You may have noticed, in the last couple of years, more and more cars on the road with black roofs. These could come from the vehicle manufacturer like this. Mercedes, Audi, Range Rover Ferrari and now Ford offer this as standard or an option. However
Not so long ago people looked at paint protection film as a trend. Like a fashion trend for the wealthy. You would se it on Porsches, Ferraris and other exotic vehicles. The average consumer thought it was over priced kitchen wrap. Trends tend to fade away right? Not paint protection film or (PPF/ Clear Bra) as others may know it by. The only thing that is fading away is the visibility of the film.
Quality Of The Newer Films
Older generations of clear bra films would tend to loose it gloss, become yellow and even start to develop cracks. The current generation of film has a self healing coating applied to in. This coating will heal and make light scratched disappear. Another benefit is it sheds environmental contaminates that cause the film to turn yellow. The new film are much smoother, have more gloss and are much more flexible making installs much more invisible. Xple technologies, film that we install here at concours auto salon has led the way in this
Paint Protection Being Applied To The Entire Hood Of A Lexus
latest trend.
Popularity
In the past 5 years retailers and manufactures of paint protection film have see a 20% growth in sales. This is due to added customer awareness through marketing and the expansion into the OEM market. Auto manufactures have see the benefit of the product and started to add these films to their production lines. Today you can walk on any high volume Toyota dealers new car lot and find the film on Camry’s. Something you wouldn’t see 5 years ago.
Consumer Confidence
During the recent economic down turn new car sales were down but with the recent up swing more new vehicles are being sold. Trends show that people are planing on keeping their new cars for a longer period of time. Naturaly they would want to keep them looking new for as long as possible. Concours Auto Salon is seeing more middle of the road vehicles like Altima’s, Camry’s and Accord’s come in for clear bra protection. It’s not just a product reserved for the exotic car market any more.
The Smart Consumer
In past years we would introduce clear bra’s to customers in our shop and we would here comments like “well if it cost that much I might as well have the front bumper painted” or “I don’t like the line across the hood” or ” can live with a few rock chips”. The smart consumer understands that it cost over 500.00 to have a quality refinish completed to the bumper of their car and there’s a good chance that the color wont match. Another trend at our shop has been for customers to completely wrap the front of their hood and fenders when they have a bumper kit installed so there in no visible line. This gives them 100% front protection from rock chips.
If you have ever considered paint protection film and are in the market for a new car or are considering having the front of your car refinished we urge you to com by our shop Concours Auto Salon and see what we have to offer. We always have at least on vehicle with protection to show you.
A 2008 Porsche with over 50,000 miles. It’s had Paint Protection Film protecting it since it was new. Installed by Concours Auto Salon. Not one rock chip is visible
Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service
Concours Auto Salon has earned the service industry-coveted 2012 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor awarded annually to approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on Angie’s List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies.
Concours Auto Salon is very honored to receive this award. We always try to treat every customer as if their the only one. Whether they are looking for an estimate or having work done to their vehicle. You never know who will be reviewing your business on line. We value every ones opinion and and are honored to have repeat or referral customers.
“It’s a select group of companies rated on Angie’s List that can claim the exemplary customer service record of being a Super Service Award winner,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “Our standards for the Super Service Award are quite high. The fact that Company Name earned this recognition speaks volumes about its dedication providing great service to its customers.”
Angie’s List Super Service Award 2012 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, including earning a minimum number of reports, an excellent rating from their customers and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.
Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Members can find the 2012 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.
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Angie’s List helps consumers have happy transactions with local service professionals in more than 550 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. More than 1.5 million paid households use Angie’s List to gain unlimited access to local ratings, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine, and the Angie’s List complaint resolution service.
As the year winds down we reflect back on 2012 and start making plans for 2013.
We opened our Babcock location in 2008. Lots of antacids were needed. It was terrifying. Today at this writing we look back and feel it was all worth it.
