I think I'm ready! What do you think?

2

2rocky2

New member
I am getting my car in a week or two (hopefully the former!), and I've spent countless dollars on the tools required to get the car looking new.



I figure when I get the car, I'll give it a hand wash with Dawn. Then I'll use the Zaino claybar and clay my entire car. After this, I'll use the Zaino kit I got and polish the car and give it ~3 coats. After all that, I'll Aquapel the windows.



Anything left to do? I bought the $80 kit from Zaino already, lots of Aquapel and Pak's MF towel kit (lots of them!).



Let me know if I'm missing anything... should I do any interior work or leave it be? The car will have a leather interior, if that's important.
 
OOOoooooooooOEEEEEEE! That's one hot-looking car. Your comment:
I've spent countless dollars on the tools required to get the car looking new.
Click to expand...
just cracks me up. You and Autopia are obviously made for each other. :D



Have you read some of the threads (or David's article) on correct washing and drying techniques? BradB recently suggested that most swirls and scratches are "self-inflicted" -- that most are introduced in the course of washing and drying.



Don't forget to clay the windows too. And I use my Z2 on the windows. Gets them wonderfully shiny, and keeps them easy to clean.



Have fun!
 
Like Lynn said, make sure your washing and drying materials and techniques are good, otherwise it'll all be for nothing.



I'm not a Z user, but I would be really temped to go over the car with a gentle pre-wax cleaner (like Mothers/Megs) after claying in case the clay leaves some marring. AFAIK, the typical Zaino kit doesn't have anything abrasive to get rid of any kind of damage.



Definitely look after the interior. Use vinyl protectant on the plastic/dash/etc. and leather conditioner on the seats. The seats should be okay for a little while I imagine since it's brand new.
 
I'm sure tons of folks will be giving you good recommendations. Meanwhile, if you want to start exploring, you might take a look at the Reviews section -- full of Autopians' reviews and ratings of products. Also, you will find much more extensive discussion of specific products in the Detailing Product Discussion forum, and there have been some Member Polls along the lines of "what's your favorite vinyl protectant?" and so on.



My current favorites for the interior:

Einszett Plastik-R;lkjoiupo [never can remember how to spell it], available from the Autopia store -- for vinyl/plastic cleaning

303 -- vinyl protectant

Plexus -- shining up plastic gauge covers etc.

Z9 -- leather cleaner

Z10 or Leatherique -- conditioner



Also, start all your rubber seals off right -- so they keep that new, supple, dark look -- by conditioning them periodically with Einszett Gummipflege.
 
I would go with megs #39 & 40 for vinyl and rubber .. the cleaner removes virtually ANY stain!

I guess any conditioner/protectant will work ..... but #39 is the nads for cleaning.



Mines had alot of abuse on coffee- soaked interiors, half-chewed candy and .. chewing gum.



:shocked



Some folks have expressed doubts about 303's finish and effect on vinyl .. never used it tho so I dunno.



As for leather ... Megs Medallion does it all in one - why buy 2 when 1 will do ? ;)



It even cleaned off where a cardboard box had imprinted its ink onto a lovely new Durangos tan leather back seats.

While I cleaned all that off Jngrbrd was getting about half a pound of beeswax off the rear interior window pillars.



Strange what folks do to their nice new $30k vehicles.



Anyways .....



Plexus is tha thang for clear plastic without a doubt.
 
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