Thought ceramic coatings were hype until I tried one myself

I spent like 2 years rolling my eyes at all the ceramic coating posts on here. Kept thinking it was just expensive wax in a fancy bottle. Then my buddy offered to coat my hood for free after he did his own truck last spring. Watched him prep it for 4 hours straight with clay and polish before even touching the bottle. Figured if he put that much work in, there had to be something to it. Six months later my hood still beads water like day one and I barely touched it. Now I'm plotting to do my whole car over Christmas break. Anyone else cave and try something you thought was snake oil, or am I just easy to convince?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix_lewis1mo ago

Man I was the exact same way. Bought into the hype about three years ago and spent a whole weekend prepping my car like a fool, only to realize I missed a spot and had to redo the entire passenger door. My buddy still gives me crap about it. But honestly that initial bead session after the first rain made me feel like a detailing wizard for about a week until I scratched the bumper on a shopping cart. Now I just tell myself the coating will protect it while I pretend I'm not still bitter about that cart.

michael_green441mo ago

Tbh the shopping cart betrayal is a right of passage at this point. I still get a knot in my stomach every time I park near a cart corral. Ngl I spent way too long obsessing over getting the perfect 180 degree water behavior after a wash that I forgot to actually drive the car for like two weeks. My girlfriend thought I was having a midlife crisis with how many times I just stood in the driveway misting water on the hood. Then I backed into a low branch and now I just tell myself it adds character.

ross.lily1mo agoTop Commenter

Honestly I still think the initial bead session is worth it, you just gotta prep better.