We made some “Big Changes” this past year
2012 was our first year in our new building on Babcock. New customers that came through our doors during the past year never new we were hidden in the back corner of the Auto Net complex.
This past year we purchased new equipment that will make our job a little easier as well as making us more efficient. If you’ve been in 
lately then you’ve seen the two vehicle lifts. These lifts raise the cars off the ground so wheels can be removed, fender wells can be cleaned and the inside of wheels can be cleaned. We also use them to lift cars so we can be more efficient repairing those door dings that people get in the sides of their vehicles. With the lifts we can now provide a faster turnaround time when were refinishing brake calipers, Better Paint Protection Film installations and there also great to use when polishing a vehicle or detailing an interior. Bringing the car off the ground makes our backs feel a little better.
We set out to offer better coverage and pricing for our customers wanting Paint Protection Film. We now offer full coverage for the front of your vehicle for a little more then an extra $150.00 to $200.00 eliminating the line people see crossing the hood and fenders. We installed more full hoods and fenders this past year then previous years combined.
We continued our “New Customer Package” program introducing new customers to the benefits and results of true auto detailing. We plan on continuing this into 2013
We offered a couple of different Social Meida offers this past year through Living Social and Google Offers. They weren’t as successful as promised. We did sell them and honer them learning lessons along the way.
Plus many more positive achievements for the year that affected us all.
For the New Year to come we have more big plans in place. Were installing a new whole shop air compressor system and a Hydrographic’s machine. These units are in the shop now and just need to be installed and made operational.
We (Concours Auto Salon) wouldn’t be where were at or who we are with out YOU our valued customer. Thank you for a great year and your continued support.
Have a Blessed, Prosperous and Happy New Year!
Concours Auto Salon is now a proud sponsor of the monthly gathering called Coffee and Rides.
Coffee And Rides has been taking place since 2009 and is a once a month event taking place on the last Saturday of every month . It takes place from 8:30 am till 11:00 am. It has gone from a small group of people and their
cars to an event that has at times had over 200 cars in attendance. If you want to see Ferraris, Lambos and Porsches they will be there. You will also find many of the San Antonio car clubs there as well. Clubs like the Z Club, The Mustang Club, The Ferrari Club, The Porsche Club Longhorn Region and many more. Old cars, new cars, odd and rare you can just about find it all in a very relaxed atmosphere.
We welcome all drivers to gather in a relaxed atmosphere and enjoy the meet, drink some coffee, kick the tires and just relax. There are always all kinds of cars for everyone to enjoy. So bring the family, a friend or come out on your own and meet some fellow car folks.
Concours Auto Salon will be in attendance to show case customers cars, make new friends and share our knowledge with any one who is in interested in listening and learning. See you there!
Panera Bread
1203 N Loop 1604 W. Suite 121
San Antonio, TX? 78258
(210) 479-1717?
February’s Car of the month is this yellow 2006 Porsche Cayman S.
Bumble Bee Cayman
The San Antonio local brought us the car with the hopes we could visual change a few things and perform one of our signature auto details making the Porsche standout a little more and personalize it to the owners taste.
Normally covered and only visible during service the 3.4-liter version of Porsche’s M96 flat-six engine family from the Boxster and the 911 is tweaked to deliver 295 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque and is something the owner wanted detailed painted and a clear engine cover installed. We also added some hidden lighting in the engine bay for displaying the detailed work at night time.
Cayman Motor with clear cover installed
The interior originally gray and black was updated. The seats and center console were removed striped and refinished to match the speed yellow color of the exterior of the Cayman. Xpel Carbon Film was applied to the back of the seats, shifter bezel and to a large trim piece located just behind the engine bay.
Outside the Cayman the paint received one of Concours Auto Salon’s signature 4 step paint corrections. The process removes all swirls, light scratches and halos leaving the paint work crystal clear, glossy and ready for wax or a paint sealant. Concours Auto Salon added some LED lighting to the front of the Cayman creating white driving lights and
Detailed Interior
amber turn signals. At the back of the Cayman we tint
ed the tail lights to keep with the black and yellow Bumble Bee look and applies more of Xpel’s Carbon Film to the spoiler.
