Ok, I am one week in on my 2024 CX-5 Carbon Edition. I had 52K miles on the 2018 I traded in. After 5 years there were dozens of chips on the hood (Metallic Gray). The first couple of years I was diligent with touch up paint, then the chips won. Starting new again is PPF just on the hood worth it? I am quoted $450 from a good shop. Also, do most of you use automatic car washes?

 

A lot of people swear by it. I only have like one chip on my car, but my girlfriend's white paint shows a few more. The only car washes I do are touchless, or by hand.

 

Thanks!

 

I have said this to you in another thread - I highly recommend it. Also get the front bumper, mirrors and front quarter panels done. Just the hood isn't enough. Mine now has 20k and has zero chips.

Automatic car washes ONLY if they are touchless.

 

Thanks. Your previous input is why I am researching. I really had no chips on my 2018 except the hood.

 

You were lucky then. The front bumper is very vulnerable to chips. Our '19 with 20k and no PPF (it was leased, so I didn't pay for PPF) had many nicks/chips on the hood and bumper. Quarter panels are less exposed, but still pretty prone to damage over time.

 

Ya not sure how anyone got away with no bumper cover impact chips?

 

For clarification, there probably were bumper chips but they were not as detracting as the chips on the hood after 5 years.

 

Another question is how long do you plan on keeping the CX-5? If 5yrs+ get the PPF as you will certainly be thanking me later when the paint looks great. I have a '20 Frontier which I had front bumper/hood, grill, front 10" of quarter panels PPFed (before I even started using the truck). I just passed 3yrs and 27k miles. Still looks brand new (not a single chip). I had to go to the shop yesterday to have one piece on a fog light replaced due to the film being damaged by road debris. The actual fog light lens was undamaged when it was R&Red. It really is amazing stuff.

 

I use only a brushless car wash which happens to be near me, a mile or so away. I carry six microfiber towels to dry the CX-5 there at the car wash. I do not run the MX-5 through a car wash for obvious reasons.

I had paint protection film put on the automobile, 12 year warranty and covering 24" of the hood, as well as the cups behind the door handles, the rear view mirrors and the door edge trims.

I keep a larger than most distance from the vehicle in front of me which helps with avoiding the rocks and resulting chips.