Should I even bother?

S

sremick

New member
Eek. I feel like I might be getting in over my head. :confused:



I got myself a nice car recently (yes it's a Saab, sorry... I LIKE THEM). Actually it's not just any Saab, it's a Viggen. Anyhow, the paint is mostly nice but there are a bunch of tiny chips on the hood, a shallow scratch on the roof that just barely revealed some primer, etc. I ended up at this site after researching on the web and have been digesting tons of info on all the different steps and materials and compounds and tools and so on and so forth... I'm wondering: is it even worth it to me to invest in all this stuff (like a PC... yay I know what that is now) if I only have 1 car and I'm only doing it for myself? Or is there some guy (maybe one of you?) who I could pay to do it for me? I've looked around the state but haven't located anyone who does serious detailing. Yes there are detailing shops but not of the level of quality ("clay? What's that?") that the folks on here take it to (which is what I want). And some of you charge less! Hell it's probably almost worth driving to CT and having Sean do my car. Heh.



It also seems that most the detailing places don't do nicks and scratches, and that's a big part of this. Having never done them before, I'm nervous about learning on my baby.



It's a black car and it already turns heads. I just want that extra WOW factor (we're talking Sourveran on top of Klasse AIO, yes I'd pay for that) and to get those nicks taken care of. Any advice?



viggen_front.jpg


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viggen_rear_right.jpg


viggen_side.jpg
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viggen_seats.jpg


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Nice ride!!



The Viggen definately supercedes all other Saabs.



Do you have any closeups of the chips/scratches?



I would have to say a PC is a good idea since your car is black.



How far are you from Manchester, VT? I am up there about once a month and might be able to detail for ya.



As far as protection, I'd go with Klasse AIO/SG only because you are in VT and you definatley need that extra amount of protection. I don't have Souveran, but do have Trade Secret which is VERY comparable. I could always scoop out a little bit of it for you to use after the Klasse cures so you can top for that extra wow factor :)



Please let me know.
 
Haha, Sean you're right on-top of things. How'd you home in on the mentioning of your name so fast? Your ears burning? :p



GSRstilez said:
Do you have any closeups of the chips/scratches?
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Not at the moment but I can do so. I'll try and get some ASAP. Weather right now wouldn't provide good pics.



GSRstilez said:
I would have to say a PC is a good idea since your car is black.
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Yes and I like how black is easier to work with for touchups. Unfortunately it shows dirt and swirls more. :( But I like the look of black cars. It's a compromise.



GSRstilez said:
How far are you from Manchester, VT? I am up there about once a month and might be able to detail for ya.
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Well, fancy that! I'm about 1.5h from Manchester. It'd probably be worth it. Would it bother you to have me watch? I'm curious and learn well by observation.



GSRstilez said:
As far as protection, I'd go with Klasse AIO/SG only because you are in VT and you definatley need that extra amount of protection. I don't have Souveran, but do have Trade Secret which is VERY comparable. I could always scoop out a little bit of it for you to use after the Klasse cures so you can top for that extra wow factor :)
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What's SG? I've seen it mentioned a bunch but am not sure what it is. And you can't search for 2-letter words. Heh. While we're at it: what's "QD"?



Anyhow, my reading really made me want Souveran. :) I like to splurge for the best. Unless you have reasons I shouldn't use it (not sure if you were saing I should use "SG" instead of Souveran). If you can't find some I'd be happy to just buy some myself (that way I have leftovers for when I feel up to doing it myself!) and you can use it.



So how much nick repair do you do? I'm sure you're plenty experienced as your detailing work is impressive, I just don't see much mention of stuff beyond minor scratches. :)



Btw interior is pristine so I really don't need any work there.



Thanks!
 
It doesnt matter if you own one car or 400, a pc is a must. I just received mine and I dont know how I got by with out it. The satisfaction you get from doing the job is second to none as well. Maybe you should meet up with sean and watch how it is done and that way he can give you some pointers and you can go home with a well detailed car and a great canvas and a head full of knowledge to work with when you get home. And if you ever have any questions just post, there are tons of knowledged people on here who would love to help.
 
sremick- Welcome to Autopia!



Hey, Saabs have personality, which is more than you can say for a lot of vehicles.



