What drives you to detail?

K

krtoflas

Kris's Car Care
One of my customers recently why i love detailing cars. For me there are many reasons that i love to detail cars.
-At my shop, it is just that MY shop. My own little world.
-I think detailing is relaxing.
-Expressions of customers, neighbors, family members when they see the before and after they see the finished product is priceless.
-After I have detailed a car, just standing and admiring the shine is like a high for me.
-I love having the chance to drive vehicles that i cannot afford!
-The money is also a plus.

So what drives you to detail?
 
ive been doing it since i was 13 .it was a way to get extra money and i was a car nut .. my uncle taught me on his 68 imperial . simoniz paste wax .. those were long days for sure and he made sure i did it right. saddle soap the interior on that boat .. i always liked keeping my 79 camaro nicer than anyone elses car in high school then about 8 years ago i wanted to start a small at home biz so i invested about 3 grand in equipment and supplies and got on here and learned about the CORRECT methods used nowadays and the rest is history . i built a nice clientelle that kept me as busy as i could handle part time .. i still like my vehicles looking sharp and i have all the stuff to keep them that way ..
 
Same here on i find it theroputic and i get a visiual satifaction from it i dont get with my full time job.I also started washing cars at 11/12 years old, i always helped my dad then just took it over from him and he didnt mind. So i got it honestly from my father who is a great detailer. He always had meq. cleaner wax on hand so for years thats all i used.
 
It's an escape for me, and I love the compliments. Yesterday I had to take my truck in for an emissions test and the guys there thought it was a brand new truck and were wondering why I needed and emissions. They were shocked to find out it was an 05.
 
Its an escape for me as well. I get lost in my own little world and focus on the car. I tune out everything else and find it relaxing...right until I am done that I relaize I am exhausted and my arms hurt...
 
I'll be the honest one here. ;) Sure it is relaxing and I enjoy the time alone with my thoughts, but the bottom line is the money. I wouldn't do this for free. Right now I'm making between $60 and $80 detailing and I can't seem to give that part up. I started a company not detailing related earlier this year and it has pretty much sucked up all of my extra time. However, when I can get a regular to drop their car off on Friday night so I can detail it and have it ready for them on Saturday morning, that kind of job provides me with 'lunch money' for quite awhile. I only need to detail one or two cars a month to keep me happy right now.

A couple years ago it was another story. I sold my car in January and shared my Pilot with my wife for a couple months until it was motorcycle weather again. I detailed my butt off that year because I wanted to buy another car before winter hit. With the money I got from my Accord and the detailing I did, I was able to pay cash for my Corolla in September of that year. It was fun, yes. It was rewarding, yes. It was profitible, ooooh yes. I do it for the money. I even charge myself to detail my own vehicles. lol Talk to your accountant. There are good reasons to do that sometimes. ;)
 
Jngrbrdman said:
I'll be the honest one here. ;) Sure it is relaxing and I enjoy the time alone with my thoughts, but the bottom line is the money. I wouldn't do this for free. Right now I'm making between $60 and $80 detailing and I can't seem to give that part up. I started a company not detailing related earlier this year and it has pretty much sucked up all of my extra time. However, when I can get a regular to drop their car off on Friday night so I can detail it and have it ready for them on Saturday morning, that kind of job provides me with 'lunch money' for quite awhile. I only need to detail one or two cars a month to keep me happy right now.

A couple years ago it was another story. I sold my car in January and shared my Pilot with my wife for a couple months until it was motorcycle weather again. I detailed my butt off that year because I wanted to buy another car before winter hit. With the money I got from my Accord and the detailing I did, I was able to pay cash for my Corolla in September of that year. It was fun, yes. It was rewarding, yes. It was profitible, ooooh yes. I do it for the money. I even charge myself to detail my own vehicles. lol Talk to your accountant. There are good reasons to do that sometimes. ;)
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Thats good point and I guess I should have prefaced my answer with "When I am doing my own car..." But you are right...
 
Detailing for me is two fold. I enjoy the work and the satisfaction that I get from it. It has at times provided a much needed income so that was he second of the fold.

However its an escape for me from the 9 to 5 during the week, something that I can loose myself in. Its also the appreciation that I get from the customers on delivery. Cars and people are very funny things, to some detailing is just an expensive wash job, and to others its an appreciation for the art that it is:D

I can honestly say that if I was a rich man, I would still be detailing. I would just have a more well equipped shop and a lot more time to work on my OWN cars:D
 
It's the money for me mainly. I hate cleaning cars but I love to detail a clean car especially one that has neglected paint.

Unfortunately for me I have chosen to be mobile and that doesn't always make for an enjoyable detailing experience in the summer. I think I will be getting a shop again and have someone else clean the cars while I help detail them.

I say this every year... "I'm never mobile detailing in the summer again." but here I am still doing it.:redface:
 
Thank you guys. I have read many Threads on this site. I have in ways got to know many people in just a week or two but your answers here have really given me a deeper look at who you are and why you love what you do. This site is awesome. Like detailing cars im kind of addicted to checking this site for new posts and new tricks or reviews. I am glad i am a part of an awesome group
 
Well I think I will be in the minority here because I don't really enjoy detailing.

I don't see it as something that I hate but it is not enjoyable.
So why do I do it well #1 is I like for my vehicles to look nice and I know of No one around here that I would allow to detail my car or truck.

We have a couple places that do it but I would not allow him to do my car for free much less pay him.
I also do all of my own mechanical work not only do I save a lot of money but I know it is done right.
I built the 1178 HP engine in my Corvette so NO one ever touches my vehicles regardless what they need.
I may not be a great detailer but I sure can kick ass on those who do it for a living around here.
 
There is a difference between a detailer and a great detailer though. A detailer is someone who knows what to do, has the right tools and products, sets up shop properly, and enjoys the work. A GREAT detailer is one who does all of that, but also has a passion for detailing. I learned a long time ago that without passion in your work, it will never be the best as it could be. I think anyone who spends time on Detail City like those of us who have posted in this thread, definitely have the passion. We may do it for money and we may do it for vanity, but we are all very very good at what we do because we have a passion for the job. :) It has always been a pleasure to rub shoulders with men like that.
 
most of the time its very relaxing for me.. me and my machine..no worries, no troubles, also i try to better my self by making the next one better than this one, money is real good but i still cant resist doing beaters ones that are by most non-detailers standards are ready for a paint job and bringing the paint back..
 
The fact I can do something and can be pleased with the results. For example, I never would take of golf...seems like an effort in futility.
 
To see pure perfection or as close to it as I can get anyway.:inspector:
When I can detail a car and make it look better than the day it was driven off the lot is a high I enjoy:bigups
 
I find it relaxing. I work in an office and detailing gives me a reason to be outside in the garage and working with my hands. I'm an IT guy and I spend too much time in front of a computer screen.
 
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