Ever wondered how to keep your car looking new? At Goldwing, we’re Ottawa’s leading authority on auto care solutions designed for preservation – helping you maintain your vehicle’s showroom shine for years. From advanced paint correction and protection films to ceramic coatings, window tint, and floor liners. Our services help to protect your vehicle’s finish from everyday wear and tear, harsh weather, or environmental factors like road salt, insect acids and tree saps.
This guide will explain some of the best products and practices to keep your vehicle looking brand new…
Why does keeping your car looking new matter?
Maintaining the pristine condition of your car is important for several reasons. First, the long term value of your vehicle. If you plan on selling or trading in your vehicle anytime, you’re probably looking to get the most money possible. The polished appearance reflects on you as a car owner. A maintained interior and exterior communicates positive things to any potential buyers, giving them confidence knowing minor issues like faded paint and scratches were addressed before having a chance to worsen.
Additionally, measures like ceramic coatings, or paint protection films shield your car from harsh environmental factors that cause damage, like UV rays, road salt, and debris by prolonging the finish and lifespan of your paint and bodywork. Beyond aesthetics, a well-kept car can boost your pride of ownership and make every drive more enjoyable.
- Protects your investment
- Prevents damage
- Improved comfort and aesthetics
According to our experts, here’s how to keep your car looking new…
With over 30 years of dedicated auto care service in Ottawa, we’ve become experts on the best products and processes used to maintain a vehicle’s pristine finish. After buying or restoring a vehicle, most drivers become cautious, avoiding anything and everything that could mess up their car.
Paint Protection Film (PPF)

In recent years, paint protection film or PPF, has grown in popularity. That’s because it works. Made from durable polyurethane, the film acts as a barrier between your paint and potential damage like stone chips and stains. Peter & Adam Gard, owners of Goldwing, both recommend XPEL films. Not just for the comprehensive warranty but for the self healing properties of the film, which removes light scuffs and scratches when exposed to heat.
The virtually invisible film protects painted surfaces by dispersing the impact energy of a strike and preventing the underlying paint from chipping, then developing rust.
Paint Correction
Paint correction is a transformative service that helps to keep your car looking new by eliminating imperfections that dull your paint’s finish. Over time, cars accumulate swirl marks, light scratches, water spots, and oxidation from continued use and exposure to environmental factors like UV, road debris, and harsh weather.
The process utilizes formulated compounds, polishes, and machines to carefully remove a thin layer of clear coat, restoring the smooth, reflective finish on the surface beneath. Not only does it revive a car’s original glossy appearance but also provides a smooth foundation for other protective treatments like ceramic coatings, which shield the paint from future damage.
Last month, a customer came to us after using a Scotch-Brite® pad to clean the front end of his vehicle. The scratches were ugly, but our team was prepared and got to work. After the service was done, the car looked like it just left the dealership.
By addressing and correcting imperfections, paint correction offers a long-lasting, showroom-quality shine, enhancing your aesthetic appeal and preserving your vehicle’s resale value.
Ceramic Coatings
Introducing ceramic coatings – a highly effective way to keep your car looking new. Coatings work by providing a durable, long-lasting layer of nano-ceramic protection over your paint. Once applied the coating chemically bonds with the surface of your paint, creating a hydrophobic barrier to repel water, dirt, and other contaminants like bird droppings, tree sap, and road salt.
Unlike traditional wax or sealants, ceramic coatings are far more resistant, offering protection against UV rays that fade paint over time and minor scratches caused by routine cleaning. Additionally, the glossy finish enhances the car’s appearance, giving it a deep, mirror-like shine that can last for several years with proper maintenance.
If you spend a lot of time cleaning your car on Sundays (or any day of the week) ceramic coatings are for you. The hydrophobic properties make washing a breeze. Water marks, pollen and bird droppings
Windshield Protection Film (WPF)
XPEL’s new line of windshield protection film is a game-changer for maintaining your vehicle’s pristine appearance. These advanced films act as an invisible shield, protecting your windshield from chips, cracks, and scratches caused by road debris, harsh weather, or everyday driving conditions.
By preserving the clarity and structural integrity of the windshield, the film prevents unsightly damage that can make your car look beat up and unloved.
Additionally, the film is designed to resist UV rays, helping reduce glare and protect the interior from sun damage. With XPEL’s windshield protection film, you can maintain your car’s like-new appearance while enhancing safety and durability.
Ceramic Window Tinting
Window tint offers more than a boost in privacy and comfort. With the film blocking the infrared heat and solar energy your car stays cooler inside, reducing your gas consumption and dependancy on air conditioning units.