First, I'd get some paintwork done. The spot that's down to primer (definitely!!) and maybe also the panels with the chips. IMO it's usually easier to solve the "lots of chips" problem with a spotted-in repaint. Just find somebody good. That's were I'd put *my* money first.



Then take GSRstilez up on his offer and watch/help him detail it. [WARNING, ACCUMULATOR'S AUTOPIAN HERESY FOLLOWS:] You might find that having it professionally detailed is the way to go, at least for now. Just *washing* a black vehicle can be a challenge, and not everyone who loves their car also loves detailing. Keeping a black car nice can take a lot of time and effort, especially when you're not experienced with this stuff. And I'd *much* rather have the paintwork repairs done than own a PC.



I certainly don't mean to discourage you, just want you to give this some well-rounded consideration. You can always jump into the detailing deep end if that's what you decide you want to do, but make an informed decision ;)



Don't get too caught up in the "best product" thing. Yeah, I really like Souveran on some cars, but IMO you'd probably be better off with something that offers longer-lasting protection and a finish that stays slicker longer (less marring during the washes). A product that needs to be reapplied as often as Souveran might not fit with how you're gonna (really) live with the car (especially in winter) either.



Give this some thought and seriously consider getting the paintwork done and out of the way. Chips, scratches to primer, and stuff like that have a nasty way of turning into rust after winter gets going.
 
[WARNING, ACCUMULATOR'S AUTOPIAN HERESY FOLLOWS:] You might find that having it professionally detailed is the way to go, at least for now.



:xyxthumbs :xyxthumbs
 
bretfraz said:
Viggen's are bada$$ Saabs, that's for sure. I detailed one just like yours earlier this year.
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Thanks! I'm glad some people here can appreciate them. Saabs are immensely popular in my entire extended family and we really don't have many problems with them. My parents own 4 Saabs and 1 non-Saab and have FAR more problems with the non-Saab than any of the Saabs. This Viggen is my 3rd.



Anyone who's interested in what the Viggen is can read this page I made.



pontgta said:
:wavey Welcome

Here is a link to the acronyms
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Wow, thanks! That's immensely useful and I've already used it a ton. I now see that was under the "secret decoder ring" link on the main page. Wasn't obvious what that was so I had never clicked on it. Heh.



Accumulator said:
Hey, Saabs have personality, which is more than you can say for a lot of vehicles.
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Thanks for your words too. I like being able to drive someone that no one else around has and that I'll probably not see any others on the road.



Accumulator said:
IMO it's usually easier to solve the "lots of chips" problem with a spotted-in repaint. Just find somebody good. That's were I'd put *my* money first.
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I think I can find a decent paint place locally here, if it comes down to it. That's where having black is an advantage. Not hard to match! Just how "spot" can most places do? Can it blend in perfectly?



Accumulator said:
Then take GSRstilez up on his offer and watch/help him detail it. [WARNING, ACCUMULATOR'S AUTOPIAN HERESY FOLLOWS:] You might find that having it professionally detailed is the way to go, at least for now. Just *washing* a black vehicle can be a challenge, and not everyone who loves their car also loves detailing. Keeping a black car nice can take a lot of time and effort, especially when you're not experienced with this stuff. And I'd *much* rather have the paintwork repairs done than own a PC.
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This was kind of my thinking. I was looking at having to invest in a lot more for tools, supplies, etc than it'd cost to have someone who's done this hundreds of times come and do it RIGHT.... AND be able to observe and learn. Sure I could jump in right off the bat, but then I'd be learning blindly on my one "baby" without any guidance... and most of us learn from MISTAKES. *shudder*



It's not that I wouldn't work up to doing stuff myself, but I'd rather not dive in clueless and spend hundreds getting started and hundreds more recovering from my mistakes.



Interesting the stuff you're saying about Souveran ... everything I had read has suggested it was the cat's meow. This is the first mention of its downsides that I've read. Can you talk more about the reasons to NOT use it (aside from cost of the stuff) and what other things might be a better choice? Sean mentioned Trade Secret but I'm not sure if it's because he thought it was better or if it's just what he happens to have on-hand.
 
if you wanna have your car done right, and you don't mind paying for the detail instead of doing it yourself, have Sean (gsrstilez) do your car. he is one of the best, hands down. do a search on his name and check out some his posts. they are amazing.