The modifications Concours Auto Salon performed combined with the blacked out wheels, black stripes, the carbon fiber mirrors, perfectly polished paint and detailed interior really make the Cayman a head turner.
To see the pictures in a larger format. Just click on them!
Front-engine, grand-touring machines have a fairly specific pecking order, and the 599 is already on top, trumping most of its competitors in power, handling and looks. This 2010 Ferrari painted Nero Black with black leather interior, highlighted with red stitching and carbon fiber accents was recently at Concours Auto Salon. Standard features for this 599 are a 4 Cam 12 cylinder power plant producing 611 hp! Transmission is the F1 super fast sequential 6 speed. Carbon ceramic brakes are used to slow this Prancing stallion. Additional upgrades provided by the factory are red calipers polished challenge rims and a Bose HiFi sound system.
To see touch and feel this beautiful Ferrari in person is a treat to say the least. The owner brought us the 599 looking to have it protected with Paint Protection Film (clear bra) window film and give the paint a top notch polish.
Services Done
Xpel Premium Paint protection Film was applied to the entire front bumper with an Xpel’s bikini kit applied to the fenders and hood. We also applied Paint Protection Film to the lower rockers, wheel openings and door edges. We installed Johnson window tint to the side glass as well as a one piece installation to the back window. The final step for the Ferrari was to have the paint polished. We preformed a three step process to remove scratches and residual sanding marks left behind by the Ferrari Factory.
Concours Auto Salon San Antonio truly appreciates the opportunity to provide our services to the owner of this fine vehicle.
With the new year came a new Paint Protection Film (clear Bra) from Xpel Technology’s. This film is consider a premium film and has a premium look to it. Texture that you normally see with paint protection film is almost nonexistent with this film and the clarity is great. Another great feature of this film is it’s ease of installation. adhesive disturbances are keep to a minimum even when stretched. Concours Auto Salon is offering this new premium film installed for the price of standard film.
We recently installed this new film on a 2008 Ford Mustang and a 2009 Mercedes SL 65 The Mustang received the traditional Bikini cut Hood Fenders and a bumper wrap. When we installed the film we were intentionally very rough with it just so we could see how it preformed and how it looked. As you can see from the pictures below it looked really good. Even the customer had trouble finding the film on the front of his vehicle.
For the Mercedes we went all out. With the help of Regan from Xpel we did a bulk wrap for the hood, complete pre cut full fender kit, full door kit, full rocker panel kit and a complete front bumper. The grills on the hood were removed as
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well as the Mercedes emblem. All edges for these panels that were protected were warped. This means that the film doesn’t stop at the edge. It’s wrapped around and anchored so visible seams are reduced. The total installation took over 6 hours. with a 24 hour resting period to make sure that the edges were anchored and not lifting.
If your looking to have your Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, Corvette or daily driver protected from the ravages of the road then Xpel Paint Protection Film might just be for you. It comes with a 7 year warranty and if installed by Concours Auto Salon you will have a life time installation guarantee.
2011 is here San Antonio! Alot of people including get that new car itch about this time of the year. The dealers are offering all kinds of sweet sounding deals and some of the new models look amazing. The new Ford Mustang Gt with the 5.0 motor is what I’ve been eying. The cautious people will be wondering what the future of our economy will be and are willing to hang on to their older vehicle that is paid for or about to be paid off. What ever decision you choose Concours auto salon can restore, preserve and protect your vehicle.