On top of that, it can prevent 99% of harmful UVA and UVB radiation from entering your vehicle. This preserve the material of your car’s interior from fading, discolouration or cracking, while protecting the skin of anybody who gets inside.
Most importantly, window tint can literally help save your life — not just from the cancer-causing sun rays but from accidental injury. Non-tinted windows easily shatter upon impact – showering shards of dangerous glass down on drivers and passengers alike. Window tinting films provide an extra layer of protection to a vehicle’s occupants, since the majority of the glass fragments adhered to the protective film.
Goldwing’s veteran installers can fit your vehicle’s windows with premium, high-performance ceramic tinting from XPEL, just send us a message or stop by our showroom.
WeatherTech® Canada floor mats
How often do we consider the floors of our vehicles?
WeatherTech® Canada floor mats provide superior protection from dirt, salt and moisture corroding your vehicle’s floor. The sleek mats feature a custom fitted design to ensure a perfect fit for your vehicle, to safe-guard high-traffic areas – preventing damage from stains, spills, and road salts.
Made from durable, high-quality materials, Weathertech® mats are resistant to cracking and warping, even in extreme temperatures. An advanced channeling system trap liquids and debris, keeping carpets clean, extending the lifespan or your interior and preventing irreversible corrosion.
Extremely easy to clean and maintain, WeatherTech® floor mats are perfectly fitted, offering complete protection from the winter and summer seasons- an essential investment when preserving your car’s resale value and overall appearance.
Diamond Kote Rust prevention
A Diamond Kote Corrosion Protection Unit or (C.P.U.) is a wireless device that uses a vehicle’s electronic diagnostic system to protect itself against corrosion. It works by monitoring the flow of free electrons in the metal of the body, providing the right amount of current to stabilize the electrochemical corrosion process of the metal.
A C.P.U. from Diamond Kote helps in preventing rust formation through Pulse Impressed Current and Sacrificial Anode technologies. These systems create an electrochemical barrier, inhibiting rust from forming on the vehicle’s metal surfaces, extending its lifespan and preserving the resale value.
Unlike traditional rustproofing sprays, an electronic solution offers continuous protection without requiring reapplication, making it a wise long-term investment in your vehicle’s maintenance.
Other practical tips for maintaining a car’s like-new condition,
Besides the products and processes listed above there are a few other pro tips that can help you keep your car looking new.
- Regular washing routine
- Avoid drive-through car washes
- Use microfibre cloths
- Use proper cleaning products
- Check and replace wiper blades
- Avoid tailgating or driving behind large machinery like dump trucks
The Goldwing Autocare advantage…
For over 30 years, Goldwing Autocare has been Ottawa’s trusted authority for tires, automotive protection and customization. Our state-of-the-art facility is equipped with the latest technology, and a skilled team of installers, ensuring precision and quality in every service we provide.
As an award-winning XPEL dealer, we’ve been recognized for our expertise in applying paint protection film, ceramic coatings, and window tinting – setting us apart as industry leaders. Customers choose us for our unmatched craftsmanship and commitment to excellence, giving them confidence that their vehicle is in the hands of true auto care professionals.
Whether you’re looking to preserve your brand-new car or restore a classic ride, Goldwing Autocare delivers results that last.
Cost Comparison with Dealerships
When comparing costs of services at specialty shops like Goldwing Autocare to expensive dealerships, the difference often comes down to pricing transparency, expertise, and material quality. Dealerships often bundle services into packages, often inflating costs due to in-house markups and overhead expenses. At Goldwing Autocare, our focus is high-quality auto care – tires, wheels, protection and customization at competitive prices.
Beyond pricing, our shop specializes in the installation and application of PPF, ceramic coatings, and window tinting, meaning you’re working with real industry experts rather than general service techs found at dealerships.
We use the same (or better) high-end materials as luxury dealerships but at a fraction of the cost. With over 30 years of experience and multiple XPEL Dealer Awards, our reputation speaks for itself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ),
Are these services necessary for new cars?
You might be wondering if these services are necessary for a brand new vehicle. With freshly finished factory paint, these services are even more necessary to keep your vehicle looking as new as possible, for as long as possible. Given the new condition of the paint, windows and interior, the best time to protect your investment is right away!
What is the best thing to protect new car paint?
The best thing to protect the paint on a new car is to completely wrap the vehicle with paint protection film. The durability and effectiveness of PPF, makes it the best solution for shielding your fresh paint from potential environmental hazards, stone chips, stains, scuffs and scratches.
How do I bring my car paint back to life?
The best way to bring your car’s paint back to life is with a professional paint correction service from a specialty shop like Goldwing Autocare. The paint correction process utilizes specialized compounds, polishes, and tools to carefully restore the smooth, reflective finish of your vehicle’s paint – bringing it back to life.