Are swirls/light scratches unavoidable for a daily driver ?

dngan · 02-14-02, 11:15

Hi,

I have only washed my new car twice. After the first wash, I applied AIO x 1 and SG x 2. Today is the first sunny day since I bought my new car for 2 weeks. So I bring my car out under the direct bright sun. I saw there are some swirls on my car that is previously unnoticable under ambient garage light.

Will applying one more layer of SG help make the swirls/surface scratches less noticable ?

Or, swirls are unavoidable for a daily driver car ?

DETAILKING · 02-14-02, 11:22

I have a non garaged daily driver and have very little swirling.

Using AIO on a new car is not needed in my opinion. As fine as they are you are marring the surface to some extent with the abrasives. More importantly is techniques, proper toweling, washing, drying, and proper towels to use on the car. This topic has been killed to death so check the archives first and then post any questions here.

From what I hear, SG coats will help hide the swirls.....try another coat and see what happens. I wouldn't use AIO again your car at this time.............

<img src=http://www.fototime.com/6F28E5174DC4AA4/standard.jpg>

puterbum · 02-14-02, 11:24

Why is it that every time you post a pic of your car it is a different color?

Marring on a daily driver is pretty much unavoidable . . . there are always inconsiderate people walking by the car and all of that. I just found a fresh scratch on my car yesterday

. I'm now parking WAY out in the boonies in a strategically selected spot

DETAILKING · 02-14-02, 11:33

It is the true color of the paint. In the sun, the metallic comes out and tends to cause it to look lighter and less saturated. The sun was SUPER bright in that pic above.....SUPER bright.....

Intel486 · 02-14-02, 11:35

Quote:

Originally posted by puterbum
I'm now parking WAY out in the boonies in a strategically selected spot

LOL, after someone slammed their door into my truck and left a mark I do the same thing.

martini · 02-14-02, 03:38

I ALWAYS park out in the boonies...maybe because my doors are made of soda cans, they are so thin.

the price you pay for having a lightweight car, I guess..

BradE · 02-14-02, 03:41

Quote:

I'm now parking WAY out in the boonies in a strategically selected spot

Hey Justin, wait until you park all the way out there and then when you come out some @$#&*#@ parked right next to you. Talk about getting ticked off, you'll go into an Autopian frenzy.

puterbum · 02-14-02, 03:50

not possible.... I hope.

How's this for art? Perhaps I should stick to CS.

gti · 02-14-02, 03:55

Pay more attention to washing the car. Since you do it very often make sure you have the right mitts/2 buckets/drying tools and a good soap.
IMO most swirls are caused during the wash; especially when you are in a hurry and try to rush throught it.
Patience and time makes an Autopian. Comparing our time invested into detailing the cost of product is nothing.

carguy · 02-14-02, 04:10

IMHO,, you can greatly reduce the amount of swirls with proper technique, but it is all but impossible not to get some. The older my Porsche gets the more it has. And I am very careful with washing and drying. Just today, I washed it, took it to its home away from home and parked it. There, I QD'd off the little dust that happened on the 5 mile drive over, and - what the heck - applied a quick coat of souveran to the upper surfaces.

while buffing it out, I managed to introduce some scratches (very fine, won't show to most people, but I see them) in the spoiler. I was using a clean Mf towel. Not even sure what did it, but I could see it happen. somehow a piece of grit got into the towel.

It happens. It is unavoidable. Still, learn what you can learn here, and use the techniques well - your car will look WAY better than 99.9% of the cars out there.

Don2000g · 02-14-02, 06:38

Definitely count me in as one of those individuals who parks a mile away to avoid possible dings. Yup, I'm one.

RedVR6 · 02-14-02, 06:44

Mine is a daily driver, 7 years old and I have to say that I am very limited as to swirls and light scratches. Plus my rig lives outside 99% of the year. Yes, I park waaaay out in the boonies where ever I go and get very tense when people get near the car....so I move it (if I am at work or the like)....

An old pic...but you get the jist of it...(I need to take some new ones)...

<img src="http://www.fototime.com/4A09242B83882D3/standard.jpg" border=0>