elements vehicle protection

[asbestos]

Hiya peoples just purchased my new toy " 07 gts" picking up wednesday, I am wondering if anyone has purchased the crystal elements protection for ,paint interior etc..Dealership wants 2k for it comes with lifetime guarentee. Is it worth it?
is there any other products i should condiser or is the good old tlc good enough?
Jeeze im like a 6 yr old kid waiting for santa to come.. Is it wednesday yet???

[The Black Mistress]

Gee 2k, a lot for paint protection.
I got crystal glaze on my vz for I think 500-600 and I thought that was steep.
VIP does it and it also has a lifetime warranty.
In hindsight I dont think I would get it again because if you are fanatical about your cars your going to want to polish, wax and detail it yourself.
Also I found the finish a bit swirly.
Any way I recon dont pay 2k more like 500-1000.
Call VIP, get a quote and Negotiate the dealer down.
Good luck mate and let us know when you get it.
Enjoy.

[sk8ie_boi]

Do you it is the lifetime guarantee of what? Because I had it for my VT which is over 7 years old.

[The Black Mistress]

This is what it says on my policy documents.

Lifetime warranty is for new vehicle only, used vehicle is 6 year warranty.
Terms and conditions are:
...that should the factory painted surfaces be damaged by weather induce deterioration, fading or loss of gloss, bird droppings,tree sap,industrial fallout, colour fading,petrol and the suns harmful UV rays, VIP will repair and retreat the damaged area at no cost to the owner provided the owner maintains the vehicle in the manner described in this document.

It also says you cant use commercial car washes, and need to bring it for an inspection once a year.

Complicated isn't it.

Is it worth it?.......don't know.
I suppose its piece of mind in case you dont wash it every weekend.

Hope this helps

[troytroy]

Paint Protection and every other bloody protection they can possibly think of is a new lucrative cash cow for dealerships. (Just think, you just paid another $500 - $2000 on top of the purchase price of the car - hmmm dealer margins) In the past it was headlight protectors and carmats (costs $20 in China to produce both yet they charge $Hundreds to gullible customer explaining how they're getting hundreds in savings...laughable really..) Dealers love Old people because Old people are cautious and insecure and dealers prey on their insecurity and new found maturity and cautiousness and sell them stuff they don't need. Paint technology, longevity and durability on modern cars is leap years ahead of 20 years ago. Paint protection is useless if you are the type that will wash their car regularly and polish it (protective layer) and be the type not to let the bird crap live on their bonnet for weeks on end (ie Normal sane people that would frequent internet car forums)

In the year 2007 what does "LIFETIME" mean anyway. Who owns their car for a lifetime? Who stays in the same address for a lifetime (go back to same money hungry dealership). What's the chances of an automotive company staying in business for a lifetime? Who will lose their reciept for said lifetime warranty in their "lifetime".......Oh come on please this is killing me. "Lifetime" means very little unless it's being offered by a very large, long standing, multinational company and even then who can put their hand on their heart in this forum and say they've owned the same car all their life?

If you want I can sell anyone a Peter Brock Energy focuser or an "electric Turbo" TurboZET or a lifetime bullbar guarantee or a lifetime door handle policy or a lifetime electric aerial guarantee and I'll give it to all forum readers for a 60% discount of the normal inflated made-up price and I'll throw in a timeshare to a Nigerian lottery Hotel....and if you order now I'll throw in a set of dodgy Chinese made Steak Knives ..................

Has anyone seen a car, that's well looked after and garaged and has paintwork that is god awful and ruined? No I think not..... It's 2007 not 1967.

[The Black Mistress]

The reason why I got paint protection was because all my cars in the past except one did not have it.
HJ prem had it for 3 year, looked after it, duco crap.
86 fairlaine, looked after it, duco reasonable.
Hyundai from brand new, after 7 years duco reasonable,
96 magna had it for 5 years duco good.
98 Audi A4, paint protected, had it for 5 years did over 200,000km, duco excellent.
2003 Renault, paint protected currently duco excellent and sits outside day and night.
The black Mistress, paint protected duco perfect.

A couple of my mates run show quality American muscle, VL turbos and GTRs, and they have to work damn hard to get their cars sparkling. Now I'm not say that mine is up to that detail but I keep getting comments from them and all I do is wash it once a week. And that is what I did for 5 years with my audi and at trade in it was still sparkling.

So if you like detailing your car monthly with waxes and polishes and all the other products, that fine and your ride will look great and the duco will be well protected.
But before you pass judgement my friend, the proof is in the pudding with my cars with paint protection and I know what its like owning cars without.
I think the $700 a pop that chose to spend I my 3 cars were well spent and my mates and every looker does too

Cheers

[ERASER]

Paint protection is a con. I didnt get it and never would. Youll find that if you do get paint protection you MUST use there special car wash that they charge a shitload for. The car wash there selling you is what is protecting the paint not the initial protection. That car wash is nothing better than a wash and wax that you can get at your local supercheap.
Anyone buying a HSV i think would be a enthusiast and would use more than just dishwashing detergent to wash there car! So any wash and wax will protect your car.
Personaly my maloo only has mequires polish and waxs used on it and only washed with johnsons and johnsons baby shampoo so that the wax isnt stripped off at wash time. Looks pretty good to me and there's plenty of trophies to say that judges agree

[The Black Mistress]

Hmmm I thought paint protection was a hardened polimer film that gets applied over your paint clear to create a barrier more robust and long lasting than waxes and polishes. Also just because someone doesn't spend 7hours detailing their cars doesn't mean there not enthusiasts.
Any way each to there own and as I said in my previous post on the cars I have had it on, I am happy with the results and longevity of the finish without spending days detailing.....but if you are one to have the time and enjoy detailing the duco every month or so than good for you and I am sure the results would be for everyone to enjoy the beauty of a HSV and how special these cars really are!
Eraser, I am just saying in my experience I am Happy and my HSV looks mighty fine.....and by the way...what ever you do keep doing it because your ute looks sensational; congratulations man.

By the way My Black Mistess is get new engine mounts this week apparently a problem with the 6L in the VZs and especially VEs.

Thanks