Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster & Cayman Detailing Discussion

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-30-2022, 04:19 AM   #1
PLP
Registered User
 
PLP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 362
Angry Ceramic coating. Who did it? Is it really hard?

I am asking as I did one, supposedly good quality, but it is very soft. Easily to be scratched.
It is not what I was expecting to see.

Easy to scratch? I mean you can move your finger tip, without much of a pressure, again the panel to see tiny scratches.
What gives?

__________________
Current rides: 2003 Porsche Boxster MT (me), 2019 Bolt LT (me), 2015 Audi Q5 (wife), 2008 VW Rabbit (2.5 inline 5, MT, well, for kid... but you now, it is the 5 straight)

Previous: 2014 Fiat 500e, 2016 KIA Forte5 SX, 2016 Fiat 500X, and some old days: Trabant, Fiat 126p...
PLP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2022, 05:14 PM   #2
On the slippery slope
 
JayG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,794
Garage
What coating did you use?
The high end ones that pros use are actually good
It costs around $1000-1500for a pro job
IMHO, The cheap ones are basically fortified wax

YMMV
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"
JayG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2022, 06:57 AM   #3
PLP
Registered User
 
PLP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 362
Quote:
Originally Posted by JayG View Post
What coating did you use?
The high end ones that pros use are actually good
It costs around $1000-1500for a pro job
IMHO, The cheap ones are basically fortified wax

YMMV
No, it was not cheap.
I paid 1'100 USD for it.

It was CarPro CQuartz Professional
https://cqfinest.com/faq/
Supposedly one of the bests...
https://carupgrade.co/buyers-guide/best-diy-ceramic-coating-for-cars/
__________________
Current rides: 2003 Porsche Boxster MT (me), 2019 Bolt LT (me), 2015 Audi Q5 (wife), 2008 VW Rabbit (2.5 inline 5, MT, well, for kid... but you now, it is the 5 straight)

Previous: 2014 Fiat 500e, 2016 KIA Forte5 SX, 2016 Fiat 500X, and some old days: Trabant, Fiat 126p...
PLP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2022, 04:51 PM   #4
On the slippery slope
 
JayG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,794
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by PLP View Post
No, it was not cheap.
I paid 1'100 USD for it.

It was CarPro CQuartz Professional
https://cqfinest.com/faq/
Supposedly one of the bests...
https://carupgrade.co/buyers-guide/best-diy-ceramic-coating-for-cars/
I had Ceramic Pro put on my 996 and I have been happy with it.
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"
JayG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2022, 07:14 AM   #5
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 93
I use Hydrosilex Recharge its$ 35 a bottle.car looks great its easy to apply. I don't think the cheaper ceramics will help with road chops and light scratches. Im more concerned with a clean shiny look and easy application.
This is just my opinion.

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk
alansdavid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-15-2022, 07:05 AM   #6
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE USA
Posts: 320
Just a question...

So exactly why did you guys choose to go with a ceramic? Good quality waxes (provided the paint is reasonably unmarred) look fantastic once finished. Granted they will not last as long but there is less fear of "damage" to the coating as they can be removed and replaced easily. Just how scratch resistant are your coatings? Thanks...
Jgkram is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2022, 10:12 AM   #7
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 93
HYDROSILEX.COM

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk
alansdavid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2022, 07:00 AM   #8
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 93
If youll spend 1100 for sealant...why not get a wrap,?

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk
alansdavid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2022, 01:33 PM   #9
1998 Boxster Silver/Red
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: 92262
Posts: 2,976
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jgkram View Post
So exactly why did you guys choose to go with a ceramic? Good quality waxes (provided the paint is reasonably unmarred) look fantastic once finished. Granted they will not last as long but there is less fear of "damage" to the coating as they can be removed and replaced easily. Just how scratch resistant are your coatings? Thanks...
I'll admit to knowing zero about ceramic coating. Yeah... the stuf that comes in a #? oz little bottle... you spread over your car.

