[BeatJunkie]

Hi all!

Yesterday I went and factory ordered a brand new Escape XLT 2.5L FWD with Canadian Winter (leather) package, Convenience Group, Cargo Convenience package, Sync, ambient lighting and remote start. Steel Blue exterior and Stone interior. I'm excited! Now the waiting begins...

While I'm waiting for delivery I have started researching what's available out there for protecting the metal and paint from the elements. I'd like to get some opinions from the community on what's worthwhile and what's a waste of money.

Here is some background... My wife and I love to go on road trips, and we also visit family about 45 highway minutes outside the city many times a year. That makes for some highway driving, and I am concerned about flying debris. We also live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where the winters are mostly cold and the road salt is plentiful. I am pretty handy, and I'm not afraid to get hands-on with my car. I am also thrifty, and my wife is even more so. This Escape will be our first brand-new vehicle.

1. I have been reading about paint protection film from the likes of 3M Scotchgard, VentureShield, XPEL, etc. That kind of product looks great to me and seems to make sense, but to get a precut kit to cover all the most vulnerable spots would cost several hundred dollars. Instead, I'm thinking of getting some rolls of that urethane film, and trim it myself as I apply it. If I search eBay for "paint protection film roll", I see a bunch of VentureShield film by the roll. My question here is, are there less-expensive places to get this film? Does anyone here know of any good stores anywhere between Winnipeg and Minneapolis where this film can be easily acquired for cheap? We love the twin cities by the way, and drive there at least once a year on average.

2. My next question is, for a Canadian, what is the least expensive way to get a set of those WeatherTech DigitalFit weather mats? My understanding is that they are only available through mail-order, right? Is ordering direct from WeatherTech Canadian web store the only way to go?

3. Is undercoating from a third party such as Ming or Ziebart worth the money? I intend to wash the Escape regularly anyway. Perhaps I'll wait and see if the Escape could use some quieting before considering undercoating.

I'm sure that I'll think of other things to do to my Escape once I get it, but this is all for now. Thanks!

-Ryan the BeatJunkie

 

[08HybridOK]

Sorry can't help on the pait or underbody protection. But my baby's almost 3 now, and the paint looks as good as the day I bought her, only thing I do is car washes (automatic as my water is too hard to do by hand) and wax a couple times a year. I did clay bar it once, and that did bring the smoothness back to it, I'll probably do that again in the spring.

First things I bought were for protection, a rear cargo mat and side door moldings.

I'm sure someone else will hace tips on the other questions.

 

[kkreit01]

I would not pay for any aftermarket paint/rust protection. They are pure profit, and no better than products you can buy and DIY. If you are new to detailing, read up on some of the detailing forums: autopia.org, autogeek.net, etc. They are many user-friendly products that can be had locally.

Weathertech liner have to be ordered. You may also want a bugshield, or clear bra for the hood (pay someone to do this job). Ford splash guards are also a "win".

 

[sleeve]

Hi all!

Welcome!

are there less-expensive places to get this film? Does anyone here know of any good stores anywhere between Winnipeg and Minneapolis where this film can be easily acquired for cheap?

Are there any car detailing shops up in the twin cities areas? If you bought direct from a place like Auto-One they might give you a discount on a bulk roll of the film. However, the only real unprotected area of the truck is the hood. The rear fenders already come with a small spot of protective tape for rock strikes around the lower door area.

What other spots were you thinking of taping up? [just curious]

2. My next question is, for a Canadian, what is the least expensive way to get a set of those WeatherTech DigitalFit weather mats? My understanding is that they are only available through mail-order, right? Is ordering direct from WeatherTech Canadian web store the only way to go?

I have only ever ordered them from online. But a buddy of mine bought a full set from a weather tech store. If there is a store in the Twin Cities area you can just walk right in and pick up a set without having to pay for shipping costs. The mats are not cheap but they are very much worth the cost. I have black carpet in my Escape and it's still brand new looked [halfway through winter unvacuumed]

Is undercoating from a third party such as Ming or Ziebart worth the money? I intend to wash the Escape regularly anyway. Perhaps I'll wait and see if the Escape could use some quieting before considering undercoating.

