Automotive

when i owned a proper big 4x4 i only ever gave it a jet wash when the mud under the wheel arches stopped the wheels turning, but since i've owned the subaru i've had it washed every month at one of the many hand wash centres run by very hard working eastern europeans. they do a good job for £5 although they dont polish, but now i've owned it 6 months i've got a mobile valet service coming next week to do the inside and polish the outside. i saw them doing a car over the road the other day and they were using clay bars etc. the finish was amazing, but expensive.i'm paying £50 and i'll get a dry vac and polish inside (i dont want a wet wash inside the car) and a wet wash and polish outside. they were using electric mops so i'm expecting a very nice finish.

i'm happy with this system. i have a silver car so the dirt doesnt show up too much, but its such a nice car that i want to keep it in very good order.

i've never understood how clay bars work, but Big Daddy is the man to talk too as he often spends 2 days at a time detailing his car.

i'll make him aware of this post so he can contribute if he wants to.

G

I can't say how good that effort was because I don't know how bad it was to begin with. 

the product.

That said, there are huge differences in ease of application, and certain products in certain product lines are easier, last longer, and result more consistently in "glass like smoothness and shine and beading" than others.

I know the Petersen likes Griot; other's like Mother's.

I wonder how much of the brand loyalty is like most other product categories - a bit of fan-boyism, and how much is really differences in the results.

Washing and waxing by oneself does result in a closer connection with one's vehicle. At the very least you know the true condition of the vehicle and where the scratches / dings are.

Cheers,

TM

I used Meguiars for everything - Deep Crystal Car Wash, Ultimate Polish, and Deep Crystal System Carnauba Wax. 

I remember the first time I hand waxed car the car, I put 2 coats of Polish and 3 coats of Carnauba Wax.  I spread the work over 5 days while I kept the car in the garage :P  My car never looked so much like water!   I even used NevrDull to polish my chrome exhaust tips too.

Cheers,
Anthony

...with my favorite being "Hydro". After you wash your car, before you dry it, spray it with Hydro. Then dry it. The towel glides over the car (rather than sticking to it) and is given a light coat of wax.

Dean.

yesterday morning i had the finishing touches to my spa treatment. the difference is amazing. before hand it felt rough with impurities embedded in the pores of the paint, but afterwards it feels smooth as silk or as smooth as a salesmans chat up line. the 2 guys clay barred the whole car including the glass and wheels then went over it with a high quality trade polish and this picture shows the finished result.

they recommend that the car should only be lightly washed with plain water so as not to wear away the wax treatment. dependent on mileage and roads travelled they recommend having it done once a year so i will. the worst roads are motorways as the impurities from lorry exhausts embed into the laquer and can then damage the paintwork resulting in rust spots.

anyway, here's a pic i took this morning.

G