Getting started - What to buy? $250 Budget

**brewthunda** · 10-19-2005, 05:11 PM

I`m taking possession of a `95 Toyota MR2 Turbo with 90k miles that has spent most of its life parked outside on the Northern California coast. It has LOTS of scratches, swirl marks, hard water spots etc. The tan colored leather is faded and extremely cracked.

Up until now I`ve gotten away with just using Mother`s car wash soap, zymol and old towels and rags to keep my `01 BMW 325i looking great (Steel Blue Metallic - great at hiding swirl marks and dirt).

I need to do a pretty serious restoration/detailing of the paint and leather on the MR2 and need to know where to start.

I`m figuring that a Porter Cable 7424 and about $100-150 of other car care products will get me started in the right direction.

Can anyone help get me started? What specific products should I buy? If you were starting all over and had a thrashed `95 MR2, what would you buy? There are so many products out there that I`m lost. This forum is great, but I`m having a really hard time finding good starter info.

Note: I believe the MR2 does not have a clearcoat.

Thanks for the help!

**White95Max** · 10-19-2005, 05:21 PM

I would buy:

PC 7424 and Propel pad kit

SSR3

SSR2.5

SSR2

AIO

WG

Nattys

Poorboy`s Trim Restorer

VM

Mothers mag/aluminum polish

303

I don`t know if $250 would cover the above list or not. Probably not.

Cool car for sure! Please post pictures after you finish your restoration!

**ToddW** · 10-19-2005, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by White95Max

I would buy:

PC 7424 and Propel pad kit

SSR3

SSR2.5

SSR2

AIO

WG

Nattys

Poorboy`s Trim Restorer

VM

Mothers mag/aluminum polish

303

I don`t know if $250 would cover the above list or not. Probably not.

Cool car for sure! Please post pictures after you finish your restoration!

I`d do the same but skip the 2.5 and get 1.

I`d go wtih AIO and UPP and if you have the $ then VM and Nattys.

**ikellen** · 10-20-2005, 12:30 AM

SSR2.5

SSR1

AIO

A good Carnauba wax

A cutting pad (yellow or orange)

Polishing pad (green)

Finishing pad (blue or black)

Microfiber bonnet

1 24x24 or larger WW MF drying towel

3 Pak Shak Ultra Plush Mf towels

3 Pak Shak Ultra Fine MF towels

Poorboy`s Natural Look

NXT Insane Shine

Stoners IG

Thanks a good start..........not sure if its under $250.

**Hines** · 10-20-2005, 05:09 AM

TOL`s PC + LC pad kit = 190

Optimum compound = 15

Optimum Polish = 15

nattys blue = 15

AIO = 15

thats around 250.00 but personally id get a claybar and some excel MF`s to go with it......

If the clear is gone from the car like you say it might be then i dont think much is going to help you the way you want it to.

BTW love that color you got on the BMW!!!

**GTScott** · 10-20-2005, 06:53 AM

I would go exactly with Max`s suggestions. I don`t know if you need the SR3 or not, but might not hurt to have it. AIO with Natty`s is my current favorite.

-GT

**brewthunda** · 10-20-2005, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by Hines

If the clear is gone from the car like you say it might be then i dont think much is going to help you the way you want it to.

Ok, I just checked - my car will be a dark green mica color, which is technically a metallic paint and has a clearcoat. The nonmetallic MR2 colors were a single stage enamel.

And THANKS to everyone so far. I know dozens of people must ask these newbie questions everyday and I appreciate your patience. It`s very helpful getting a personalized starter list. This info is great. :xyxthumbs

**Glossmaster** · 10-20-2005, 09:52 AM

I recommend checking out the Chemical Guy`s product lineup as well as some Klasse All In One.

**LightngSVT** · 10-20-2005, 10:40 AM

Hold on, the 2001 BMW gets Zymol and old rags, but the 10 year old MR2 gets a new $250 detailing supply? Hmmmm.... Just messing around.

Porter Cable $100

cutting pad $12

2x polish pad $20

finish pad m $10

clay $15

WW drying towel $20

WW polishing towels $20

303 protectant $10

OCC $14

OCP $14

AIO $15

EX-P or S100 $15

Leatherique products $????

Meg`s APC+ $15

Woolite $5

Invisible Glass $6

**brewthunda** · 10-20-2005, 02:18 PM

Question:

I`m finding a lot of these products for decent prices on Amazon (supplied by Autogeek).

The closest thing to "Natty`s" that I can find is "Poorboy`s Natty`s Paste Wax"

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...qid=1129843780

I keep seeing "Natty`s" and "Natty`s Blue" in the forums here. Is the stuff on the Amazon link the right stuff?

Thanks.

**imported_Amused** · 10-20-2005, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by brewthunda

Question:

I`m finding a lot of these products for decent prices on Amazon (supplied by Autogeek).

The closest thing to "Natty`s" that I can find is "Poorboy`s Natty`s Paste Wax"

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...qid=1129843780

I keep seeing "Natty`s" and "Natty`s Blue" in the forums here. Is the stuff on the Amazon link the right stuff?

Thanks.

order directly from autogeek if you do, and you can use the discount code "autopia" which will help you out, especially if you spend $100+

can you post a picture of your car and close-ups of your paint? that will help people with providing product suggestions based on your color and paint defects

**imported_Picus** · 10-20-2005, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by FujiFast

can you post a picture of your car and close-ups of your paint? that will help people with providing product suggestions based on your color and paint defects

Ya, what he said!

**White95Max** · 10-20-2005, 03:50 PM

Yes that is the correct Nattys.

**brewthunda** · 10-20-2005, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by FujiFast

can you post a picture of your car and close-ups of your paint? that will help people with providing product suggestions based on your color and paint defects

Will do. Might be as soon as this weekend.

Thanks guys!

**cgc2** · 10-21-2005, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by BlkTac05

I recommend checking out the Chemical Guy`s product lineup as well as some Klasse All In One.

Yeah, what he said regarding Chemical Guys.

Lot of bang for your money, great product/customer support/100% satisfaction gaurantee.

They have available 16oz bottles, so dont be shy just because gallon

sizes are shown on the website.

Best wishes to ya.