Ever reach the “why bother” point in your life?

Heh heh, threads like this bring out my Inner Autopian Heretic :o

Hey, priorities/interests/responsibilities change. How well-Detailed a vehicle is only matters as much as the owner thinks it does.

At various times in my life, I`ve simply *stopped* doing this stuff so I could focus on things that mattered more to me. I generally buy a Disposable Vehicle and just run it through the carwash as needed.

(Ya know...just FWIW...the most fulfilled, most successful, and most downright *happy* people I`ve ever known IRL... never spent any time/effort/thought on Detailing. Never. Those in this demographic who liked cars paid somebody else to do such stuff.)

IF (so far a deal-breaking "if") we had decent Pros around here I might do that myself; nobody else can read/learn/exercise/etc. etc. etc. for me, but somebody else *could* Detail the vehicles. Well, if I could find somebody competent. There`s only so much time, and my Life can get busy. I want to prioritize things that nobody except *me* can do. But unfortunately, it seems that "keep the vehicles looking decent" (i.e., marring-free ;) ) is still one of those things that apparently only I can do :(
 
Judging by the way I see the “pros” around here where I live “detail” a car (ie scrub the living hell out of a bumper for example) there’s no way anyone is going to get a marring free car unless they learn to detail themselves. I am just astonished by the kind of work people pay for on their cars. It sincerely saddens me. These last several years I’ve been blessed with starting out with marring free, new cars. Then it’s easy to keep them that way. Just touch and wash them correctly. It’s been a really long time since I picked up a polisher.
 
I’m now thinking of my bi annual “polishing” less of a paint correction/perfection, and more of an “intense” paint cleaning I.e 2 quick passes with a quality abrasive and how ever many swirls it takes out, well that’s it. Paint will be super clean, and topped with a quality sealant/wax to make subsequent washing easier/fast.

I do enjoy the wash process, rinse/foam/wash/rins/dry w drying aid.
 
For myself, trying a whole bunch of different things was incredibly entertaining. While I may have told myself it was all a means to an end with regards to finding what worked for me, the journey was often more entertaining than what I convinced myself was the destination.

Now that I`ve found my destination, a lower effort strategy with my `winners`, the need to consistently pursue the latest and greatest has waned. There`s always going to be something new, some claimed next best product but the differences appear so minor as be nearly irrelevant and likely wouldn`t provide any truly significant advantage to me.

Our `cars that matter` are protected in the fullest, easiest manner known to me so now on a personal level, enjoying that easy to maintain protection from behind the wheel takes precedence over the search for something better. Our daily drivers are done in a manner that aligns with their usage while still meeting my aesthetic preferences. I`ll still try new things on them occasionally but for curiosity`s sake and a bit of easy entertainment, not the never ending quest for a perceived `best`.

And it`s an approach that makes the monthly credit card statements more palatable as well

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
 
As a senior weekend warrior, I have enjoyed detailing my cars and a few neighbors. Now I have learned to go with the flow, not chasing that swirl, scratch free car. Life is a lot simpler now :)
 
I`m getting close to this mindset, even though i have only been detailing/polishing for about 3 years. If i had a garage queen it would be different.

It was a nice feeling when i got back to Canada about 3 weeks ago - after 3.5mth overseas- and my car looked relatively shiny and it`s still beading decently! It was driven very little in that time and we get a lot of rain.
 
Bill D said:
Judging by the way I see the “pros” around here where I live “detail” a car (ie scrub the living hell out of a bumper for example) there’s no way anyone is going to get a marring free car unless they learn to detail themselves. I am just astonished by the kind of work people pay for on their cars.
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Funny you mention this. I noticed a car in the lot at work the other day and it was covered in horrible rotary buffer holograms. From what I know of the owner, I really doubt they did the work themselves and probably paid someone to have the damage installed. I may not get a vehicle 100% perfect, but I`m at least able to make it look better than when I started.
 
