Vehicle customization taken to a whole new level with vinyl wraps
When it comes to customizing your vehicle, it’s often about bringing your own personality and character into it. Much like some people use their hair or clothes to make a statement, different customizations can function as a way to express yourself; to let the world know a little bit about who you are.
In the past, this could have been difficult for some because of the considerations that had to go into it. If you wanted to change the colour of your car, for example, it would require a paint-job, which
is both costly and time-consuming, but could also affect selling the car or returning it to a dealership if it’s on lease.
One of the latest trends to hit the automotive customization market is full-body vinyl wraps, which can help keep the integrity and original colour of the car in-tact, while allowing you to create the car you want to show off.
The vinyl wraps come in all kinds of colours, wild or regular and can include different kinds of finishes, including a sleek matte finish.
“It’s an easy way to express yourself, as opposed to heading to the body shop and getting your car painted,” explained Philip Green, owner of Legends Auto Spa in Brampton. “People can change their car whenever they want; when they get tired of what’s on it, they just peel off the wrap. If the vehicle is leased, they can still return it just as it was originally.
You don’t have to paint the vehicle, and so you don’t get dinged for it.”
Some vinyl wraps Legends Auto Spa has done
recently included a Mercedes in a grey wrap, and a jeep in a stunning matte blue finish.
Although the Brampton shop is only a few weeks old, Mr. Green has been involved in the car customization and detailing business for several years. Along with owning a detailing business for the previous four years, he used to paint cars prior to that, and also went to automotive school for
detailing and customization.
“I’ve always worked on cars, and I’ve always enjoyed cars,” he said.
Legends Auto Spa does a number of different car care and customization options, outside of the car wraps; such as paint protection wraps, detailing, as well as acting as an official tired and wheel retailer. The shop, although it mainly focuses on the vinyl wraps, is described by Mr. Green as an
all-around customization shop, and also includes a lot of
different automotive accessories.
Mr. Green added that his shop even carries one of the latest protection technologies for vehicles, which is a clear wrap with a matte finish protective coating. The benefit to this wrap is that there are no colour changes needed to use it, but it gives the original
colour a matte finish on the car.
“It’s more expensive than a vinyl wrap, but it is a great option for people who don’t want to outright change the colour of their car, yet are still looking for something a little different,” he explained.
The pricing on customizations, including vinyl wraps, can vary depending on the size of the car and what the customer is looking at. According to
Mr. Green, prices usually start around the $2000 mark, depending on the materials and kind of car. The base rate would apply to a mini, and prices would rise from there, with sedans starting around $2500 and SUVs at about $3000.
The cost for the different finishes usually stays the same, regardless of whether it’s matte, gloss or pearl, but the price does begin to increase when getting into finishes like carbon fibre and chromes.
Part of the reason Mr. Green made the move into the vinyl wrap market and away from painting is
because wraps are not only better for the car and owner, but better for doing the work as well.
“Painting is so bad for your body,” he said. “There are so many regulations because of pollutions, etc. This is such a clean thing to do and you don’t need all the equipment. It’s a nice, clean way to do a car without all the chemicals going through your body.”
Much like painting, the vinyl wraps allow all sorts of levels of customization for the cars,
helping transform them into that perfect, personal expression, which is why Mr. Green has remained in the customization field.
“I like it when people are passionate about their cars like I am,” he said. “I want them to be as excited as I am when I do a car.”
Recently, Mr. Green just completed a vinyl wrap on his own car, making it a beautiful shade of purple with a sleek, matte finish.
“When I see my car, I get really excited, and that’s how I want my customers to feel when they see their own cars,” he explained. “I basically want to get people to love their cars and help them love what they drive. It’s such a great extension of their personalities.”
Legends Auto Spa is located at 40 Regan Road, Unit 3, in Brampton, Ontario. For more information, visit their website at http://legendsautospa.com/ or by phone at 416-887-1265.
Written by Tabitha Wells Photos by Philip Green
