Too Much To Choose From!!!

H

hand banana

New member
Hey fellas, my names Nick, im new here...1st post actually

ive always detailed my cars but mainly with stuff from a local detailing distrib by my house, collinite was probably the only thing that i used on my cars that i see people use here

recently bought a 2008 white Honda S2000 and i want to keep it looking minty fresh, ive been looking around on a number of detailing sites to find what would suit my car best, and the problem im running into is... THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY PRODUCTS TO CHOOSE FROM!!

i see people posting up about the new dura-nano-ultra-764-aircraft-carrying-opti-megatron3453453 wax sealer that they use in conjunction with something else ive never heard of and it literally just makes my head spin lol

so i started looking into the detailing kits to try and get everything i need in one shot rather than piece it together, but the only complete kits ive been able to find that looks worthwhile is the detailing kits on the chemical guys website that go for about $165 but it seems to come with everything

....so after that long rant for my very 1st post ever, can someone recommend a good detailing kit? or recommend a good couple products that i can piece together?
 
Welcome to AF!
Kits are a great way to start out and learn how products work till you know you have the look you want. Everyone has their likes and dislikes.
I'm sure you'll get some great input to how to refine your order as I am not familiar with Chemical Guys. I only have their blower.
Again welcome!
 
hey thanks!
yeah i hear good things about them as a company, well see, ill give it a couple days for this topic to try n get some input
 
Welcome Hand Banana.:)

Do you know if your Paint is single satge or clear coat?

If its a single stage its nice to use a cleaner wax regularily to help keep it from oxidizing.

I really like KlasseAIO.

Are you looking to machine polish it too?
 
im not too sure, i keep reading mixed reviews, some say single stage, others say its a tinted clear coat the color of the car....

i was looking to:
Wash
Clay
Polish/Seal
Wax
 
hand banana said:
Hey fellas, my names Nick, im new here...1st post actually

ive always detailed my cars but mainly with stuff from a local detailing distrib by my house, collinite was probably the only thing that i used on my cars that i see people use here

recently bought a 2008 white Honda S2000 and i want to keep it looking minty fresh, ive been looking around on a number of detailing sites to find what would suit my car best, and the problem im running into is... THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY PRODUCTS TO CHOOSE FROM!!

i see people posting up about the new dura-nano-ultra-764-aircraft-carrying-opti-megatron3453453 wax sealer that they use in conjunction with something else ive never heard of and it literally just makes my head spin lol

so i started looking into the detailing kits to try and get everything i need in one shot rather than piece it together, but the only complete kits ive been able to find that looks worthwhile is the detailing kits on the chemical guys website that go for about $165 but it seems to come with everything

....so after that long rant for my very 1st post ever, can someone recommend a good detailing kit? or recommend a good couple products that i can piece together?
Click to expand...

Hello Hand Banana, welcome to AutopiaForums! S2000's are very cool cars, congratulations! Rev it up and let it go!

I am working on a response to your question, so give me an hour or so and I will get it up for you. I didn't want you to feel like we didn't see ya! :welcome::autopia:
 
hand banana said:
recently bought a 2008 white Honda S2000 and i want to keep it looking minty fresh, ive been looking around on a number of detailing sites to find what would suit my car best, and the problem im running into is... THERE IS JUST TOO MUCH DAM PRODUCTS TO CHOOSE FROM!!

i see people posting up about the new dura-nano-ultra-764-aircraft-carrying-opti-megatron3453453 wax sealer that they use in conjunction with something else ive never heard of and it literally just makes my head spin lol

so i started looking into the detailing kits to try and get everything i need in one shot rather than piece it together, but the only complete kits ive been able to find that looks worthwhile is the detailing kits on the chemical guys website that go for about $165 but it seems to come with everything

....so after that long rant for my very 1st post ever, can someone recommend a good detailing kit? or recommend a good couple products that i can piece together?
Click to expand...

Detailing kits are a great idea to save money, get everything you need, and let the experts pick the products that work together. If you purchase soon you can take advantage of Autopia-CarCare's 12 Days of BLACKFIRE promotion, which includes a free BLACKFIRE brand product (betwen 29-35 dollars) as well as our free shipping promo that runs until Sunday. It is free shipping over $75 by entering coupon code: ELF75 at check out.

Autopia-CarCare.com offers a huge selection of kits on with some of the best brands on the planet: Car Care Kits Even the share amount of kits can be confusing so lets first determine what your goals are for you Honda S2000.

recently bought a 2008 white Honda S2000 and i want to keep it looking minty fresh, ive been looking around on a number of detailing sites to find what would suit my car best, and the problem im running into is
Click to expand...

First we have to determine if you want to keep your car looking minty fresh or if you want to improve the finish to super minty.

You may find this link: Autopia 5 Step Paint Care Cycle: useful as it is an overview on what it takes to properly clean, enhance, and protect your vehicle.

If you desire is to keep your looking the way it does and preserve it then you are going to want to go on a regimen of safe washing, periodic cleaning, and frequent protecting (using a wax or synthetic paint sealant).

