Dealer Sealant - $825 - Ahhh!

[gb387]

Well we stopped at the dealer to see what could be done... The salesman said it was no problem if she didn't want it, so that is good news.

But I asked a little about the product and its a package called "Auto Armor". The package contains: Undercoating, fabric protection and paint protection for $825.

Undercoating
The only thing in the package that might be worth it is the undercoating, its suppose to dampen the road noise a little but the car is quiet anyway. He said the undercoating was easy to remove(does this mean by rocks, gravel and road debris?), I used my finger nail to easily scrape some of the coating off of their sample.

Interior Protection
The guy said the fabric protection was also warrantied but I was a little concerned once he started explaining it. He said if you have a stain that can't be removed from your interior you call company X, Service Master will then try and remove the stain, if is can not be removed company X will replace the problem area(seat cover, floor mat and so on). Sounds like you never go with the dealer once you drive out the door, don't really like that idea.

Paint Protection
For the paint protection they clay first then apply the product. He said its a product that links together... blah blah blah(that is about all I got out of it). They use the D_P__t name in the brochure. He also said there were "holes" in clear coat, is that true?

There is no "fine print" on the brochure I was given but I would guess they have something somewhere. I really can't find much on the internet about the product it only points to a website of a company that makes "private label" products in addition to the "Auto Armor". Looks like they focus on dealers.

[Murr1525]

Well, paint does have pores... maybe that is the holes he meant.

[gb387]

Originally posted by Murr1525
Well, paint does have pores... maybe that is the holes he meant.

That is what I was wondering... I would guess.

[kellyinkc]

Well at least they would clay it!! Dont blame you for being upset about it. From the work I've seen you do. You will do a better job thean the dealer would! Show us pics when she gets it.

[Mikeyc]

I read so many threads on detailing forums where people are talking about dealer paint sealants. They want to know if it's worth it or they bought it and want to know how to care for it.

I'm always amazed when I read the threads because I have never once had a dealer even offer me paint sealant. Buyers in New England tend to be very frugal & well educated consumers. Typically they have done their research on a product and know what they are getting into. So, maybe New England car dealers don't bother. Every time a chain moves in from another area of the country and fails I always read it's because of the attitude of the New England consumer.

[gb387]

After doing a little more research I read the wax/sealants section of the product line .PDF online. There was a description of all their waxes and sealants, I didn't see on that stated a 7 year warranty or lasts 7 years, 6 months was the longest lasting. It appears there is only one product with D*P**t make up advertised by the Scion dealer, its a wipe on sealant and says it can last up to 6 months. All the products listed are nothing more than what Meguiars offers at a very reasonable price. So Meguiars all the way!

When the car comes in I will "dress it up" and post some photos, should be fun... I have not seen the actual color yet but its a color called "Flint Mica" and I guess its a dark greenish with metal flake(g/f calls it glitter) or something.

[miked2]

About 10 years ago we bought a Honda Civic, and I fell for the line and bought the "undercoating" for something like $500. I knew a very good and very honest mechanic who specialized only in Hondas. It was just him and a couple of helpers in his shop, and he was the guy who did all the major lifting.

Anyway, when I brought the Civic over to him, he castigated me a bit for buying the undercoating. He put the vehicle on a lift, and proceeded to show me where they put the undercoating, and the few spots they missed. And he "fixed" the spots -- took out a spray can of "undercoating" (I can't actually remember what the product was), and sprayed it on. He said that what the dealer did was use a can or two of this stuff to go over the underside of the car. He himself wasn't sure if the product was effective, but as a courtesy to customers, offered the same undercoating service for $50 -- and told me I was looking at about $25 worth of product, and 30 minutes of work.

In any case, I have read that, like extended warranties at the big box electronics stores, all of these dealer extras have profit margins exceeding 90%. They can make more money on an $825 package than they can on the car!

