I agree with Mike. If not a repaint, then a complete wet sand and professional cut and buff. It will do wonders in the right hands. Some of the deep scratches won't come out, but will be minimized. It is sad when someone puts something on the trunk area or on top of the car and don't pick it up off the surface, but slide it. Brain dead for putting something on a painted surface more so by sliding it across the paint.

Good luck

 

This really isn't as big of a deal as I may have made it out to be. It really just have swirls and a few small scratches here and there. The photos make them look 10X worse than they look to the eye. Keep in mind that I am ignorant about car detailing... From what I've read here, I feel like maybe I should clay bar the car. One of the main things that bothers me is the water spots. I thought that I had dried it off alright. I normally just do the windows first, of course. Then do the rest with a cotton towell, then I get what's left with paper towels. Is this a mistake? I read that someone dries theirs off with a blade. Is this like the rubber strip on those windshield cleaner tools?

 

I hate to point you to another forum, but I'd check out if there is anyone on http://www.autopia.org/ that's local to you and has does good work.

 

For the record, I did NOT say it needed a complete wet sand, cut and buff. I said we've seen many customers come to us who have been told that is the only recourse when in fact it is NOT. I have extremely high confidence that I or someone else could fix 99% of that with a rotary buffer, the proper pad & compound, and the requisite skill. The missing 1% is the really bad scratch on the wing, which most likely would benefit from some spot sanding.

Not too long ago we had a customer come in with some really bad defects on the hood of his brand new BMW 330i. A "pro" detailer wanted to charge him $300 to wet sand, cut and buff just the hood. We showed the customer how to use a D/A polisher with M83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish and he fixed it himself. We charged him the exact sum of $0.00 and even fed him pizza in the deal.

 

Reading that gives me shivers up my spine like fingernails on a blackboard.

 

Alright. Went by both Advance Auto Parts and Napa today. Advance seemed to have WAY more selection than Napa. Since when it comes to these products I'm on a 16 year old's budget, I had sticker shock over the clay bar. I decided to post here first and then go buy the appropriate clay bar. I did, however, buy Meguiars Deep Crystal Car Wash (http://www.partsamerica.com/productd...egoryCode=3299) and Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover (http://www.partsamerica.com/productd...egoryCode=3301). Did I do good or should I go back and exchange? Anyone use these specific products?

For my specific situation, what is the best clay bar kit I can purchase at Advance or napa? I also saw a polisher bit that attached to a drill for $19.99. Are these any count? Do they work alright?

Thanks again!

 

OK here's the deal, if your on budget, use a one step cleaner wax combo such as Black Magic Wet Shine Liquid Wax. It came out number one in the last Consumer Reports wax tests. It wouldn't be all that great for a purist but at 16 years old and on a budget it might be the greatest thing since snot. It out shined and outlasted the other products that they tested. The only criticism that they had was that it was slightly harder to remove than the others they tested. I have used it on my silver Outlook and my pewter Sierra and it looks pretty good for a one step. I wouldn't use it on my black Crossfire though. Follow the directions closely. Stay away from the drill polisher.

Maybe Mike from Orange could recommend a one step wax from Meguier's.

Good Luck, let us know how it turned out. I had an almost new Corvette when I was about 18 years old and boy did I think I was hot S***. The only problem was that if anything went wrong with the Corvette that I couldn't fix myself I couldn't afford it, so I know where your coming from. I couldn't even afford to replace the tires. Fortunately I was working at a gas station at the time.

 

For an excellent cleaner wax that's easy to work with I'd recommend Meguiar's ColorX.

Our Deep Crystal Car Wash is a great choice if you're on a budget, and there's nothing wrong at all with Turtle Wax Bug & Tar remover. Keep them and use them.

As for the cost of clay, Mother's kit costs about the same as our - they give you more clay but we give you a microfiber towel. We give you two 50gram bars and one of them will do your whole car several times. Keep in mind the clay bar will not address any swirls or fine scratches, just the bonded junk that makes your paint feel rough and prevents wax from bonding properly to the paint.

 

You may want to check Wal-mart as well. I picked a couple of Meguiar's 7 piece ultimate care kits for about $20. Well worth it.

Contains:

Quick Detailer
NXT Gen Tech Wax 2.0
Hot Rims Well Cleaner
Scratch X
Ultimate Quick Detailer
Hot Shine Tire Gel
Applicator

If you price these up individually you'll see a substantial savings.

