Q: Properly installed side by side, of the two materials avaiable, the 3M most closely matched my paint. I ask what are the advantages or disavantages to the different films?

A: Every film will vary in difference, some more than others. Some will have more texture than others, some with a higher tinsel strength, some with a higher gloss level, and some with less color from the adhesive than another that will show more on certain colored cars (instant yellowish hue on white cars for example). As far as matching the paint, is that from a gloss level standpoint? Was this test conducted inside under special lighting or outside where the car is actually driven on a day to day basis? You see, with one film in a showroom floor, the product may not look as glossy as another, but where is the car 90-95% of the time usually? Outside and this is where one film may be superior over another when it comes to 'matching the paint'. Or maybe the texturing of the film (orange peel) was the matching part you mentioned. Again, each film has a different texture to them.

Q: Are some films better for highly abrasive enviroments, say a rally car?

A: If you are looking for primarily a stone impingement film for a rally car, hold a piece of 3M up, remove the backing paper and drive a ball point pen through the material. Now do the same with Avery and another material and so on. You will find that one film will resist a puncture or tear more than another.

Q:Doesn't the clear coat not only improve paint matching but also act as a UV inhibitor (five year warranty versus what?)? And isn't it also possible to buff out small scuffs just like the rest of your car, something not possible with uncoated films?

A: Paint matching it seems is achieved through the clarity of the urethane itself and the texture of the product matching the painted surfaces orange peel, from what I have seen. The UV inhibitors are not placed only in the coating of the film, but throughout the material. 3M does have a coating that can be buffed for minor scratches, but if the scratch is too deep, it is there for good. The important thing to remember here is that HAIR scratches can be buffed out which is a good thing, but the non-coated films will not inherit these hair scratches, say from drying off with a paper towel. Avery now has a coated film as well (with a five year warranty), but their coating is extremely durable, and I have pictures to prove it. I rear-ended someone, and left that black crap all over the front wedging my bumper underneath theirs. I thought I would have to remove the kit and replace it, but to my disbelief, I wiped the bumper with a micro fiber cloth and not only did all of the black stuff come off, there wasn't, and still isn't, one scratch! I have the pictures while I was wiping it off too (you can clearly see the damage to the car), I was amazed. Now in no way am I saying that the film is meant to be bumped into for a durability test, but if the film can with stand an impact from minor "fender bender", then it can by far withstand a wiping from a paper towel without scratching!