New Truck...

twhited

New member
I'm picking up a new 2004 Ford F-150 tomorrow. I've asked the dealer not to "detail" it for me. What would you recommend doing to a brand new truck's finish? Just wash and wax? I'm new to all this and want to start out doing everything correctly to keep the finish in tip top shape.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
What color? I have never been a fan of Fords but the new F-150 really looks good. The first thing I do when I buy a new car is clay the finish. You would be surprised at the amount of contaminants on the paint. Next I would polish the surface with a good polish. Consider the Poorboy line. Seal the finish with a good sealant and/or wax. Again, look at the Poorboy line.

BTW, go through the forum threads. Lots of good info.
 
I nust brought a new Nissian and here is what I did.

Wash and dry ( use a good car wash soap)
Clay bar with quick detailer spray
I used Poorboys Polsh with carnuba
PB Sealant (ex)
Toped with a Megs paste wax

Tou should not have any swrils at this time and as long as you wash by hand and dry yourself that will cut down a lot on them. The color also depends on this
 
The color is silver. Thanks for the info. I did search here, but didn't find much on recommended treatment on a brand new car.

Thanks!
 
Don't be to parnoid about a new car finish. Its not alot different than any older car. You should not have any swrils and your color does not show them much anyway.
The only thing that I would do different on an older car is use a swril remover.

I'd still follow what I suggested, also there will be quite a few others that will offer ways. That's the beauty of this site!
 
As Beemerboy said, you shouldn't have to use an abrasive swirl remover for a new car. You also shouldn't need any type of chemical paint cleaner since there should not be any oxidation. Other than that, the detailing process should be very similar to the ones described in various threads. There are exceptions to this of course. Sometimes a buffer will be used at the factory, or at the port VPCs, to address quality control issues. A new car may also have been sitting on a dealer's lot for a while and been "cleaned" periodically.

Wait until you actually receive the vehicle, and then decide what process to follow.

Don't forget about the interior. It needs to be protected too. Consider applying UV dressing to the vinyl pieces. Also, use a upholstery and carpet protectant (like Scotchgard) before you have that first beverage spill!
 
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i thought you're not supposed to wax brand new cars or newly painted surfaces for a few months. i know body shops just polish it.
 
Wash, clay, Poorboys Pro Polish followed by EX or EX-P. Bingo...purr-freakin-fection.:bigups While you are at it get some Natural Look for the interior protection.
 
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