As the old saying goes, there's more than one way to skin a cat, and the same is true when it comes to finishing off your project car. The skin your vehicle wears is typically a layer of paint. However, in recent years, many enthusiasts have been opting for wraps instead of custom paint jobs. This is true not only for those who modify their cars and build unique showpieces, but also for some automakers. For example, Ford chose to sell the extremely limited Focus RS500 with a matte-back wrap.
If you're thinking about changing your vehicle's color sometime soon or you want to take on a project car, it's worth considering both options before making your final decision. There are obvious benefits and negatives to both, but there are also some pros and cons that you may not have considered. These include the ease of ongoing maintenance and how complicated or expensive the job is in the first place.
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Changing your car's color is not cheap, regardless of which option you choose. That's especially true if you're after a professional finish, which, for the purpose of this article, we'll assume you are. Otherwise, anyone can stick cheap vinyl on their car's panels or perform a rattle-can paint job in the driveway, though the finish will likely be less than desirable.
When it comes to how much a professional wrap or paint job costs, it's like asking how long is a piece of string. There are variables that affect the cost of both methods, including how much prep work is required, what the desired finish is, and the size of the vehicle. For instance, wrapping a Lamborghini Urus in chrome pink is going to cost more than wrapping a Mini Cooper in gloss red.
However, the general rule is that painting is the more expensive option. To achieve a perfect paint finish, the existing paintwork needs to be sanded down, which is extremely time consuming. In contrast, it's much quicker to prep a car's surface for wrapping, and there's no need to bake it in an oven and apply a clearcoat afterward, either. Naturally, more intricate and higher quality wraps will send prices soaring, and the same is true of paint. So, you really do get what you pay for here. Either way, both will require significant financial outlay to net a genuinely good result, which is a con for both. However, wrapping should be slightly cheaper, so the point goes to wraps when it comes to cost.
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Most people don't change the color of their car too often. However, if you own a cool show car or an ongoing project, changing the color can be a fun way to keep switching up the look. When it comes to paint, there is no quick and easy way of stripping it off in preparation for a new coat of color. The existing paintwork has to be painstakingly sanded down, which is extremely intricate and time-consuming work. Plus, if you miss parts or don't pay attention, you could end up with high and low spots, which will result in imperfections in the final paint job.
With wraps, removal is much easier. It's still not a quick job, but in comparison to removing paint, it's certainly simpler and faster. Typically, technicians use heat guns — simple, cheap tools with more uses than you can imagine — to warm up the wrap, which causes the glue to lose its adhesion. Then, you can simply peel off the wrap. It doesn't always come off easily, especially when it comes to intricate or detailed body panels, but the upside is that removing the wrap should reveal the original paintwork beneath in pristine condition.
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After wrapping or painting your pride and joy, it's now time to enjoy your hard work. It might seem like smooth sailing from here on out, but the truth is, maintaining both wraps and paint can be tricky, especially if you want your car to look perfect for as long as possible.
Paint is susceptible to numerous types of damage, like scratches, chips, and cracks, and everything from rocks and pebbles to your passengers zippers and jewelry can harm your car's paint. This sort of damage is less likely to affect wrapped vehicles, as environmental damage is the greater risk here. Prolonged UV exposure can cause wraps to fade over time, extreme temperatures can damage the material, and wet weather can eventually cause the edges of your wrap to peel. While paint can certainly fade after years baking in the sun, it's less susceptible to environmental damage, which could make it the easier option when it comes to maintenance.
In terms of keeping clean, there is no shortage of shampoos and cleaning solutions designed to keep your paint looking fresh. There are also plenty of waxes and sealants out there, which can help prolong the paint's lifespan and keep the aforementioned types of damage at bay. Likewise, car wraps can also last a long time if you care for them properly, which means sticking to a cleaning schedule and avoiding extreme weather when possible.
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Artists have been experimenting with paintwork on cars for decades now, and, seemingly, there really is no limit to the effects that talented folk can produce with the right tools at their disposal. A quick look at some custom hotrods – like this "Army of the Dead"-inspired lowrider – will reveal immensely complex patterns, all of which usually come from the tip of a spray gun.
However, true artistic talent and a hefty financial investment are necessary to produce work of this quality. Wraps, on the other hand, offer limitless customization with less effort. They still aren't cheap, but wraps can offer matte, gloss, chrome, carbon-fiber, and even completely unique patterns and finishes, all for the fraction of the price of a custom paint job. For this reason, many consider car wraps to be the best port of call for achieving a custom finish, like those sweet liveries you can see at the Nürburgring.
While this may seem like another win for the wrap, and it sort of is, it's not quite so clear cut. Achieving an immaculate paint job requires endless hours and incredible skill. While simply wrapping the car may be easier, achieving a perfect finish with paint is something in which many enthusiasts take immense pride. Opting for a wrap may make it easier to get a unique finish and allow for more customization, but there is something to be said about the ability to display incredible skill and patience with an intricate paint job.
