The Pros and Cons of Vinyl Wrapping and Plasti Dip for Your Car

If you're looking to personalize your car without breaking the bank, you've got two popular options: vinyl wrapping and Plasti Dip. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, which we'll explore in this article.

We recently purchased two nearly identical Nissan 350Zs and decided to modify them to be fun, daily drivers that we can take to the track. One car received a ton of expensive parts, while the other got cheap parts. To see which components are actually worth your hard-earned money, we tested them both.

As part of our customization process, we're changing out the outside of the cars as well as our own accessories. We've decided to go with the vinyl wrap option for one car and Plasti Dip for the other. When it comes to changing the color of your car, you've got three main options: traditional paint job, vinyl wrap, or Plasti Dip.

The gloss of a concourse-level paint job is intoxicating, but perfecting that level of quality takes forever and costs an arm and a leg. That's why I opted for a professional vinyl wrap at $3000. On the other hand, Plasti Dip offers many of the same benefits as vinyl wrapping, but at a fraction of the cost.

One downside to Plasti Dip is that it never looks quite as good as a real paint job, and it's not as durable. However, if you're looking for something cheaper than traditional paint, it might be worth considering. Besides being cheaper, Plasti Dip has some key advantages. The application process is pretty simple, and it's way faster than getting a new paint job or wrap.

Another benefit of Plasti Dip is that it's removable, which is not always the case with vinyl wraps. This can be a major advantage if you're not sure about the color or want to try out different looks without making a long-term commitment.

To use Plasti Dip, you'll need to thoroughly clean your car and mask off any areas you don't want to paint. Then, simply spray it on and let it dry. It's definitely going to be a process, but we're confident that we can get it under control.

As I began the application process, I was a bit surprised when I saw a previous owner's attempt to cover up some imperfections with a weird substance. The Plasti Dip is a little thicker than paint, which should help hide these blemishes, but I'm not sure if it will be enough. Luckily, we have access to all the necessary tools and expertise to get the job done right.

For now, we're using full, everything packages that come with vinyl wraps to ensure they adhere properly. One of the best things about being a car enthusiast is having people do the hard work for you, like cleaning your car. My friend Puff always says, "You can't put a price on looking good," and I couldn't agree more.

