Keeping your new CR-Z looking new
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5,332 Posts
:yeahthat:
i'm gonna use a new product i came across called Croftgate... it's a "green" waterless carwash polymer that really cleans the car and is especially good for black cars b/c it doesn't allow dust to stick to the car and it prevents fingerprints too... really amazing stuff you have to see it to believe it :cheer:
i'm gonna use a new product i came across called Croftgate... it's a "green" waterless carwash polymer that really cleans the car and is especially good for black cars b/c it doesn't allow dust to stick to the car and it prevents fingerprints too... really amazing stuff you have to see it to believe it :cheer:
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579 Posts
Besides being super anal with my car; I wash and detail it weekly and keep it parked in my garage or shade or covered parking when i can. However, i opted for Auto Butler as part of my deal through the delearship. So twice a year, for 5 years, they do a full exterior detail. Wax, polish and all. I used to wax my prelude and claybar, etc, and it was a pain in the ass in the florida heat. So I couldnt pass this up. For an extra 9 bucks a month, it was a good deal. Saves me the hassle from now on.
Here's a little run down:
Auto Butler - "Keep that New Car Shine"
Also for interior use. I use fabreeze auto on the carpet and seats. For the dash, i just do a wipdown. NO chemicals really. That dash material doesnt respond well to interior sprays like turtle wax interior protectant. However, it works well on the steering wheel and column, shift boot/knob and ebrake handle. I noticed that when i use the spray on the dash and stuff, it just streaked and absorbed it like a sponge. I didnt like the effect. *lol* And Black Magic tire shine. Gotta keep those tires shiny!
Here's a little run down:
Auto Butler - "Keep that New Car Shine"
Also for interior use. I use fabreeze auto on the carpet and seats. For the dash, i just do a wipdown. NO chemicals really. That dash material doesnt respond well to interior sprays like turtle wax interior protectant. However, it works well on the steering wheel and column, shift boot/knob and ebrake handle. I noticed that when i use the spray on the dash and stuff, it just streaked and absorbed it like a sponge. I didnt like the effect. *lol* And Black Magic tire shine. Gotta keep those tires shiny!
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232 Posts
I'll be doing my first detail on the CRZ this weekend, actually.
I will be washing with Optimum No-Rinse (similar to what bizzy described above). Might claybar the front and will be giving it a coat or two of Klasse AIO followed by a coat or two of Souveran paste wax applied with a light coat of Pinnacle Crystal Mist. I use generic Eagle spray for the tires and some Pinnacle rubber/vinyl spray for the trim. I'm going to try Meguiars Quick Interior Detailer for the inside trim.
I will be washing with Optimum No-Rinse (similar to what bizzy described above). Might claybar the front and will be giving it a coat or two of Klasse AIO followed by a coat or two of Souveran paste wax applied with a light coat of Pinnacle Crystal Mist. I use generic Eagle spray for the tires and some Pinnacle rubber/vinyl spray for the trim. I'm going to try Meguiars Quick Interior Detailer for the inside trim.
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618 Posts
I like ONR too. I use it on garaged cars and spot detailing. However since the CRZ will be out more, I may go back to using One Grand Blitz Wax and One Grand Wash & Wax Soap. The wash builds the wax instead of stripping it, and it seems more resistant to tree sap and bird poo.
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1,217 Posts
Mine will be parked in an outdoor lot :mellow:having a garage helps
I have some meguiars paste wax and car wash. Was part of a small birthday gift from years back. Anyone have experience using that brand?
And I'd love an explanation of real world experience with clay bar as well. I hear it mentioned over at 8thgen but never gave it any thought.
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522 Posts
i decided to try claybar once.... it's a double edged sword... once you use it, you'll want to keep using it (plus!) but it is suuuuch a pain in the ass to do (negative!) but you really can *literally* feel a difference in the surface of the car after it's been claybar'd
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1,285 Posts
My car's already pretty dirty on the outside. I really wish it'd stop raining for more than a day. I use the same stuff I got with my Lightning. Not sure what it's called, but it's good.
