keeping my car shiny!
 

so i've had my silver Pro5 for about a week now, and it's starting to get a bit dirty.
soooo i was thinking about washing it tomorrow
should i just wash and dry it?
or should i wax it aswell?
how much will a bottle of good wax and good shampoo and a couple good towels cost?
i haven't ever waxed a car before
i can do it by hand right
hehehe i don't know anything!
before i just washed my moms car in 5 minutes using some cheap purple car soap, i don't even know the brand. haven't waxed it since she bought it in 98. hehehe
but i want to treat my pro5 right!
soooo what do you guys say?

I wrote a somewhat detailed explanation on a 3-step system here:
http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/sho...&threadid=7891

If you're looking for optimum care, you could spend a lot of money.

In terms of towels I highly recommend Microfiber over 100% cotton, but cotton is ok too.

For washing, get a soap that is made specifically for cars.

For "scrubbing" I would recommend a 100% cotton chenile (SP?) mitt or a 100% lambs wool mitt.

Waxing is fairly simple. You can use applicators or even your fingers if you want. Make sure you apply/buff with front to back strokes only...not circular as this could cause swirls if there is any grit.

So cost really depends on what you buy. I recommend avoiding cleaner waxes unless you are looking for a cheap, quick wax job. If you want the best shine and protection, you'll have to spend more to get good materials.

If you want REALLY detailed info, goto www.autopia-carport.com.

Have fun washing! :D

:)
 

thanks for ttthe info
but more info i'm looking for is whether i should wax already or if it's okay just to wash with soap and dry. i'm assuming the dealer detailed it right before i picked it up, which was just a week ago.
i'm silly, i guess i could tell just by going outside and looking.
but then again, i'm not too keen on telling about the cleaniless and shine of a car.

oooh and also a number for a price? so i know how much i need to take from my mom :D :D

www.autopia-carport.com
the best site for detailing tips

You can spend as much as you want... all depends on what you think you'll need.

I say just wash it carefully... then make sure there are no swirlmarks.

If there are, get rid of them, then apply carnauba wax.

If there are none, just apply carnauba wax after washing.

Mothers, Meguiars, and 3M make good products.

DO NOT USE ARMOR ALL PRODUCTS on the paint or the interior.
Turtle Wax is cheap and not that great.

You should be able to get a decent shampoo (make sure it's wax-safe), a wax, and some mitts / towels for like 20 bucks.

your car is till new, so i'd just wash it for now. wait a bit before you really start to get into your detailing. :)

hey hawaiian..what % is ur tint on ur yellow p5? or if some1 knows can they tell?

Re: :)
 

I would guess that the dealer waxed for you, but you can't be 100% sure. There is no harm in going over it with another layer of carnauba wax (assuming you're not using a cleaner wax as that will remove the old layer too).

larry- my tint is 35%, altho i was metered at 36%. still legal! :)

Why is Armor all so bad?

Well apparently SOME newer Armor All products aren't "bad" anymore, but the old stuff had dimethyl silicone in it which was harmful to the dash, etc. Many people reported having cracked dashes after using Armor All and then stopping.

Items with the better PDMSilicone are much better and do not cause problems like the DM Silicone. The PDMSilicon is milky-white in colour whereas the DM Silicone is usually clear.

If you goto www.autopia-carport.com and do a search for Armor All, you'll get good results as to why many don't like Armor All.

Even IF the newer formulation is better, I'm not so sure I'd use it.

they even have scented armor all now. I bought stawberry :dj:

Car wax is a paint protector. Also makes washing the grime off of you car later easier. I would recommend putting a good Carnuba wax on your car. I recently waxed mine using "Meguiar's Hi-Tech yellow car wax" (Carnuba Wax) and I am very satisfied with it. The water beads off real nice, and I notice that the car gets a less road grime buildup. Now waxing is not going to make your paint impervious to chips/dings but an extra layer over the clear coat can't hurt.

I've read good things about Zaino. BUT, they are mail order and I don't like waiting for my products. I'd rather just walk into a store and buy it....therefore it's most likely Meguiar's or Mother's for me.

Zaino is not strictly mail order. Send an email to wet@zainobros.com and ask for a list of distributors in your area. Drive up, walk in, buy, go home.