My Toy

mjlinane

My name is Mike
I have a tasty German convertible on order. However, it's been that way since the middle of June and projected arrival date still isn't until the week of 10/28. So, in the mean time, I stopped by the local VW shop and picked up a 2013 Reef Blue Turbo Beetle Convertible. (They gave me one for an extended test drive and I did more joy rides in the 2 days I had it than in the nearly 3 years I've had the Sonata.) Mine was fresh off of the truck - literally that day - and I asked them to do nothing with the outside of the car. I did let them do the interior. (My philosophy: paint care requires skill; interior is mostly "want to".)

As it's mine, the new car prep has been a bit drawn out.

Process/products:
Foamed with 1z W99
GDPWM with CG CWC
Removed adhesive & cosmoline with 1z W99 & GooGone
2 days later
Valugard A&B
GDPWM with CG CWC
"clayed" with Nanoskin Autoscrub + Nanoskin Glide + GG6
Next day
Finish polished with Opti HyperPolish on White LC CCS + Rupes 15 and Crimson Hydrotech + GG6 + 3" BP
Eraser wipe down
Next morning
Eraser wipe down
Opti OptiCoat
BF Total Eclipse Tire Gel
9 days later
P21S Wheel Cleaner Gel
Foamed with CG CW
GDPWM with CG CWC
Permanon Platinum (10%) applied with Porter Cable Compressor + HF Mini Detail Spray Gun (Item #92126)
Dried with MetroVac 8hp
Distilled water (spots)
Next morning
Duragloss 341 (top) - thanks Ben for pointing out Richy's review to me
One week later
Foamed with CG CWC
Dried with MetroVac 8hp
Jambs rinselessed with Megs D114 followed by Permanon.

Because of all of the curves and taping/covering of the top, polishing took much longer than I was expecting (something more than 4 hours - small car with no top or defects, was expecting maybe half of that). It did allow me some quality time with my Rupes 15. Like it almost as much as its big brother - almost.

Here is how it turned out.
MyVW_01.JPG

MyVW_02.JPG

MyVW_03.JPG

MyVW_04.JPG

MyVW_05.JPG

MyVW_07.JPG

MyVW_06.JPG

MyVW_08.JPG

MyVW_09.JPG

MyVW_11.JPG

MyVW_10.JPG


Not sure if it is the Beetle aura or a convertible thing or some combination of the two, but I find I am in far less of a hurry to arrive anywhere; sports talk has been replaced with mellow rock or jazz; folks smile & wave as I putt by; and I am in generally a better mood when I do get there. As they say, it's about the journey rather than the destination.

Almost has me considering the flower and/or peace sign accessories. ;)

And yes, they don't have my picture next to "impulse buying" in the dictionary for nothing. ;)

Thanks for viewing. Questions welcome.
 
MJLinane -
Congratulations on an absolutely beautiful Volkswagen !

The work you did only enhanced the very nice paintwork and the rest of the quality appointments ! Beautiful work on what you shared with us in pics !

Finally ! They have put wheels I actually like on a Volkswagen !!! They look great !

When you put your beauty next to an older - say Beetle - you will be surprised to see how less curvy and round your Beauty is compared to the older ones.. I love this new body style a lot !

I like to buy and sell vehicles a lot, and the closest I came to getting a Volkswagen was when I drove one of the last R32's and while it was very nice and fast, it just had too much road noise coming through the floor..

I am sure you will have much, much, fun in this car for a long time !

Thanks for sharing ! Absolutely beautiful house behind the car was just the perfect background for your photo shoot.

Dan F
 
As I typed in the matte MB thread, I am learning the art of the tease from Todd. Hell, Todd would make a contest out of it.

I'll start with hints: the VW Group consists of VW, Audi, Porsche and Bentley. It isn't a Bentley. ;)
 
Those new Bugs look alot less girly then the previous generation. Alot more refined, combined with that FSI motor, I bet that thing is fun to drive. Did they atleast give you a manual?
 
Very true. Pretty much everyone who has seen it has really been impressed with how the interior has evolved - no longer just the basics. Refined and well appointed (got the Fender sound system).

Went with the DSG with paddle shifters.
 
Congrats on the new "toy" Mike. What a beauty. I just messed around with some Hyper Polish this past weekend on my boat. I loved it !!!! Certainly a polish that doesn't get talked about much but does a fantastic job.
 
Very true. Pretty much everyone who has seen it has really been impressed with how the interior has evolved - no longer just the basics. Refined and well appointed (got the Fender sound system).

Went with the DSG with paddle shifters.

Yea, previous generations were a little on the cheap feeling. The total opposite is the case on my Jetta; its interior is great, but they really cheaped out on the new ones. The leather isn't near as good as mine. I also got the upgraded radio with satellite, it just rocks! Enjoy it for the time you have it, and I forgot to mention you did an excellent job on the paint!
 
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