We'll be putting our cars through some serious testing to see which method is worth the money. Will Plasti Dip come out on top? Only time will tell.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Oh no!(muffled)- This is the worst thing I've ever done.- $3000 professionallyinstalled vinyl wrap.- Versus $535 do-it-yourself Plasti Dip.- Is more expensive more better?- Let's find out!(car being transformed)(upbeat music)(tires screeching)We bought two nearlyidentical Nissan 350Zs,and we've been modifyingthem to be fun, daily driversthat you can take to the track.- One Z gets a ton ofexpensive parts put on it,and the other Z gets cheap parts.- Then we test them tosee which componentsare actually worth your hard earned money.- We've done a lot ofperformance stuff to our Nissansand it's time to personalize'em a little bit.We're changing out theoutsides of the carsas well as the outside of us'cause now we are officially Z boys.If you wanna change the color of your car,you basically have three options.Traditional paint job,a vinyl wrap,or Plasti Dip.The gloss of a concourse level paint jobis straight up intoxicating.But a perfect paint job like thatis not only incredibly expensive,but it takes forever.So I'm takin' the happy medium route,I'm gonna get my carprofessionally vinyl wrapped.$3000.- I will be Plasti Dipping my car by hand.Plasti Dip offers manyof the same benefitsas vinyl wrapping, but forthe fraction of the price.It is relatively easy to do, I hope.The only downside is,is that it's never gonna lookas dope as a real paint job,and it's not as durable.But more importantly,does it look $2500 better?- I'm leaning towards a hard maybe.- Possibly.- Probably.- We'll see.(smooth music)- Besides being cheaper,Plasti Dip has some key advantages.The application is pretty simple.It's way faster thangetting a new paint job,or a wrap like the Hi Car.Also, you can take it offif it turns out poorly.But since I wasn't even there for this,maybe Nolan can explainbetter the Plasti Dip process.- Before spraying,you have to thoroughly clean the car.It's all in the prep baby.- So, to break it downnice and simple for you,wash prep, mask it, and Plasti Dip it.This is definitely gonna be a process,but I think we got it under control.(spraying)- Oh.(music honks in surprise)Oh, oh.- Did that just come off?- Yeah.(sprays)- Areas like this are gonnabe really problematic.Looks like the previousowner tried to cover it upwith some stuff.Even though the Plasti Dipis a little bit thicker than paint,this stuff is still gonnashow beneath that, so.A little bit disappointing,but we're gonna do what we can.- There's a fine grit all over the paint.We're gonna get a claybar and get the fine gritthat we can't with this cloth.- Meanwhile.- These guys know what they're doin'.We're goin' with thefull, everything packageso that the vinyl will adhere the best.One cool thing about being a fake rich guyis you can have other peopleclean your car for you.But like my man, Puff said,"Mo' money, mo' problems."If you're not detailing your car,what are you supposed to dowith all the time you freed up?- Quite cloudy.- Yeah, we could do with some more sun.(claps)(thunder rumbles)So we decided to go witha professional wrap jobbecause everything on that car is so nice,and it's such a good driving car nowthat if Zach Jobe and I tried to wrap it,it would just be a disservice to it.- Are you doing FaceTime?- Yeah.Hey buddy.- How ya doin'?- So we're clay barring the car right now.- Wait, are they on a boat?- Wait.Oh (beeps) you.(laughing)Ah, you an asshole.Okay.- Catering?- Oh well, the car's gotta get detailedand we have a couple hours to kill,so we just decided tocome hang out on the boat.- Well, we're hanging outat this nice shop.- Oh cool, yeah.Oh.(laughs)- Sorry man, Coast Guard's comin' up.(laughing)We gotta go.- Catering?- It's noon and they'realready drinkin' beers.You know what?Our car's gonna look better.Let's make it look better, (beeps) them.(spraying air)Well it's not a boat, but there is water.That's not gonna make the edit.(spraying air)Plasti Dip and water do not mix,so we have to make sureevery drop of wateris off of this car before we start,otherwise it'll peel immediately.After washing and drying the car,it's important to carefullymask off any surfaceyou don't want your Plasti getting dipped.Oh man, look at that razor work.That's nice.That's real nice.Meanwhile.- Hey, hey.Feel how smooth this is, please.With the Hi Car nice and detailed,it was time to take it to the wrap shop.It looked great.God dang that paint looks sick!But since we decided on our episode titlesliterally months ago, westill had to go throughwith changing both our cars.So when I was in high school,wrapping was not good.But now, it is good, what happened?- Adhesive's gotten better,materials stretching.Everything, how it reactsto heat, all that stuff hasbecome a lot better.- Yeah you used to be able to likelook at a car and belike, "Oh, that was wrap."But now I feel like ifa car's a cool color,they'll ask like, "Is that paint?"- Check out this sparkle.- Check out this black.- I love this,oh this is gonna look so good.- I'm really into it.- Meanwhile.- Got the car in the booth.Let's get this thing Plasti Dipped.(zipping)- I feel like a Beastie Boy.So before we spray, we haveto mix the proper ratio.- No one can hear you, dude.- So our ratio is gonna be 50%, 50%.So we're gonna mix one up to 25,and the other one up to the top.And that'll give us a 50-50 ratio.- (muffled speaking) likethe guy that we got this,I don't know.At this time, it's worthpointing out two things.One, we got the wrongspray gun for this job.And two, we didn't orderour Plasti Dip on time,so we had to use some thata friend had in his garage.It turned out to be 10 years old.I didn't know that.What you're about to see isnot the Plasti Dip's fault.Comin' out pretty good, so far (laughs).We're learning this on the fly,none of us really know how to do this.