Follow us today...
You just bought your brand new 2023 Toyota Tundra off the lot and let’s say for the sake of scenario you got it in that beautiful Solar Octane Red. In my opinion that’s one of Toyota’s best color options if not the best. I really like how it pops on the 2023 Toyota Sequoia. Anyways, you just bought your truck in that ostentatious color but you yearn for something more. You say to yourself, “it’s not shinny enough.”
Certainly, any man or woman who just spent almost $100k on a 2023 Toyota Tundra would want it to look good right? Instead of getting another layer of clear coat added, you decide to go with the dealer option and get a ceramic coating. What is a ceramic coating? It’s essentially a vinyl like wrap that is applied to your car via water, and it adheres to the surface providing not only protection against bugs, small rocks, and scratches, but it also gives your car a really nice shine.
However unlike another layer of clearcoat, these ceramic coatings don’t last that long. According to users, you need to maintain it via new sections of wrap, replacing it, and or keeping it clean and checking for bubbles. So, owners asked on Facebook’s 2023 Toyota Tundra group, “is it really worth it?”
After reading all of the answers, the conclusion seems to be that yes, it’s worth it but then you won’t be able to get much off resale value. Why does this matter? Before the pandemic, as soon as you buy a brand new car and drive it off the lot, the resale value drops immensely. However, starting around 2020, as soon as you drove a car off the lot, especially a Toyota, your car value increased with an average of 20%. So, if in case a shortage of 2023 Tundras were to happen then you wouldn’t need to think about that.
To get a good ceramic coating, it will cost you around $1000-$2000 today. Now that’s just the basic coating you can opt for better options for more money. In my opinion I think that it’s worth it because if your Solar Octan Red 2023 Toyota Tundra gets a little rock chip or gets its grill infested with little bugs from the highway, would you as the owner not get angry over that? Besides, if you are a big DIY guy, then you could easily do this in the comfort of your home and save you some money and let’s be honest, everyone could save a little money.
What do you think? Is the ceramic coating worth it? Let us know in the comments below.
Follow us today...
Comments
While I appreciate your
Permalink
While I appreciate your article and your question eliciting feedback on ceramic coatings, respectfully, it appears you are confusing vinyl-like wrapping with ceramic coating.
You write, "What is a ceramic coating? It’s essentially a vinyl like wrap that is applied to your car via water..." This isn't correct. Ceramic coatings, in the context of auto paint protection, are not 'films' or 'wrap' type products that are applied via water/squeegee. A ceramic coating is a silica-based liquid polymer that when applied to automotive paints and clearcoats cures to form a protective layer. What you have described in your article is a 'wrap type' protective film, such as the popular 3M paint protection films -- they are completely different than ceramic coatings. There are in fact some ceramic coatings that can be applied on top of these wraps, but they are not to be confused with the wraps themselves, and most folks don't typically ceramic coat their wraps.
As to ceramic coatings, I think they can be beneficial if applied correctly. That noted, I am personally more a fan of spray-on/wipe-off type ceramic waxes that contain SIO2. The weather/water-beading protection they provide typically outlasts most carnauba and sealant type waxes, and they are much easier to apply than a true ceramic coating. A true ceramic coating, if applied correctly, will handily outlast spray-on/wipe-off type ceramic waxes that contain SIO2, but they can be higher maintenance to remove when they start breaking down after a few years.
Ceramic protection isn't a
Permalink
Ceramic protection isn't a wrap. It's a liquid that is applied to the clearcoat to protect it from environmental damage. And it makes the car shiny, not shinny.
A ceramic coating is NOT a
Permalink
A ceramic coating is NOT a ‘wrap’ (vinyl or otherwise). These are two totally different types of paint protection. Please do a little research before writing an article.
You really should delete this
Permalink
You really should delete this article and start over.
This is 100% incorrect and
Permalink
This is 100% incorrect and also misleading and confusing.
You should be embarrassed by the extreme lack of knowledge, research and time put into this article.
There is not a shred of truth to this. I would advise you remove this hideous display of ignorance. You look silly. Start over.
This article is incredibly
Permalink
This article is incredibly uneducated and a jab at an industry that is designed to protect vehicles. It is misleading and the author should be fired or reprimanded
This might be the most
Permalink
This might be the most pointless article ever written. Come on man, at least do a LITTLE research before writing something like this.
It’s articles like this that
Permalink
It’s articles like this that confuse and uneducate potential customers for those who actually install ceramic coatings for a living. It almost hurt my eyes to read this and took every part of my soul to not scratch them out of my sockets. I appreciate your article, but this is why it’s very important to research and make sure to educate yourself before putting something out there like this.
Vinyl wraps are completely different from ceramic coatings.
Also, some ceramic coatings add resale value to your vehicle because they are registered to carfax.
Why are these misleading and
Permalink
Why are these misleading and false information even allowed to be submitted. I was OK with the article until I read the replies. Shame on you. Evidently, journalism is definitely not for you. Try politics.