PPF - Dealer (Hennessy, Atlanta) Applied?

[Rbwalters]

I know there have been quite a few threads on PPF, and it seems the consensus is that the products are all quite similar in performance etc., so it is more important that the installer be skilled than anything.

So, I've used a local (Portland, OR) Ceramic Pro installer for other cars and am very pleased with their work, product and warranty. They quoted me about $3,500 for full front PPF with ceramic coating, which is about half of what Hennessy quoted. I told the dealer I was going to have the PPF/ceramic coating done locally and he offered to match the local installer's price. They claim to do PPF etc. on something like 50 cars a month at this dealership, which makes sense, given they are one of the highest volume Porsche dealers in the US. I'm inclined to go with the Porsche dealer, given their volume (like surgeons, you want some one who does the procedure frequently).

So my question is, does anyone have any specific experience with this Atlanta dealership for PPF etc., and if so can you give me some feedback?

Thanks so much!

Rob

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[Mr.Smith]

$3500 is about right.

What brand of PPF?

PPF installation is one part, but just as important is the paint correction before the PPF application.
It's best that you examine the paint with the swirl finder light to find any imperfections so you can point them out to the installer to
Make sure it's corrected properly.

PPF does hide imperfections in the paint for the most part, but Porsche is known to have imperfect paint when unwrapping, in transit to the delaer or even worse, when the dealer washes the car before delivery.
Because yours will be transported across the country (try and get covered transport for an additional cost) it's best to make sure it's delivered to you for proper inspection.

I personally avoid production shops that work with dealers with high volume. It's really an art to apply these property and it takes time.

A local company can also warranty their work better.
You might need to replace part of the PPF of it gets damaged and it's best for the original installer to go it so there are no excuses.

Because you will have this car for a while, you will eventually need a ceramic boost after a few years. This is best done by the original installer of the coating.

I highly recommend doing a full PPF. I wrote about my lessons learned with my car.
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/ppf-lessons-learned.19145/

A bumper guard is also a great investment. I don't care if my car bottoms out anymore.
I just installed myself in a few minutes.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3039330741...486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Its an expensive car with deep, gorgeous paint. It's smart you're spending few bucks to protect it.

 

[isamuels]

I bought my new Taycan from Hennessy in Alpharetta, Ga. I had a similar experience. They matched the quote for ceramic, PPF and some window tinting. The results were excellent. I’m glad the dealer handled for me.

 

[violuma]

I largely agree with @Mr.Smith here that I would prioritize having somebody local that I could go to to address any problems that come up. The shop that did both my Taycan and the color shift PPF on my spouse's Prius had us come back after a few weeks for free follow-up visits, to check and inspect how the film had cured or settled or whatever the technical term is.

Since PPF is in large part about peace of mind, wouldn't part of that be knowing that the people who did the work aren't clear across the continent? I can see your point about wanting somebody who has done a lot of Taycans, but there must be somebody in the Portland area that fits that bill.

I want the PPF shop to consider me their customer, not the dealership.

 

[e92er]

I know the guys that do it for Hennessey. They're definitely some of the best in ATL and are the goto for most locals so that should ease your mind some in regards to quality. As for price, that's up to you. For reference, those guys did my Taycan, Ftype R, and X5M.

 

[Rbwalters]

Thanks Paul. I read your post on the full PPF. I'm ordering a bumper guard! Also, Hennessy is transporting the car in a covered transport, so all good there.

The Hennessy dealer offers XPEL. The local shop is a Ceramic Pro shop, which uses their own proprietary film, described as "self-healing" and guaranteed for 10 years. I had them do my Mini Cooper on the front and had to bring it back because the film was peeling on the mirrors. They of course fixed it right away while I waited. That experience makes me leery of having dealer 2000 miles away install the film, since I won't be able to "pop in" and get anything fixed there.

I'm going to ask, but I suspect my local dealer will not do warranty work on the film installed in Atlanta.

 

[Mr.Smith]

Thanks Paul. I read your post on the full PPF. I'm ordering a bumper guard! Also, Hennessy is transporting the car in a covered transport, so all good there.

The Hennessy dealer offers XPEL. The local shop is a Ceramic Pro shop, which uses their own proprietary film, described as "self-healing" and guaranteed for 10 years. I had them do my Mini Cooper on the front and had to bring it back because the film was peeling on the mirrors. They of course fixed it right away while I waited. That experience makes me leery of having dealer 2000 miles away install the film, since I won't be able to "pop in" and get anything fixed there.

I'm going to ask, but I suspect my local dealer will not do warranty work on the film installed in Atlanta.

For background, my close friend was a pioneer in PPF (called Clear Bra in the early 2000s). There are only a handful of PPF manufactures which every white labels under their own brand.

Xpel is very good, but most brands are good now.

The warranty of PPF is generally in installation because thats where you will see more of the issues that need repair

Ceramic Pro is the most common brand for pro installers. Being hydrophobic is a benefit, but it also protects against UV discoloration of the PPF.

If you are not going to PPF your entire car and if you are very anal about your paint, I would look into Feynlab Self Healing Ceramic Coating. With any marring and swirl marks, it is self healing with heat.
This is a different level of coating and not cheap

 

[Rbwalters]

If you are not going to PPF your entire car and if you are very anal about your paint, I would look into Feynlab Self Healing Ceramic Coating. With any marring and swirl marks, it is self healing with heat.
This is a different level of coating and not cheap

I'm going to PPF the entire car, which means I don't need ceramic coating, correct?

