Gtechniq Ceramic Coating and PPF on a new F8 Tributo
Discussion
My F8 Tributo is arriving in the next few weeks. It will be my first Ferrari and I am extremely excited.
I decided to not spec PPF with the factory as it is exceptionally overpriced for limited protection. Instead, the dealer will be arranging for their local PPF applicator to cover the front and sides for about £2700 (Track Pack). Apparently this is quite common.
They are informing me there is an additional £600 needed for a Gtechniq ceramic coating which covers the bodywork including the PPF, glass, carbon, wheels and also treats the interior as well.
Is this necessary or is it an unnecessary upsell from the dealer?
I decided to not spec PPF with the factory as it is exceptionally overpriced for limited protection. Instead, the dealer will be arranging for their local PPF applicator to cover the front and sides for about £2700 (Track Pack). Apparently this is quite common.
They are informing me there is an additional £600 needed for a Gtechniq ceramic coating which covers the bodywork including the PPF, glass, carbon, wheels and also treats the interior as well.
Is this necessary or is it an unnecessary upsell from the dealer?
Congratulations on your first Ferrari. You haven’t mentioned the colour, but if a solid rosso, if it anything like my 488 Spider (And previous 458’s) the paintwork will have swirls and mars from the factory. It will imperative that the car receives a quality detailing/machine polishing before having the ppf installed.
I would speak to the ppf installers prior to any work to see exactly how much time and effort they’ll put into this before covering the paintwork. To give you an idea, my last car took 3 full days and a 2 stage polish to prep. You’d be amazed at how much better you can get a brand new car to look and how crap the factory are at this. The GTechniq coverings on the wrap parts will simply aid beading of water. The Gtechniq Crystal Serum Ultra ceramic I have covering my unprotected bodywork has been superb at minimising swirls when washing, a huge improvement over the earlier/cheaper versions. I’d definitely want to know exactly what version of the product they are offering for the £600.
Enjoy your new car...
I would speak to the ppf installers prior to any work to see exactly how much time and effort they’ll put into this before covering the paintwork. To give you an idea, my last car took 3 full days and a 2 stage polish to prep. You’d be amazed at how much better you can get a brand new car to look and how crap the factory are at this. The GTechniq coverings on the wrap parts will simply aid beading of water. The Gtechniq Crystal Serum Ultra ceramic I have covering my unprotected bodywork has been superb at minimising swirls when washing, a huge improvement over the earlier/cheaper versions. I’d definitely want to know exactly what version of the product they are offering for the £600.
Enjoy your new car...
Congrats and totally agree on PPF. There’s people that are good at PPF and there’s people that are shocking at PPF....I would not assume because it’s someone the dealer can arrange to do it they are good. At a minimum I would go to their premises (perhaps without telling them) and ask to look at their work. You shouldn’t see a single edge....if you can do go elsewhere. Also ask what brand of PPF they’re using.
If you’re anywhere near North London/Hets/Bucks I would recommend Max Protect who are just off the M25 near M1/A41
If you’re anywhere near North London/Hets/Bucks I would recommend Max Protect who are just off the M25 near M1/A41
Defo needs attention pre PPF...i got a 488 delivered, splashed the cash and got it in 2007 F1, a hand painted 4 layer much £££ upcharge paint.
When it arrived my detailer said it was the worst paint he had ever seen for swirls and superficial issues, you could really see it. 3 day proper polishing jobby and came up beautifully.
Spoke to the supplying dealer and they cofirmed that the paint gets left at the F factory, upto the dealer or whoever to sort it out on delivery...especially true on the more £££ done by hand paints..ironic really the more you spend on expensive paint the worse condition it turns up in!
I have had PPF on most cars, the one thing that annoys me , and its happened on all of them, is the PPF on the wing mirrors, always seems to get slight bubbling on the front edges which u can see , especially if ( dare i say it ) u drive in the rain!
When it arrived my detailer said it was the worst paint he had ever seen for swirls and superficial issues, you could really see it. 3 day proper polishing jobby and came up beautifully.
Spoke to the supplying dealer and they cofirmed that the paint gets left at the F factory, upto the dealer or whoever to sort it out on delivery...especially true on the more £££ done by hand paints..ironic really the more you spend on expensive paint the worse condition it turns up in!
I have had PPF on most cars, the one thing that annoys me , and its happened on all of them, is the PPF on the wing mirrors, always seems to get slight bubbling on the front edges which u can see , especially if ( dare i say it ) u drive in the rain!
As has been said above you're better off not getting Ferrari and probably even the dealer (who will just sub it out anyway) to touch the paint.
Ceramic coating is done additionally to PPF, to the areas not being covered by it, and probably to the PPF once applied as well. Definitely not an upsell con. That being said I would be surprised to hear of a car having PPF done without ceramic coating, as the PPF just protects the paint - it doesn't correct the paint.
I would personally go direct to the detailer rather than getting it done through the supplying dealer. It will be less expensive and you can probably ask for specific off the menu things to be done.
Ceramic coating is done additionally to PPF, to the areas not being covered by it, and probably to the PPF once applied as well. Definitely not an upsell con. That being said I would be surprised to hear of a car having PPF done without ceramic coating, as the PPF just protects the paint - it doesn't correct the paint.
I would personally go direct to the detailer rather than getting it done through the supplying dealer. It will be less expensive and you can probably ask for specific off the menu things to be done.
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