I would personally skip the undercoating.

 

[BeatJunkie]

Awesome! Thanks for the replies! arty:

I discovered the Husky Weatherbeater floor trays which appear similar to WeatherTech's DigitalFit, only less expensive. I think I'll spring for a set of those. Now I have to choose whether to get them in gray or tan.

@kkreit01: Thanks for the detailing links. I'll definitely check them out.

@sleeve: For paint protection I was originally thinking of taping all the places that the more complete and expensive kits cover. There are precut kits that cover just the front of the hood and the front tips of the fenders, and then there are other kits which cover all that plus the bumper, mirror backs, lights and door edges. It's all expensive, and that's why I was thinking of doing it myself with a bulk roll of film. You mentioned that the only real unprotected area is the hood. I suppose most of those other surfaces are durable plastic, and don't really need a film. Now I'm thinking of getting a bug deflector instead. I like the look of the deflector (smoked), and it should have the added benefit of reducing the number of bug guts on my windshield during road trips too.

@08HybridOK: I've heard about the clay bar treatment. That will be on my list of things to try in the summer. I'm on the fence about side door moldings though. Maybe if I can get them in matching Steel Blue.
I'm going to get mudflaps too, probably the basic floppy ones. Mrs. BeatJunkie likes to kick the snow buildup off them, so I don't think molded ones would last. :doh:

Yeah, I'll skip the undercoating.

Thanks again! You've all been a big help!

 

[08HybridOK]

Awesome! Thanks for the replies! arty:

I discovered the Husky Weatherbeater floor trays which appear similar to WeatherTech's DigitalFit, only less expensive. I think I'll spring for a set of those. Now I have to choose whether to get them in gray or tan.

@08HybridOK: I've heard about the clay bar treatment. That will be on my list of things to try in the summer. I'm on the fence about side door moldings though. Maybe if I can get them in matching Steel Blue.
I'm going to get mudflaps too, probably the basic floppy ones. Mrs. BeatJunkie likes to kick the snow buildup off them, so I don't think molded ones would last. :doh:

Thanks again! You've all been a big help!

I just recycled the deep clear (now not so much) that I bought several years ago for one of my other vehicles, got a set from wally for I'm guessing $20.

It took me forever to find the place that sold my door moldings, when I bout mine in early 07, there wern't many places to get 08 accessories, so everything came from ebay. But searched today & I didn't find them on ebay, I had to dig throuh my old web pages I made (And sadly my DSL provider dropped the FREE hosting I had )to Find sportwing.com
http://www.sportwing.com/fordescape08fe.aspx
Suprisingly the price has only gone up $10-20 in 3 yrs! and steel blue is all ready on the list.

I only had a choice of flat flaps, the molded ones didn't come out for over a year, and now eh, there on, why change! And your right, being scoop shaped would probably hold more snow.

I think I have the only color, maybe another light gray or the sage green, that I don't like the look of a smoked bugshield, but now finally 2-3 yrs later someone sells a chrome one, and I think clear; but now the mrs won't spring for it, but fortunatly no highway driving so I'm spared the rock chips.

As for protection, my mirrors do seem to be the worst spot, bug guts on them all the time, so a film over them might help, or just don't be as lazy as me and washt them by hand more frequently

 

[sleeve]

Aye - the Mirror backs on the Limited models are painted. My XLT has the basic black plastic models... If you are springing for the Limited model than some plastic film is surely in order for the mirror surfaces.

Another idea that I'm toying with is filling the grille with screen mesh to at least save some of my A/C condensor. It's too cold now to look at the front bumper area though.

 

[jonas1022]

I'd go for the billet bars like on Colleen's Escape. That ought to protect your A/C coils... :yes: and look good doing it too!

 

[LIEscape]

Congrats on the purchase and color choice (check sig). I've gotten and continue to get a lot of thumbs up and nice comments on the color combo. I've found by keeping my water hose in the garage for quick washes during the winter on those "warmer" winter days and a couple coats of wax prior to winter helps protect the paint finish on all my cars. If your worried rock chips for those road trips, a bug screen might be worth checking into. Congrats again on the purchase!