If you desire to increase the shine of your paint then you are going to want to learn how to use a machine polisher and high-quality machine polishes to level the paint's surface and dramatically increase shine.


Technique and procedure are more important (in some cases) then car brand selection, because everything we sell at Autopia-CarCare.com is of the highest quality and carefully chosen. However if ever brand (or specific products with in the brand) has unique qualities and charcteristics, just like many types of red wine, for example.

Do you prefer a bright shine or a deep, smooth shine? (Generally white looks best to most eyes with the former).

How often do you plan on waxing/sealing/detailing the paint?

Do you like a natural shine to your tires?

What are you wheels made out of?

Are you willing to put it in a little extra effort for an increased shine?

Any information you can give me will help me to help you select the best and products to keep that Honda shining!

Best

Todd
 
wow thanks for that thorough reply Todd

heres a quick run down...
the car is not my primary car, but i do drive it on nights and weekends.... but unfortunatly i do not have a garage to park it in every night
the car does get taken off the road from mid december to about march tho where it will be in a garage, once i get it out i would like to give it a full detail and maintain that throughout the summer

im a pretty busy guy so i dont want to spend every saturday detailing my car, but washing it/spray waxing is totally do able every saturday for maintenance

im more concered about a longer lasting protection/shine being that the car will be outside all spring/summer
after reading up on the waxes i think i would need some kind of sealant/synthetic wax

as far as polishing goes, i dont know if im ready to shell out a few hundred on a machine, can polish be applied by hand?

for the tire shine, natural is nice, but my car is white, i dont want something that is going to kick up black spots all over my fenders...

not exactly sure what the wheels are made out of, they are factory i would assume alloy?

so i think the products i would need recommendations on are the following:
Wash/Shampoo
Clay
Clay Lube
Polish (if able to be applied by hand)
Sealant (something very durable)
Wax (still not sure if sealant goes on then you put wax on top, or do i get a combination wax/sealant?)
Tire shine that doest make a mess while i drive!

**and as far as the opticoat option, it sounds like it would be great for me being that it offers life time protection (or so its claimed) i just dont want to run the risk of messing somehting up

the reason i like the car kits its because in most cases they come with everything including applicators and microfibers, just not sure if there is one tailor made to my needs lol
 
hand banana said:
wow thanks for that thorough reply Todd

heres a quick run down...
the car is not my primary car, but i do drive it on nights and weekends.... but unfortunatly i do not have a garage to park it in every night
the car does get taken off the road from mid december to about march tho where it will be in a garage, once i get it out i would like to give it a full detail and maintain that throughout the summer
Click to expand...

Okay, gotcha. Car's that are stored outside face more challenges then cars that call a garage home at night.

im a pretty busy guy so i dont want to spend every saturday detailing my car, but washing it/spray waxing is totally do able every saturday for maintenance
Click to expand...

The good news is the more thorough and complete of a job you do the first time (during the detail) the less is needed to maintain your Honda and keep it looking great. Because your car is outside 24/7 you may want to consider washing it twice a week and waxing/sealing more frequently to keep the finish looking great.

im more concered about a longer lasting protection/shine being that the car will be outside all spring/summer
after reading up on the waxes i think i would need some kind of sealant/synthetic wax
Click to expand...

I would at least use a sealant as a base to ensure you have long lasting protection and a durable finish to begin with. If you want ot play around with difference carnauba wax toppers as you go along then that would be fine as well.

as far as polishing goes, i dont know if im ready to shell out a few hundred on a machine, can polish be applied by hand?
Click to expand...

Today's paint systems (even typically soft Honda paint) are hard in comparison to a lot of the paint systems used in days gone by. You can polish out an entire car by hand but it is going to take a lot of elbow grease and a lot of time. Hand polishing an isolated spot can take hours, to do a whole car (and achieve good results) could easily take several hours a day for several months. Its possible but not really time or cost effective to do. Polishing the paint and removing any swirl marks is going to be the best bet for improving the paints gloss and making it stand out on the road. You can still make your car look awesome with out using a machine polisher and they aren't for everybody, but it is something to place in the back of your mind.

for the tire shine, natural is nice, but my car is white, i dont want something that is going to kick up black spots all over my fenders...
Click to expand...

If your not in a hurry then I would wait until Mid-January to order. We just got done testing a tire shine that is going to be right up your alley and smells amazing. It creates a semi-satin sheen and does not sling.

not exactly sure what the wheels are made out of, they are factory i would assume alloy?
Click to expand...

Most factory wheels today are painted alloy. The paint they use is a little different then the paint on the car but the basics are the same. Use a quality pH neutral wheel cleaner like Sonax Full Effect or P21s Wheel Gel to remove the stubborn stuff and keep them clean with a thorough cleaning when you wash and they will look great for a long time. Also look at something like DP's Wheel Glaze.

so i think the products i would need recommendations on are the following:
Wash/Shampoo
Clay
Clay Lube
Polish (if able to be applied by hand)
Sealant (something very durable)
Wax (still not sure if sealant goes on then you put wax on top, or do i get a combination wax/sealant?)
Tire shine that doest make a mess while i drive!
Click to expand...