Here's my regime if re-waxing is to use several soft spoonges, a 10 gal. bucket of warm water with dish soap. The dishsoap cleans and removes old wax. If you don't want wax removed I recommend a polymer type auto soap. I then clay bar the car- if you clay bar, take note. If you ever drop clay, toss it. It will have picked up tiny rocks.
Once it's clayed, I grab my orbital and put some polishing compound on it, polish, wipe off excess and wax in the shade.
I'm really surprised at how easy the interior gets dirty. 3xx miles and it's already a mess.
There are some products in the garage that should help.
Is anyone else getting mosquitos in their car? I have all the windows up and everything. But every morning when I get in the car, there's at least one flying. I smashed one and he left a blood mark on the driver'd door card.
Here's my regime if re-waxing is to use several soft spoonges, a 10 gal. bucket of warm water with dish soap. The dishsoap cleans and removes old wax. If you don't want wax removed I recommend a polymer type auto soap. I then clay bar the car- if you clay bar, take note. If you ever drop clay, toss it. It will have picked up tiny rocks.
Once it's clayed, I grab my orbital and put some polishing compound on it, polish, wipe off excess and wax in the shade.
I'm really surprised at how easy the interior gets dirty. 3xx miles and it's already a mess.
There are some products in the garage that should help.
Is anyone else getting mosquitos in their car? I have all the windows up and everything. But every morning when I get in the car, there's at least one flying. I smashed one and he left a blood mark on the driver'd door card.
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3,097 Posts
I have a been a car freak of nature all my life and have just about used every product available. The best stuff I have ever used was Adams car polish.
Adam's Polishes
My whole MINI club switched to this stuff from Meguiars after I introduced it. The owner is top A-1when it comes to service and I know this from personal experience. There is no better product, bar none. True life story- after using his product I entered my '04 MINI in Orange Counties largest car show, Cruisin for a Cure, and won best MINI. When I picked up my award I was hoping they wouldn't ask what products I used because the event was sponsored by Meguiars and that would have been odd.:blush:
You will not find it in any parts store because the owner believes in mass production you loose quality and he doesn't want it to be viewed as just another everyday verity car wax because it isn't- and I agree. It is a little on the expensive side but you use only a little and and it lasts a long time. Not to mention you can do it all in direct sunlight with out any damage to the paint or it leaving streaks or "baking".
Adam's Polishes
My whole MINI club switched to this stuff from Meguiars after I introduced it. The owner is top A-1when it comes to service and I know this from personal experience. There is no better product, bar none. True life story- after using his product I entered my '04 MINI in Orange Counties largest car show, Cruisin for a Cure, and won best MINI. When I picked up my award I was hoping they wouldn't ask what products I used because the event was sponsored by Meguiars and that would have been odd.:blush:
You will not find it in any parts store because the owner believes in mass production you loose quality and he doesn't want it to be viewed as just another everyday verity car wax because it isn't- and I agree. It is a little on the expensive side but you use only a little and and it lasts a long time. Not to mention you can do it all in direct sunlight with out any damage to the paint or it leaving streaks or "baking".
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107 Posts
wash with some pinnacle body work shampoo, claybar the shit out of the car, compound it, and give it a nice coat of sealer. (sealer coat goes on every 6 months) if you do this properly all you have to do is wash the car and buff it and that's it. ill post some pics in a week when i do the next car wash.
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200 Posts
I'm with VTEC Mini on the Adams stuff. The guy my brother bought his car from mentioned it. Always game to try a new product I ordered their little sample pack. I now use their products almost exclusively. Their detail spray is the best I compared it next to a couple other products and it looked and felt better and its better to use. Nothing of theirs I've tried disappointed me.
Their customer service is second to none as well..had a problem with one of the sprayers being left out of an order. They overnighted me a new one along with throwing in some free microfibers.
So, I waxed mine the week I bought it. Paint was really smooth so no clay bar this time. Besides I need a new clay bar anyway. Since then weekly washes assuming no rain and then spend about 20mins afterwards cleaning windows, headlights, and detail spray on whole car. As for interior I just vacuum and use the adams interior stuff. It doesn't make everything shiny or gooey like a lot of things I've tried. I like meguiars interior stuff too...its one of their products in the brown bottle the professional series.
