Ahhh... the Dealer got it right this time. My car was built at 10:37 pm on the evening of April 12, 2004 on Line #1 at the Marysville, OH Acura plant. It's a healthy baby NBP/Camel Navi 5AT and weighs in a 3574 pounds 14 oz.
Father (me) is doing as well as can be expected. It arrived at the Acura dealer about 2:30 A.M. Even I am not whacked enough to be staking it out at that hour. The VIN is 42,0XX. The tires are the new "TU2" Bridgestone Turenzas. I noticed for the first time that they have a ridge that extends out about 1/4" from the sidewall near the rim of the wheel. It would seem to be there to protect the wheel a bit like the Toyos that someone showed a picture of here.
When they called about 1:00 PM, I went immediately to the dealership and scrutinized the car with all of its protective plastic and cardboard in place. Remember, they goofed on my first car and I rufused delivery as they had managed to scratch the paint when they cleaned it up.
I met with the salesperson, the head of the detailing dept., and "T", the guy who would be getting my car ready for me. We walked to my car and went over it. I told him: NO auto car wash; No brushes; No wax.
We checked the brown film that all cars have "rail dust". It is mostly microscopic ferric oxide (rust particles) kicked up by the steel wheels of the train mixed with road film. The car travels by both rail and transport truck to get to the dealer. Your new car will have more or less rail dust depending on whether it was on the bottom or top tier on the rail car. Bottom is worse. In this case, the rail dust is moderate.
The dealer uses a solvent/sufactant to get rid of the rail dust. It is very costly but does the job. I don't know the name of it. It is a commercial item. After using this, they feel the surface with their fingers to see if it is slick and smooth which is an indicator they got all the rail dust off. If finger tips drag, they will clay bar. This is not necessary on the large flat surface of the hood, roof, and trunk since most of that had the protective plastic in place from the factory.
I did a 360 degree video of the entire car including wheels. It seems to be flawless so far. I just wanted a baseline referrence for my file incase it shows up later with damage anywhere. We will know who is responsible.
Then (This is really "anal"), I handed "T" a lambs wool washing mit and told him to use it and it only on my car. I asked him to treat is as if it were his own that he had just paid $36,000 for. Then, I slipped him a $20 bill and said, "This is to show my respect for your professionalism and my thanks for your personal attention." We agreed that he would not wax the car, but just use a final detail spray to spruce it up for delivery.
I will wash and wax it myself when I get it home. There will be a sign on my garage door all weekend that says, "If this door is rockin', don't bother knockin'" I have laid in a supply of Meguire and Zaino products that should last me for years. If needed, I will clay bar again and then use the Zaino process with Z2/ZFX and finally, Z6.
Oh, yes. I understand you can drive these cars also. Fantastic! I've been thinking about it as if it were a fine piece of garage furniture.
Friday at 2:00, I pick it up. That gives me just one day to paint the garage floor and put up the new shelfs for all that Zaino.
XP (feeling much better now)
Father (me) is doing as well as can be expected. It arrived at the Acura dealer about 2:30 A.M. Even I am not whacked enough to be staking it out at that hour. The VIN is 42,0XX. The tires are the new "TU2" Bridgestone Turenzas. I noticed for the first time that they have a ridge that extends out about 1/4" from the sidewall near the rim of the wheel. It would seem to be there to protect the wheel a bit like the Toyos that someone showed a picture of here.
When they called about 1:00 PM, I went immediately to the dealership and scrutinized the car with all of its protective plastic and cardboard in place. Remember, they goofed on my first car and I rufused delivery as they had managed to scratch the paint when they cleaned it up.
I met with the salesperson, the head of the detailing dept., and "T", the guy who would be getting my car ready for me. We walked to my car and went over it. I told him: NO auto car wash; No brushes; No wax.
We checked the brown film that all cars have "rail dust". It is mostly microscopic ferric oxide (rust particles) kicked up by the steel wheels of the train mixed with road film. The car travels by both rail and transport truck to get to the dealer. Your new car will have more or less rail dust depending on whether it was on the bottom or top tier on the rail car. Bottom is worse. In this case, the rail dust is moderate.
The dealer uses a solvent/sufactant to get rid of the rail dust. It is very costly but does the job. I don't know the name of it. It is a commercial item. After using this, they feel the surface with their fingers to see if it is slick and smooth which is an indicator they got all the rail dust off. If finger tips drag, they will clay bar. This is not necessary on the large flat surface of the hood, roof, and trunk since most of that had the protective plastic in place from the factory.
I did a 360 degree video of the entire car including wheels. It seems to be flawless so far. I just wanted a baseline referrence for my file incase it shows up later with damage anywhere. We will know who is responsible.
Then (This is really "anal"), I handed "T" a lambs wool washing mit and told him to use it and it only on my car. I asked him to treat is as if it were his own that he had just paid $36,000 for. Then, I slipped him a $20 bill and said, "This is to show my respect for your professionalism and my thanks for your personal attention." We agreed that he would not wax the car, but just use a final detail spray to spruce it up for delivery.
I will wash and wax it myself when I get it home. There will be a sign on my garage door all weekend that says, "If this door is rockin', don't bother knockin'" I have laid in a supply of Meguire and Zaino products that should last me for years. If needed, I will clay bar again and then use the Zaino process with Z2/ZFX and finally, Z6.
Oh, yes. I understand you can drive these cars also. Fantastic! I've been thinking about it as if it were a fine piece of garage furniture.
Friday at 2:00, I pick it up. That gives me just one day to paint the garage floor and put up the new shelfs for all that Zaino.
XP (feeling much better now)
I may have not done something properly, but it looks a heck of a lot better than the oil stained concrete I had previously.
- (mine was boo boo city)