When we bought our Cadillac SRX, I had to sit through the finance lady extolling the virtues of all their little add-ons, and then politely but firmly say no. The latest gimmick seems to be those little plastic films they put over headlamps --- "to protect you from a rock breaking your headlamp." Now, I've been driving for 20 years, and have never had that happen; I'm sure it can, but the odds are quite low, and I'm not convinced that a rock that would impact the headlamp with that great a force to crack it would be stopped by 1/16" of plastic. The dealer wanted $500 for the pair of headlamps. I think I can go on the web and buy the same thing for maybe $50. Probably precut in the shape of my headlamps, too.

It just goes on and on. In the Seattle area, we have one great line of dealerships who treat people right during the sale, and during the service of their car. You pay a little more up front for your car, but I know people who won't buy a car from any other dealer than this folks. And if that dealer doesn't sell a particular brand of car, then they won't buy that car. I'm tempted. My Cadillac dealer keeps telling me that I need to have my SRX serviced every 6K miles, with a "minor" service every 15K (to the tune of $600). Actually, my manual says that my car will tell me when the oil is to be changed, and it's closer to 10K miles. I brought this up with the dealer once, and he said that "well, our unique climate is such that we recommend more aggressive oil changes than what GM says." Ah yes, the Pacific Northwest -- a mild, temperature climate. Never really goes that much below freezing (high 20's is considered "bone chilling"), and never really goes past mid-80's (anything in the 90's, and they're telling you to not go outside). So, let's see, not too hot -- we're not Phoenix -- and not too cold -- we're not Minnesota. And how, exactly, is that considered an "extreme" climate that would warrant aggressive oil change schedules?

Anyway, off my soap box. There are a few dealers out there who look out for the customer. But they seem to be few and far between.

[stangster]

Paint sealants etc. are a huge ripoff for the consumer. When I bought my new mustang this past winter, the dealer tried to sell me a lifetime sealant for 600.00. I explained to him that I could buy a lot of wax for that amount, plus I would know it was done right. Of course, I'm so picky I wouldn't let them do any more than the basic detail to the car before they delivered it.

[supercharged]

That's a complete rip off. Worst of all you may probably get a DISO(dealer installed swirl option) for that much of money.

[tron1974]

I heard a story once where someone was sold special blinker fluid, you know the fluid that makes your blinkers blink?

[gb387]

Here are the end results and it saved a ton of money: Scion TC - Who needs the dealers sealant?

[Newport Viper]

Originally posted by supercharged
That's a complete rip off. Worst of all you may probably get a DISO(dealer installed swirl option) for that much of money.

Hey, I got this for free at the dealer. I can't imagine what you get for $825

[Alex7938]

We get stung for this type of thing in the UK

My dad had some applied to his last car (BMOL-Before Megs Online ) it looked nice after a wash, apart from the bonnet(hood) where it either hadnt taken to the paint or applied incorrectly.

After several trips back and forth to the dealers they decided it was user error (despite the fact my dad will always follow instructions to the letter).

It was supposed to protect against bird bombs etc ,which it didnt

So we stripped it all off and Meguiarised it.


He paid £300 and after a little research found the stuff on the Bay of E for £8.00

Along with a friend i decided to compare it on my bonnet with some other sealants, Meguiars #21 and Finish Kare 2180.

i split the panel in 5: product-nothing-product-nothing-product.

I applied one layer of #21 and 2180, but the other stuff needed two seperate products to work, so i did those.

I did this at the end of september and they were still beading in march ( i was only going 6 miles aday)

As you have to top up these dealer things i didnt see any benefit in it, i mean i can top #21 up every 3-6 months and save myself a shed load of money and get a head turning finish at the same time.

[OPA1]

I picked up an "04" Blazer from the local POPULAR dealer. When we went to finish the paper work the girl tryed to sell us all sorts of sTUFF. like a sealant treatment for $325. And get this. Those window vents that sell, on line, for around $80 , for (GET THIS) $250. What are they made of ?? The dealer makes more on the extras than the actual sale of the car . So it's better to MEGUIAR it , like the wife told them when we bought the truck.

ED

[RamAirV1]

That really irritates me when they try to sell you all those extras! My dealer didn't try to sell me any sealant (those have fallen out of favor around here) but lots of other things, like etching the glass for theft prevention, lifetime oil changes, credit insurance, etc.

RamAirV1