Has anyone had any problem with scratches? I have had my Xfire for two weeks and I noticed some scratches on the roof recently. Any Thoughts?

 

I had some infamous swirl marks... however, after the Zaino treatment everything looks great. Although I did find a couple of small rock chips in the spoiler, and a scuff on the back bumper. I'm kicking myself because I think the bumper scuff might have been there when I picked it up at the dealer, but you never know. It could just be from one of the countless garden variety A-holes who don't give a rat's about anything and slammed their grocery cart into it.

 

TheKing -

I've had my car just a couple of weeks and there are some really weird looking scratches it seems, even on the roof. Mine look like long black lines and I don't know what on earth they are from. There are several all over my car, including a long vertical line underneath my door handle. I don't know if this is just stuff from the dealer prepping or what or maybe some a-hole did it to my car. Just curious if yours look like that.

 

gregthegr8, the scratches you descibe are exactly what I am experiencing. They are swirls on th roof and a small straight line by the gas cap.

 

TheKing -

Ya, I've never seen anything like this. I'm wondering if they aren't scratches but something on there that can be taken off with maybe a clay bar or something or if they are actual scratches. What color is your car? Mine is the sapphire silver blue. How long have you had yours?

 

gregthegr8

I have the sapphire silver blue. I tried to wash them off over the weekend to no avail. I wonder if it has something to do with the aerodynamics of the car

 

Maybe if you are driving through sandstorms....

My SSB has no such marks.

Do they look like they are through the clearcoat and into the paint, or are they just surface marks?

If it is just on the surface, any of the car cleaner, sealer, and wax systems should take care of it.

Some people are sold on Crystal Guard, or Zaino. I used Mother's, and I was really pleased with it. I know WMichaels likes it too. I think AZ has tried it as well.

Good luck cleaning it up!

 

jsisabella - it has to be the weirdest thing I've ever seen on a new car. I haven't really tried to take them off yet, so am not sure if they are just surface things that can be cleaned, sealed, waxed, or otherwise right off. I didn't notice them until I washed my car for the first time. I will be trying to get rid of them in the next week or so.

It's funny though how everybody really loves their particular brand of wax/polish/sealant. Crystal Guard and Zaino seem like way too much time and effort for me, especially on a silver car. I love meguiar's products, although I used mother's chrome polish for years on my rims. What Mother's products do you use?

 

It is a three part system. A cleaner, a sealer, and then the wax. I never tried a clay bar, so I have no idea what that would do. They apply easily dry to a haze in no time, and then just wipe off. I used my random orbit buffer, but it really didn't need it.

The car was so smooth that I set a towel on the hood, and it slid off.

I know I will get blasted for this, but the cost of $22 for all three parts seemed to me a bit more realistic than the $130-$150 for the other products. A couple of friends that restore old cars told me they would hit me over the head if I spent $150 on wax....

I look at it this way. The money I saved paid for the new air filters!

:-)

 

jsisabella - You should try mother's clay bar. I've used a clay bar once before and it gets the finish so smooth before you apply any polish/wax/etc. I would recommend it although it's a bit time consuming. I'm with you on the price, too. I gotta be able to afford my crossfire payment! No good being really really shiny if the repo man is coming to get it. hehe.

 

I think I've seen cars with every wax known to man on them and I still stick with my Good Old Mother's products. IMO it shines as brite and deep as any I've seen or used. And it's very easy to use. If you have some small minor scrathes the claybar will smooth them out.

 

Those are not scratches, it is residue from along the white film the car is shipped with. It should come off with a little effort. Mine did.

 

Thanks Heb. That's what I thought it might be, although mine don't look like white scratches, but black ones, which is why I was thrown off. I haven't attempted to get them off, but will try in the coming days.

 

Yup, they are black... I have a few on my car here and there but I haven't cleaned them up yet. If you run your finger nail over them you'll notice they are above the paint rather than into the paint.... meaning its residue on the paint, not a scratch into the paint.

 

Thank goodness! I remember seeing ones that were really bad on some at the dealership, especially by the fuel doors. How long have you had yours now Heb?

 

I've had mine for about a month.