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General Paint and leather protection.. worth it?

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General Paint and leather protection.. worth it?

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Adriano Valentino

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Hey everyone.

I just bought a Fiat 500 lounge with Leather Pack and all.
And now I am being asked if I want to purchase Protectiv paint and leather protection pack.
It's a white car.

Are these protections good and worth it for the car?
And how much should I spend?
I'm in Australia.
 
Adriano Valentino said:
Hey everyone.

I just bought a Fiat 500 lounge with Leather Pack and all.
And now I am being asked if I want to purchase Protectiv paint and leather protection pack.
It's a white car.

Are these protections good and worth it for the car?
And how much should I spend?
I'm in Australia.
Click to expand...

Don't buy them from the dealer, you'll pay too much and the dealer will pocket a fat commission from the contractor who does the job. They offer such things as window-tinting, paint protection etc. to pad out their bottom line - not for your benefit.

I personally wouldn't bother with paint protection, especially on a white car. What exactly does it protect the paint from, how long does it last? Regular cleaning and a good polish/wax should be sufficient.

I have a similar attitude to leather. My leather is regularly cleaned and treated (I use Autoglym's products but I daresay any well-known brand will do) and the seats look great after three years. Probably the best thing you can do for the leather, and interior generally, is get the windows tinted, but again, not by the dealer. Find a specialist who'll do the job on their premises, avoid 'mobile' tinters.

Enjoy your new car!
 
Piccolo Nero e Bella said:
Don't buy them from the dealer, you'll pay too much and the dealer will pocket a fat commission from the contractor who does the job. They offer such things as window-tinting, paint protection etc. to pad out their bottom line - not for your benefit.

I personally wouldn't bother with paint protection, especially on a white car. What exactly does it protect the paint from, how long does it last? Regular cleaning and a good polish/wax should be sufficient.

I have a similar attitude to leather. My leather is regularly cleaned and treated (I use Autoglym's products but I daresay any well-known brand will do) and the seats look great after three years. Probably the best thing you can do for the leather, and interior generally, is get the windows tinted, but again, not by the dealer. Find a specialist who'll do the job on their premises, avoid 'mobile' tinters.

Enjoy your new car!
Click to expand...

Thank you! I was quoted a massive price for the protektiv package
So I passed on it.
The price was great on my car and they will deliver the car to my house and all.

I will get the tint done here in qld with a reputable company and choose the darkest leagle tint for qld and one suitable for the car and leather seats.
 

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Adriano Valentino said:
Are these protections good and worth it for the car?
Click to expand...

No.

Just no.

These systems both don't do what they claim to do and are an exorbitant rip off. There are huge profits for the dealer, which is why they try so hard to sell them.

Visit either the car care section of this forum, or any of the specialist detailing websites, and you'll find a shedload of information on how to protect and maintain your car.
 
Last edited:
jrkitching said:
No.

Just no.

These systems both don't do what they claim to do and are an exorbitant rip off. There are huge profits for the dealer, which is why they try so hard to sell them.

Visit either the car care section of this forum, or any of the specialist detailing websites, and you'll find a shedload of information on how to protect and maintain your car.
Click to expand...

After reading the above comments I'm definitely going to pass on the
Protectiv package.

I'm only going to keep my car for 3.5 years (my adverage time with a car)

But I will find a respectable window tint here in qld once I receive the car
 
Adriano Valentino said:
After reading the above comments I'm definitely going to pass on the
Protectiv package.

I'm only going to keep my car for 3.5 years (my adverage time with a car)

But I will find a respectable window tint here in qld once I receive the car
Click to expand...

If I lived in your part of the world, I'd be looking for a respectable window tint too.

Living in the UK, I'd be looking for a bottle of Rain-X. ;)
 
IMO paint protection is 100% worth it, but not at dealer prices.

I buy quartz ceramic paint protection and apply it myself. UFI is now nearly four years old and has never been waxed (unless you count quick detailer now and then to remove water spots) and the water still beads and the paint is still mint.

I buffed (just a microfibre - no product) my black roof out in the sun the other day and it looks like the day I picked it up.

For a minimal outlay you well and truly get your money's worth in easier cleaning, improved scratch resistance and just on average a better looking vehicle (ie between washes).
 
Slightly off topic, I was at the Fiat dealer today and I noticed that with the boot lid open that paint is not gel coated, it looks like satin finish, around the opening and on the boot lid, checked another car and it was the same, but does have have 'glossy' finish where you open the door.
 
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