Vernon
 
sremick:



SG stands for Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze. It's the true acrylic sealant that provides long term protection through the elements (rain, snow, sleet, salt, dirt, etc). If applied relatively soon, it will last you through the winter.



Souveran is an excellent 'topper'. It arguably looks best on blacks, which works out for you :). However, it is still a wax, which with faced with salty messy VT roads is gonna be eaten up in a day or two. It is merely for looks, not for protection.



FWIW, CT is not incredibly different than VT weather wise. I plan to use a strong sealant (Klasse or Zaino) and top from time to time with a good carnauba wax (Trade Secret or Natty's Paste Wax) to keep that depth of shine and wet look going :). As far as Trade Secret comparing to Souveran...Many will argue the looks of the two are incredibly close. I have *not* done a side-by-side comparo, but this is what I hear.



You say 1.5 hrs from Manchester...Well I'm coming from CT (up I-91 and so on) so it may be closer than that.
 
So would you agree that Sean counts as a "professional"?



I've seen photos of his work and his posts offer sound, logicical advice on detailing. I don't think you'd be taking too big a risk with grstilez



~Hope this helps~



Knowledge unshared is experience wasted [each one / teach one]

justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ JonM
 
TOGWT said:
I've seen photos of his work and his posts offer sound, logicical advice on detailing. I don't think you'd be taking too big a risk with grstilez



~Hope this helps~
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Heh... I've seen the pics of his work too and read his posts. I was sorta kidding when I asked about whether he's "professional" ;)



He's got a great rep, he lives not obscenely far away, and he comes to my neck of the woods once a month. I'm spoiled...
 
Quote: Don't get too caught up in the "best product" thing. Yeah, I really like Souveran on some cars, but IMO you'd probably be better off with something that offers longer-lasting protection and a finish that stays slicker longer (less marring during the washes). A product that needs to be reapplied as often as Souveran might not fit with how you're gonna (really) live with the car (especially in winter) either.





~One manâ€â„¢s opinion / observations~

I donâ€â„¢ think this was meant as a criticism of Souveran, carnauba waxes do not have good durability (like a polymer product has) so they need to be re-applied often, each time you â€Ëœtouchâ€â„¢ the paint surface here is a chance of marring the surface. So I think the point was use something that will last without the need to renew it as often and also last through a winter.



~Hope this helps~



Knowledge unshared is experience wasted [each one / teach one]

justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ JonM
 
TOGWT said:
I donâ€â„¢ think this was meant as a criticism of Souveran, carnauba waxes do not have good durability (like a polymer product has) so they need to be re-applied often, each time you â€Ëœtouchâ€â„¢ the paint surface here is a chance of marring the surface. So I think the point was use something that will last without the need to renew it as often and also last through a winter.
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Oh ok, gotcha. So this would be a problem of any carnauba wax. Souveran just happens to be the best carnauba wax for black.



I actually wasn't necessarily thinking of doing this until after winter... seemed pointless....? But with the stuff Sean said about SG, maybe I should jump on this sooner (hmmm do I have the $$$ this soon?).



What's the lowest temp you can do this sort of work at?
 
oaevo8u said:
It doesnt matter if you own one car or 400, a pc is a must. I just received mine and I dont know how I got by with out it. The satisfaction you get from doing the job is second to none as well.
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If you have a show car that never needs real paint correction, then you don't need a PC. If you don't and only have a daily driver/commuter car, then a PC is DEFINITELY a must. Sure you can correct some paint defects by hand, but you can correct almost all with a PC, not to mention saving your arm from falling off while getting a more uniform result.



The one thing to remember is that the PC is not a huge timesaver. It will save some time, but its primarily another arm that randomly orbits a hell of a lot faster without getting tired, hence the uniformity comment. You won't want to cheat as much.
 
welcome. nice car.



i guess the main question to ask yourself before jumping into the world of detailing is 'how picky are you about your car?' most of us here are very picky about our cars and making them look good. and i'd say a PC is a good thing to have, especially if you drive your car daily.



but the advice given so far are good advice. you might want to consider fixing the paint chips and such before putting your money towards detailing supplies. after that, maybe you can have Sean do a detail for you and teach you the good techniques at the same time.



good luck.
 
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