These are my comments to "....how do I go to the highest level of perfection and stay there?", Rule #1 and #2.
I think as much as we know it and is talked about...people tend to just acknowledge it and push it aside into the "yeah, I know that" bin. There are so many types of people here, with different types of cars. From what I catch, there are more daily drivers here than there are those with the high end GQs we (daily drivers) dream of. Those of us who keep their cars as best as possible, have a few scars here and there which we only we know of.
Sometimes I think the people with the daily drivers are unrealistic. Let's face it, we will encounter parking lot events, bugs, birds, humans, nature, etc. Heck, they're daily drivers. We have to focus on keeping those cars and accept their fate.
What I'm trying to say to my fellow daily drivers out there is, yes, this is Autopia, and yes, we strive to keep the car above the standard of the others out there on the road, but let's realize that there will be times where the paint isn't going to be perfect. They aren't show cars. So let's not break out the cutting pad and high cut compounds right away. Perhaps use a light SMR or perhaps a filling LSP. I bought my car with the intention to keep it for at least 10 years. This is the type of DD I am within the subset of DDs.
Like I see from time to time in the Professional Detailing forum...."don't say to the customer you can fix the issue. Just explain you can make it look better." We should keep that advise for ourselves as well.
I'm at a point where I may need something more than #9. But the reality is, if #9 is doesn't entirely fix my issues, than I will probably just move on to a cleaner, LSP and just live with some scars. Enough to make it pass a 5 or 10 foot test. I know this is not a very Autopian thing to say, but I'll stick my neck out for others who feel the same way I do.
Now for you guyz with 3 or 4 GQs....well....you're at a different level.:bow
My comment on Rule #3:
Sometimes this can be pretty challenging. Especially for the "noob". How many posts are there every spring that ask the "What is the best product ?", "Is this process correct ?" type questions ? I think the Learn articles are a great start for the common "noob" as well as the born again noobs (I'm having this feeling lately). And then after all of this, you may ask a question and get 5 different answers which totally confuse you even more. All in all, it's good though, it triggers the noodle and gets you deeper into the "how" and more importantly, the "why".
Dang it, I came here with one small question about Zaino...and look what you guyz did to me (Side comment: I really like the way Autopian's treat "noobs"....we were all there once.)
How often do the experienced detailers (whether it's 5, 10, 30 years), go back to the basics ? Ever re-read the Learn articles and old threads ?
It's funny how a lot of people have a lot of patience and will spend an entire weekend detailing a car, but will not spend some time chasing down the basic answers to the question, "what is this product ?"
I think why some of the senior members here advise to look at the directions on the product...it's a good place to start, is because it's another overlooked point. Fundementals will get you further than you think sometimes (detailing and in anything else).
Am I making any sense ?...it's Monday, please have patience...Perhaps it's the coffee talking... Maybe I'm pulling the post trigger a little too soon.
David, if this is a can of worms....it's a juicy can
