New Car Detailing Recommendations

civildog · 08-23-04, 08:36

If you just purchased a new dark red sports car and detailed it for the first time, would you use all of the exterior detailing steps, including claying? I'm a newby a couldn't find specific recommendations for detailing a new car in the search. Thanks for any help.

SK2003TypeS · 08-23-04, 08:47

Yes, I would use clay. If it's brand new and the paint is swirl free, you can skip the polishing stage. That's what I did first time around. I just washed, clayed, washed, dried and applied a sealant.
The upper right hand corner "Learn" button has a bunch of great articles.

Welcome to Autopia

mirrorfinishman · 08-24-04, 04:20

It is always a good idea to think about using the least aggressive methods first, especially when you're dealing with a new car.

Accumulator · 08-24-04, 09:48

Besides claying, I do all our new vehicles with a decontamination system (search on "ABC" and "FinishKare"). From the S8 to the Mazda minivan, it's worked out great on every vehicle I've done it to. No more rustblooms

Much easier than it sounds, too. Gentle? Heh heh, well, I sure wasn't gonna mess up the S8

Oh, and "welcome to Autopia!", civildog.

TOGWT · 08-24-04, 10:37

to Autopia civildog

Q: civildog= Civil Engineer?

civildog · 08-25-04, 07:30

Yep! A Civil (Traffic) Engineer with a 2005 Corvette to be delivered next week...

PrecisionOnline · 08-25-04, 11:05

Welcome Cicildog,

Congrats on the new Vette! What you'll want to do is apply a paint sealant to the new car. Claying is optional -- after the wash if the car still feels gritty. The gritty feeling is contaminants from when the car was on the rails to the carrier truck, etc.

Paint Sealant
Carpet Stain Repellant
Leather Protector

You can skip the "Rust Preventitive" of the protection package because the Vette is fiberglass.

My advice to you will be to get the 3M Paint Protection Film installed before taking this car on the highway.

Goodluck!

a.k.a. Patrick · 08-25-04, 11:35

Well you already have an array of opinions, i for one wouldnt skip a gentle polish and clay treatment, you might as well get into the habit of it for proper maintenance. Gentle wash, clay, and polish, with either a carnauba wax (if your planning on frequent waxing) or polymer (my favorite).
Clearkote has a nice Carnauba wax, as with most of their products, user friendly, excellent results also.
If your particular to one brand over another, we could suggest products from about any line made!
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