Is paint protection on a new car worth the money?

[oscarisapc]

We are in the process of buying a new car to replace my wife's Focus which has given us ten years of faithful service but is now past it. We have got a good deal on a new Kia Cee'd (OK, OK, I know they were cr4p in the past but the new model seems much under rated and good value) and as part of the package the dealer has thrown in a sweetener of Paint Protection. As we suffer from seagulls and the Focus took a few direct hits in the past this seemed to be a good idea. However, when we turned up to collect the car this afternoon they had forgotten to do it but said they could rush it through in an hour. An hour? For something retailing at £450? Is paint protection really worth that money or have I been conned into accepting something I was persuaded was worth £450 but is actually a complete rip off? I am collecting the car tomorrow, Paint protection or not.

 

[moonloops]

You can buy "toughseal" which is one of the best paint protection kits for under £40 and make a better job of it yourself. £450 !! sheesh

 

[wemorgan]

You can buy similar kits (Autoglym LifeShine) on Ebay for £15.

Sorry.

 

[gaz_l]

We are in the process of buying a new car to replace my wife's Focus which has given us ten years of faithful service but is now past it. We have got a good deal on a new Kia Cee'd (OK, OK, I know they were cr4p in the past but the new model seems much under rated and good value) and as part of the package the dealer has thrown in a sweetener of Paint Protection. As we suffer from seagulls and the Focus took a few direct hits in the past this seemed to be a good idea. However, when we turned up to collect the car this afternoon they had forgotten to do it but said they could rush it through in an hour. An hour? For something retailing at £450? Is paint protection really worth that money or have I been conned into accepting something I was persuaded was worth £450 but is actually a complete rip off? I am collecting the car tomorrow, Paint protection or not.

As it's invisible and I have cynicism on my side I'd go for zero value. When I bought the SLK the deal was that the (very minor) scrape on one alloy would be refurbed, the car would come with a new MOT and it would be Star Guarded.

The alloy was sorted, but the MOT wasn't done and as far as I can tell the Star Guard just involved putting a sticker on the windscreen and chucking some products in the boot, all of which I have anyway. Pretty rubbish.

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[dan1502]

My understanding is that you can get much better cheaper by a decent detailer. I know Shinerama will add a sealant which is supposed to last up to 5 years (iirc) for £100 (or thereabouts) on top of a paint correction and new cars generally need a lot less correction so it should come in at quite a bit less than that for the full works with far better results.

 

[NISFAN]

Star gaurd? A rip off......a quick polish for £500......you do get a rather nice MB bag full of products you will never use.....you can buy mine for the bargain price of £300, I'm sure it is much better than the Kia stuff, and it comes with Bird lime neutraliser, seagull strength

 

[Peter Hill]

Don't waste your money...

Hi,

On any of the after build 'protection' treatments.
I had a Renault Scenic from new and had the treatment done. It cost £300 and I ended up with a nicely finished and packed set of brushes and cleaners (worth a few quid if you don't have them already. And a sticker on the inside of the windscreen.

Once the vehicle was run in I took it for a good run down to southern Spain and back. About 3,000 miles. I was careful to wash it down several times to get rid of the dust and the bug splats. When I got back I went round to the dealer to complain and to ask for some help. The finish was totally ruined with the bug splats, all over the front and on the wing mirrors. The bugs seemed to have etched into the finish, the dealer tried a bit of rubbing and took it away round the back where their 'specialist' tried to clean it up. It remained very marked and totally ruined compared to its original finish and look.

Then later that year the other half put some plant pots (with plants) in a cardboard box on the back seat. I noticed the dampness immediately after, and roughly brushed it down with a rag. Later when the weather went into winter and the temps dropped to freezing I started to see where the seat area had been affected by the water. It looked like the treatment (which is sprayed inside and out) was lifting, leaving a milky look (bloom) to those specific seat areas. (The other side. where I put my coat on the back seat, behind my drivers seat, was completely un-affected)

Apart from the very specific warning NOT to have anything to do with Renault Scenics, they are awful and unreliable too. Please please let me warn you, stay away from all after market spray-on glazes.

Waxes and similar treatments can be applied, re-applied and equally easily removed. If the basic surface of the vehicle has deteriorated it can be renovated and then rewaxed.

I've learnt my lesson, it cost £300...

I have a new B Class now. So far the paint does seem to be of a better quality and harder than that Renault. I'll see next month when we drive down to the south of France for our hols.

P.

 

[GP801]

The SLK had one of these treatments when new. I think it was Supaguard. Paint colour Fire Opal - solid red. So far at 7 years old it has never been polished but still beads water and shines like new. The dirt including the dreaded bird deposits washes off really easily. Not sure I would actually pay for it but it was thrown in as a deal sweetener. Probably cost the dealer virtually nothing.

 

[oscarisapc]

Thanks

Thanks folks. It is a bit late by now to undo it. I wouldn't even have wondered if I hadn't been told they could do it in an hour. It was thrown in as part of the package so I haven't exactly lost anything but am pi55ed off that I have been taken for a mug. I am hoping that our new Kia car (from the home of Samsung and the fifth largest auto manufacturing country in the world) will be good - but I am considerably underwhelmed by their dealership - Wessex Garages Bristol if you anyone reading this wants a consumer view. I guess that reputation parallels the cars and you are not going to get a premium dealership until the cars are shown to be of premium quality, which Kia have not been until recently. Anyway, looking forward to it coming tomorrow but still keeping the W203 320 cdi for my use.

 

[moonloops]

The daft thing is that £450 is added to the cost of the car and then you pay all that tax on top of it !!!

 

[Ted]

I don't think you'll be disappointed with your Kia, I'm delighted with mine.

 

[RichardM]

Salesman normally have targets for selling paint protection, gap insurance, tyre insurance etc so will push to build them into the deal. They could sell loads of cars but unless they sell these extras they don't get their full commission.

 

[@MARK]

This is one of those extras that in theory is nice to have but that has a huge margin on it for the seller.

But knowing that, it's normally one of those things that you should negotiate in at the end of the deal FOR FREE together with mats and a full tank of fuel.

One should never pay £500 for it because as others have said, you can pick up the same stuff on eBay for £20 or you can take that £500 and get it done properly.

 

[Palfrem]

I suppose one might ask why the manufacturer didn't apply this stuff at the factory if the paint surface "needs" protecting.

I buy a used 3 year old or so MB main dealer car every 14 months or so and always get the hard sell. When I ask if the car had the treatment from new and why does it need doing again, the salesman never knows.

Keep your money and go to Halfords for some Autoglym.

 

[D-18]

Don't rate the paint protection at all - I had it on my last W211 as a 'sweetner' and I'm not convinced it made any difference.

Think you'll like the Kia - my '06 Picanto Auto has had no problems at all other than a faulty switch for the electric mirrors which was fixed under warranty.

 

[wemorgan]

Pity about your experience with the dealer as my father highly rates his Hyundai dealer. I guess these places are only as good as the individuals who work there.

 

[evdok]

I wouldn't trust any dealer with a protection plan, theres nothing like treating your new car when it arrives home, at least it gets done! & done properly.

 

[Paul/]

Went for this once, on a new vehicle- and it was the only car I ever had that got vandalised- 8 foot gouge across 3 panels- my wife brushed past with a large cardboard box- stapled at each corner!!

The rest of the car was still lovely and shiny but I didn't think my £100s had been well invested protecting the paintwork...