Wrapping an Exige (S2)
Discussion
This is a bit hypothetical. For the last few months I've been idly browsing the classifieds for an S2 Exige in krypton green, maybe orange. I'm probably not quite ready to buy anyway yet (but you never know!) but it is very apparent that neither of these colours come up for sale very often. There is the dd orange one that comes up from time to time but I'm yet to see a krypton green car for sale at all. My concern would be that unless I'm very lucky, when it's time to buy, I'm highly unlikely to find a car in the colour with the spec I want.
So, I started getting curious about wrapping. The appeal would be that I could by a car the right spec and price and budget for a colour change from the off. I must admit, I've always, maybe wrongly, had wrapping filed away under the 'a bit naff' heading. But that might be from seeing too many chrome finishes or matt black stuff.
So my questions and cocnerns if anyone can help me.
1. Anyone had an Elise/Exige wrapped before and care to share their thoughts?
2. Can it be done in a way that completely hides the base colour? I don't want to open the door or boot to find contrasting colour joins etc.
3. How durable is in terms of stone chips, wrinkles, etc? Again I don't want to spend a fortune for it to be starting to peel off 18 months later.
4, How do you approach it from a washing/maintenance point of view? I assume, there is no need for waxes or potions to keep it looking shiny?
5. Approx cost for an Exige from a reliable fitter?
6. Do you need to worry about informing DVLA of colour change?
So, I started getting curious about wrapping. The appeal would be that I could by a car the right spec and price and budget for a colour change from the off. I must admit, I've always, maybe wrongly, had wrapping filed away under the 'a bit naff' heading. But that might be from seeing too many chrome finishes or matt black stuff.
So my questions and cocnerns if anyone can help me.
1. Anyone had an Elise/Exige wrapped before and care to share their thoughts?
2. Can it be done in a way that completely hides the base colour? I don't want to open the door or boot to find contrasting colour joins etc.
3. How durable is in terms of stone chips, wrinkles, etc? Again I don't want to spend a fortune for it to be starting to peel off 18 months later.
4, How do you approach it from a washing/maintenance point of view? I assume, there is no need for waxes or potions to keep it looking shiny?
5. Approx cost for an Exige from a reliable fitter?
6. Do you need to worry about informing DVLA of colour change?
Gad-Westy said:
So my questions and cocnerns if anyone can help me.
1. Anyone had an Elise/Exige wrapped before and care to share their thoughts?
2. Can it be done in a way that completely hides the base colour? I don't want to open the door or boot to find contrasting colour joins etc.
Likely possible, but at a cost - door shuts shouldn't be an issue but looking into my boot/engine bay the colour extends into there - wouldn't want to put a wrap that close to the heat etc
3. How durable is in terms of stone chips, wrinkles, etc? Again I don't want to spend a fortune for it to be starting to peel off 18 months later. Fairly, depends totally on the quality of the material used and the skill/competence of the fitter. Remember that you'll also likely need a full paint correction prior so the paint underneath is good for when its eventually removed
4, How do you approach it from a washing/maintenance point of view? I assume, there is no need for waxes or potions to keep it looking shiny? Similar to paint - you can mark/swirl it so need to be careful. You can ceramic coat a wrap for ease though
5. Approx cost for an Exige from a reliable fitter?
6. Do you need to worry about informing DVLA of colour change? Technically yes
1. Anyone had an Elise/Exige wrapped before and care to share their thoughts?
2. Can it be done in a way that completely hides the base colour? I don't want to open the door or boot to find contrasting colour joins etc.
Likely possible, but at a cost - door shuts shouldn't be an issue but looking into my boot/engine bay the colour extends into there - wouldn't want to put a wrap that close to the heat etc
3. How durable is in terms of stone chips, wrinkles, etc? Again I don't want to spend a fortune for it to be starting to peel off 18 months later. Fairly, depends totally on the quality of the material used and the skill/competence of the fitter. Remember that you'll also likely need a full paint correction prior so the paint underneath is good for when its eventually removed
4, How do you approach it from a washing/maintenance point of view? I assume, there is no need for waxes or potions to keep it looking shiny? Similar to paint - you can mark/swirl it so need to be careful. You can ceramic coat a wrap for ease though
5. Approx cost for an Exige from a reliable fitter?
6. Do you need to worry about informing DVLA of colour change? Technically yes
Thanks for that. Some great info.
