Over All Expertise Count?

[black bart]

Jay Leno has a lot of cars worth over a million dollars he restores them to 100 percent then drives then down to 40 percent then restores them back to 100 percent again.

He was on Classic car recently and he was showing several of his model J Dusenberg`s when he said people park them and never drive them and that is when he talked about driving them down to 40 percent then restoring them again.

[Beemerboy]

He also has the money to do that Bart but I agree what fun would it to be, to have car you didn`t drive even if it was a summer fun car

[black bart]

He also has the money to do that Bart but I agree what fun would it to be, to have car you didn`t drive even if it was a summer fun car

I think most people who buy million dollar cars can afford to drive them if they wanted to.
Leno said when his car won at Pebble Beach Imagine a millionaire like me beating all those Billionaires

[togwt]

Detailing Defined?


Originated in California, and is basically taking a car and preparing it to the highest of standards, by paying attention to every last `detail`. Many people assume that it’s the same as the predominantly British terminology, ‘Valeting’; this is due to some of the processes involved - i.e. cleaning. However the difference lies within the different stages of each process and ultimately the finished result. We are talking real perfectionist attention to detail.

1. Auto detailing is the practice of performing an extremely thorough renovation cleaning of an automobile, both inside and out and the application of a wax or paint sealant to produce a show-quality level of detail.

2. Paint renovation is the removal of surface scratches and blemishes by `levelling` the paint with a machine.

It can be practiced for personal satisfaction, and it is also performed to prepare a car for a Concours d`elegance (often shortened to just Concours), a car show that features the appearance of cars.

3. "Polishing paint is polishing paint, detailing is getting the wax out of the cracks" Mike Phillips

How would you define detailing?

[Bunky]

Let`s be honest - detailing isn`t exactly rocket science and it doesn`t take a superhuman to do it. It`s cleaning a vehicle, and even though some people like to make out like it`s some sort of noble cause, it`s not.

/Descends soapbox.

The argument usually ends up arond the definition of detailing - some of very conservative on what it includes and do not think highly of anyone using the word and doing less than their definition as if they owned the dictionary that defines detailing.

That is, they argue about the definition and not whether the work was done correctly for the customer. If a customer wants his car "detailed" (a simple wash and wax) and someone can do it without doing harm and the customer is happy, that is what counts.

[Beemerboy]

The argument usually ends up arond the definition of detailing - some of very conservative on what it includes and do not think highly of anyone using the word and doing less than their definition as if they owned the dictionary that defines detailing.

That is, they argue about the definition and not whether the work was done correctly for the customer. If a customer wants his car "detailed" (a simple wash and wax) and someone can do it without doing harm and the customer is happy, that is what counts.

It certainly comes down to the definition of the word "detailing" its a word that is thrown around fairly loosely IMO

[C. Charles Hahn]

Trailer queens should not be allowed to compete with cars that are driven but nearly every show you have some who park at a Wal Mart

Too bad someone doesn`t park next to them and dent their rides...

[Concours.John]

I`ve been to many concours events and have to agree it does`nt take a ton of talent to keep a car prepared that only sees garage, trailer, showfield. We do at least four per year and you see the same cars at different shows pulling off.

We drive to every show within 8hrs. taking two to three cars. They are also driven regularly in between shows. They get a show detail prior. When we arrive I have to clean them up in the hotel parking lot, and a quick wipe after the drive from the hotel to the show. However we have won many best in class awards still. It`s alot of work. But he says "I don`t understand why people buy cars they don`t drive as much as they can."

I prefer barn finds when I can get them. It gives more of a challenge to see how much you can save and bring back other than a restored car or new.

No one should let what they work on get to their head. One of my best customers bought a 87 Dodge Omni new in college then parked in the back of her friends body shop for 5 years. It was never wrecked but was a pig in and out. I talked her in to cleaning it up. When it was done she was floored. She drives it everywhere. She was more enthused about that car than some of the classic owners I`ve delt with. (She could buy anything she wanted.) That`s what its about. Making people care about their car again.

Everyone has their prefference based on what they like or can afford. If you can`t go through a car top to bottom (No matter what it is) you are doing the customer an injustice calling it a detail. In the end the customer is paying the bill and trusting you to take care of something they care about.

my two cents

[Troy@Protekt]

To me it counts to a point. If your level of expertise makes you do harm to a vehicle (improper buffing, washing, shampooing etc...), then you shouldn`t call yourself a detailer. Beyond that, it all comes down to the market you are targeting.

I choose to do practical details at a modest price level most of the time, does that make me a hack? I have the ability and know how to do a more detailed job, but to be honest, I find it more lucrative to keep my prices down and give the customer a good value. I`m confident in knowing my customers will not find a detailer that will do a better job than me for the money.

