My car was new though so there wasn't much need to clean the paint other than clay barring it and rubbing it down with alcohol.

Where it really helped was my wheels, which are painted gloss black with diamond cut faces. Helps keep the brake dust from sticking quite so badly.

I applied it to everything except the rubber- paint, glass, plastic, headlight lenses, taillight lenses, etc.

On an old car there would be a lot of prep work involved before applying the coating, which is where costs would start to rise

I have not experienced the same level of "hydrophobia" that salesmen bring up. I would say water reacts to my car more like a fresh wax job, water doesn't jump off it any differently than wax. For example, I can't do the "dry the car with water" trick.

It lasts a LONG time though, where that water beading reaction with fresh wax fades after a few weeks it lasts for years with ceramic coating

I would not hesitate to add it to a new car. Just a good idea
[Post edited by typed by ben at 12/01/2019 2:54PM]