Detailer recommend in Pac NW - and what can I expect from a detailer?

cruster · 04-08-04, 12:44

Hey all -

I'm a newbie so excuse me if these are dumb questions; I've been browsing the forums for a week or two and trying to educate myself, so hopefully they aren't as dumb as they might be!

1) I have a '97 Subaru Outback Sport that I've owned for about 5 years now. It's my daily driver - and I do love to drive. As such, I know it's never going to be concours quality. Sadly though, I have waxed it only once since I purchased it, and until about a year ago I washed my car like a dumb guy - hence swirls all over town. It's also got a scrape on the (plastic) bumper and a dime sized chip out of the paint on the roof (due to a bike rack failure). As far as the scrape and chip repair, is this something that a detailer is able to repair, or is that something I need to see a body shop about before I see a detailer? I do plan on detailing the car myself from here on out, but I would like to start from a good place and reverse some of the effects of the sub-par care the car has had. I love the car and I want it to look its best. And what about interior care...? My floor mats look a mess - can a detailer fix that? Or a tear in the cloth upholstery?

2) Is it in poor taste to try to get an estimate for my work before engaging someone for a job? I know it's not going to be cheap but I do want to know what I'm getting into before I begin.

3) Can anyone recommend someone in the Tacoma/Seattle area of Washington that they have had luck with? I have never had a car detailed - nor sadly has anyone in my family, so I have no idea where to begin.

Thanks very much in advance for any help you can provide. This is a very cool site and I'm glad I stumbled on it.

- Brendan in Tacoma, WA

Sqard · 04-08-04, 01:01

If its a scrape on a plastic(unpainted) bumper, a detailer can't do anything for you. Depending on the size of the paint chip, a lot of detailers can use touch-up paint and wetsand it. If its bigger than a dime or so I would talk to a body shop first. I would always get an estimate before you let someone work on your car, but keep in mind you get what you pay for.

cruster · 04-08-04, 01:16

Oops - I rather made a mess of that. It's a painted plastic "skirt" if you will that surrounds the bumper mechanism. It's black plastic underneath, primed and painted in the same fashion as the rest of the car. A guy pulled out in front of me and I was able to avoid him for the most part, but did clip his rear fender. The friction rubbed the paint off in approximately a 4"x3" area at the corner. I know it won't be perfect but I'd like to at least get it touched up so that the color underneath isn't showing.

Jimmy Buffit · 04-09-04, 04:45

The scrape can be air brushed. the color will match, but, as my 'paint guy' says: we just put paint in the defect.

Should look fine from about three feet away... certainly better than it does now. In my shop, the charge would typically be $80, and that would include any other small areas on the car.

When selecting a detailer, certainly have them give you a firm price, after inspection. Does the detailer have a professional demeanor? Is the work area professional? A short conversation with the detailer should give you an idea of the skill level involved.

Ask if they use a Porter Cable Dual Action Buffer. While not mandatory, a yes answer shows they are fairly current with their technique.

Jim

cruster · 04-16-04, 12:41

No detailers in the Pac NW? Yikes - guess I gotta start in the phone book.