OK, my "expertise" on this subject includes only much reading on the internet and real world usage of the products. My Challenger and my BMW are both ceramic coated as were a couple vehicles before that.
Real world - For us Wrangler owners, particularly those of us who are not looking to have show car Jeeps, and those that actually do some wheeling, mudding, etc., ceramics are a waste of money. Ceramics are not going to keep that brush from scratching the side of your jeep. They are not going to make the jeep stay clean after you take it through the mud or out in the desert on the rocks and over the dunes.
For those who just daily or occasionally drive their vehicles on the road, and who are fairly obsessive about the paint looking good and clean, then ceramics may be for you.
The primary advantages of ceramics. On a daily driven vehicle or a garaged vehicle, you will not need to wax or apply polishes for anywhere from 1-5 years depending on the ceramic coating used and the number of layers applied. During that time, dirt generally will not stick to the vehicle, and rain/water beads like crazy, making washing easier. In a nutshell, the vehicle looks and acts like a newly waxed/polished vehicle for 1-5 years.
Ceramics can be applied DIY but you need to know what you are doing. Process is wash, clay, wash, dry, paint correction (orbital or buffer with correct componding steps depending on the amount of paint correction needed)....de-iron/de-bug solution application, final check to be sure absolutely no spots, dust, etc...then application of ceramics. The process for one layer probably takes 10-16 hours of work. The process for 3-5 layers considerably more since you have to wait something like 12 hours between coats. In the states, general prices at a REAL detailer range from $800 for 1 year (one coat) to something like $1500 for multiple. You have to (well should be) certified to apply the coatings. You have to be trained in other words.
I like the ceramics because I hate waxing/polishing my car. I used to love love love detailing cars, but I have physical challenges now that make the after effects of doing it way too painful. With the ceramics, I would not say the vehicle looks any better than one freshly waxed/polished, but the difference is it looks that way after each wash for the 3-5 years between applications, rather than 6 months tops for typical washes and polishes. Additionally, the vehicle is easier to wash. I use my soap cannon, then very lightly and quickly use a microfiber mitt and the two bucket wash technique, the use my blower (specifically for car detailing not a leaf blower), and then pat a few areas of the vehicle dry with a microfiber waffle weave towel and wipe down the jambs. Not including the time to get all the stuff out of the garage, it takes about 90 minutes start to finish (for a person that moves very slowly like me). And between times I take my cars through the touchless car wash tunnels and they come out looking great.
My TJ is not coated, and the paint is a 5 on a scale of 10. I would love to get it re-sprayed, but I know myself and would become obsessive about keeping the paint looking near pristine, which to me somewhat takes away from the fun of owning a Wrangler... It rarely gets washed, and when I do the top is usually off, so I basically rinse it (hood and lower half of tub only), then use quick detailer on it, probably adding to the microscratches. But my Jeep has plenty of MACRO scratches... I wash it maybe once during the summer months more thoroughly with the top on.
