Supagard for 2024 Corolla

[barrycoll]

What is the consensus on paying an extra £300_+ for Supagard paint protection, as I know that it is also just an added bonus for the salesperson.

as I have opted for white, as the only paint that is (gasp) FREE, will the car be more aesthetically pleasing sitting in the drive, if supagarded?

I have always resisted this in the past, but somehow I am tempted by this now 

"Fools and their money " etc....or a smart move???

[simond64]

32 minutes ago, barrycoll said:

What is the consensus on paying an extra £300_+ for Supagard paint protection, as I know that it is also just an added bonus for the salesperson.

as I have opted for white, as the only paint that is (gasp) FREE, will the car be more aesthetically pleasing sitting in the drive, if supagarded?

I have always resisted this in the past, but somehow I am tempted by this now 

"Fools and their money " etc....or a smart move???

I would recommend applying supagard or a similar product, a ceramic coating would last longer but would avoid a dealer solution and find a reputable valeter, preferably a mobile one so you can watch them apply it, then you know it’s been done properly plus there is no commission to a salesperson. 
It’s certainly easier to clean with protection on the paint. 

[Don Mac]

Lots of discussion on this previous thread. The concensus seems to be with Simon - if you're going to have it done, don't pay the dealership.

On the other hand, £300 will buy a fair bit of car shampoo & wax...

[TonyHSD]

Imo not a smart move unless you are really into car valeting and taking care yourself or paying for mobile valeter weekly visits.
The reason is that any product like that applied will require special shampoo and to avoid any strong detergents, foams, tfr , or other type wax applications. One wrong move in a non suitable car wash and you can have paint protection damage that will show as paint work damage and it will require attention.
Buy the car as is and do regular car washes with regular car shampoo preferably a good brand and once or twice a year can apply quality wax protection like Collinite 476 and you will be as good as any other ceramic coatings. Many of latest valeting products and technics are more of a show off for media than any real protection and easily can cause more issues than help. 

[Mojo1010]

Go with an indy if you want to get it done. Never had it done on my car so can't comment, never felt the need to have it done. 

[Cyker]

I had it on my Mk4 and the dealer didn't even apply it so unless you really want to give the salesman free money (Like, if they were particularly helpful) then you're better off getting e.g. Supagard or a local accredited detailer to clean and coat the car; It'd be significantly cheaper for the Supagard-level stuff, where they just clean the car and apply it.

You can get much stronger coatings but they usually take a few days to apply.

Because the dealer hadn't bothered to, I called Supagard, as they guarantee the work, and they sent someone to my house to clean the car and apply the coating (Inside and out!); He mentioned he usually charged something like £120-150 to do a car of this size, so the dealer margin on the Supagard coatings must be pretty big!

If you're quite lazy like me and never wash the car, the Supagard stuff isn't bad - It's like a very resilient wax and seems to impart some minor scratch resistance, as my car is much less swirly than I expected it to be at this age, but it lost its hydrophobic...ness... within maybe half a year into its 3 year rated life, but it has continued to make bird poop noticeably easier to remove.

If you wash and wax the car regularly tho' it's not as worth it.

I'm considering getting it reapplied, but feel like this is a bad time of year for it!  

[bigblock]

I wouldn't waste your money on it. It's not that good and it doesn't last long either. There are better protection waxes like Collite as mentioned which I have used in the past and does a great job. I have had Supagard in the past and regret the expense of it now. I can do a far better job with other products these days.

[Puglet]

I used some of these protection products I bought separately many years ago and they were quite good, but then few years later made mistake of having the very expensive dealer applied version, problem was their application wasn't very good and they had to redo it. So agree with others if you getting it done have a pro valeter do it, from above sounds like they do a better job for half the price.

Agree with others, had a number of cars ownership that been 15 or 20+ years and their paint been in as good condition over their lifetime just using quality shampoo, polish, wax on a regular basis.

 

[Cyker]

2 hours ago, bigblock said:

I wouldn't waste your money on it. It's not that good and it doesn't last long either. There are better protection waxes like Collite as mentioned which I have used in the past and does a great job. I have had Supagard in the past and regret the expense of it now. I can do a far better job with other products these days.

The thing is I almost never wash my car (A combination of lack of time and laziness  ), and waxes last maybe a few months tops before needing reapplication.

That's why I was saying it's probably less good if you regularly clean the car, but if you don't like me then it acts like a harder longer lasting wax.

There are some other coatings I find appealing as they claim to last 8-10 years and are thicker than the Supagard, but they cost considerably more and most of them require a full detail and 3 days of prep and application. Also, this is a Yaris.  

[Talking Hoarse]

Never had a car with Supaguard etc so really cannot compare.  But I am a big fan of Bullet Polish - only available online as far as I know.  Bullet Polish is actually just a wax (ie no cleaner), an emulsion of canauba wax and water, and is easily and quickly applied with a microfibre cloth whilst drying, after washing the car.  Can be used on all surfaces, leaves no white residue etc.  And is used by many of the car museums in UK.  Plug over!

[PCM]

18 hours ago, barrycoll said:

What is the consensus on paying an extra £300_+ for Supagard paint protection, as I know that it is also just an added bonus for the salesperson.

 

No...

I like it, but just buy it on eBay, apply it myself. Never had a problem.

And not sure it lasts much longer than any other protection...

[2badmice]

coming from working at a main dealership and working with dealerships confirming it was applied to your car is like playing roulette.

Now I am not saying there are not hard workers and people who read job cards and complete all the tasks, but your odds of actually having it applied are hit and miss.  You may have a sticker that says so, but you've no idea if it has been done.

You can get the kits off eBay and DIY, it lasts around 4 - 6 months depending on the conditions and how often you wash your car.

 

[barrycoll]

Excellent replies folks, and much appreciated for a small injection of "common sense "

Twas a fit of financial madness brought on by an energetic and enthusiastic salesperson, and then prospect of writing a cheque for £30 + k, and thinking that an extra £300 is just 'down the back of the sofa' stuff that in the grand scheme of things I wouldn't notice......

......and maybe Supagard could make a Corolla hatch look like a drop dead gorgeous 2024 Prius.

in 60 years of driving this the most expensive car I have forked out for, my 1964 Jaguar 3.8 Etype bought in 1965 for £950, Daimler SP250 Dart for £900, 1972 2.4 Porsche 911 T for £4000 in 1975.

Excellent signs of a mis-spent youth!

[Mojo1010]

24 minutes ago, barrycoll said:

Excellent signs of a mis-spent youth!

Nice set of cars. Not necessarily apply to all the cars. If one can comfortably afford them cars, why not. As another member say, they would die richer, though a fine balance when one have children. 

I would get a high end Lexus if I was in a better financial position than currently.