I am leaning toward using the local Ceramic Pro guys just because their shop is 2 minutes from my house and I want to be able to have them address any issues. I'm confident in their product, and haven't heard anything to suggest I shouldn't be. They are about $6,600 for an entire PPF. But I am anal about paint, scratches, and any sort of blemish on my cars.

I just sold my 2020 Tesla Model S Performance (thank goodness). But that car had the worst paint, and I was not schooled in PPF when I bought that car, so there were significant paint chips and wear on the side skirts in front of the rear wheels, that got worse over time. Even my old Toyota Sienna had clear mask protection on the side skirts installed at the factory. I know there are lots of people who love the Model S, especially the Plaid, and I really liked the performance and tech in it, but as far as build quality and overall quality of the workmanship of that vehicle, it was poor. I doubt I will even own another one.

 

[Rbwalters]

I know the guys that do it for Hennessey. They're definitely some of the best in ATL and are the goto for most locals so that should ease your mind some in regards to quality. As for price, that's up to you. For reference, those guys did my Taycan, Ftype R, and X5M.

Thanks. I have no doubt the Hennessy guys know what they're doing. With price being comparable for my local shop and them, I'm probably going to do it in Portland, so I can be assured there won't be any issues if there is a problem. Plus I like the local guys.

 

[Mr.Smith]

I'm going to PPF the entire car, which means I don't need ceramic coating, correct?

I am leaning toward using the local Ceramic Pro guys just because their shop is 2 minutes from my house and I want to be able to have them address any issues. I'm confident in their product, and haven't heard anything to suggest I shouldn't be. They are about $6,600 for an entire PPF. But I am anal about paint, scratches, and any sort of blemish on my cars.

I just sold my 2020 Tesla Model S Performance (thank goodness). But that car had the worst paint, and I was not schooled in PPF when I bought that car, so there were significant paint chips and wear on the side skirts in front of the rear wheels, that got worse over time. Even my old Toyota Sienna had clear mask protection on the side skirts installed at the factory. I know there are lots of people who love the Model S, especially the Plaid, and I really liked the performance and tech in it, but as far as build quality and overall quality of the workmanship of that vehicle, it was poor. I doubt I will even own another one.

$6500 to $6800 is the price for full PPF. So you're right in there.

Ceramic coating on a not required if it's full PPF, but the benefit is that it will protect the PPF from UV exposure discoloration in time.
Because you're in Oregon and not in a location that gets over sun exposure, you should be fine for many years.

Think of Ceramic coating as sacrificial clear coat.

I'm sure their PPF is as good as Xpel. Most PPF is about the same now.
For window tint, there are only about 3 manufacturers so they are all the same too, especially nano ceramic.

Your highest exposure vulnerability points are front facia, windshield and bottom of the rear door huanch.

Teslas paint, especially out of Fremont (makes S/X) has horrible paint quality for a few reasons. Just the paint machines they used weren't fully upgraded from the Toyota/GM days. These machines deteriorate sooner if they sit too long unused.
It's why White 3/Y were free colors. It hides paint defects the most.

Tesla can never build a properly (only in China) because they cut every single corner possible and use the public to validate. No other OEM does this.

Your color is extremely deep, rich, beautiful metallic. I explained the launch car in the sun.
To maximum shine, have the installers really correct the paint to remove as much shrinkage (orange peel) as possible.
Then when applying the PPF it will look better and the details of the paint will be even more visible.

 

[Rbwalters]

Ceramic Pro will do a pre-application polish to correct any paint issues before putting on the PPF. I've confirmed that.

But are you saying they should correct any paint issues AND do a ceramic coat before placing the PPF?

Really appreciate your feedback on these issues.

Rob

 

[Mr.Smith]

Ceramic Pro will do a pre-application polish to correct any paint issues before putting on the PPF. I've confirmed that.

But are you saying they should correct any paint issues AND do a ceramic coat before placing the PPF?

Really appreciate your feedback on these issues.

Rob

Ceramic Pro is a ceramic coating company name. I believe your guys in OR are just the authorized dealer for Ceramic Pro

Correcting the paint is before any application of PPF or ceramic coating.
Ceramic coating can go on PPF and paint. You dont need ceramic coating because you are doing PPF and its probably overkill.
Ceramic coating can give the PPF that extra gloss if its worth it for you

This is just data to show you the different levels so you can see the possibilities.
There are different levels of "Correcting" . Its time thats money. A light polish over paint before application of PPF or ceramic coating is a different than than a deep, concours level correction to really make the paint like glass with no orange peel. This could include wet sanding new paint to remove all orange peel, polish it back out to better than the any factory paint. This will make the

My car was fresh, unwrapped and it took 7 days to accomplish this. The paint has a high definition look with ZERO flaws. Its a level of illness required to want that perfection and you have to have the eye for it , but if you have that disorder, than this type of detailing will sooth you.

My paint has a pearl effect, yours is Metallic. Getting that concours finish will make the flakes pop even more.

 

[Rbwalters]

That is such a beautiful color!!!!

PS. I finally got notice from the Track Your Dream App that my car is at the local entry port!

 

[violuma]

I think there is an additional benefit to doing ceramic over PPF that goes beyond the protective aspect - washability. I look at the layer of grit that settles in my wash bucket and wonder how on earth all that grime came off the car without me having to exert any pressure at all. You just have to "pet" the car with a mitt soaked in water with a couple of capfuls of detergent. There have only been a handful of times over the last year where I even bothered to pre-rinse it.

 

[Mr.Smith]

That is such a beautiful color!!!!

PS. I finally got notice from the Track Your Dream App that my car is at the local entry port!

I've been tracking your car. It was at th port on 3/27/25 at 3am. Stayed for 13 hours and left.
Hopefully it doesn't stay too long at the VW warehouse too long

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