Opinions for an Expedition please?

NorcalZ71

New member
Im going to detail my parents friends ford expedition for them that has seen better days. Its like their 4th car, just use it for camping and such, and also for venture crew outings if anyone knows of them. It has actually been taken up the fordyce trail in CA for anyone that knows that as well, so its got some character marks in it. Anyway, theres a couple spots that I said i would try to use some touch up paint on and maybe wetsand just a little to level it out. The whole thing is actually not swirled that bad, but there are some more noticeable car length scratches from trees, they dont look deep though. Its kind of muddy right now too, so I need to pressure wash it, and the interior will take some doing. My question is whats a fair price to ask, considering they are good friends, dont care if it is "perfect" since its kind of the utility vehicle, and i am not a true professional by any means.
 
Consider your time on it and charge accoordingly. Expy's take some time (I have one also), I usually spend abotu 4.5-5 hrs on them, so that about $200.00-220.00 for me in labor.....
 
NorCalZ71 said:
Im going to detail my parents friends ford expedition for them that has seen better days .....whats a fair price to ask, considering they are good friends



Since they are good friends of your parents; why not just set aside a day and do it for free?
 
Slightly OT philosophizing: When you do a detail for free, you're saying that their having a detailed truck is more important than your effort *and your time* (time being the one great non-renewable resource in life). I've done free details, including some mighty big jobs, but I'd sure think hard on it first. Nobody I know would *accept* a free detail from a friend's son, they'd insist on paying. But many people don't have a clue as to how much work is involved or how much such jobs usually cost. So I *would* keep the cost reasonable and discuss it with them.



More on-topic: I'd sure use something that conceals as well as corrects, something like Meg's #80 for the polish step. I'd apply some wax like Collinite so it beads impressively for a long time. If you're gonna do touch-up work you really oughta have it at least overnight.
 
Hell no! Nothing is free in this world. I would give them a 10% discount, but my time is very valuable to me and I would charge them acdcordingly.
 
Haha, well mine isnt quite as valuable as all of yours, but I just wanted to see what would be fair. I work slower than most of ya'll also due to lack of experience, so it will probably take me like a day an then some w/ the touch up paint, pressure washing, major interior clean up, etc.
 
J.J. said:
Hell no! Nothing is free in this world. I would give them a 10% discount, but my time is very valuable to me and I would charge them acdcordingly.

:har: :har: :har: :har: :har: :har: :har:



That should go down in history as the greatest statement ever made!!!!!!
 
Only my brother gets free details but they aren't really free. He maintains my websites in exchange for the detailing. Maybe once a year on his two vehicles.
 
FWIW, most of my details are free. I enjoy detailing and playing with the tools and products so much, I find myelf doing family and friends cars quite often. It's rare that I actually take money for anything, but that's just me. This is a hobby and past time for me though, not a business, so I guess I'm different.



To get back on topic, I have an Expedition and it's pretty much as close to factory flawless as you can get and it *still* takes me at least six hours to do a full detail. Obviously, I take my time and I am as anal as you can get about every inch of the car, but it's still a big one, even moving fast. I spend almost an hour on washing and drying alone.
 
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