Has detailing made you a picky car buyer?

mnehls86

mnehls86

New member
So has detailing ever made any difference in your car buying decisions? Ever buy one car over another because of too may tight areas? or too many body lines? or PITA front end? Or maybe a certain manufacture that you steer clear of just because of knowing you hate working on that paint even though you like the car. Of course most of us probably don't mind any of this as long as we love the car but I also figure some if not most might stay away from a black car all together. I hope I never make that mistake again, or at least buy something with hard black paint.
 
No. I'll buy anything I can get a deal on and is mechanically sound. Cars are a bad investment and should only be purchased to get you from point A to B

I do try to stay away from dark colors
 
I have always been that picky car buyer for a myriad of reasons.. :)

And yeah, I always look at them and do think about how easy/hard/annoying/etc., will it be to do that part of the Detailing.. :)

Good paint, interior, etc., will always mean a few points on the scale, but I still like something that makes my heart beat faster when I turn the key and hear the pipes..

Dan F
 
Yep. If the vehicles paint can't be saved it loses A LOT of points. Although it's always nice to see a low priced vehicle because it has oxidized paint. So most people think it needs a repaint, when we know a good polish session with restore the gloss.
 
Yes it does. In colour for 1 reason. Silver just doesn't shine like darker colors. and black is a parttime job, but so worth it...

Don't go near cars with very soft paint. Wouldn't be good for my heart, wallet and family life :)
 
Yes in the sense I do inspect the car better before delivery. I have only purchased 1 car in 5 yrs.
 
usually the first thing I look at is "how easy will this vehicle be to maintain mechanically" other than avoiding black or very soft paint, i'll deal with the detailing end. did I say I hate my Harley vivd black paint?
 
Stokdgs said:
but I still like something that makes my heart beat faster when I turn the key and hear the pipes..Dan F
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I hope to have that feeling again someday soon. It's been almost four years since I sold the car I loved car before my daughter was born.

Vega@Autopia said:
Yep. If the vehicles paint can't be saved it loses A LOT of points. Although it's always nice to see a low priced vehicle because it has oxidized paint. So most people think it needs a repaint, when we know a good polish session with restore the gloss.
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I forgot all about oxidized paint. I don't come across it much in the very few side jobs I do. That would be a good come up though if you could buy a car cheaper because of that and restore it.

2shiny said:
Don't go near cars with very soft paint. Wouldn't be good for my heart, wallet and family life :)
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That's the boat I am in now. :D

dc52nv said:
If it's a car I want I don't care how much a PITA it might be to maintain.
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I figured that would be the case for most. I think I just might be a little out of touch not having a car I want right now.

tropicsteve said:
usually the first thing I look at is "how easy will this vehicle be to maintain mechanically" other than avoiding black or very soft paint, i'll deal with the detailing end. did I say I hate my Harley vivd black paint?
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Same here when it comes to mechanical and how much access to parts. As for the bike, I can't even imagine having to detail and maintain one especially if it has soft paint.
 
Good question, I haven't bought a car since I became a detailing nut. Probably would not be my #1 criteria, but I would look at the paint condition, and how easy it would be to detail, how easy the wheels would be to clean (my current wheels are a PITA). Probably would prevent me from buying a big SUV or minivan.
 
To an extent. I will purchase if the car looks like it will clean up and is sound otherwise. I usually will use it against them if there is serious buffing needed. Did it with my 06 gto. Car has a decent amount of work done but was hammered with water spots and needed a correction. Stole it for 12k and its bright red. The red I feel is dark enough to have a nice shine but still easily maintained.
 
chet31 said:
Good question, I haven't bought a car since I became a detailing nut. Probably would not be my #1 criteria, but I would look at the paint condition, and how easy it would be to detail, how easy the wheels would be to clean (my current wheels are a PITA). Probably would prevent me from buying a big SUV or minivan.
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I can't believe wheels didn't cross my mind when I brought this up but is really important. I have worked on some tough wheels and I think I would possibly look for a simpler design when buying or just protect them to the max to make maintaining easier. The idea crossed my mind though the other day when I saw a Ford Flex drive by. Those just seem like they would be a PITA with the lines down the sides and the back, plus a lot of newer cars have some really sharp body lines.
 
Justins00ss said:
To an extent. I will purchase if the car looks like it will clean up and is sound otherwise. I usually will use it against them if there is serious buffing needed. Did it with my 06 gto. Car has a decent amount of work done but was hammered with water spots and needed a correction. Stole it for 12k and its bright red. The red I feel is dark enough to have a nice shine but still easily maintained.
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12k is a great price for your GTO especially for how much you cleaned it up. I got to drive a buddies a few years ago and I really liked it. Stock suspension seemed a little spongy though for how much power it had.
 
Yes, when I was shopping for a mazda3 hatchback it took me 2 months to find one in great shape, and you guys know theses cars are a dime a dozen. Everyone I looked at was loaded with door dings and typical daily driver damage.

I ended up finding one from a older man private seller who never hand washed it, only touchless car wash. Paint was in great shape. To this day I have not seen a mazda3 in as great as shape as mine. I want to sell it though and get a mazdaspeed3.
 
So much for touchless washes ruining the paint. I use them exclusively in the winter. Paint is always swirl free in the spring spruce up cycle.
 
If it's used I really don't put color, or how easy it is to wash or maintain aesthetically on top priority. On the top of my list is how it functions mechanically, how I feel when driving it, and not so much what shape it is, but what shape it's in, etc...
Now if it's brand new that's a whole different story.
 
I will say that I haven't thought about it. I guess no. I haven't bought many cars so it really doesn't matter to me.
 

I have not bought a new vehicle in the recent past. But I will say that as I look at new cars I see them in a whole new light as I think about taking care of them.
 
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