Should I Get Vinyl Wrap on My Car for $4k?

[Deactivated] on 07/05/2022 - 08:52
Last edited 07/05/2022 - 10:42 by 1 other user

I finally bought my first decent car recently - paid $31.5k for a 2014 Tarago Ultima V6 in excellent condition with 43,000km on the odometer. The body and paintwork are pristine. It's white in colour but I've always wanted a black car because they look good. So I'm thinking about spending $4k to get it wrapped in vinyl. I will keep the roof white for heat refelction and get the rest of the panels wrapped in satin black. Apparently matte black shows too many marks like fingerprints etc so satin is a nice compromise if I don't want a gloss finish.

Do people think $4k is too much to spend comparative to the car's value? Or should I go for it (YOLO!) if I can easily afford it? Wraps tend to last 3-4 years depending who you ask. It's a thin vinyl film applied with a heat gun and also needs to be removed by a heat gun. Cost to remove is about $600. I also need to notify Transport Dept about colour change

Poll Options

  • 83
    Yes do it, you should be happy with your car
  • 428
    No, don't do it, it's too exy
Automotive Car Toyota Vinyl Wrap

Comments

  • DoctorCalculon on 08/05/2022 - 22:34
    +1

    OP, are you a soccer mum? :-)

    • striker5950 on 09/05/2022 - 10:06
      +1

      tell me your a soccer mom without telling me your a soccer mom

  • p3nf0ld on 08/05/2022 - 23:21

    Please no

  • akito on 09/05/2022 - 05:28

    If can easily afford it because you are only cash rich then no.

    If you haven't got any money invested then my opinion is you start with that first. 4k is no a solid amount to begin with.

    If you have at least 40k invest somewhere, then 10% seems reasonable for an expense that would make you happy.

  • yokel on 09/05/2022 - 07:06
    +1

    Getting this out of your system while you are young will set you up for savings later on

  • Commander Shepard on 09/05/2022 - 08:26
    +1

    Even on sports cars. Wraps never look good compared to paint thats well taken care of.

    It also won't add any value to your car. It may decrease its value dramatically.
    Don't do it.

    If your into cars. Put the money towards a cheap NB or NC MX5. And go to hills, or better yet, a track.

  • soaringphoenix on 09/05/2022 - 09:16
    +2

    Allow your excitement around the new car to settle for a little bit first. Wait 3 months and see how you feel so that you aren't overly influenced by emotion now.

    Consider as well that you won't see the colour of the wrap from inside, other than the mirrors. That means the only joy you will get will be when you approach the car etc.

    Consider a colour other than black. If you are going to wrap it and have a full spectrum of choices, why not go for something that isn't a factory option.

    • greatlamp on 09/05/2022 - 21:37

      I like this idea. If you are going to waste money on it, at least get a cool colour like that purple that becomes hot pink in the warm sun.

  • knasty on 09/05/2022 - 09:20

    If you are going to wrap it black make sure you have your headlights on appropriately….matt black colour and no headlights at night = big trouble.

    Agree with others to see how you go for a few months and decide then.

  • dogboy on 09/05/2022 - 09:22

    Is this a joke post? Who in their right mind would wrap a Tarago?

  • johnno07 on 09/05/2022 - 09:25
    +3

    Where's the "No because it will look like sh*t" option?

  • gentlekoala5906 on 09/05/2022 - 10:10

    Probably better to put that $4k into something else, like shares / term deposit / bonds

    • [Deactivated] on 09/05/2022 - 14:15
      -8

      I've already got $680k in ETFs, LICs and direct shares plus $3.5m in property - do you think $4k is too much to spend?

      • dogboy on 09/05/2022 - 16:04
        +2

        … and you bought a pos Tarago. Like anyone believes you mate.

        • ihfree on 09/05/2022 - 16:15
          -1

          There are heaps of well off people who drive cheaper cars. A car is a money pit and generally a household's second-largest expense.

          You can't really judge someone's financial position from their car. I've got friends who have gone into 100K+ debt for luxury vehicles.

          • ass3ts on 09/05/2022 - 22:50

            @ihfree: That type of well-off people wouldn't vinyl wrap their cars for the 'look' either, let alone vinyl wrapping a Tarago matte black. Money aside, IMO it's pretty lame. If the primary reason is really about protecting the paint, then it should be the clear wrap that's also much thicker.

          • pilchard on 10/05/2022 - 14:15

            @ihfree: Marty Byrde and Gustavo Fring are two good examples.

        • [Deactivated] on 09/05/2022 - 16:40
          -2

          That's how I grew my wealth over the years. I always drove older cars, never bought the latest iPhone, cooked my own meals and delayed gratification. I'm quite frugal so I have a high savings rate and invest it all. But now I'm 42 and I've got a 3yo so I decided it's time to buy a car with airbags (this has 7 airbags). My main love is bikes - I've got a CBR954-RR Fireblade, MT-09 and a Harley Davidson. My old car is a 2001 Toyota Hiace with no airbags

      • striker5950 on 09/05/2022 - 16:21
        -1

        is the tarago with wrap a high yield investment?