[Dubbin1]

it just drives me crazy when someone can only post thread after thread of one aspect of the detail and not even mention what else was done!

I agree 100%!!! I am sick of the threads where people say they "detailed" their car with just a car wash and wax.

[C. Charles Hahn]

I agree 100%!!! I am sick of the threads where people say they "detailed" their car with just a car wash and wax.

Kinda reminds me of the threads I see on car boards that aren`t detailing specific. The guys who say "I gave `er a good detailing wax job.... washed it, rubbed it with some magical cleaner wax by hand, took me 10 hours!"

[Bunky]

I agree 100%!!! I am sick of the threads where people say they "detailed" their car with just a car wash and wax.

The term detailing is commonly used you will like be sick forever unless you pioneer an effort to get a new term use.

I know that mowing the grass it is not landscaping.

Thoughts?

[Bunky]

Kinda reminds me of the threads I see on car boards that aren`t detailing specific. The guys who say "I gave `er a good detailing wax job.... washed it, rubbed it with some magical cleaner wax by hand, took me 10 hours!"

This is what is listed on Gotham`s web site...

EXTERIOR:
-Hand wash and dry
-Moderate bug and tar removal
-Moderate wheel, tire and wheel well scrubbing
-One step polish/wax
-Tires dressed and protected
-Door jams and trunk jam cleaned and shined
-Interior and exterior windows cleaned
-Convertible tops are cleaned and dressed

Does the exterior work count as detailing by everyone`s definition. I am not picking on Gotham but it was just saw it while looking at his web site.

I did everything this weekend on the inlaws car except the trunk jams but no convertible top. Did I detail the exterior?

[grisby]

I agree 100%. I have a 72 GS that is 1 of 728 made and 1 of 1 in a particular color combo. I drive it everywhere. I keep it detailed(yes in the strict sense) BUT it is driven. Not 0-2000 miles a yr but driven. I take it to shows where people brag about their high horsepower rarely driven queens(not a trailer queen but close to it) vehicles and they win the awards.

They may have 1 of 20000 made but they win because its shiny, overpowered and overpriced and over pampered mass produced car that everyone wants to see but all can`t afford or it can not be used sensibly as a daily driver but they still win.

I usually have the judges come around,. acknowledge the fact that "yep you should of won" but so and so`s car has less mileage, better shine etc etc etc. So i just chalk it up, smile and drive my car home. No I do not detail it after every drive either, I have a family and more important things in live that to live for a car!! Maybe that is why I don`t win at all the shows.

Bottom line is yes, overall expertise does count in maintaining a car(detailing or otherwise). But everyone works to their own capabilities and standards and income levels. So whats good for some of us DC members might be overkill or sub standard to others but outstanding the particular individual involved.

I used to work with a guy who bought a new Porsche every 2 yrs. If you did not own a high end German car who will say you had a POS. He regularly took his cars to car washes and waxed but once a yr. He said when you have a high end car that is all that is needed because of the high end paint. Well he lives with his mother(he is in his early 60`s, married doesn`t own a home, makes good money) and I guess that his level of detailing is as I just described. If it makes him feel good so be it, but I don`t knock him for not knowing how to detail a car because he believes what he believes.

Now on a forum note, if he was on this forum then I would say he would be out of his league!!!!!!

So much for rambling, its raining here so I am going to go out and wash my car!!!

I`ve been to many concours events and have to agree it does`nt take a ton of talent to keep a car prepared that only sees garage, trailer, showfield. We do at least four per year and you see the same cars at different shows pulling off.

We drive to every show within 8hrs. taking two to three cars. They are also driven regularly in between shows. They get a show detail prior. When we arrive I have to clean them up in the hotel parking lot, and a quick wipe after the drive from the hotel to the show. However we have won many best in class awards still. It`s alot of work. But he says "I don`t understand why people buy cars they don`t drive as much as they can."

I prefer barn finds when I can get them. It gives more of a challenge to see how much you can save and bring back other than a restored car or new.

No one should let what they work on get to their head. One of my best customers bought a 87 Dodge Omni new in college then parked in the back of her friends body shop for 5 years. It was never wrecked but was a pig in and out. I talked her in to cleaning it up. When it was done she was floored. She drives it everywhere. She was more enthused about that car than some of the classic owners I`ve delt with. (She could buy anything she wanted.) That`s what its about. Making people care about their car again.

Everyone has their prefference based on what they like or can afford. If you can`t go through a car top to bottom (No matter what it is) you are doing the customer an injustice calling it a detail. In the end the customer is paying the bill and trusting you to take care of something they care about.

my two cents

[Concours.John]

An industry standard would be nice. A clearly defined definition of terms in which people adhere to nationwide. This would eliminate confusion when explaining to a customer what is truly being done.