Big time help needed!!!!!! (long)

[kilodawg]

Okay looking for any and all opinions on how to proceed. I've dabbled a bit with the PC and had some good results with MIP and FPII and Zaino on my cars but I keep coming back to the wife's 993 uncertain as to what to do.

Some background: We picked this car up a year ago. It was a steal and we plan on owning it for the long haul. The biggest problem with the car when we got it was it's finish. It had spent at least the last couple of years outside, uncovered, beachside in Florida. While the finish wasn't faded it was definitely stressed from UV exposure.

We had the car professionally detailed (before I found out about this site so I can't say for sure what products were used) and the guy did a good enought job that from 2 feet the car looked new. He told me that a lot of paint came off and to avoid sun exposure for the first couple of weeks.

A few months later I did the Zaino route and I've kept it up since then. The car is used a few times a week as my wifes daily driver and when not in use it sits behind my '84 at the front of our long (but not quite long enough, single car garage. A new 3 car garage is in the works this year). I originally kept the car covered consistently with one of the silver Porsche car covers. It didn't look the softest but I made sure the car was clean (relative when compared to what Accumulator would call clean) when it was on.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving. I'd been noticing more and more maring and something finally had to be done. Upon close inspection, it seemed like many of the deeper scratches I'd recognized as having been there from day one while others were a lot more shallow and could have been more recent. It's all hard for me to tell. Anyway, by now I'd found Autopia, puchased a PC and decided to polish her with MIP and FPII and then do the whole Zaino deal ending with Z-8. The results were great 90% of the maring I'd seen in bright light was gone. I'd taken off some paint but I was happy with the results:



I was still concerned with the cover so I decided to buy a soft flannel one to use under the silver cover. Unfortunately, it took a couple of weeks for the cover to arrive and I couldn't help but think that during that time a bit of the maring had returned. Now all of this is subjective in that under most light it still looks great from a couple of feet.

Over the past couple of weeks I'd worked on my first black car and that set my focus a lot closer than a couple of feet. With the black car I was zooming in to within a foot and managed to achieve a real mirror finish.

So I went back to the 993 and this time under the flourescent garage lighting took another look. To my horror this is what I saw:



So the question becomes what do I do if anything to try and correct it. The whole car is covered with this type of maring. I can't really say that I see a pattern that relates to the application of the cover and some of the scratches are 6 to 8 inches long while many are under an inch.

I know that some of the have been there for a while but their edges are all still pretty sharp. I have gone back and tried to address everything I do but my '84 which is treated similarly (though used a lot less often) has little to none of this problem.

I'm also getting a foamgun so I'm committed to doing what I can to at least mitigate the situation. I need some serious advice though on what I do from here.

Thanks a lot!

[ceiol]

I'm a novice, but it seems like your car passes the 5 ft rule with ease!

[Scottwax]

Kind of hard to point you in any direction without knowing if the cover, washing technique or something else caused those scratches. Regardless it obviously needs to be polished again.

[Accumulator]

Heh heh, it might be time to start thinking of "clean" the way I do, at least with regard to when you put the cover on.

Note that marring that shows up that readily under fluorescents is gonna look a lot worse under some other forms of lighting (sorry for the bad news).

Many of those scratches look like "cover scratches". Most people move the cover across the paint when they put it on/take it off. Better to systematically unfold it from the roof of the car and then reverse the process. But you'll still get marring if it (car or cover) isn't perfectly clean. I've given up on car covers for the most part, and I used them for years (and you can guess how careful I was ).

You can probably take out or at least minimize most of that marring as Porsche clear is fairly thick. That *is* b/c paint isn't it? I know some Porsche reds (Guard's Red IIRC, and only certain years) is single stage.

I'd guess that you'll know when to say when while polishing, just be sorta conservative and you should be OK.

Rather than using Zaino on that one, I'd use something that's a bit more forgiving about residual marring; I'd use a glaze/paste wax combo on it. That way it can look great without having to be absolutely perfect.

And FWIW I'd treat your '84 the same way I only use synthetics on our newer vehicles
where I've taken good care of them since new and I know how much clear they have. Anyhow, keeping a car virtually perfect can be such a chore that it takes away from (rather than enhancing) the ownership experience. Make sure you're having fun, I sometimes think Autopia can suck the fun out of this stuff by encouraging unrealistic expectations.

