Introduction

[ScionWes]

Hello new friends,



I`m Wes, I`m 24 and I live in Michigan and I just bought an `07 Scion tc two days ago and I LOVE IT.





The car is a dark blue (photos to follow in a day or two...its raining out today) and I am scared to wash the damn thing for fear I`ll scratch the paint. Its a darker car, so I know its going to scratch anyway.





Obviously there are some great tips on this website on keeping my car sweet looking, but I`d rather get some opinions here than take a lot of time and read through everything as there appears to be endless tips and recommendations throughout the forums. If anyone here would like to give me some advice on products to use, towels to dry the car with, etc. I`d be very thankful. I want to keep this car looking great as long as possible.



Also, I was told by my dad to look into teflon coating/underbody coating for the winter (and summer as well). Any thoughts on this? Is it true that with this teflon exterior coating I dont have to worry about waxing?







Thanks everyone and hello!

[imported_steveo3002]

hey welcome to autopia



have a look into foam guns, 2 bucket wash method and a couple of good wool wash mitts and some waffle weave drying towels



forget those paint treatments....a quality wax or sealant will see you through the winter...collinte 476 is my favorite

[Cassman]

Welcome. You will learn a ton by searching the forums and keeping up to date. Great purchase. I always notice those cars because the paint always looks so good. Anyone else notice this as well?

[imported_steveo3002]

theres also some handy advice if you click the "learn" logo at the top of the page

[Joshua312]

Hey Wes,



There are many Michigan members here on Autopia, where are you from in Michigan? If you`re near me I`d be more than willing to help you out for free and just teach you the ropes from what I know or try out some of my stuff. If you get any ideas from this thread as to what to buy, I would suggest checking out www.Danase.com He is a forum sponsor and located near Detroit Michigan. Many orders will arrive next day without paying the next day shipping prices since we are so close. Also, he gives members 10% off his products. Post some pictures up of your new baby if you get a chance - don`t be afraid to get her wet :getdown



I would advise against the $700 teflon coating...A waste of money to say the least

[BobD]

Welcome fellow Michigander! What part of the state are you from? Congrats on the new vehicle purchase!



I also agree to stay away from the teflon coating hype the dealers try to sell everyone.

[velobard]

Yeah, just do a quick search here on "teflon" and you`ll get a pretty quick idea what folks here think of it. Teflon has to bake on at what, 600-800 degrees???, to bond. It`s a marketing buzzword.

[BobD]

Yeah, just do a quick search here on "teflon" and you`ll get a pretty quick idea what folks here think of it. Teflon has to bake on at what, 600-800 degrees???, to bond. It`s a marketing buzzword.

Yeah and what kills me is Teflon is actually a DuPont term and even DuPont stated that Teflon does nothing unless it is baked on at a certain temp...and now they are selling wax with "Teflon" in it.

[ScionWes]

Wow. You guys kick ***. Quick responses with lots of information!! Thanks!!



I`m in Royal Oak (about 15 minutes from Detroit). Joshua, I see you are from Holland and thats on the other side of the state! I had a friend who went to Hope College. Anyway, I like the input you all have given me and I`m glad I asked about that teflon stuff. The guy at the dealership made it sound as if it would solve all my waxing problems and I`d never have to worry about water spots.



I had a pontiac sunbird (`91) and although the car was basically a pile, I did my best to take care of it. I washed it nearly every weekend in the summer and winter (keep the salt to a minimum). I bought one of those Mr. Clean auto wash systems where you dont have to dry the car and had mixed feelings. The car had a *decent* paint job so i dont really know if spotless system worked or not. I think I may try it on my Scion.



The rain has stopped and I`ll run out right now and get a few quick snaps for you guys.



Thanks again for all your help. It`s nice to know there`s more than just porn on the internet...

[BobD]

Wow. You guys kick ***. Quick responses with lots of information!! Thanks!!



I`m in Royal Oak (about 15 minutes from Detroit). Joshua, I see you are from Holland and thats on the other side of the state! I had a friend who went to Hope College. Anyway, I like the input you all have given me and I`m glad I asked about that teflon stuff. The guy at the dealership made it sound as if it would solve all my waxing problems and I`d never have to worry about water spots.



I had a pontiac sunbird (`91) and although the car was basically a pile, I did my best to take care of it. I washed it nearly every weekend in the summer and winter (keep the salt to a minimum). I bought one of those Mr. Clean auto wash systems where you dont have to dry the car and had mixed feelings. The car had a *decent* paint job so i dont really know if spotless system worked or not. I think I may try it on my Scion.



The rain has stopped and I`ll run out right now and get a few quick snaps for you guys.



Thanks again for all your help. It`s nice to know there`s more than just porn on the internet...



Might want to check out www.xceedspeed.com for a nice Michigan based Sport Compact forum as well.

[Driven Auto Detail]

Wes,



Sounds like you have a nice car. There`s a guy on the AutoGeek.net detailing forum that has the same car and same color paint. I love that color blue.



Anyway, I`ll try to give you a little information because I know searching can be time consuming sometimes.



