Painting vs Wrapping Cybertruck

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

That’s me realizing you’re misinformed and over confident in your assumptions and giving you the option to go discover for yourself that you’re wrong.

I think I would take the advice from an expert over someone who thinks his wrap is invincible.

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[Effonefiddy Lightning]

Are you kidding? That would be a waste of a truck this nice! It would also take up space that could be used for less durable painted cars, trucks and motorcycles. Plus, in our case, we only have a one-car garage and it has 3 street bikes and one dual sport inside (and a motorcycle lift). We also have a one car carport, but that gets reserved for painted cars that could benefit more from protection from sun, rain, wind driven debris and snow and ice. Painted vehicles get the garage/carport space because thin, painted body panels are subject to sun and hail damage, not to mention rusting wherever the coating is breached.

The Cybertruck, on the other hand, is covered in gleaming pieces of steel and glass. It can be easily polished back to better than new over multiple generations of owners. It's a truck, and it doesn't need no stinkin' garage!

Sarcasm bud.

 

[bentoncalder]

I think I would take the advice from an expert over someone who thinks his wrap is invincible.

Does your back hurt from moving the goal posts this far?
Never said my wrap was invincible. Just more economical than painting a vehicle. And not as fragile as you heard from a guy who would make more money from you if you got it painted rather than wrapped.

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

Does your back hurt from moving the goal posts this far?
Never said my wrap was invincible. Just more economical than painting a vehicle. And not as fragile as you heard from a guy who would make more money from you if you got it painted rather than wrapped.

Again, sarcasm . Relax dude.

 

[HaulingAss]

Never said my wrap was invincible. Just more economical than painting a vehicle. And not as fragile as you heard from a guy who would make more money from you if you got it painted rather than wrapped.

Now we are getting somewhere!

Obviously, the gleaming hard frickin' steel wins by a country mile. Because it has no coatings (nor does it need any).

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

Do you know what anecdotal evidence is?

You meen like the water bottle example?

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

Does your back hurt from moving the goal posts this far?
Never said my wrap was invincible. Just more economical than painting a vehicle. And not as fragile as you heard from a guy who would make more money from you if you got it painted rather than wrapped.

When are you getting your truck rewrapped and how much?

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

One more thing. If you paint it you’ll likely drastically reduce its resale value

Prove that hypothesis. Do you know someone who tried selling a painted one?

 

[PungoteagueDave]

Well, I've been researching the different wrap options (ppf, vinyl, etc) and the lifespan is between 3 to 5 years, plus, you can't use carwash, it has to be cleaned by hand or touchless carwash. Also, it's pretty pricey, that's why I was thinking why not to just paint it. Might be more expensive but also might last longer.

Mine is warranted for ten years and zero issues with a mechanical brush car wash. I have a monthly deal, wash it twice per weeks at the local Autobelle. Looks just like paint.

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

Mine is warranted for ten years and zero issues with a mechanical brush car wash. I have a monthly deal, wash it twice per weeks at the local Autobelle. Looks just like paint.

I don't think just because they I told you it has a ten year warranty that it'll still look good in ten years. I doubt it'll be acceptable after 5 even If you got the best material.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

The thing about paint vs vinyl vs PPF vs raw stainless is basic utility and expected use. Starting in 2005 we began putting Dupont XPel clear PPF on the front sections of every new vehicle we purchased and it has been great. Paint is soft and accumulates chips. Self-healing clear PPF is a requirement now for every new painted vehicle that we purchase. It lasts essentially forever in our experience (my wife’s 2013 Porsche still looks showroom new, with its PPF having done the job many times over).

We took my wife’s new MY Juniper, delivered March 31, straight from delivery to our wrap guy. It has already paid off in avoiding stone chips. We add window tint at the same time we apply teh PPF. For clear wrap over the leading surfaces, it costs about $3k. So that would be PLUS the cost of painting your truck.

The issue with wraps is that most are vinyl. That’s essentially plastic wrap and will last as long as plastic wrap. PPF is a whole other thing, is essentially a multi-ply process that is akin to paint in quality. It can be ceramic-coated, and it doesn't fade, so damaged sections can be changed later. My installer has half a roll waiting for if/when it is needed, and more can be ordered from teh supplier.

As to stainless attributes, I get it for the CT look - I almost had my wrap done in a stainless look - because it is maintenance-free, unlike actual stainless.

If you want to learn the truth about maintaining CT stainless look at the out-of-spec detailing videos on how to do it. They point out one other option that you have - adding ceramic coating directly to the stainless - still requires some serious maintenance (way more than a painted vehicle). This is the best video out there on how to maintain and detail a CT:



Yes, plenty of fanbois on here chortle about how its just a truck, don’t worry about how it looks. But some of us take pride and want to keep it showroom-new. That’s near impossible with the CT’s finish, unless you have a good detailer and don’t mind handprints, etc. in between cleanings. That’s why, for many of us, a PPF wrap solved the issue.

