Jean-Claude
Keeper of the beautiful
A lot of people see cars as utility tools. Point A to point B. "Sorta clean from a $20 Mr. Clean car wash is enough."
Why don't more people detail their cars?
- Thread starter carguy86
- Start date
<span>This question has always been perplexing! Considering the automobile is probably the second most expensive purchase most people will make next to their house--then again we see how some people take care of their home.
<span>I’ve always detailed my cars--even when driving company cars yet neither my son or daughter (she even puts bumper stickers al over the back hatch) or anyone else in my immediate family has ever picked up the “habit� except my granddaughter. And of all people she doesn’t seem to have the time just finishing up her undergraduate work and starting grad school in January. At her request I’ve taught her how to properly wash, clay and apply a good sealant and set her up with the right tools/products. Even though her car is outside 24/7 it always looks good with a coat of DG 105 applied every 3 or 4 months.
<span>As others have mentioned many say they don’t have the time. I live in a community of 136 homes with 95% of the residents being retired. Yet there is only one other person besides myself who I’d consider an Autopian and perhaps 10-15 who I’ve seen hand wash there car (and some of those with a long handled brush of dubious condition). The 15 or so guys I golf with are always commenting that my six year old vehicle looks better than their 2 or 3 year old car, but when I talk about the process they all basically say “no way.�
<span>Go figure????
<span>I’ve always detailed my cars--even when driving company cars yet neither my son or daughter (she even puts bumper stickers al over the back hatch) or anyone else in my immediate family has ever picked up the “habit� except my granddaughter. And of all people she doesn’t seem to have the time just finishing up her undergraduate work and starting grad school in January. At her request I’ve taught her how to properly wash, clay and apply a good sealant and set her up with the right tools/products. Even though her car is outside 24/7 it always looks good with a coat of DG 105 applied every 3 or 4 months.
<span>As others have mentioned many say they don’t have the time. I live in a community of 136 homes with 95% of the residents being retired. Yet there is only one other person besides myself who I’d consider an Autopian and perhaps 10-15 who I’ve seen hand wash there car (and some of those with a long handled brush of dubious condition). The 15 or so guys I golf with are always commenting that my six year old vehicle looks better than their 2 or 3 year old car, but when I talk about the process they all basically say “no way.�
<span>Go figure????
House of Wax
Active member
pwaug said:
Had a proud dad moment a couple weeks ago. My wife calls me at work and tells me that our 4 year old daughter was going to ride her bike but stopped before she got on and says "oh wait, I gotta clean my bike first". I get a text shortly after of a picture of my daughter wiping down her little bike with one of "daddy's towels" lol.
It takes a lot of time, is a lot of very hard work, it takes a place to do it (cannot do it in the sun, etc.), it takes a lot of knowledge to really do it right, it requires somewhat expensive tools and supplies, it is not easy to find someone else who will do it correctly, it costs a lot of money (for some people) to have it done by someone else, etc.
I have always taken excellent care of every thing I have--it is just who I am. I am a professional who would like to pay someone to do it, but I started doing mine myself because it is getting harder and harder to find people who will do things correctly. The old saying that if you want something done correctly you have to do it yourself applies here.
For example, I bought a new midsize SUV and took it to a detailer who has a very fancy website who was going to wash, polish, and wax (with Collinite 845) my brand new midsize SUV for $200. When I showed up to have it done, the two guys were yawning and moved like sloths (like in slow motion). I should have left then. Then they come out with some rinseless wash because they said it was too cold to wash it (It was 60 degrees outside). I waited in the foyer and they were done with the wash, polish, and wax in an hour and a half. Of course, it was not done correctly and many panels did not have any wax on them and had not been polished. It cannot be done that quickly, especially the way they were moving (and they only had one buffer between them and were putting the wax on by hand). After an experience like this, I can see why some folks don't take care of their cars, especially since some people don't have the skills, place, time, health, etc. to do it themselves.
But the number 1 answer for most people is they are just not the kind of people who take care of anything they have. It's the same reason people don't take care of themselves physically or financially. It is just not who they are.
I have always taken excellent care of every thing I have--it is just who I am. I am a professional who would like to pay someone to do it, but I started doing mine myself because it is getting harder and harder to find people who will do things correctly. The old saying that if you want something done correctly you have to do it yourself applies here.
For example, I bought a new midsize SUV and took it to a detailer who has a very fancy website who was going to wash, polish, and wax (with Collinite 845) my brand new midsize SUV for $200. When I showed up to have it done, the two guys were yawning and moved like sloths (like in slow motion). I should have left then. Then they come out with some rinseless wash because they said it was too cold to wash it (It was 60 degrees outside). I waited in the foyer and they were done with the wash, polish, and wax in an hour and a half. Of course, it was not done correctly and many panels did not have any wax on them and had not been polished. It cannot be done that quickly, especially the way they were moving (and they only had one buffer between them and were putting the wax on by hand). After an experience like this, I can see why some folks don't take care of their cars, especially since some people don't have the skills, place, time, health, etc. to do it themselves.
But the number 1 answer for most people is they are just not the kind of people who take care of anything they have. It's the same reason people don't take care of themselves physically or financially. It is just not who they are.