Am I to understand that if you spend ~$1,100 to have that stuff applied to your car... it's resistant to scratches? Debris? Small animals, lol? Damage to the finish. Huh.

Sell me on this stuff, cause right now I'm not buying the hype.

Wax. Good old wax. No?

Yes, I'm a cynic.
__________________
1998 Porsche Boxster
Starter986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2022, 08:15 AM   #10
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 93
I like the long shine retention and water rejection.in the two years I've used it.the car has looked great and required minimal touch up and yes it did scratch and chip some. I never expected chip protection anymore then with the excellent wax I used.the ease of application is good enough for me to use this stuff.Im no lazy guy but hsving only one usable arm this stuff is a breeze.

Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk
alansdavid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2023, 01:44 PM   #11
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Beaumont Texas
Posts: 68
Professionally applied ceramic normally involves a total detailing of the paint. Clay bar and Several stages of polish before the ceramic. That is a big part of the cost.
wiebuschk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2023, 06:08 AM   #12
Registered User
 
986RennWagen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Noblesville, IN
Posts: 11
Sonax CC36 is an awesome product. I've been using it in my business for years.
986RennWagen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2023, 10:49 AM   #13
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 52
My $.02 from having a 981 Boxster professionally ceramic coated vs. not having my new-to-me 986 ceramic coated.

First, if your paint is in anything less than pristine condition (or cannot me made such), I don't think it is worth professionally ceramic coating it. I had a number of scratches fixed on my 981, plus the bumper resprayed, so that the paint was in near-flawless condition before they did minor paint correction and ceramic coating.

Second, I loved the ceramic coating on the 981. The shine on the car was great, and it was like having a hard shell on the paint. I went with Owners Pride, and they offer 5 or 7-year ceramic coatings (I chose the 5), and after having it for a couple years, it looked and acted just like it was freshly applied. Water would bead right off when washing the car.

Why not have the 986 ceramic coated? First, it would take a few thousand dollars to get the paint in shape to be coated, plus another thousand or so for the coating itself, and for a 20-year-old car, I don't think it's worth it.

I have looked into DIY ceramic coatings. A lot of people wonder why they are paying $1K to have someone else do it, when they could do it themselves for the cost of the coating. What I have discovered is that there is definitely an art to it - if you do it incorrectly, you can get high-spots or have it dry too quickly, and it makes your car look like it has polka dots, and if you are using a professional ceramic coating, it is not easy to fix it.

If you do want to go down the DIY ceramic route, I have heard good things about Gyeon Can Coat - it is easy to apply and can last up to two years. For a good one-year product, Adam's Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating is supposed to be easy to use and durable. If you are looking for a 5 or 7-year ceramic coating, I would recommend a professional.
s_wilwerding is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2023, 11:17 AM   #14
PLP
Registered User
 
PLP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 362
Quote:
Originally Posted by s_wilwerding View Post
First, if your paint is in anything less than pristine condition (or cannot me made such), I don't think it is worth professionally ceramic coating .
So I had my car completely repainted, hence the paint was pristine. Everywhere.
That was the reason to keep the brand new shine... but somehow the ceramic coating is very prone to scratching.
I will see after the winter season if the coating cured at all. If it is still so soft, I will need to look more into it. The way it was explained to me - a hard shell on the car.

But the shine and water repelling is great.
__________________
Current rides: 2003 Porsche Boxster MT (me), 2019 Bolt LT (me), 2015 Audi Q5 (wife), 2008 VW Rabbit (2.5 inline 5, MT, well, for kid... but you now, it is the 5 straight)

Previous: 2014 Fiat 500e, 2016 KIA Forte5 SX, 2016 Fiat 500X, and some old days: Trabant, Fiat 126p...
PLP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2023, 03:30 AM   #15
Registered User
 
986RennWagen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Noblesville, IN
Posts: 11
You can scratch any ceramic coating. Sonax CC36 or Avalon King are great 3 year protection coatings. The more expensive, thicker coatings are more prone to scratching, not to mention some require heat lamps to cure. The only way to then remove that coating is to use a compound. Good luck!!

986RennWagen is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page