Yesterday we picked up the new Mini convertible that my wife has been wanting forever, and love this new little car that is such a hoot to drive. The dealer pushed for some extra items at the time of the purchase, notably an extended warranty but also a protective coating which they claim protects the interior as well as exterior of the car, takes about 3 hours to apply, and costs $1,200. I declined both of the extras but wondered what others think about such "protective" coatings. It sounds like a scam to me, but I don't claim to be any sort of automotive expert. Comments?
Thoughts on car "protective" coatings by dealer
- Thread starter vito
- Start date
Poly Razmataz...
Every review I've read says never waste your money on such snake oil. On the other hand, the folks that are more easily convinced say it's the best stuff ever.
Like an A&P instructor once asked me concerning an after market upgrade, "if it's so good, why don't they install it at the factory?"
Every review I've read says never waste your money on such snake oil. On the other hand, the folks that are more easily convinced say it's the best stuff ever.
Like an A&P instructor once asked me concerning an after market upgrade, "if it's so good, why don't they install it at the factory?"
bobski
Hunter
tends to trap moisture if moisture enters from the other side.
I remember once Letterman had some celeb guest on who said that one of his early jobs had been working at a car wash.
"Oh good!" said Letterman. "Tell me, I've always wanted to know. Exactly what happens when I pay the extra five bucks for the 'hot wax?'"
" A big red light comes on," said the guest. :wink: :lol:
"Oh good!" said Letterman. "Tell me, I've always wanted to know. Exactly what happens when I pay the extra five bucks for the 'hot wax?'"
" A big red light comes on," said the guest. :wink: :lol:
If one is tempted to buy into these types of products, they might be available for less, elsewhere.
I had a dealership tell me straight up that I could get a better deal on an extended warranty from someone OTHER than them. Perhaps not the best business plan, but I appreciated their being forthright!
I haven’t ever bitten on the paint sealant or fabric protectors, but I have bought rustproofing and a spray-in bedliner. Twenty-one years later, the truck has almost no rust, and I live in heavy road salt country. I can’t help think that if I had been more conscientious about regular rinses in the winter, I might not have any meaningful rust.
The bedliner still looks like new!
I had a dealership tell me straight up that I could get a better deal on an extended warranty from someone OTHER than them. Perhaps not the best business plan, but I appreciated their being forthright!
I haven’t ever bitten on the paint sealant or fabric protectors, but I have bought rustproofing and a spray-in bedliner. Twenty-one years later, the truck has almost no rust, and I live in heavy road salt country. I can’t help think that if I had been more conscientious about regular rinses in the winter, I might not have any meaningful rust.
The bedliner still looks like new!
On my work trucks I always had them Rhino Lined. Between stuff rolling around and chemical spills it always held up extremely well. The only thing I noticed is that the black tended to fade to gray. Work truck so it didn't matter. On my last one I ask the folks doing the lining why the black faded. Well, it doesn't.
You see, being a work truck I just ran it through the car was every week. That gray was the chemicals left over from that. Sure enough, I just started washing it at home and "thoroughly" rinsing the bed. The lining stayed black.
My new truck has a composite bed so there should be no rust issues. But the bed is extremely slick. Stuff slide all over. Makes loading easier, but you have to tie absolutely everything down. The solution is a bed mat. Protects the bed from gouges and stuff stays put.
You see, being a work truck I just ran it through the car was every week. That gray was the chemicals left over from that. Sure enough, I just started washing it at home and "thoroughly" rinsing the bed. The lining stayed black.
My new truck has a composite bed so there should be no rust issues. But the bed is extremely slick. Stuff slide all over. Makes loading easier, but you have to tie absolutely everything down. The solution is a bed mat. Protects the bed from gouges and stuff stays put.
wheelgun1958
Hunter
Customer: We sat here right in this room and went over this and over this!
Jerry: Yeah, but that TruCoat--
Customer: I sat right here and said I didn't want no TruCoat!
Jerry: Yeah, but I'm sayin', that TruCoat, you don't get it and you get oxidization problems. It'll cost you a heck of lot more'n five hundred--
Customer: You're sittin' here, you're talkin' in circles! You're talkin' like we didn't go over this already!
Jerry: Yeah, but this TruCoat--
Fargo (1996)
Jerry: Yeah, but that TruCoat--
Customer: I sat right here and said I didn't want no TruCoat!
Jerry: Yeah, but I'm sayin', that TruCoat, you don't get it and you get oxidization problems. It'll cost you a heck of lot more'n five hundred--
Customer: You're sittin' here, you're talkin' in circles! You're talkin' like we didn't go over this already!
Jerry: Yeah, but this TruCoat--
Fargo (1996)
Years ago I was looking at some Toyota. There was all this ADM (additional dealer markup) on every vehicle. One said "fabric protector" $250. The door was open and there on the seat was an empty $5 can of Scotchguard LOL
That paint protector stuff is nothing special that you can't buy at the store for $15 after a paint cleaning with a synthetic clay bar.