Can I ask how long your's has been wrapped? Don't suppose you have any images of the transition around boot opening etc have you? I know it's me being picky but I'm a bit anal about detail like that. My suspicion is that it's probably no big deal if the base colour is fairly neutral but would look bad if I wrapped a blue car in green for example.
Why the need for paint correction prior to wrapping out of curiosity? I can see why you'd need to get rid of contamination etc but why the polishing aspect?
Thanks again
Can I ask how long your's has been wrapped? Don't suppose you have any images of the transition around boot opening etc have you? I know it's me being picky but I'm a bit anal about detail like that. My suspicion is that it's probably no big deal if the base colour is fairly neutral but would look bad if I wrapped a blue car in green for example.
Why the need for paint correction prior to wrapping out of curiosity? I can see why you'd need to get rid of contamination etc but why the polishing aspect?
Thanks again
Gad-Westy said:
Thanks for that. Some great info.
Can I ask how long your's has been wrapped? Don't suppose you have any images of the transition around boot opening etc have you? I know it's me being picky but I'm a bit anal about detail like that. My suspicion is that it's probably no big deal if the base colour is fairly neutral but would look bad if I wrapped a blue car in green for example.
Why the need for paint correction prior to wrapping out of curiosity? I can see why you'd need to get rid of contamination etc but why the polishing aspect?
Thanks again
I haven't I'm afraid but was looking at PPF so looked into some of the details (held off pending a stone chips re-spray then will be done) as its the same basic stuff and process - got a quote of <£500 for the front clam in clear.Can I ask how long your's has been wrapped? Don't suppose you have any images of the transition around boot opening etc have you? I know it's me being picky but I'm a bit anal about detail like that. My suspicion is that it's probably no big deal if the base colour is fairly neutral but would look bad if I wrapped a blue car in green for example.
Why the need for paint correction prior to wrapping out of curiosity? I can see why you'd need to get rid of contamination etc but why the polishing aspect?
Thanks again
Paint correction may not be as much of an issue with a wrap versus PPF, the latter you're protecting the finish underneath but you would still want the best paint condition possible - for both when it comes off and to make sure that surface imperfections eg small hollows don't show through - thinner wrap material issue I guess.
IIRC black is the best base to wrap as some of the other bits can then look a bit more OEM.
track-club wrap their Lotus' for track use and have wrapped Mclaren's, Porsches etc as well, just started offering the service outside of the in house stuff and have a purpose build booth in Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire but can collect and delivery cars in a covered trailer as well.
https://www.facebook.com/trackwrap/
price depends on material, spec, whether door shuts to be done etc but around £1500 for an Exige is the ball park
https://www.facebook.com/trackwrap/
price depends on material, spec, whether door shuts to be done etc but around £1500 for an Exige is the ball park
I researched it for similar reasons as you - the cars in the ‘right’ colour rarely came up for sale.
I found the cost of a decent wrap (to include shut lines etc) wasn’t far off the price of a respray. When you consider the man hours involved in either I guess it’s not all that much of a surprise.
Whilst you’d usually see a permanent change as devaluing a car, I think you might in fact see a return on taking a blander exige and permanently changing it to a brighter colour, particularly if you stick with an OEM shade. As such, i would be more minded to go down that route personally than a wrap.
I found the cost of a decent wrap (to include shut lines etc) wasn’t far off the price of a respray. When you consider the man hours involved in either I guess it’s not all that much of a surprise.
Whilst you’d usually see a permanent change as devaluing a car, I think you might in fact see a return on taking a blander exige and permanently changing it to a brighter colour, particularly if you stick with an OEM shade. As such, i would be more minded to go down that route personally than a wrap.
Gad-Westy said:
Cheers folks. Some useful info here. Not sure how I feel about the wrap right now but as it happens there is an Exige S in Isotope green that has just popped onto the market. Watch this space....
Slightly left field, someone on SELOC is thinking of selling their bright green, Honda SC/CC Elise.https://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=459898
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