[Picus]

I agree with Accumulator - as good as zaino is it tends to draw the eye to any imperfections, so it might be worthwhile to use an LSP or combo of LSPs that has some filling properties. I have a black daily driver and realize it'll never be perfect, so I use Clearkotes RMG to fill in some of the micromarring. I also tend to lean towards carnauba's or carnauba based sealants like Poorboys ex w/carnuaba that will also help cover up some of the minor marring.

[kilodawg]

Okay guys you are reshaping my head and it hurts!

First I tried the multi-bucket, baloon mitt washing approach today with the black P71 and dried it with a leaf blower. Unbelievable! It was the lightest touch I've ever given to a car and that was without the foamgun which hasn't arrived yet. With the new Zaino finish on that car it was a snap to clean and the leaf blower removed 95% of the water. A couple of soft pats with a MF in a few of spots was the only contact in the entire drying process. Big props on the whole concept.

Okay so let's say I'm starting to get a handle on the wash process. I understand the whole car cover minefield but for now I need to use one. The flannel cover is a big improvement on the the Porsche Silverguard which I still use on top of the flannel. The big problem we had with the Silverguard was that it was not conducive to rolling. So invariably it slid a bit across the top. Now that's resolved.

So let's move onto to how I should prep both 911's from here on out. One thing first, the bulk of the guards red 993 is original ss paint but the front quarters and front and rear bumper covers were redone in 2 stage/clear by a PO. It's interesting to me that the finish is pretty much consistent across the vehicle though.

I assume I can still use MIP and FPII to polish. Then I should move to glazes and wax. I already have RMG and VM as well as as Trade Secret Carnuba. Please give me an outline for what you guys would use to get the 911's up to shape. I don't mind the product cost so throw in your favorites and give me your best shot.

Thanks a lot!

[Accumulator]

Kilodawg- Glad to hear the wash technique is working for you. Just wait...the foamgun oughta really blow you away.

Oh, before I forget, I don't think you saw my last post on the black P71 thread- what's the paint called on your '84? I can't quite remember although "Arena Red" comes to mind as does Rose Garnet or Quartz something (but I don't think any of those is it). I've been thinking about that paint since yesterday; I love how it looks.

OK, so the 993 *was* ss but now parts of it aren't. It might be tough to keep it all uniform over time but if it was painted once you can get it painted again if you need to

Your polishes should work fine; don't panic when a lot of red comes off the ss portions. The ss parts will be softer and will cut easier. The VM/RMG/TS oughta work fine, but I'd use something more durable and "heavier" such as the now-discontinued Meg's #16. I haven't had a Guard's Red Porsche since, uhm..[thinking]..1983, so see what people more familiar with the color think.

You want a *lot* of protection so the different types of paint don't fade much (they'll do it differently) and to protect a little from the covering.

If it were mine I'd use my stash of #16 on it, or even Collinite 476s. Lots of layers and then I'd top with Souveran and see it that made it look better. But my main focus would be on durability, not looks.

[DanoWatt]

Somebody needs to make a nice plush microfiber car cover. Mmm.

[kilodawg]

Accumulator, Thanks for being patient and continually replying. The '84 is Kiln Red or Ziegel Rot. It's kind of a metallic brick red that changes it's shade from a wine to a burnt orange depending on the lighting. I'll plan my next assault based around your recommendations. Thanks!

A MF carcover. Funny, I referred to mine that way just yesterday.....

[Accumulator]

kilodawg- Thanks for putting a name to that Porsche color. I've seen it and I think it's great, now I know what to call it.

[ed2065]

Originally Posted by Picus

I agree with Accumulator - as good as zaino is it tends to draw the eye to any imperfections, so it might be worthwhile to use an LSP or combo of LSPs that has some filling properties.

My thought also

[newagain]

Handwash and dry:
Clay if needed
Tape off mold and exterior trim
Polish FP M8006 work the polish well @ #5speed
3M PI-III/MG work the polish well @ #4speed
Top with good sealant / wax by hand x 2 coats