Stealership Ceramic Coating?

Got a new 2021 Army Green OR DCSB on its way. Dealer wants to I think $800 ish to do this "ceramic coating". Looks like "Penske Premier Protection Diamond Nano Ceramic". Supposedly protects the interior and exterior. Anyone got opinions on this?

 

More claims...

 

I am betting the dealer just farms this out to someone else and takes a cut of the action. You might be able to get the same thing done for less by cutting out the middleman.

PS: I have heard good things about ceramic coating and I could see doing this on my new Corvette. But spending this kind of money to protect a pick up truck's paint would not seem like a good use of my funds. But then again, I don't consider my Taco a show car.

 

My experience with these dealer add-ons is they are mostly crap designed to make them money. A good coat of wax will protect the exterior from all of the same things. $800 will by you a lifetime of wax for the truck.

 

Can i interest you in the frame protection rustoleum spray package

 

I figured it was a load of BS. Believe me when I say I have had my fair share of shit from stealerships. I just texted my sales guy and told him to cancel the ceramic application. Gonna consider getting it applied professionally or by myself shortly after taking delivery.

 

You beat me to it. I was just going to say...

Purchase it through someone else like a professional local detailer or have it done yourself. A bottle of ceramic runs about $100, but there is a lot of prep involved and materials needed.

https://theragcompany.com/collectio...s-detail-products-inspiration-ceramic-coating

 

$800 is pretty cheap. I'd run rather fast from the dealer.

 

All the coatings and "paint protections" that dealers sell are spray on + wipe off products that they spend $5 and 5 minutes on. Anything they sell you in the finance department is garbage.

 

Given you are in northeast OH, I think you’d be better off spending some $ on having the frame fluid filmed.

I just had my new 2021 done here in NH for $150.

To protect the interior, I’d recommend Wet Okole seat covers (about $550 for a double cab). Spend your remaining $100 on some Weathertech or Husky floor liners.

Same $800 spend, but ultimately better (IMO) results.

 

Idk about other dealer coatings, but when they did my truck the simonize guys applied their ceramic glass coating to the exterior, and treated the interior. Been 1 1/2 years since done. Never once washed the truck with any car wash products. I've just hosed the heavy salt spray, and mud from it when it gets really bad. Truck appears as new after a good rain storm. Really impressed with this stuff...not even a paint chip yet. Wish it was available when i bought my 2001 tundra.

 

I always apply fluid film at home. My brother's got a fluid film applicator gun so I get that taken care of with a nice thick layer every year. Also got the all weather floor liners included with the truck so I am all good there.

Have been looking at the Wet Okele's though. Really strongly considering getting some of those.

 

This was not the case for my truck. The coating applied was some type of industrial ceramic liquid in bottles, but first they spent part of the day claying the paint before applying this stuff. Entire job was 2 days.

 

See I am concerned that what my dealership is offering is just a huge load of shit. At least information can be found on the Simoniz stuff. This Penske stuff literally only shows that same brochure. I also am SUPER skeptical of having the dealership touch my vehicle with rags or wash materials of any sort. They just do not ever seem to give a crap.

 

Fluid film is good to if living in the rust belt. I now prefer cosmoline rp-342....don't need to reapply it like fluid film every year. Did mine with that stuff over a year ago, still looks like yesterday. Not even a touchup.

 

Thats a big problem when you have no trust in your dealer. Believe me, its hard to find good ones, and when you do try the best to stay with them as long as the price seems fair.

 

I'm in, but I sure hope you charge a lot.
If it doesn't cost me a couple grand, I'll know you're selling snake oil..

Edit: I'd also feel better if you added some fancy words to your package.

 

Yeah pretty much say no to everything they offer you. Extended warranty? No. Ceramic coating? No. Paint protection film? No. Tonneau cover? No. Bed mat? No. Yada yada yada. Ceramic coating and PPF are both probably great ideas cause the paint blows on these but you can have them done for less money elsewhere.

 

thats what my dad said they did back in the day, take the car to the back guy would throw you a black rustoleum rattle can and away you went

 

You can do a Ceramic coating yourself for much less but understanding that you will be investing in some products to get the prep work right. You might even be able to skip some of the polishing/iron removing/clay bar if the truck hasn't been outside much since it was built (Your final product will always be better with more steps in your prep work). I was able to just use a waterless carwash spray, alcohol based surface prep spray, then apply a ceramic coating (there are MANY different kinds including the newer Graphene coatings). If you've never applied a real Ceramic coating I'd recommend using Adam's Graphene Spray coating. It's a 12 month at best coating but it's more forgiving to apply but still provides a good coating and protection. Real ceramic coatings are something if not applied and buffed off really well can be seen after it has cured and it takes cutting compound to remove.

My truck was literally built like 3 weeks after I bought it and I couldn't find a water spot on it, it was the cleanest vehicle off the lot I've ever bought. I honestly don't think it had seen any rain at all. I was also OK with the fact that it wasn't gonna be as "perfect" as I could have gotten it but it still came out really well.