Volkswagen GOLF GTI 16v from `86 !!!

[Flatfour]

Again, a really "hopeless" car that I did.

It belongs to one of my best friends.

This is a real classic one, very sought after here in Belgium, about 140 bhp but boy, does this is fun to drive.

The car itself was in a really poor state, all black trim was white, full of swirls, litlle dents and even some rust on the panel-lines.

Not all swirls are gone, even after an orange cuttin gpad and SSR 3/ DACP #83...

Also some very hard to remove scratches, I attacked them with all my products and pads but even after heavy cutting they were still there.

I even "burnt" trough the paint mith my rotary (on 1600 rpm, orange pad, SSR 3 after 2 minutes, on the edge of the hood)



Still no drama because next year this car will be completely disassembled and then transformed into a real circuit-trasher (cage, 200 bhp engine, ...)



Anyway here`s the process and pics :



Wash

Cutting with orange/green DAS and SFX pads with SSR 3 - 2 - 2.5

Light polish with blue pad and SSR 1 / Sonus SFX 1

All small edges and crevices with Autoglym SRP / by hand

Wax with Natty`s

Protection on all black trim (even then it stayed wite...) with 303



http://users.telenet.be/www.721.be/GTI16v/IMG_1821.JPG

http://users.telenet.be/www.721.be/GTI16v/IMG_1824.JPG

http://users.telenet.be/www.721.be/GTI16v/IMG_1826.JPG



After :



http://users.telenet.be/www.721.be/GTI16v/IMG_1827.JPG

http://users.telenet.be/www.721.be/GTI16v/IMG_1829.JPG

http://users.telenet.be/www.721.be/GTI16v/IMG_1835.JPG

http://users.telenet.be/www.721.be/GTI16v/IMG_1832.JPG



You really can see a difference, but the hood stayed "pitted" and there were swirls that didn`t want to come out.



Of course, what do you expect after 20 years of use, on RED paint...

All my pads that I use were "loaded" with dead paint after doing a panel !





Next thing I`m looking is some good product to hide the swirls after polishing...

[Accumulator]

Good job on a cool car :yxythumbs SRP isn`t the worst product for jobs like this, at least it doesn`t highlight marring the way AIO will.



I guess the best way to hide the marring would be to use a glaze and top with a heavier wax than the Natty`s. But I bet it looks mighty good just the way it is, sure does in the pics.



I myself would rather have it in its imperfect original condition. Somehow the marring just doesn`t bug me on an older car like that- I think of it as "patina" from years of good service.

[Smoked Tails]

My car`s kinda like that. I don`t let it bother me because at least it`s red again. And, usually, it`s the shiniest car in the parking lot. Nice work, I love A2 VWs. My bro had an 87 16V but he wrecked it. I still miss my Scirocco 16V, that was a great car. They were both black (kinda) and swirly. To know then what I know now.



Anyways, it looks 1000x better, be proud.

[Scottwax]

Huge improvement! That final full car shot really shows off how wet the paint looks. :)



Next time, try Meguiars #80 after DACP, I think they are practically unbeatable on single stage paints, especially older ones.

[Flatfour]

I will take a note for that #80 for my next order in the US...



Two things that bothers me :



The DAS pads are excellent, but the orange one, the "cutting" pad is a rather hard pad.

When I use it, together with, let`s say SSR3, it start hopping and skipping and made HORRIBLE holograms and swirls. Placing the rotary on an angle, flat, at 1000 or 1600 rpm, nothing will help.

It`s just seems that the orange pad is just too hard to use with a rotary.

I also have this problem with other (3M) cutting pads.

The obly solution is putting more pressure on the pad, but that will make even more holograms/swirls...



And second, why in the hell are there still scratches, even after 6 (yes six) passes with SSR3 with a medium cutting pad ?



About that DACP, again big "gum-up" problems when using it.

Must try the PC next time wich I ordered this week....

[SilverLexus]

Nice renovation. I bet your friend was pleased. :)