(machine humming)I think that's a little better.(machine humming)Oh.I think this is a mistake.First impressions, man,I dunno, it doesn't look,I mean it's runny.That might be on my part.Probably is my part.(beeps)I feel like this is a mistake.Even though the first coatlooked a little rough,it usually takes a few layersbefore it starts evening out.At least we did a good job masking.- We're screwed.- No I still got faith man.- Yeah, that's only the first coat.We'll see what happens.- It's real thick, you know?- Yeah.- Big thanks to our sponsorthis week, Butcher Box.You ever say to yourself,"Hey, I want some meat,"but I don't wanna drive to get it"?Well, you're in luck.This meat drives to you.Every month you get a box ofhigh quality grass-fed beef,heritage breed pork, wildcaught Alaskan salmon,and free-range organic chickendelivered right to your home.You can get a mixed box oreven customize your own boxfrom 21 different cuts of meat.And shipping is free always!Is your New Year'sresolution to be on keto?Get the keto bundle for free.New members will get sixpounds of high quality meatfor free in their first box.Right now they're running oneof their most popular offers,free salmon, free bacon,and free pork buttin your first order.It happens just once a year,make sure you click thelink in the description,check it out.Thank you, Butcher Box.- Back at the wrap shop,the guys were working hard.There's varying degrees of wrap quality.And that's not just theactual vinyl material itself,but the install as well.The Vaderwerks team completelydisassembled Hi Car.They wrapped all the bumpersand trim pieces individuallyto ensure the best possible coverage.This ensures that HiCar is gonna look sickfrom every angle.- Meanwhile.(machine humming)- We're three coats in.It looks better than it did.(laughing in background)- Oh my God.- What?(laughing in background)- Oh, Christina'slaughing, that's not good.- As they say in body work,if the paint's (beeps) up,just keep on paintin', baby.At first it was hot garbage.Now it's at mile trash.We can get it to junk, (laughing).Well guys, it's up to me.I have to save this paint job.- After two beers, one boat ride,and some grocery store charcuterie,it was time for the big reveal.Oh!Damn.Dude, 3507!(smooth music)This looks really really good.Let's go see Nolan's car.From what I've heard,it's not great.(laughing)- Oh my God.- Your car looks so bad.(laughing)- Oh no!- Dude.It was a team effort, man.Don't worry, I'm not gonnalet you burn by yourself.- Team effort, bro.- Thank you.I'm beside myself.This is the worst thing I've ever done.- This car could nothave looked any worse.(paper peeling off)That's a good line.(paper peeling off)- Well you could sand it down.Right, you could like,you could sand it down.- Paint?- Yeah.If it was like (laughing).Nevermind (laughing).I honestly don't knowwhether to laugh or cry,it's so funny, like (laughing).Despite how funny our ordeal was,the Plasti Dip canactually look really good.So we wanted to show you guyswhat a well done PlastiDip job looks like.You know, we spent a lot of time masking,and then I think just got too eagerand just blasted through the painting.Having seen a Plasti Dip carthat's actually done well,I think Plasti Dip is a great option.It just requires the research and practiceto get it done well.I'm just thinkin' of what could have been.But you what, there's always next time.I'm sure we'll Plasti Dipon a future season of HiLow.(smooth music)- Oh, it looks a lot better than ours.It looks amazing (laughing).- It sure wouldn't haveif we did it (laughs).- You guys ready to go check out ours?- Yes.- Yeah.- C'mon in.- No, it looks prettygood from afar, right?It looks good from afar.(laughing)- We wanna show you the good side.So if you guys wanna come on this side?- Yeah, yeah, yeah.- It looks a little betteron this side (laughs).- That's textural.- Careful, don't scratch it.- Yeah, yeah.- A little run action.- The vinyl's what's up.- To our credit,there is no over spray.- No (laughs).- True, look at the wheel wells.- I honestly think we did aprofessional level masking jobon this car.- Yeah, that's,I mean, super important,but then you have to be able to like...- Paint it.- Yeah.- So.Does more expensive mean more better?(laughing)- Yeah.- Yeah.- 1000% yes.This seems like it was theworst day of your life.Every once in awhile,you have to be humbled.And boy was I humbled.If you're gonna Plasti Dip.Definitely practice first.When it's done well, it's pretty sweet.And I would like to getthere eventually, but man.That was a rough day.- On the other hand, Iam pleasantly surprisedat how good the wrap job came out.My previous opinion on wrapswere that they were sort of cheapand not as good as paint.Well I still think that they'renot quite as good as paint.I was really impressedwith the thoroughnessthat the dudes who wrappedthe Hi Car went through.I think the lesson learned from thisis find a car with nicepaint and detail it.Watching the footage back, I'm like,"Huh, kinda miss thatcar bein' silver, or..."I definitely miss your car being white.- It's such a nice pearl, arctic white.Eventually we're gonnapeel that stuff off.We'll keep some blue elementsbecause I really do like the color,the shade of that blue.But I'm really lookin'forward to going backto the white color eventually.Thank you.- Next week!We have a very special episode.I'm gonna get a twin turbo kit on Hi Car,and Nolan went with a big ol' honkin'60 trim Ebay turbo kit.- Stay around for that one,that one's gonna be so much fun.- We started a car club!So many of you guys hit usup in the comments last week.Let's keep it goin', #BoostCreeps!We're gonna make jackets.- Follow James onInstagram @Jamespumphrey,follow me, @Nolanjsykes, andfollow Donut @Donutmedia,be nice?- I love you.- See you next time.