Bought my first brand new car-How to protect/preserve it?

[Striker]

Some people use a Woolite/ water mix. I prefer Leather Masters or LTT Solutions.

Would the woolite/water mix take off any conditioner such as the water based product from leather masters?

[Legacy99]

Hey Guys,

It's been a while since I posted anything here but I lurk from time to time. I just bought a brand new 2011 Altima 2.5 SL in Hermatite Grey!

I already have it arranged so that the car gets rust proofed by one of the techs at my work so I'm good to go on that front. My concerns is to preserve the paint and interior, and here's what I was thinking of doing.

1-Sonus Green Clay
2.Three Coats of Zaino
3. Place some rust inhibitor on all the nuts/bolts/screws under the hood

Interior is my weak spot as I truly dont know what to do besides throw on some 303 on there, wipe it off and call it a day.

I don't wanna go all out and start spending hundreds of dollars on more detailing supplies as I think that my collection so far is pretty descent for having two cars.

Let me know what you guys are suggesting.

I have the same car. Haven't touched the interior, but I do a wipe down of the interior after every wash (weekly). I you park outside, get a sun shade for the dash. I put new chrome wheels the day I bought it and the hubs were unpainted and full of rust. Treated them and used a caliber paint before putting the new wheels on. Btw I did debadge the rear.

[Striker]

I have the same car. Haven't touched the interior, but I do a wipe down of the interior after every wash (weekly). I you park outside, get a sun shade for the dash. I put new chrome wheels the day I bought it and the hubs were unpainted and full of rust. Treated them and used a caliber paint before putting the new wheels on. Btw I did debadge the rear.

It looks sweet debadge'd doesn't it? So the hubs arent painted from the factory you say?

[Legacy99]

It looks sweet debadge'd doesn't it? So the hubs arent painted from the factory you say?

I think it looks better without the Altima and the 2.5. No they were all rusted.

[Striker]

I think it looks better without the Altima and the 2.5. No they were all rusted.

You keep the "Cvt" badge? I'm also looking at getting into some 18 inch Altima Coupe wheels as I hate the stockers.

[Striker]

Slightly confused guys. Which product do I get? Again, brand new car so everything is fresh.

1. Leather Masters Interior Leather Vital
2. Leather Master Car Interior Leather Protection Cream

It seems to me that no.2 is what I need.

Thoughts?

[Legacy99]

You keep the "Cvt" badge? I'm also looking at getting into some 18 inch Altima Coupe wheels as I hate the stockers.

Here's the wheels that I got:

[Striker]

Very nice. Appears our colors are very close too

[Accumulator]

Slightly confused guys. Which product do I get? Again, brand new car so everything is fresh.

1. Leather Masters Interior Leather Vital
2. Leather Master Car Interior Leather Protection Cream

It seems to me that no.2 is what I need.

Thoughts?

Yeah, #2...I'd just use the Protection Cream. Actually, *I* probably wouldn't use anything.

[Striker]

I'm sure that I'm being overboard, but my plan is to keep the car for a very long time. I just received my weather tech digital fit floor mats. Looking forward to seeing them in the car.

[Roger Koh]

Yeah, #2...I'd just use the Protection Cream. Actually, *I* probably wouldn't use anything.

Until you know what you’re protecting for; it may be too early to jump into conclusion – that you probably wouldn’t use anything else…that is current…or coming soon…

We may not realize that the leather has already had its 2 layers of protections; the colorcoat being protected by the (urethane) topcoat; and additional protection that behaves like the original urethane topcoat would be too heavy to enjoy our leather; unless you like the texture of a vinyl-feel.

What is then practical is to protect this original topcoat from being abraded through friction rubs from the getting in and out of the leather seats.

And it is this wearing down of the leather finish topcoat that we are hoping to find the best product to prolong it.

Then the characteristics of the leather protection we are looking for should have these features to prolong the wear and tear from our sitting abuse.

1] It should be non-film forming; that prevents unnecessary build-up; and can be easily stripped (leather-safe without damaging the original topcoat on demand).

2] It should reduce friction squeaky noise, if not so, it’s not forming a lubricating barrier against dry or wet rubbing; that eventually will wear into the original topcoat.

3] It should enhance and upgrade the aesthetic tactile-feel to the finish of the leather; with either a choice of a draggy-feel for the steering wheel for a safer grip; or a buttery-feel to the leather seat, so that drivers or passengers can slide in and out of leather seat smoothly, without the squeaky friction rubbing noise, that eventually wears the finish to the leather crust, we often see in older cars.

4] It should impart a non-stick protection against sticky daily substance like chewing gum, stickers of all sorts, scotch-tape and other tapes; when pull will prevent pilling of the leather finish.

5] It should shield daily staining and reduce against dye-transfer (that makes removal easier in severe cases); and prevent accidental ink stains from the too common ballpoint pen from rotating to dispense its nasty ink on contact.

The other characteristic of leather is the “charm of scent” that makes leather so desirable; the unforgettable scent of leather is more leathery than the leather itself; that have charm both man and woman through the ages. It is this leather scent that separates the high from the low end leathers.

So give Leather Scent-B or Scent-D a try – then probably you are current with what’s available until the next generation of protector comes along…

If you are not convince and like to stick to the old school of protection; then try this Topcoat Micro-72S (satin) in comparison with the Leather Protection Cream, and evaluate from there…

And if you don’t like the satin look…there is yet a matte-look version, that of Topcoat Aniline-59M that also impart a waxy-feel to compare with the tactile-feel of the Leather Protection Cream.

Roger Koh
info@leatherdoctor.com

[blackcaraddict]

Honestly it's all in your process. You could spend less than $20 for OTC products and yield very nice results.