Vinyl versus Paint

[James Landi]

I've noticed that several companies are promoting vinyl wrap as opposed to traditional painting for autos.  Two of the advantages are price and ease of application.  For those of us that own "drivers" or are incrementally restoring their cars, what are your thoughts about this approach.   I've included a link below ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyanSN1W2Dc

[TJ Hopland]

I have never seen it done for single colors.   Usually when I see it it seems like its because the pattern and colors are fairly complicated.

[James Landi]

Seems that several early adopters are using the high quality 3M product to simple "paint" cars using solid vinyl.  Initially, some boaters experimented with the product and that's where I pick up the thread.  So, in searching Ebay and the web, in general, the theme, paint or vinyl begins to yield results.   

[Bill Young]

What does that cost? Because you can Maaco a car for about $800.00 and if You do the prep and they use a careful painter you can come out ok for a driver.

[59-in-pieces]

I have no direct experience with either Maaco or wraps, other than to see the finished product.
The wraps have been for exotic graphics - and they were great.
The Maaco job on a neighbor's Plymouth was sketchy, at best - even given a 10 or 20 foot test.
In both cases, I observed that the door jambs and under hood or trunk areas were not touched. 
So I guess, if the wrap were materially cheaper, and a color close to the other jambs and under hood and trunk areas, it might be cool, and fair enough.
A complete repaint could wait.
Have fun,
Steve B.

[JerRita]

I've seen 2 One was a CTS wrapped in chrome vinyl Looked cool The other was Jap something that was a metalic pea soup green She was at a car wash and said she had it about a year and it has been fine I had the same thought for a daily driver

[wrench]

Yeah, that's all very well and good, but the guy using the torch at the fuel filler @ 1:33 made me a little nervous...

I'm not sure i would want a crew of people running around my car waving torches indiscriminately...

But that's just me.

[Gene Beaird]

The going price for a graphics wrap for a 2-door car (4th Gen Camaro) in California is in the $2600 range.  Since it's vinyl, and therefore a plastic, it will be somewhat porous (air and moisture can easily, although slowly) pass through the film), so you'll still want a good paint job underneath it.  It would also go for the finish, as blemishes will show through the vinyl.  Graphics and patterns in the vinyl can hide some of these blemishes, but catch the surface in the right light, it'll be as obvious as bad body work under paint.  So you're still spending the money on good body work and paint. 

I'm also not convinced of the longevity of the stuff.  Even when using 3M Di-Noc, I bet there are some dyes that will bleach quickly in the sun/ozone, and when pulled over tight edges, could end up cracking and peeling with a few heat cycles. 

It might be pretty cool to add graphics/change color for a show, or something, but other than a race car, or something where an advertiser is paying all or part of your car note, I don't see it very useful on a street car.

If I wanted to temporarily change the color of the car (or make it look like it's all one color before I can get a proper paint job on the thing, I'd opt for a Plasti-Dip coating. It's tons easier to peel off when you're tired of it (almost too easy), or it gets too messed up.  I have a friend in the body shop business, and he was going to paint the family SUV in it, and let the kids peel a panel off every week, just for fun, and to see who notices.