My PPF wrap cost $5k, is a beautiful metallic deep red that looks like paint. In five years if I don’t like it, I can change to something else. The key is finding a good wrap shop that you trust. My guy has done about 15 of my vehicles, including a couple motorcycles, and had some issues with the CT, specifically getting the heavier PPF material to stay wrapped over acute metal edges, eventually solved it after a couple take-backs.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

I don't think just because they I told you it has a ten year warranty that it'll still look good in ten years. I doubt it'll be acceptable after 5 even If you got the best material.

Speculation. There’s literally no reason it can’t hold up as well as paint, or better. It is self-healing and has a warranty, so I’m covered either way. I had mine extra-protected with a ceramic coating directly on the PPF. As pointed out doubt above, I have PPF that’s 15 years old on a farm truck, and 12 years old on my wife’s Porsche (both DuPont XPel clear PPF). Both are still in perfect, original condition, not a nick or scratch, no discoloration, no wear.

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

Speculation. There’s literally no reason it can’t hold up as well as paint, or better. It is self-healing and has a warranty, so I’m covered either way. I had mine extra-protected with a ceramic coating directly on the PPF. As pointed out doubt above, I have PPF that’s 15 years old on a farm truck, and 12 years old on my wife’s Porsche (both DuPont XPel clear PPF). Both are still in perfect, original condition, not a nick or scratch, no discoloration, no wear.

Perfect original condition. I don't think so.

 

[Effonefiddy Lightning]

The thing about paint vs vinyl vs PPF vs raw stainless is basic utility and expected use. Starting in 2005 we began putting Dupont XPel clear PPF on the front sections of every new vehicle we purchased and it has been great. Paint is soft and accumulates chips. Self-healing clear PPF is a requirement now for every new painted vehicle that we purchase. It lasts essentially forever in our experience (my wife’s 2013 Porsche still looks showroom new, with its PPF having done the job many times over).

We took my wife’s new MY Juniper, delivered March 31, straight from delivery to our wrap guy. It has already paid off in avoiding stone chips. We add window tint at the same time we apply teh PPF. For clear wrap over the leading surfaces, it costs about $3k. So that would be PLUS the cost of painting your truck.

The issue with wraps is that most are vinyl. That’s essentially plastic wrap and will last as long as plastic wrap. PPF is a whole other thing, is essentially a multi-ply process that is akin to paint in quality. It can be ceramic-coated, and it doesn't fade, so damaged sections can be changed later. My installer has half a roll waiting for if/when it is needed, and more can be ordered from teh supplier.

As to stainless attributes, I get it for the CT look - I almost had my wrap done in a stainless look - because it is maintenance-free, unlike actual stainless.

If you want to learn the truth about maintaining CT stainless look at the out-of-spec detailing videos on how to do it. They point out one other option that you have - adding ceramic coating directly to the stainless - still requires some serious maintenance (way more than a painted vehicle). This is the best video out there on how to maintain and detail a CT:



Yes, plenty of fanbois on here chortle about how its just a truck, don’t worry about how it looks. But some of us take pride and want to keep it showroom-new. That’s near impossible with the CT’s finish, unless you have a good detailer and don’t mind handprints, etc. in between cleanings. That’s why, for many of us, a PPF wrap solved the issue.

My PPF wrap cost $5k, is a beautiful metallic deep red that looks like paint. In five years if I don’t like it, I can change to something else. The key is finding a good wrap shop that you trust. My guy has done about 15 of my vehicles, including a couple motorcycles, and had some issues with the CT, specifically getting the heavier PPF material to stay wrapped over acute metal edges, eventually solved it after a couple take-backs.

"My PPF wrap cost $5k, is a beautiful metallic deep red that looks like paint. In five years if I don’t like it, I can change to something else. "

You're making part of my point. You'll have to fork out another 5K or even more now because of inflation in 5 more years. How many times are you gonna keep doing that.
And i've seen cars with clear PPF on the front, you can tell it's old because it starts yellowing, looks like crap.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

The red PPF shown above is by PURE - the color is “Metalic Redhood”

https://www.pureprotectionfilm.com/colored-ppf-film

Ten-year warranty details here:

https://www.pureprotectionfilm.com/warranty

My guy in Delray Beach mostly does Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Rolls, Bentleys, slums when doing my relatively “cheap” cars. Devin Simmons at Exotic Solutions.

https://exoticsolutionsllc.com/paint-protection-film/

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