I'm not a big fan of spending countless hours on a valuable Saturday cleaning my car but I do like that new car look once in a while. I have used Meguiar's products and it has worked just "ok" and am sure there are other reasonably priced products out there.

 

One issue I have is when trying to shine the vehicle, I just can't get those circular marks out from the hood no matter how much elbow grease I use.

 

Any suggestions ? Any other products that I should be looking at ?

 

My car is black and maybe part of the problem since any spec of dirt is more visible than any other color.

I'm not a big fan of spending countless hours on a valuable Saturday cleaning my car but I do like that new car look once in a while. I have used Meguiar's products and it has worked just "ok" and am sure there are other reasonably priced products out there.

 

One issue I have is when trying to shine the vehicle, I just can't get those circular marks out from the hood no matter how much elbow grease I use.

 

Any suggestions ? Any other products that I should be looking at ?

 

My car is black and maybe part of the problem since any spec of dirt is more visible than any other color.

 

Meguiar's is good stuff..... can be a little tough remove at times.

 

You could try Mother's California Gold....

 

also a black car.... must be done in the shade and cooled off...

I use Griots products and i'm more than happy

 

http://www.griotsgarage.com/home.do?code=LNK09005

back in the camaro days... I would always use Zaino or Klasse. Both high end good systems.

 

If you invest a good day into the car, once cleaned and protected... it is set for the year, where an easy spray of the hose gets out all the gunk off.

What kind of car is it? BLACK? WHOA! Are the swirl marks deep? Did someone try to detail the car and gave up? Meguires has a product called scratch remover it's in a black tube it's about 5or 6 bucks it's pretty good as long as the swirl marks arent bad. If not, Im pretty sure there is a car wash owner who is a member could help you. I'll be @ BA next tuesday I have my detailing equipment all the time I'll take care of it for ya!

Clay Bar and then Zaino should do the trick?

Wash the car, top down, go over with a clay bar and a liquid cleaner/spray bottle. wash it again, rinse is fine.

 

then depending on condition of paint... use a light polish, I use Klasse all in one. Get an orbital polisher... will speed it up.

 

once done, get a glaze, and coat that on. and it should do the trick.

 

That would be my routine.... but I stopped doing it once I realized people dont respect others and will bang and scratch your car anyway. lol... so now I just take it to Chad's car wash. =)

I think the swirls are from cleaning it in the hot sun as 67gtonut says.

 

Lot of great info, thanks guys !

+1 on the clay. You can get that with the lube for around $12.00 at Auto Zone or Advanced. I use Menzerna polish on my black pickup with the Porter Cable random orbital. After the polish I apply usually P21s wax with the Porter cable also. No swirls at all. Klasse all in 1 is great also as Maksim stated. These are professional products and so is Griots.

Calling Chad!!!!

I'm not a big fan of spending countless hours on a valuable Saturday cleaning my car but I do like that new car look once in a while. I have used Meguiar's products and it has worked just "ok" and am sure there are other reasonably priced products out there.

 

One issue I have is when trying to shine the vehicle, I just can't get those circular marks out from the hood no matter how much elbow grease I use.

 

Any suggestions ? Any other products that I should be looking at ?

 

My car is black and maybe part of the problem since any spec of dirt is more visible than any other color.

 

Try here. This is all about detailing.

http://www.autopia.org/forum/index.php

 

That would be my routine.... but I stopped doing it once I realized people dont respect others and will bang and scratch your car anyway. lol... so now I just take it to Chad's car wash. =)

 

Are you insinuating that Chad car wash is sub par that its just good enough to get by

 

Black is the worst color to take care of. Everything shows up. After you get past that pretty much what the guys have said.

 

You need a shady spot, and make sure the car is cold to the touch.

 

Some people agree some don't, but a good dishwashing soap, use that ONCE to clean the car. When you do this your car is officially unprotected as dishwashing soap takes off everything.

 

Next you want to get yourself a nice clay bar and some detailing clay bar lubricant. Start from the top and work your way down. Make sure you keep the clay wet and continually keep folding it to make sure you keep the dirty and grime away from the paint. Once you have done this give the car a nice spray down.

 

Then dry off the car completely. Open all the doors windows, I like to use an air compressor and blow out my mirrors etc. This insures that once you start to apply the wax with an orbital no water is going to come splashing out and messing up your wax job.

 

Do the same thing as you did with the clay bar start from top go down. I like to keep my areas small to make sure I do a really good job. Let it haze up and then buff off. Repeat for the remaining areas.

 

Now your car is clean, with a nice fresh coat of wax. Go take the dishwashing soap and put it back in the kitchen and don't bring it out for another 6 months to a year depending on when you want to wax again.

 

I highly suggest investing in a California Duster. They are worth their weight in gold. It'll keep your car looking good inbetween car washs for some time as long as you keep up with it.

 

 

Now as far as what company to use for your wash and wax. Really it comes down to each owns opinion. I've used meguairs stuff for a while now and don't really have any complaints. It's a good moderately priced product.

 

I've also used Griots in the past but its over priced in my opinion. It's a good quality product and it has its place in the business, just not my business.

 

Or you could just be like me now, and drive a big pos jeep and actually aim for puddles and not care

 

To think I'm probably buying a newer car again and I'm going to be wasting my weekends again doing this crap, kinda makes me sick to my stomach. Definitely don't miss those days with the WRX when I actually cared about it

Trying to keep a black vehicle clean is a part time job.

Trying to keep a black vehicle clean is a part time job.

 

I disagree... Trying to keep a black vehicle clean is a FULL time job.

lol.

 

After the first scratch... Chad's car wash is good enough to get by.

 

My packages of Menzerna are still sitting there. =)

 

I went from Zaino, to Klasse, to Menzerna.

 

Zaino is good shine. Klasse is best overal for ease of application, Menzerna in my opinion is the best overall comprehensive system.

If the finish is in very good shape, I use Liquid Glass. I have for years but it takes multiple coats over a few days to get a truly glassy and sealed finish.

Ask malsua, he's got the answer. :shock:

Trust me on this one. I discovered this product 5 years ago at Englishtown and have never used anything else.

 

It's called Dri Wash 'n Guard

 

It's a waterless car wash and protective glaze.

 

My Wife's '08 BMW Z4 loves it!!!!!