Heh, I`ve been at that point for a few months now. The car hasn`t been washed since early fall, it`s filthy inside & out and right now I really don`t care. Perhaps it`s because my career is winding down (11 months and COUNTING) and my workplace is EXTREMELY TOXIC..it`s sucked the joy of life right out of me, including, but not limited to the joys of cleaning my car.
 
Unless you are entering a car show, a perfect finish is a recipe for frustration, especially on dark colors. Do a polish once a year. I flattened the orange peel on my car by polishing over the years and ended up with some paint failure.
 
I get this. We have been leasing my wife`s car. I bought the gallon concentrate of nanoskin supercharger (1:100 dilution, I will never ever run out of it).

I use it every time I wash. Just spray on while wet and then hose off and dry the car. It`s not bad and for the price, it`s amazing. After 3 years, the car still looked pretty good with just using this product. My truck that I own I go through he whole shebang process of ceramic coatings. I`ve asked myself so many times, what`s the point?
 
hawaiidude said:
I get this. We have been leasing my wife`s car. I bought the gallon concentrate of nanoskin supercharger (1:100 dilution, I will never ever run out of it).

I use it every time I wash. Just spray on while wet and then hose off and dry the car. It`s not bad and for the price, it`s amazing. After 3 years, the car still looked pretty good with just using this product. My truck that I own I go through he whole shebang process of ceramic coatings. I`ve asked myself so many times, what`s the point?
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Good to hear from you again Michael! I just looked up Nanoskin Supercharger and choked at the price of a gallon compared to the 16oz size. But like you said, it is diluted 100 times compared to RTU. Any chance you have compared it to other similar products such as Wetcoat? But I’m seriously considering something like this too, at least for my wife and kid’s vehicles.
 
Not sure who Michael is?

I was able to purchase the gallon for $55 on amazon. That will make 100+ gallons of the stuff.

Not as good as wetcoat. But beats it in ease of use and definitely COST.
 
hawaiidude said:
Not sure who Michael is?

I was able to purchase the gallon for $55 on amazon. That will make 100+ gallons of the stuff.

Not as good as wetcoat. But beats it in ease of use and definitely COST.
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Thanks man! Sorry, I thought you were Chilly from AutoGeekOnline.

Thanks for the feedback. Heck of a deal you found as it is not available at the Big A right now and is going for $169 via Nanoskin.
 
Great topic!

I run in peaks and valleys as most driveway detailers probably do. I make notes on the calendar when each car was last "waxed". Some times of the year I`m aggressive and proactive. Other times I`m tied up on other things and don`t have time besides a "quickie" wash. I`m deep in many different brands of product and have too many polishers.

I guess I`m normal compared to others here! :lol:
 
hawaiidude said:
I get this. We have been leasing my wife`s car.
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We`ve debated leasing something just so we`d have one vehicle that doesn`t matter. I used to buy a Disposable Car when life got busy, just drive it and settle for maybe an ~85%-Autopian level of Detailing and then trade it in (no dealer *ever* thought they needed to be better, just put `em right on the lot/showroom in that shape). With a new puppy about to monopolize my life I`m debating just what to do...
 
Watch some of Yvans videos on YT. He has really brought things to light for me that I was being too crazy. Simplify
 
dcjredline said:
Watch some of Yvans videos on YT. He has really brought things to light for me that I was being too crazy. Simplify
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I hope it`s not simplifying by buying just a few more products...lol. That`s how most of us ended up here.
 
Accumulator said:
We`ve debated leasing something just so we`d have one vehicle that doesn`t matter. I used to buy a Disposable Car when life got busy, just drive it and settle for maybe an ~85%-Autopian level of Detailing and then trade it in (no dealer *ever* thought they needed to be better, just put `em right on the lot/showroom in that shape). With a new puppy about to monopolize my life I`m debating just what to do...
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I’ve never believed in leasing but after doing it, and you can afford it, it’s really nice. Wife gets a new car every 3 years and I don’t have to do anything to it besides occasional wash. Honda is really good with leasing.

it makes taking care of the truck we own so much better. It get pampered.
 
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