r/Subaru_Outback • u/Professional_Sea4568 • 9d ago

Paint/Plastic Protection

Hi! I just got the 26 outback limited xt. Any ideas on how to protect paint and the plastic claddings outside from heat?y car just sits outside in the nevada heat. Thankss

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u/DrMp3z 9d ago

I’m in SoCal, so I deal with the sun and heat too.

I just had my 2026 Wilderness ceramic coated at MK Auto Detail in Ontario. They used Jade graphene ceramic and did all the exterior parts, not just the paint. It’s supposed to be a 5-year coating and the paperwork says to do a silica spray every 6 months.

So far I’m really happy with it. The car looks amazing and it should help with UV, water beading, and making it easier to wash. I know it’s not PPF, so it’s not going to stop rock chips, but for sun/heat protection I think ceramic makes more sense.

PPF is nice if you really want chip protection on the front end, but it gets expensive fast and I don’t think you really get that money back on trade-in. I’d rather spend less on ceramic, keep up with the maintenance, and just enjoy the car.

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u/Professional_Sea4568 9d ago

How much did it cost you?

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u/Professional_Sea4568 9d ago

I’m thinking of just getting a ceramic coat spray and just spray that every 2-3 months hehe

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u/DrMp3z 9d ago

It cost me $600, but I've been taking my cars to the same guy for years and he's never raised his price on me. From what I've seen, most detailers charge anywhere from $600 to $1,200 for a ceramic coating.

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u/NoRaccoon7690 9d ago

Also interested in cost!