Don't get shined by the dealership

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If you have ever purchased a new car from a dealer, you’ve already experienced it – the sales pitch for after-market or add-on goods or services. There’s a whole list of such things they can sell you, and they generate a LOT of extra money for the dealership. What are these things?

Extended warranties. Window tinting. Gap insurance.

Vehicle ID number etching. Tire and wheel protection. Interior fabric sealant.

Nitrogen-filled tires. And our personal favorite, paint protection in the form of ceramic coating or paint protection film (PPF). Since this is a blog about paint protection, let’s limit our comments to that.

It’s always tempting to take the dealer up on such after-market offers, one of the major reasons being that the cost of the ceramics/film can be included in the new-car financing. (Which, of course, is another one of those high-profit items if you get your financing through the dealer.) “Yessir, we can have that done in time for you to pick up the car, and there won’t be a separate charge – we’ll just slip it right into the financing.” Sounds great, doesn’t it? But it’s not great.

For a couple of reasons. First of all, a proper ceramic or film installation require a significant process of paint correction – everything from decontamination to wet sanding to buffing to the application of base coats. New cars come to the dealer with road grime and paint imperfections, and if the surface isn’t properly prepped those imperfections can actually get sealed in by the ceramic coating or film.

Second, it is a technical procedure that should be done by trained professionals in an environmentally controlled facility. The dealer isn’t going to do any of those things, and the ceramic coating (if it even IS an actual ceramic coating) is likely going to be applied by the lot attendants. And third, the dealer is probably going to charge you a lot more than a good specialty shop would charge.

Like, two or three times as much. Now, don’t lose sight of the fact that paint protection is a great idea, especially in Florida and other southern, bright-sunlight states. Declining paint quality Factory automotive paint has gone to hell in recent years.

Environmental requirements mean that auto paint is now water-based instead of solvent-based, and it doesn’t provide near the protection from UV rays and other damaging factors. Plus, today’s paint is about half the thickness that it was 20 or so years ago. That’s good for the car manufacturers’ bottom line, but very bad for you.

Another thing to worry about is the warranty the dealer may offer for his paint protection work. That warranty may promise long-term protection, but check out the details. They may require regular dealer inspections, frequent washes with specific soaps, re-application fees, exclusions for love bugs, water spots, bird droppings, and other things.

Miss an inspection and kiss that warranty protection goodbye. A better plan A much better plan of action – find a good independent detail shop that specializes in ceramic coatings and paint protection film, and visit them BEFORE you take delivery of your car. Ask about the steps that they use in their process and also ask about the warranty they offer.

Visit their website and look at their Google reviews. You will end up with a much better job, your car will look like a million dollars, and the savings will be significant. In Tampa Bay and beyond, look to CoaterZ for help.

CoaterZ offers the highest-quality PPF film and coatings as well as factory-trained technicians. It’s a wise investment – your car or truck will look as good at trade-in time as it did when it rolled out of the new-car dealership. Three locations to serve you: 2824 Alt19 Palm Harbor, FL 34683 (727)935-4621 www.CoaterZ.com 16235 N Florida Ave.

Lutz, FL 33549 (813)467-8149 https://coaterz.com/lutz/ 2321 Bee Ridge Rd. Sarasota, FL 34239 (941)297-0125 www.Coaterz.com/Sarasota