Anyone have a wrap on a car now?

[Ewwgas]

Title, who has wrap ownership experience?

 

[JeffVA]

I just had my new SUV ceramic coated but while I was deciding I was also considering Paint Protection Film (PPF). Both offer great protection and PPF is pretty much the same thing as a vinyl wrap but it's clear. If you have to keep your vehicle outside then vinyl will only last between 3-5 years and will fade over time. Unless you keep it sealed it is also prone to staining. This is very noticable in the front due to bug splatter. If you use a good sealant this is less of a problem. Sun damage unfortunately is much harder to stop.

I'm curious to find out more about this composite material as information becomes available. Will it accept paint like a regular car? If panels are removable it should be easier to paint. I would much rather spend money on a metallic candy apple blue paint job that will last the life of the vehicle rather than a wrap I know I'll have to replace probably sooner rather than later

 

[dcgray2]

I have a 2021 Bronco that I had wrapped with XPEL Stealth PPF in October of 2021.

I've had it offroad numerous times in the woods of Pennsylvania through tight trails and even rubbing on rock faces.

XPEL PPF is about 8 mils thick. Standard wraps are usually 3 mils thick so it's made to take abuse.

I've done nothing special in the last almost 4 years. I try to wash the mud and grime off it within a week of going offroad.

I have a couple of TINY bubbles in one crease. And I have a tear through about 2 inches long were I rode a rock wall.

If it gets "pinstriped" by branches you can just pour some very hot water on it and it'll heal up.

 

[cvollers]

I have a 2021 Bronco that I had wrapped with XPEL Stealth PPF in October of 2021.

I've had it offroad numerous times in the woods of Pennsylvania through tight trails and even rubbing on rock faces.

XPEL PPF is about 8 mils thick. Standard wraps are usually 3 mils thick so it's made to take abuse.

I've done nothing special in the last almost 4 years. I try to wash the mud and grime off it within a week of going offroad.

I have a couple of TINY bubbles in one crease. And I have a tear through about 2 inches long were I rode a rock wall.

If it gets "pinstriped" by branches you can just pour some very hot water on it and it'll heal up.

Xpel is great stuff for wheeling.

 

[JeffVA]

I'm kinda digging the idea now to be able to change the color of my truck every 3-5 years. It'll feel like getting a new shiny truck again.

 

[bartflossom]

I wonder if that "starting at 500 dollars" is for a full wrap kit, or a partial wrap kit.

 

[Shay]

I have had wraps on a couple of cars. Just as resilient as paint but easier to change or repair.

 

[cvollers]

I wonder if that "starting at 500 dollars" is for a full wrap kit, or a partial wrap kit.

I wonder who they are farming the wrap production out to.

 

[JeffVA]

I wonder who they are farming the wrap production out to.

If Slate is going to be as open source as they say they are then any "Wrap Shop" should be able to download the pattern and provide the wrap. I've seen some awesome wraps. I'm thinking candy apple blue metal flake

 

[cvollers]

If Slate is going to be as open source as they say they are then any "Wrap Shop" should be able to download the pattern and provide the wrap. I've seen some awesome wraps. I'm thinking candy apple blue metal flake

Great point. Opening up this part of the customization process seems like a really smart call.

 

[Doc o the Bay]

Whoever comes out with the first "woody" wrap will make a killing.

 

[SadRobot]

My current vehicle (Jeep Wrangler) has been wrapped for 6 years in 3M vinyl wrap. From a distance it still looks great. Up close the wrap is coming up around the edges, along the bottom as well as has some gouges and bubbling in various places. I'd say the first signs of wear showed up around year 4ish.

It sees a lot of offroad trails so I never worry to much about it looking perfect anymore. Of course if I had the money to spare I'd have it re-wrapped by now.

6 years ago the cost to wrap it was $3750. In today's money it would be more like 5-6k. I have a friend who just got their Jeep partially wrapped and total cost was 7k.

 

[bartflossom]

Whoever comes out with the first "woody" wrap will make a killing.

They're out there.

 

[Swinefuzz]

Will it accept paint like a regular car? If panels are removable it should be easier to paint.

Yes. All the carmakers paint plastic body panels. The tizzy some people get in about the plastic is mostly unwarranted. LOTS of cars have had plastic body panels, for DECADES. For lots of good reasons. Partly because it's cheaper and easier to make into weird elaborate shapes and will NEVER RUST.

I'm having a lot of fun imagining quickly and easily removing Slate body panels every few years to change the color. A little light sanding to scuff up the previous year's coat and spray on a new color. Fun weekend project. Paint Saturday. Reattach Sunday.

I think the reason Slate isn't mentioning paintability much on their website is just because a lot of customers won't have that ability. Apartment dwellers lacking work space or tools. Small companies that plan to wrap with their company graphics all over the place. Paint would be a four letter word to them.

I'm not really into vinyl, personally. It's not that complicated. I've DIY wrapped a few cars before. But it's gotten too expensive in recent years and I don't think it's worth it. If Slate sticks to their claim of $500 wraps, that'll be a game changer for the hobbyist, though. I used to work in the large format color printing industry and I can tell you that it's kinda like painting a house: 90% prep, 10% painting. That's part of the reason body wraps are expensive. Tons of design work, tons of printer testing and prep, then click "PRINT" once and you probably never repeat that print job again. Ever. So you markup the price to justify all that work. If Slate is selling lots of wraps to companies with fleet graphics, the repeat business will keep costs down because there's far less prep. And with most solid color wraps that have no graphics, they don't print that at all, it's just pre-manufactured to that specific color and then cut to shape and roll it up and stick it in a tube and ship it out.

 

[Duke Slater]

I’m on a first name basis with my wrap shop. I had both my Model 3 & Y wrapped in C-Cube PPF.

Didn’t have the Cybertruck wrapped because I liked having the ability to go through drive-thru car washes and kinda liked the look of the Stainless Steel.