Hello everyone. I am "graduating" from driving ES 350's for the last 7 years to a 2010 LS460.....(can't wait to pick it up)! Quick Question....The dealership offers Auto Armor finish for the exterior of the vehicle which the dealership has agreed to throw in (retails for $495). Have any of you added this to your vehicles or do you know if there is a down side to it? They told me it basically gets baked on??

Any help would be appreciated!

 

If you are one to take care of your car and keep it clean and waxed I would not have them put this on. If you don't and they are throwing it in, then maybe. I find they dont apply it well more often than not and you get runs down along the bumpers etc that look bad and its almost impossible to get off once its applied.

I would personally never have it applied, its a dealer gimic..

btw congrats! you bought one of the best cars on the road today, your going to enjoy it.

 

i never ever trust this stuff. i have yet to see a car that can really resist daily driving "torture". totally gimic like cmasten said

 

I don't have personal experience with this product, but I do know that you get what you pay for. If they're throwing it in for nothing ........ then that's probably what its worth.

My suspicion is they have something up their sleeve. I'd tell them thanks, but no thanks.

 

See if they're willing to knock off $100 in lieu of the auto armor. If not, that gives you an idea what the cost of the auto armor is.

 

Has the ES350 been around since '03?

The aftermarket coatings are generally "softer" than the OEM paints. So, it means they scratch more easily, as it did on mine - and it came with it anyway, so I had no choice in the matter. Had I been asked, I would have turned it down; same with undercoating, and extended warranties. My salesman doesn't bother asking me anymore. Ask them to lower the overall price of the car as the material and labor are definitely worth something. They'll probably squirm, but that's what you're supposed to do in negotiations, make them squirm.

 

This is nothing more then a bottle of $20 paint sealant, which will last for 6 months to a year (at most). The product takes less then 1 hour to apply and unless they give you the entire remaining bottle of paint sealant, they will only be using about $2-3 worth of the product. It is a complete rip off and a half. I would actually advice against having them apply this, because there is a good chance that it could be applied by an inexperienced idiot with a buffer who will burn the clear coat and turn your brand new paint into a swirly mess. Ask them for a discount instead of the paint sealant.

 

Typical dealer scam. DOn't fall for it!