Brad B
10-28-2011, 05:32 PM
Winterized the 2005 Audi S4 today. The mechanicals got a checkover and the exterior got a coat of Zaino Z2. I`ll do the interior tomorrow.
Funny story, anyone here old enough to remember the opening sequence of Happy Days? The Fonz walks up to a mirror as if to come his hair and then he stops and steps back...because it`s already PERFECT. Ayyyyyyy!
Well the same sort of thing happened to me today. I got out the buffer and polish and started to work on the S4. BUT... a close look revealed no swirls, no scratches, no water spots, no repairable imperfections. Ayyyyyy! It has been over 3 years since I have polished out the paint on the ole girl. I guess being an anal retentive, obsessive compulsive, Type A, geek has paid off.
The S4 does live a pretty pampered life, it only has 40k miles since I brought it home new. It lives in a heated garage but spends most days outside in the parking lot at my wifes work. From day one this has been a Zaino Z2 car. My routine includes at least a weekly wash with Z7. I use a large bucket with grit guard and two Mothers sheepskin mitts. One for above the beltline and one for the lower panels and rockers. I wash top to bottom, wiping only in one direction from front to back. I rinse the mitt after every two or three swipes and re-soap. I also lift the edge of the mitt as I pull it along. For drying I sheet the water off and use a Mothers Laminated Drying Towel. I lay it on, grab the corners and pull it up and off. I finish any residual drying with a waffleweave MF. I follow each wash with a QD using Z8. Between washes I use Z6 for quick detailing. I typically re-apply Z2 once or twice yearly. I do touch ups throughout the year with ZAIO. And just for fun I have added Clear Seal a couple times as well, usually Summer and Fall. Or when I get bored.
Also, and I think this is as key as anything, I am fanatical about keeping an eye on the car. The cleaner you keep it, the easier it is to maintain. I wash after every rain. I look for bird poo. I don`t park under trees. I remove tar and rocker panel dirt immediately. I never force the issue with dirt and QD, but I QD a lot to avoid having abrasive dust on the paint. I use quality towels and I have a complete car care kit ready in the car at all times. Also, I have `trained` my wife to be as particular as I am with the car. And she is!
Moral of the story...proper maintenance technique is, IMO, the best way to keep your car looking like the day it was built. Before you spend money on the latest car care stuff, spend some time learning how to really put the "care" in car care!
One more down.
http://www.fototime.com/9A643ADA2FC13C9/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/C9AC9C11152A84F/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/CCF04AC2BF4FBDD/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/A222B524EBE9E44/standard.jpg
Funny story, anyone here old enough to remember the opening sequence of Happy Days? The Fonz walks up to a mirror as if to come his hair and then he stops and steps back...because it`s already PERFECT. Ayyyyyyy!
Well the same sort of thing happened to me today. I got out the buffer and polish and started to work on the S4. BUT... a close look revealed no swirls, no scratches, no water spots, no repairable imperfections. Ayyyyyy! It has been over 3 years since I have polished out the paint on the ole girl. I guess being an anal retentive, obsessive compulsive, Type A, geek has paid off.
The S4 does live a pretty pampered life, it only has 40k miles since I brought it home new. It lives in a heated garage but spends most days outside in the parking lot at my wifes work. From day one this has been a Zaino Z2 car. My routine includes at least a weekly wash with Z7. I use a large bucket with grit guard and two Mothers sheepskin mitts. One for above the beltline and one for the lower panels and rockers. I wash top to bottom, wiping only in one direction from front to back. I rinse the mitt after every two or three swipes and re-soap. I also lift the edge of the mitt as I pull it along. For drying I sheet the water off and use a Mothers Laminated Drying Towel. I lay it on, grab the corners and pull it up and off. I finish any residual drying with a waffleweave MF. I follow each wash with a QD using Z8. Between washes I use Z6 for quick detailing. I typically re-apply Z2 once or twice yearly. I do touch ups throughout the year with ZAIO. And just for fun I have added Clear Seal a couple times as well, usually Summer and Fall. Or when I get bored.
Also, and I think this is as key as anything, I am fanatical about keeping an eye on the car. The cleaner you keep it, the easier it is to maintain. I wash after every rain. I look for bird poo. I don`t park under trees. I remove tar and rocker panel dirt immediately. I never force the issue with dirt and QD, but I QD a lot to avoid having abrasive dust on the paint. I use quality towels and I have a complete car care kit ready in the car at all times. Also, I have `trained` my wife to be as particular as I am with the car. And she is!
Moral of the story...proper maintenance technique is, IMO, the best way to keep your car looking like the day it was built. Before you spend money on the latest car care stuff, spend some time learning how to really put the "care" in car care!
One more down.
http://www.fototime.com/9A643ADA2FC13C9/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/C9AC9C11152A84F/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/CCF04AC2BF4FBDD/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/A222B524EBE9E44/standard.jpg