

diffstar said: I don’t think PPF is necessarily good value, but does give you some peace of mind when hooning about. I think my first 8 or so Porsches never had PPF, now my last 5 I have had it fitted from new. Perhaps a sign of the times, but each to their own, you pay your money and take your choice…. I agree it’s all down to what people want but I do sometimes think it is like the Emperor’s New Clothes folktale. I don’t like the idea of stone chips on a (dark) car but I don’t recall ever worrying about getting them and most Porsche secondhand cars the OPC sell appear to have some form of corrective paintwork in the high risk areas by default. How they tackle scratched/peeling PPF in their trade in valuation v stone chips I’ve no idea? On the subject of PPF fitting I saw a Spyder that had it fitted straight from new by third party high end installer. There was a gap of a few mm at the edge of the panels where the PPF finished. Is that the norm? I thought it would be better to wrap the PPF around the edge and take off removable panels (plastic side skirts for instance) to better finish them?

Armitage.Shanks said: I agree it’s all down to what people want but I do sometimes think it is like the Emperor’s New Clothes folktale. I don’t like the idea of stone chips on a (dark) car but I don’t recall ever worrying about getting them and most Porsche secondhand cars the OPC sell appear to have some form of corrective paintwork in the high risk areas by default. How they tackle scratched/peeling PPF in their trade in valuation v stone chips I’ve no idea? On the subject of PPF fitting I saw a Spyder that had it fitted straight from new by third party high end installer. There was a gap of a few mm at the edge of the panels where the PPF finished. Is that the norm? I thought it would be better to wrap the PPF around the edge and take off removable panels (plastic side skirts for instance) to better finish them? Depends on which panel you’re referring too as some panels are impossible to wrap around due to the tightness. The PPF will end up rubbing against the adjacent panel. I have seen any panel seams on mine and I was very implicit with my installer that I want wrapped edges where possible. They truly did a fantastic job. I’ve noticed (especially with high end installers), they’re installing PPF using the standard templates as opposed to modifying the templates to get extra coverage on corners. It makes for a much easier and quicker installation meaning they can get cars in and out much faster. The average person probably won’t notice but I’m very OCD. If you want maximum coverage, ask to see the templates and tell them you want wrapped edges otherwise they’ll do a standard installation. I totally think PPF is worth it for those who like their cars to look pristine all the time. It’s horses for courses but there is a lot of skill required to install PPF. You’re not only paying for the PPF but the skill and experience of the installer. It’s not the same as installing a vinyl wrap which is a lot more forgiving.