 

my paint didn't look much better than that after I bought my car but, if you wash your car, clay bar, then a nice polish, then let it sit for about 12 hours and give it another coat of polish it'll look like brand new

 

Thanks for all of the replies. I haven't gotten around to washing it yet. High school and all that goes with it makes life so hectic. I'm glad I got some good products. I am thinking about just ordering the $20 ClayMagic clay bar kit. It's just as cheap as the ones in town and I think it's a pretty good product. Mike, tell me a little more about the product you offer.

Woah. As far as polishing, this is a lot of trouble from what I read. Would you want to polish before you clay bar? And also, would you want to wash it first or bug & tar it first? Sorry so many questions. I'm a novice at this stuff.

Back to polishing... Like I said above, I saw a drill bit circular polisher at Advance Auto; however, it was $20 and I doubt it would be something I would use MUCH more than once. Would you go for this, or try it by hand? The swirls aren't everywhere. Just in a few target areas.

I will have to run by walmart later. Thanks for the tip. Again, thanks to everyone who has provided input. It is so hard and awkward going into this blind... Please continue!

 

Your stalling Smokey, pick a product, any product, and get your young *** out to the garage and get going for Christ sake. It's not going to get done while your on your computer. If I see much more of this I'm coming down there and do it myself.

And yes it's a lot of work.

 

Limited funds version: Wash the car, rinse the car, clay the car with soap and water. Very little pressure is needed. You can go pretty fast just keep the area being clayed and the clay wet. Wash again and dry. Polish by hand. (First use something gentle) Forget the machine for now. Wax.

If you already have the detail spray use it as lubricant with the clay bar. It works better and is safer. Don't be stingy with the spray. You don't absolutely have to wash after claying if you used detail spray, however most will recommend you do.

You are far ahead of me. If I only knew about clay at 16. I used it for first time last year. I just bought a Porter Cable Polisher and the only part of the process that it makes much easier is the polishing, but if the car is correctly polished once and if you do all that is necessary to keep it clean and not get swirls, you won't need to do it very often. I have 3 cars, so at Hawaii 5-0 (dah dah dah dah daaaaaa dah) I gave my arms a break and got the machine. Your young, use your arms and save the money for gas and girls.

Les

 

There yo go Smokey, good advice. No more excuses. We want to see a picture of your shiny Crossfire. No more whining. Get busy. You can even skip the clay bar and just wax over the tar and bugs. You'll preserve them for posterity that way. Any thing that you do will beat what you've accomplished so far.

 

I have to agree. Too many excuses. You can plan and wonder and worry etc for time immortal. You just have to move the fanny and get it done. Planning is for old folks, action is the way of the young, usually anyway. You just wasted a whole weekend! School is a drag but you just wait until you have to work for a living. You think it's complicated now..... are you ever in for a surprise. You have a few more years of freedom to enjoy. Get the car taken care of and go cruising.

Les

 

Certainly not true in this case is it? I have a grandson about Smokeys age I have to remind him not to procrastinate also. It must have had an impact because he made " student of the year" this year at his school. I like to plan but then I do it.

I'm just talking to Smokey like the proverbial "Dutch Uncle." I just hope he sees my criticism as constructive and not take it personally.

Good Luck Smokey school is definitely more important than any car.

 

Don't worry. I don't take much personally. I'm a big time perfectionist so I guess that's why i'm trying to get everyone's opinions and find the best products. Oh well. I'm going to Wal-mart after school today to check out that combo deal someone mentioned above. BTW, I'm in a computer class and am so glad this forum isn't blocked. And then to advanced again to pick up some other specific products such as a camois or some terry cloth. As far as waxing, which is easiest and which gives better results? Paste or liquid? Thanks.

 

NO NO NO!!!! Microfiber Towels!!! And the highest quality (softest) you can find. Even cheap microfiber is better than the other options.

Oh, and we wish perfection on you grasshopper.

On the wax, you can get good results with almost any wax. Until you have clayed and polished the defects out of the paint, it's hard to tell a HUGE difference (even though they exist) in the different waxes. Once the paint is properly polished, then you can appreciate the differences in shine, durability and ease of application and removal. I would follow Mike-In-Orange's recommendation and use Meguiar's ColorX for your situation.

Remember, Microfiber. The Claybar kit of your choice. Meguiar's ColorX.

Good luck

Les

 

Take Les's advice. He is dead nuts on.


roadster with a stick

 

Man I feel bad for this kid....

He's prolly getting nagged at home, now he's getting nagged on this forum too, lol.

Tell your dad you're too busy making honor roll, he'll hop right onto your car.