      • drfuzzy on 09/05/2022 - 20:07

        I have more invested than OP and gave my car away to use PT, uber and mostly my own feet.
        When I was poorer I drove a new BMW.
        I definitely wouldn't wrap the Tarago though. Waste of money.
        But - each to their own decisions. I'm probably insane.

  • fbzbenny on 09/05/2022 - 10:27

    Hmm this post has made me consider wrapping my vehicle but only on the areas that have sun fade. Would vinyl wrapping the bonnet and roof be worthwhile or are there better paint restoration methods available?

    • Hithere on 09/05/2022 - 13:09

      You're joking of course.

    • knk on 09/05/2022 - 15:27

      Post pics of car.

      You can do a lot with polish / buffers but if its mangled its mangled.

      You need a good surface for vinyl to adhere to, so you can't just slap it over the top of rust or a peeling clear coat.

      I'm not a fan of the 2 tone look personally.

  • deme on 09/05/2022 - 11:20

    lmao

  • kaleidoscope on 09/05/2022 - 11:20

    Erm no… $4k for 3-4 years lasting product + another $600 to remove it :-/

  • mdavant on 09/05/2022 - 13:37
    -1

    Don't worry, scomo will print more to give you to waste.

  • knk on 09/05/2022 - 15:25
    +1

    You can probably get a half decent closed door respray done for 4k. Just keep it white and have it resprayed down the line (in the same colour) if the paintwork is damaged.

    If for protection purposes, look into getting a clear bonnet lip installed. It's similar to the vinyl wraps but thicker, you could also opt to do the bumper aswell. Protecting it from road rash etc.

  • Marcsie on 09/05/2022 - 19:17

    lol

  • jonagrah on 09/05/2022 - 20:15
    +1

    Lets look at it this way.

    If someone paid you $4000 to NOT get it wrapped, would you take the money?

  • greatlamp on 09/05/2022 - 21:34

    It's a bad idea because it doesn't last very long and will look crap when it starts to peel off.

    Put 4k aside and fix the scratches when they occur. That way you always drive a nice clean car.

  • bmerigan on 09/05/2022 - 22:04
    -1

    I would rather buy a nicer car than spend $4k to temporarily change colour.

  • JustASmoothSkin on 10/05/2022 - 00:01
    +3

    Your in the wrong place, unless it's someone's 15 year old corrola or camry the people here are just going to dish out on you. You do you, have a look at some wrapped cars and decide if it's the way you want to go. If $4000 is something you can afford to spend on a wrap and you like it than I would say go ahead. It's your car, and you should make it however YOU want.

    Personally I believe that cars can be a fun way for people to express themselves, doesn't matter if you have truck nuts hanging from your towbar or a full custom executive style body kit. Taste is subjective and you should do what you makes you happy.

    I personally would get a proper closed door respray if you want a colour change and are planning on using this car frequently as it's not all that much more expensive. Wraps can hold up fairly well and can also be a good way to protect pre-existing paint but if a little bit gets damaged it will need to be re-wrapped and unlike paint that can be blended it will look out of place unless you do the whole car again.

  • CRS34 on 10/05/2022 - 00:37

    Other option. Learn how to wrap the car yourself lol.

  • bakemon0 on 10/05/2022 - 01:43
    +1

    2 bad decisions in one post, you've already made one, but it's not too late to not make the other
    it'll be interesting to actually see it and recognise it on the roads if you do go through with it

  • May4th on 10/05/2022 - 07:57

    sure if it was a C63 or AMG GT but we really need some pictures to prove how wrapping a tarago in anything is going to make it look good

  • Fobsessive on 10/05/2022 - 09:34
    +1

    Closed door respray instead

  • pogichinoy on 10/05/2022 - 10:45

    Do what makes you happy mate :)

  • hopper on 10/05/2022 - 11:01
    +1

    I heard big banks pay you >$500 if you wrap your car with their ads and logos that they provided.

    • jonagrah on 10/05/2022 - 11:48

      Oh really?

  • ChiTown on 10/05/2022 - 11:29

    Paying $4k on a wrap for a car that only cost you $30k is throwing money down the toilet…

  • IpGem on 10/05/2022 - 12:53
    +4

    Do what makes you happy op. I repainted my 2008 mazda3 for 3.5k, a lot were against but when i look at my car now, it just makes me happy.

    Yes, I don't care what other soccer moms think

  • goms on 10/05/2022 - 14:46

    Go for it YOLO!

  • Fobsessive on 10/05/2022 - 16:04
    +2

    Slam (lower) it and get some mad VIP wheels.
    https://www.google.com.au/search?q=VIP+tarago&prmd=imvn&sxsr…

  • serpserpserp on 10/05/2022 - 20:47

    Yes

  • adn on 11/05/2022 - 00:41

    matte black wrap

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