Getting a vinyl car wrap is about so much more than vanity. Yes, MINE is about vanity, but there are several very good reasons beyond that to protect your car’s finish.
The world has become a crazy place. I’m not making any political statements, so please don’t flood my comments with why I’m right or wrong – I don’t care – except for the repercussions of the craziness.
I’ve had my beautiful Jeeper for 13 years, and I love, love, LOVE her – but the annual repair bills are adding up, and I’m no Spring Chicken anymore, so I’ve been saving for something a little ‘less’ for these rickety old bones.
I hadn’t planned on moving on anything until at least the Spring, but with the unending tariff threats on, then off, then on again – I decided to bite the bullet early and get something before the prices skyrocket.
The unwrap
First came the tears as the dealership insisted I unwrap my Jeeper before trade in:
I cannot tell you how many compliments I got driving around with my “3M Gloss Plum Explosion” wrap. It was one of the BEST things I ever did to my car!
And let’s face it, you can add a car wrap a Jeep Wrangler in any colour in the world and it will look awesome. It’s just a car that’s meant to be fun and different.
I digress…
So I went looking around for something a little more mature, a little less expensive, a little easier on the old bones and I found this cutie – I call her “Jeeplette”. Officially named a Jeep Compass Unlimited – same mean grills, but with a much smoother ride.
She has more bells and whistles that I have any idea how to function, but she was on the lot and ready to go so I didn’t have to order and hope the tariffs didn’t strike in the meantime.
BUT:
The car industry has become so dull and lifeless and BORING.
I REALLY dislike the fact that 80% of all cars manufactured today are done in some kind of grey-scale: black, white, or a variation of grey/silver.
Every car on the road looks the same! Blech! (It truly is a pet peeve of mine)
While my “Red Hot Pearl Coat” is a bit different, there were still at least 4 in the McDonald’s drive thru – so I decided that what would really make me happy would be to, once again, get a car wrap.
Choosing your car wrap
Pete and Kevin over at Wrap Haus have about a thousand car wrap colours from dozens of manufacturers, but “purple is my jam” so I narrowed it down:
Eventually deciding on Midnight Purple by Vinyl Frog.
Why get a car wrap?
Okay, I know you’re thinking “that’s frivolous spending on a brand new car”, but hear me out; there are several advantages to getting a car wrap, depending on your goals:
1. Protects Original Paint
A vinyl wrap acts as a protective barrier against scratches, UV rays, road debris, and weather elements, helping maintain the car’s resale value. Not all car wraps have to be a colour change – there are many PPF (Paint Protection Films) available that are transparent, but offer a lot of protection for your factory paint job.
2. Cost-Effective vs. Paint
A full car wrap is always more affordable than a high-quality custom paint job while offering a comparable appearance. I can’t guarantee prices for anyone else, but I am a repeat customer at Wrap Haus (this post is not sponsored in any way), so a full midnight purple wrap on my 2025 Jeep Compass was $2,500 CDN and will easily last 3-5 years. When it’s removed there is no damage to the paint whatsoever, so I can go back to red, or choose something else to have my car feeling brand new again.
3. Easily Removable & Reversible
Unlike paint, a wrap isn’t permanent. If you want to return to the car’s original look or switch to a new design, you can simply remove or replace the wrap. To have the wrap on my Jeep Wrangler removed for trade in, it came to $600 CDN to have it done by professionals. Now the Wrangler was also fully wrapped on the inside as well – and Wranglers are one of the more expensive cars to wrap or unwrap, so this is a high-end price.
4. Customization & Unique Looks
Wraps come in a variety of colours, finishes (matte, gloss, satin, chrome, carbon fiber, etc.), and even custom printed graphics, allowing for unique and personalized designs. Most, if not all, of the corporate cars you see on the road today are wrapped. Whether it be a full car wrap, or just printed vinyl decals with a company name and number, the versatility and creativity behind car wraps is limitless.
5. Quick Installation
A wrap can be applied in a few days, while a custom paint job may take weeks. My Jeeplette was done in a day and a half (outside wrap and front window tints).
6. Easy Maintenance
Vinyl-wrapped cars are easier to clean and maintain compared to painted surfaces, especially if you choose self-healing or dirt-resistant wraps. While you should try to avoid drive-through car washes and opt for a home wash or touchless, a vinyl car wrap does not require waxing to protect it or your paint. The vinyl IS the protection!
Just look! My small SUV, that quite frankly looks like every single other small SUV on the road,
is now easily identifiable in any parking lot! Better still, everyone (that I’ve spoken with) loves the shot of colour.
If purple isn’t your thing, then check out these car wraps I found on Pinterest for the Jeep Compass and/or Cherokee:
There *may be a yellow car wrap in my future hmmmmm…..
For now, I wanted to show off my new baby (it’s been 13 years since I’ve had a new car), encourage you to think about upping your decision to get a car (new or used) to the near future before tariffs bankrupt us all, and to show you that no matter what you get, you can still make it your own.
I’m going outside to huff “new car smell” now.
Have a great one!