Randolphjo
New member
I guess I’m asking for help like so many others have and I’m hoping I can get some help.
I have read all of the articles posted to this site and I have read most of the threads posted to this forum in the last 60 days. Instead of coming away with a clearer idea of which way to go detailing (and detailing products), I have become more confused. This is where I could use some expert help and advice.
To start with, I have always had love affairs with my vehicles. I give them the best products and services without question. The problem I am posing here is that a few things have changed for me. Until I read these forums, I wasn’t that knowledgeable about the best car care products for my vehicles and lifestyle. Like I mentioned previously, reading all the information here has left me unsure on what way to go.
I live in an apartment building in San Francisco, and it would be difficult (almost impossible) to wash my vehicles here. I could polish and wax them except I broke my back a few years ago and bending much is a problem. Still, I want our vehicles (my wife and mine), to look their best. The following are options I guess would be good to consider:
Option 1. Find a good combination of products that would be easy enough for me to apply properly, and that would provide a beautiful and durable finish that wouldn’t need much maintenance and could be reapplied by me without too much difficulty.
Option 2. Find a good and reasonably priced detailer in the San Francisco area who would detail my vehicles as I would want them done (wash, clay, polish and wax). Any detailers in my area that someone could recommend? I could manage to do light detail myself in between the major detailing
Option 3. Suggestions other than the above?
I’m looking for a finish that would be both durable and beautiful and would require the least amount of upkeep on my part. Both our vehicles have clearcoat finishes, and my wife’s vehicle is a clearcoat green metallic 1999 Honda Civic sedan that has never had a complete detail done. I just got a 2004 Ford Explorer that has a tri-coat white metallic clearcoat paint job and leather interior. I’m looking for products or services that would be best suited to our vehicles and upkeep ability.
Buying a bunch of detail products would be a significant investment for me (given I’m on disability), and I certainly couldn’t afford to buy a PB buffer on top of it all.
Given what I have posted above, I would welcome any and all recommendations on what would be considered the best way to keep our two vehicles looking exceptionally nice and would be easy to maintain. Just for info, my wife regularly runs her car through a automatic brush car wash, but I probably could get her to change that habit if I got her car looking tip-top. My new Explorer has never seen the inside of a brush car wash – and never will. Both vehicles are garaged everyday, and are not exposed to the elements – except for daily driving.
I want to do this right, so all suggestions as to specific products and procedures would be greatly appreciated. If it would be better recommended to have a detailer in my area take care of our vehicles, then I would appreciate hearing who I should look up and what questions to ask them with regards to caring for our vehicles as we want them cared for.
The two biggest limitations I can see in our situation is that my back is bad and that we live in an apartment building. I would appreciate any and all suggestions that might help me out. BTW, I’ve been torn between the Zaino system, using the NTX or a composite system. I sure could use some help here. Thanks much!
Jim
PS: I have no intention to become a professional detailer (my back problem wouldn’t allow it), but I will continue my love affair with vehicles.
I have read all of the articles posted to this site and I have read most of the threads posted to this forum in the last 60 days. Instead of coming away with a clearer idea of which way to go detailing (and detailing products), I have become more confused. This is where I could use some expert help and advice.
To start with, I have always had love affairs with my vehicles. I give them the best products and services without question. The problem I am posing here is that a few things have changed for me. Until I read these forums, I wasn’t that knowledgeable about the best car care products for my vehicles and lifestyle. Like I mentioned previously, reading all the information here has left me unsure on what way to go.
I live in an apartment building in San Francisco, and it would be difficult (almost impossible) to wash my vehicles here. I could polish and wax them except I broke my back a few years ago and bending much is a problem. Still, I want our vehicles (my wife and mine), to look their best. The following are options I guess would be good to consider:
Option 1. Find a good combination of products that would be easy enough for me to apply properly, and that would provide a beautiful and durable finish that wouldn’t need much maintenance and could be reapplied by me without too much difficulty.
Option 2. Find a good and reasonably priced detailer in the San Francisco area who would detail my vehicles as I would want them done (wash, clay, polish and wax). Any detailers in my area that someone could recommend? I could manage to do light detail myself in between the major detailing
Option 3. Suggestions other than the above?
I’m looking for a finish that would be both durable and beautiful and would require the least amount of upkeep on my part. Both our vehicles have clearcoat finishes, and my wife’s vehicle is a clearcoat green metallic 1999 Honda Civic sedan that has never had a complete detail done. I just got a 2004 Ford Explorer that has a tri-coat white metallic clearcoat paint job and leather interior. I’m looking for products or services that would be best suited to our vehicles and upkeep ability.
Buying a bunch of detail products would be a significant investment for me (given I’m on disability), and I certainly couldn’t afford to buy a PB buffer on top of it all.
Given what I have posted above, I would welcome any and all recommendations on what would be considered the best way to keep our two vehicles looking exceptionally nice and would be easy to maintain. Just for info, my wife regularly runs her car through a automatic brush car wash, but I probably could get her to change that habit if I got her car looking tip-top. My new Explorer has never seen the inside of a brush car wash – and never will. Both vehicles are garaged everyday, and are not exposed to the elements – except for daily driving.
I want to do this right, so all suggestions as to specific products and procedures would be greatly appreciated. If it would be better recommended to have a detailer in my area take care of our vehicles, then I would appreciate hearing who I should look up and what questions to ask them with regards to caring for our vehicles as we want them cared for.
The two biggest limitations I can see in our situation is that my back is bad and that we live in an apartment building. I would appreciate any and all suggestions that might help me out. BTW, I’ve been torn between the Zaino system, using the NTX or a composite system. I sure could use some help here. Thanks much!
Jim
PS: I have no intention to become a professional detailer (my back problem wouldn’t allow it), but I will continue my love affair with vehicles.