Wash/Shampoo- There are a lot of good washes on the market. If you can find one that you like that is compatiable with your sealant or wax then its even better. For what I will be recommending I would suggest BLACKFIRE Gloss Shampoo.

Clay+Clay Lube- Again BLACKFIRE Polyclay II makes a great combination and is designed to work as part of a system.

Sealant- BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond All Paint Protection is an amazing sealant that is one of the highest rated in our industry. It is easy to use, lasts a long tme, and creates a deep wet shine.

Wax- Waxing the car is optional after sealing and you have a couple options. P21s Concours Carnauba Wax is an older wax that generated quite a following for looking great on light colored cars. It looks great but needs to be reapplied frequently for the best performance. Best of all it is a really good value. Dodo Juice Diamond White is another high quality carnuaba designed to work on light colored cars and metal flakes. It is imported from England. The final choice would be to stick with BLACKFIRE and use the Midnight Sun Carnauba paste. This is a premium wax designed to bond to the sealant finish.

Polish- Using an abrasive polish by hand is probably not going to get you the best results. You can use a 'pre-wax' cleaner polish. I know you had asked me in PM's about Klasse AIO and this is a great option. Another great option is BLACKFIRE Gloss Enhancing Polish as it will lightly polish the surface and leave behind a 'primer' for BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond.

Tire Shine- I cannot go into to much detail but we have a tire shine that will be launched in mid-January that will be everything you wanted (and more) with zero sling.

the reason i like the car kits its because in most cases they come with everything including applicators and microfibers, just not sure if there is one tailor made to my needs lol
Click to expand...

Looking at what I recommended vs. kits-

BLACKFIRE EXTERIOR KIT- This comes with a shampoo, the hand polish, the sealant, and the spray sealant (for maintenance) as well as various applicators and microfiber towels.

Additionally the clay and clay lube are listed on the BLACKFIRE page.

I hope this helps!
 
:welcome: To Autopia Forums Nick!

It's a always great to have new members join and express an interest in detailing.

Once Todd chimes is he does such a great job at answering any questions you might have there's little more to add he's just that good!

I understand you becoming overwhelmed with all the different products available and there are many! One nice aspect is we only carry quality products on Autopia and none of them are a poor choice.

If you choose one product that satisfies the basic steps below you'll be surprised easy it is to produce some amazing results on your car or truck.

  1. Wash
  2. Clay
  3. Compound
  4. Polish
  5. Seal
  6. Wax
Detailing doesn't have to be expensive or complicated but it should be enjoyable and satisfying...:bigups
 
Todd has given you lots of great advice Hand Banana.

The only thing I have to say thats different is you can poilish out a car by hand in a day or so IME if the swirls are not too deep ,it is possible . And the S2000 is a pretty small car and white so its not going to be so critical to get it perfect than lets say a black car.

It all depends how paticular you are and how strong your arms and hands are!

The car in my avatar I hand polished and waxed and did the entire car inside and out about 9 hours .

Does it look anywhere near like a car that Todd polished out ........NO!!:inspector:

But I still think it looked pretty minty fresh and the owner was happy!:D
 
thanks for all the feedback guys!!

i think im going to start with Klasse AIO cause all i hear is good things about it

then ill follow up with this kit BLACKFIRE Wet-Ice over Fire Kit

im also going to buy the blackfire clay as well

my buddy actually has a porter cable machine, so im thinking after clay the car i will use the machine for the Klasse
follow up the Klasse with the blackfire wet diamond
and top that off with the blackfire midnight sun!
 
hand banana said:
thanks for all the feedback guys!!

i think im going to start with Klasse AIO cause all i hear is good things about it

then ill follow up with this kit BLACKFIRE Wet-Ice over Fire Kit

im also going to buy the blackfire clay as well

my buddy actually has a porter cable machine, so im thinking after clay the car i will use the machine for the Klasse
follow up the Klasse with the blackfire wet diamond
and top that off with the blackfire midnight sun!
Click to expand...

You are going to love how your car looks when your done. Make sure to post pictures!
 
Just to throw something in there for you. to also think about. Grand Prix White (or GPW) is a beautiful color, and the rare one for S2ks. So good purchase!!!

I have several GPW clients, and after much research and testing of products, I have found that the Werkstat Acrylic system works absolutely amazing on this color!

this nice thing about it is that after you prep the surface with acrylic prime, the sealant is a spray and wipe sealant so its extremely easy to place.

For GPW, I normally prime the paint with acrylic prime, then after about 30 minutes, put two to three coats of acrylic jett on in 30 minute intervals.

With the car always outside, this combination will be good for 6 months or so of protection (maybe longer.. depending) and the gloss is outstanding!

Welcome to Autopia Forums also BTW :D
 
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