Their customer service is second to none as well..had a problem with one of the sprayers being left out of an order. They overnighted me a new one along with throwing in some free microfibers.
So, I waxed mine the week I bought it. Paint was really smooth so no clay bar this time. Besides I need a new clay bar anyway. Since then weekly washes assuming no rain and then spend about 20mins afterwards cleaning windows, headlights, and detail spray on whole car. As for interior I just vacuum and use the adams interior stuff. It doesn't make everything shiny or gooey like a lot of things I've tried. I like meguiars interior stuff too...its one of their products in the brown bottle the professional series.
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1,285 Posts
That's another great product. In fact, that's what came w/ my Ford Lightning.
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3,097 Posts
The detail spray is the bomb. I also love how everything has a distinctive smell. The detail spray kind of smells like strawberries, In and Out Spray smell like baby powder, Undercarriage spray smells like grape Jolly Ranchers. My wife loves the way the garage smells after I detail the cars LOL!
My situation with the owner was on my '04 MINI I had a roof decal that was checker board with a big red "S" on it. One of there reps said I could use the vinyl protectant on it to make it shine. It turned it brown in some spots. The owner offered to have the whole top redone- no questions asked and wanted to fix it right now. I asked if he wanted picture as proof or wanted to look at it first. He said no need to and for me to get quotes and send it him and he would cut me a check. He did say that was the wrong stuff to use for it and was sorry. Fortunately, it did fade off in a couple of weeks. He also comes out once a year to do demo's for our MINI/ Mini club.
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53 Posts
Owning black cars can be a pain but what I do is:
1-Never let anyone else wash my car!
2-Pressure Wash, less contact with cloths/mitts and brushes=less haze.
3-Drying, use microfiber cloths and always wipe in one direction in straight lines.
4-Secret weapon, WizardsProducts.com - Home I use the mist and shine after drying and blowing the excess water out of mirrors and such. This is the best detailer I have found, I carry a bottle in the car for daily up keep.
5-Interior, I really like Meguiar's Direct Quik Interior Detailer™ I will clean everything on the interior, I spray on a cloth and wipe everything down. I leaves no greasy residue, cleans even fingerprints of glossy surfaces and touchscreen navs. Smells great too. Vacuum and use an upholstery brush on the mats.
Love a clean car! :thumbsup:
1-Never let anyone else wash my car!
2-Pressure Wash, less contact with cloths/mitts and brushes=less haze.
3-Drying, use microfiber cloths and always wipe in one direction in straight lines.
4-Secret weapon, WizardsProducts.com - Home I use the mist and shine after drying and blowing the excess water out of mirrors and such. This is the best detailer I have found, I carry a bottle in the car for daily up keep.
5-Interior, I really like Meguiar's Direct Quik Interior Detailer™ I will clean everything on the interior, I spray on a cloth and wipe everything down. I leaves no greasy residue, cleans even fingerprints of glossy surfaces and touchscreen navs. Smells great too. Vacuum and use an upholstery brush on the mats.
Love a clean car! :thumbsup:
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232 Posts
I finally got around to doing the detailing process I described. I'm pretty happy with the results. Given the amateurish detail the dealership gave the car before I picked her up, I can honestly say she's better than new.
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Optimum No Rinse
Klasse AIO (x2)
Pinnacle Souveran Paste/Crystal Mist (x2)
Klasse exterior rubber/trim treatment
Generic tire 'gel'
Optimum No Rinse
Klasse AIO (x2)
Pinnacle Souveran Paste/Crystal Mist (x2)
Klasse exterior rubber/trim treatment
Generic tire 'gel'
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1,609 Posts
OK so i work next to a dirt warehouse and a parkway so after work everyday i use my california car duster to get the loose dirt off, then i use mothers showroom shine and wipe her down completely. This past weekend i gave her her first waxing using again mothers, made the pearl flakes pop more and darkend the paint (its black). But i do still have very slight swirl marks, i either need to wax more or tri something different. Car looks sexy though:leghump:
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3,097 Posts
California Dusters are real bad for paint. Adams sell this stuff called "Swirl and Haze Remover" that works like a champ. They also have other polish and waxes. There link is on this thread.
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