Washing - Foam gun is a good option if you have money to blow. Otherwise, a two bucket system will suffice (one soapy bucket, one rinse bucket). Get yourself a sheepskin or cotton chinelle mit. Always work from the top down and if possible, use a different mit for the bottom areas than you would use on the top areas. Another thing that I think is awesome is a bug scrub pad. You can find it on AutoGeek.net. It`s a yellow honeycomb brick that when you dunk in warm soapy water turns into a soft scrubber that you can use on your paint w/o scatching it all to hell. It comes in handy when washing the front bumper, painted areas behind the wheels, side mirrors, and any other places that get gunk on them.



Drying - Get some big microfiber drying towels. Most places that sell MF towels will have some large towels specifically for drying.



Clay - At your local parts store, you should be able to find a clay kit. Most common is Clay Magic. This is used to get out all of the airborne contaminants that have bonded to the paint.



Polish - If you have money, the best investment you can make in detailing is a buffer. Most people here use the Porter Cable 7424. On AutoGeek.net, they sell them in kits that come with pads and products so it makes it a little cheaper vs. buying seperate. I like Poorboy`s products when it comes to polish. The nice thing about them is that they are cheap, can be used in the sun, and they perform great (although, I still prefer to use them while my car is in the garage). Their polishes are awesome and easy to use.



Protection - Depending on what you`re looking for, you can either go with a sealant, a carnauba wax, or both. Sealants last longer but don`t have the warm look of carnauba. Carnauba doesn`t last as long, but you get a warmer, deeper, wetter look. For the ultimate protection and look, you can use both. But, you have to use a sealant UNDER a carnauba. You can apply as many coats of each as you want (the more the better) but just make sure you use carnauba last. Klasse Sealant Glaze is the longest lasting sealant. I use it and like it a lot but it can be hard to remove sometimes. Just use some quick detailer if you should run into that problem. My new favorite carnauba is DP Max Wax. I have read that it goes on like butter, and I thought that was always an exaggeration. Well, I can tell you it`s not. It really does go on like butter. It comes off so SUPER easy. It is by far the easiest wax I have ever used and it looks awesome!



To remove products like polish, sealant, & wax get a lot of microfiber towels. These are best for removing product w/o marring or scratching the paint. The most important thing to remember for a great looking car: PREPERATION IS THE KEY! The more time you put into your paint before you apply the protection, the better it will look.



Good luck w/everything and be sure to get some pictures up here so we can see your new ride! All the products I`ve mentioned can be purchased from AutoGeek.net. That`s where I buy all of my stuff and haven`t had a bad experience yet. But like other`s have pointed out, there are many places where you can get great detailing products that can`t be found at your local parts stores.

[ScionWes]

Thanks for the tips, Mshu. I wrote a lot of this stuff down. I am going to place a few orders, but in the meantime, I need to wash my car! I`ve had it now for three days and its dirty! I`m about to go to Murray`s or somewhere and see if I can find a foam gun and a few other things. I can`t wait for my stuff to come in the mail...the car is getting dirtier by the minute!





And even with all the tips you guys have given me, Im still scared todeath of scratching my paint. I know it`s going to happen as it is a dark car, but damn...I think I am going to lose my mind when I see the first scratch.



By the way, what am I going to do in the winter time? I can`t wash a car in the snow. Should I take my car to one of those "brushless" car washers and let the jets of water clean my car?

[Driven Auto Detail]

No problem, glad to help!



You`re getting too worried about scratching...LOL! Just use the proper mits and a two bucket method and you won`t/shouldn`t have any problems.



As far as winter is concerned, there`s some stuff called Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine. I have not used it but have heard good things about it. Instead of using a hose, you mix a bucket of water with this stuff and wash one section at a time and then just dry it off w/o rinsing. At first when I saw it I was skeptical, but like I said, I`ve seen some positive reviews on it.

[Joshua312]

I`m in Royal Oak (about 15 minutes from Detroit). Joshua, I see you are from Holland and thats on the other side of the state! I had a friend who went to Hope College.



Thanks again for all your help. It`s nice to know there`s more than just porn on the internet...



Hey Wes,



Looks like you`re well on your way to becoming addicted like the rest of us. There is an alternative for washing in the winter. You can buy a product called Optimum No Rinse Wash, you simply fill a bucket with warm water (for the winter duh) :) and then put about 1-2 oz of this solution into the bucket. You then take a plush microfiber or wash mitt and proceed to wash your car with this solution and wipe dry when the surface is clean. I like to use 2-3 buckets so I can have one or two for rinse buckets. Many autopians use this method year round as it is convienent, may be faster in some situations, allows for less water to be used, and can be done right in your garage.



-Hope College is right down the road from me as we speak, a very nice college. If I was swimming in cash I would consider going there :) haha You`re lucky you live on the other side of the state, you`re closer to Danase than I am!! And as for the porn comment, that has to be the funniest thing I`ve heard someone say :chuckle:



Mshu7: Addicted autopians think alike :hifive:

[Driven Auto Detail]

Looks like we were on the same page Joshua! :)