Need advice from locals on a vehicle "bug" warranty... (Tampa: 2015, buying)

[erdna]

Hey Folks,

So we're buying a used car for our place in Stuart, for those 30-45 days per year we're in FL visiting and vacationing at our place. The car dealer wants to sell us this Resistall warranty. I'm suspicious because... well, it's a car dealer. Below is his description of this product/service. Do you think I need it for a clean but used 2015 vehicle that will live mostly in the garage?


"The optional protection package for $895 is called Resistall and is applied once a year here in our service department. The package protects against love bugs, tree sap, acid rain, and much more on the exterior. The interior is protected against rips, tears, stains, etc. They will pay for new seat covers or carpets if they were to get damaged and will repaint the bumper if love bug guts eat through the clearcoat and paint. It is just an optional coverage that we offer."

[huitrecouture]

They WILL damage your car. Google it. There's all kinds of articles and videos about it. They don't exactly eat your paint, their bodies damage your paint FAST if they splat on the car. You have to clean them off promptly and it's not an easy job. They're extremely annoying and can cover your windshield while you drive during an infestation. So you need that special green windshield fluid imo.

That being said, I have snowbird neighbors who leave a car here and have no damage whatsoever.

I don't even think we had them here this past spring.

[RamenAddict]

Originally Posted by huitrecouture

They WILL damage your car. Google it. There's all kinds of articles and videos about it. They don't exactly eat your paint, their bodies damage your paint FAST if they splat on the car. They're extremely annoying and can cover your windshield while you drive during an infestation. So you need that special green windshield fluid imo.

That being said, I have snowbird neighbors who leave a car here and have no damage whatsoever.

I don't even think we had them here this past spring.

I can say that my car automatically had the coating on and I think I ended up removing it because it made it harder to get the bugs off.

The best option is typically just to wet the car, then get a wet dryer sheet and wipe them off. They don’t come heavily every year. I think one year I took 60 across the state from Tampa and then popped onto the turnpike. My car was so coated by the time I reached the toll plaza. The plaza actually had a hose off station where you could wash off your car for free. It was literally so bad that even with the bug windshield fluid, I could barely see anything.

[Mr B Kind]

How to prevent paint damage:

If possible, avoid driving during peak lovebug hours. They tend to “make their love known” between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., when temperatures are above 84 degrees.

Lovebug guts are acidic and can cause damage to car paint, evening clogging radiators and creating other issues if left to fester.

The best way to protect your car during these seasons of love is by keeping a healthy coat of wax on your car. The wax will serve as a protective barrier between your paint and the acidic lovebug remains. A good soaking with soap and water for about five minutes every few days will also help.

Another tip: After a long bug-catching drive wipe off the bugs as soon as you can using a microfiber towel and some detail spray. This will prevent the acid from eating through your paint.

https://www.clickorlando.com/weather...%20also%20help.