If you chose to purchase a “New Car” Concours Auto Salon offers Xpel paint protection film to preserve and protect the front of your new vehicle from rock chips and sand blasting. Paint protection film (clear bra) can be applied to almost any area of the vehicle but is common on the front portion of the hood, fenders and mirrors as well as the bumper. The new film that Xpel just released looks great and is hardly detectable. Of course you will want your windows tinted. You purchased a cool car why not make it look a little cooler and feel cooler inside with some professionally installed Johnson Window Film. If you want more protection for your paint then just a wax you should consider having Concours Auto Salon apply Optimum Polymer Technology’s “Opti-Coat” 3 Year Paint Sealant. It truly protects the paint for up to 3 years and never needs waxing. The key to getting the most out of your new car is to protect it so that it can give you years of service and look amazing while doing it and this is what all these products and services can do.
If you chose to hang onto that reliable paid for vehicle then you can still have that new car feeling with a complete makeover at Concours Auto Salon. You can start with a complete detail that’s more then just a hand wash and hand wax. Concours auto Salon offers the most comprehensive detail in San Antonio. Compressed air, hot vapor steam and a chemical free extraction of all dirt and debris is how we clean and sanitize your interior. Then your leather, plastic and vinyl pieces are treated with conditioners that provide UV protection.
The outside of you vehicle will be gently washed and clayed removing all dirt and contaminates readying it for some mild to hardcore polishing depending what you want done and what the vehicles paint needs. After we have shined the paint to a just like new or better condition we will clean your windows, wheels, wheel wells, doorjambs and trunk. We top off the whole job with a paint
sealant that protects and locks in the new found shine your paint has for up to nine months. Or you may want the added protection of the Opti-Coat. What ever you chose your car will look amazing.
You can finish off the job by having all those door ding and small dings removed by our paintless dent repair experts. we also offer a lifetime guarantee on all of our paintless dent repairs.
What ever you chose to do for transportation during the new year Concours Auto Salon can help you correct it and protect it making you car “Look Smell And Feel Like New” longer.
November’s car of the month is this beautiful BMW X5 M. The customer upgraded the wheels with a set of stealth looking HRE’s in flat black. At the shop We added a custom Xpel Paint Protection film kit to protect the from from high speed rock chips. We also cleaned, polished and protected the paint with Optimum Polymer Technology’s Opti- Coat 3 Year coating system.
The customer chose The X5M over the Porsche Cayenne due o the performance and cost difference of the vehicles. The X5 M giving him the most bang for the buck.
BMW’s X5 received a complete redesign a couple of years ago, growing a bit and really coming into its own as the leader of the luxury SUV segment. The M Sport bits go well here, BMW carries over the M theme from its 3 and 5 series, leaving the exterior of the car mostly unchanged and highlighted by tasteful M bits rather than being over burdened by too many sporty design details.
The X5 M is powered by a newly-developed 4.4-liter V8 M engine delivering 555 hp at 6,000 rpm and 500 lb-ft of torque from 1500 to 5,650 rpm. This new M engine is the world’s first with a pulse-tuned exhaust manifold encompassing both rows of cylinders combined with high-performance twin-scroll twin turbo technology.
The X5 M sets new standards of acceleration, lateral grip, steering response, balance, and stopping power among high-performance activity vehicles. It accelerate to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.5 seconds and feature impressive delivery of power from the V8 twin-turbo engine which provides maximum torque of 500 lb-ft from 1,500 and 5,650 rpm. From a handling standpoint, it’s superb balance through careful tuning of XDrive, Dynamic Performance Control, and Dynamic Stability Control with M Dynamic Mode for linear buildup of cornering forces. These capabilities place the performance of the X5 M on par with the performance of other recent BMW M vehicles.
The interior sports 20 way power seats, a really impressive back up cameras system that gives you an overhead view with the help of 3 cameras. It also surprisingly quiet inside. The M is equipped with BMW’s Featured for the first time on a BMW M model, the 6-speed M Sports Automatic transmission enhances the high-performance character of the BMW X5 M through its instantaneous response, 
direct connection to the engine, and a high degree of shifting comfort. The new M Sports Automatic is commanded by an electronic selector on the center console and offers the driver not only the Drive mode, but also Sport and M Manual modes for absolute control of gear selection.
It was a pleasure working on this vehicle and the customers continued support of our shop is greatly appreciated.