Plastidip vs. Vinyl: Someone Settle This Debate

[TheBlackGT]

One is a wrap, the other is a liquid that forms into a wrap. One is much more inexpensive to the other.

I've heard all the @#$% like "Why would you plastidip an $80K car" or "Plastdip is so cheap and meant for Honda Civics" and "Vinyl Wrapping is the only way to go for high-end cars" and such.

Also, I have seen members who have used Plastidip on their cars, wheels, etc. and they seem to hold up just fine, and due to the liquid application, can cover surfaces with much less difficulty compared to Vinyl.

So, I really want to settle this, not just for me, but for the community. Why is Vinyl "so much better" than Plastidip and for what reasons? Why do you guys believe Plastidip is so cheap.

Here is a vid showing someone's Audi R8 V10 being plastidipped in Matte Grey, and thats a $150K+ car.

I'm not saying I'm a loyal Plastidip fan, I just want people's input. Post away my friends (no fights please though)

[Ezio]

I like vinyl much more, but the dip is much cheaper and still looks great.

I got a friend about to plastic dip his mustang 5.0L. Going to give it a try see how it goes.

[Samurai of 2day]

Hot topic for me as well. I would really like to either paint, or plasti-dip the lower fairings on my bike.

The application of plasti-dip looks easy, the price is right, and there are so many aesthetic options, but I'm worried about it's durability compared to a regular paint job...

[dtwyim]

Originally Posted by Samurai of 2day

but I'm worried about it's durability compared to a regular paint job...

Much easier and cheaper to re-do the dip than to re-paint.

[GammaZeta]

You want to "settle the debate"?

Sure thing.

Both are just fads that are on their way out.

Debate settled.

[SgtGigglebox]

Or this:

Not really a wide color selection, but its as close to magic as Ive seen in a long time.

[buildbright]

Plasti-Dip is just cheesy. Wraps look much better specially in person. The only reason that R8 is dipped is because its the owner or that company.

[canukgtp]

that hydrophobic stuff is increadible...what a time we live in hahaha

[Meeni]

Dipping an whole car is certainly not free, and requires good technique, otherwise it looks like colored turd. The price difference is not very large, and the average result with wrapping is better.

Said otherwise, the risk of doing something ugly with vinyl is low, and this is what you your extra money buys: the certitude that the result is right the first time. With dip, it could go just fine, or you'll have to do it twice to get something acceptable, at which point wrapping was more cost effective.

[TheBlackGT]

Originally Posted by SgtGigglebox

Or this:

Not really a wide color selection, but its as close to magic as Ive seen in a long time.

Damn! Never hafta wash your car again. Does it actually work lol?

[Ashley Schaeffer BMW]

My friend tried dipping his car.

Did the hood, it looked really splotchy and cloudy. The good thing was it peeled right off. I use it on my wheels and that's all it's good for IMO.

[Samurai of 2day]

Originally Posted by dtwyim

Much easier and cheaper to re-do the dip than to re-paint.

That makes sense, but it would seem that the end result does not live up to the expectations of those who opted for the dip, according to the posts on this thread.

It would seem that most here prefer the end result of the wrap over the dip because the dip process seems to be leaving people disappointed. Perhaps this is one of those things that fall under the "you get what you pay for" category.

When I first heard of the dip procedure, of course I looked up the process on youtube. It looks like it works well, has a high gloss/wet look to it, takes no time at all, and can pretty much be any color or pattern you wish for. I was dead set on getting the farings done on my bike, as soon as I can find the time, lol.

Now, after reading some of the negative reasoning against the plasti-dip, I am once again on the fence as to what procedure I should use to change the look of my bike.

If anyone has had anything dipped, please post pics and share your actual first-hand experience and level of "happiness" with the end result for those of us who have yet to see the real thing and how it holds up over time.

[Mike Benvo]

That was an amazing video.. I want that stuff.

[SgtGigglebox]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

That was an amazing video.. I want that stuff.

You can see it best on the toilet brush part, but its awesome how you can see the pocket of air surrounding each set of bristles... the possible applications are pretty intriguing.