That paint protector stuff is nothing special that you can't buy at the store for $15 after a paint cleaning with a synthetic clay bar.
woodsy
Buckeye
As Oscar Madison (played by Jack Klugman) said in the movie ("The Odd Couple"): "gahbidge" !
DeletedMember275
Hunter
- Joined
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- 2,759
If you have some time, check out The Homework Guy on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMfemFLOnhw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0AXQ2EYRn4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMfemFLOnhw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMfemFLOnhw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0AXQ2EYRn4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMfemFLOnhw
Don't buy anything extra. They have already screwed you on the car.
I've bought a LOT of new cars over the past 60 years. Here's what I do:
I agree on a price (including tax); I write it on a piece of paper and give it to the salesman. I tell him that I'm bringing a bank check for this amount and not a penny more. I ask him to give it to his finance guy and remind him what my name is. The next day, I arrive and they take me into the finance guy. First thing, he tries to sell me an extended warranty. I tell him: "This is a (expletive) TOYOTA, nothing ever breaks." I give him the check and sit back and say not one more word until he gives me all my paperwork and I leave. They know not to try and sell me any kind of protective stuff because I remind them of the quality of their product.
Never had a problem and the cars never see the dealership once I'm gone. I don't even take the free 'two years maintenance' anymore.
Just sayin',
J.
I agree on a price (including tax); I write it on a piece of paper and give it to the salesman. I tell him that I'm bringing a bank check for this amount and not a penny more. I ask him to give it to his finance guy and remind him what my name is. The next day, I arrive and they take me into the finance guy. First thing, he tries to sell me an extended warranty. I tell him: "This is a (expletive) TOYOTA, nothing ever breaks." I give him the check and sit back and say not one more word until he gives me all my paperwork and I leave. They know not to try and sell me any kind of protective stuff because I remind them of the quality of their product.
Never had a problem and the cars never see the dealership once I'm gone. I don't even take the free 'two years maintenance' anymore.
Just sayin',
J.
Biggfoot44
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2009
- Messages
- 829
Total scam ? Not in the sense that they will likely actually do * something * . But you can spend less than $50 at the auto parts store , and do better yourself .
Rustproofing ? Modern era vehicles all are much, much better in that regards than back in the day as the come .
But if you have particularly nasty local conditions , or are just a belt and suspenders guy , aftermarket rustproofing outfits will do a more though job for a lot less than dealer .
Rustproofing ? Modern era vehicles all are much, much better in that regards than back in the day as the come .
But if you have particularly nasty local conditions , or are just a belt and suspenders guy , aftermarket rustproofing outfits will do a more though job for a lot less than dealer .
The last new car we purchased, we did add a couple of paint protection films in common hard use areas. My wife consistently drags packages in and out of the trunk, scuffing the paint on the bumper cover, so that gets a protective film. Also lower areas prone to chips from road debris. I did call around for aftermarket quotes, but they were not that far off what the dealer wanted. The real savings would have come from DIY, but I wasn’t confident about applying such large adhesive pieces. Other new cars years ago got the carpet and fabric treatment by me, a couple of cans of Scotch Guard.
Read the contract: some say max 10 years, some say you have to go in every x years to have it redone or it is void. The longer you have the vehicle the greater the odds of the company going out of business (more so with 3rd party).
FWIW: I keep my cars as long as I can. I don't care what they look like as long as they are safe and reliable. Of those I have not given away to my kids, I've kept the last 2 for over 20 years (a 94 and 98) with no undercoating. It wasn't the body rust that got them, it was the safety and mechanical stuff (not the engines) that was getting expensive and annoyingly regular to replace.
My 01 F150 with no extra undercoating started showing rust after about 15 years in midwest winter-salted roads . Would undercoating have stopped it or slowed it down? Who knows. It drives just fine. I don't mind that it's getting to be a lot like Peanuts cartoon's Pig Pen when I go down the road. I just figure that as it sheds rust, losing weight, my mileage will increase :)
FWIW: I keep my cars as long as I can. I don't care what they look like as long as they are safe and reliable. Of those I have not given away to my kids, I've kept the last 2 for over 20 years (a 94 and 98) with no undercoating. It wasn't the body rust that got them, it was the safety and mechanical stuff (not the engines) that was getting expensive and annoyingly regular to replace.
My 01 F150 with no extra undercoating started showing rust after about 15 years in midwest winter-salted roads . Would undercoating have stopped it or slowed it down? Who knows. It drives just fine. I don't mind that it's getting to be a lot like Peanuts cartoon's Pig Pen when I go down the road. I just figure that as it sheds rust, losing weight, my mileage will increase :)
