Need advice

[Mudd92]

Im not professional detailer, but I do try to buy decent quality products, not just Autozone and Walmart, and I enjoy spending a few hours detailing.

Anyways, im looking for some advice on my car to keep the paint in as good of quality as it is now.

I have a 03 mach, azure blue, and it has to spend its life outdoors, all elements, sun, rain, everything. I DO have a carcover, but i end up not using it because I like to drive my car alot, and after a few hours driving its dirty and I hate to drag something across the paint, because now it has fine scratches from the past doing that...:bored:

Can you guys tell me how to keep it best protected? Heres what I do as of now. And I do have A PC buffer.

I wash it once a week, vac interior, apply 303 aerospace all over the plastics, and usually a wipe down of the seats (please recommend a leather cleaner and protectant)

Once a month I wax it, which right now, im using the Meguires wax, sometime I use the cleaner wax.

Generally will wax every 6 months..


Im sorry for a long thread, but im looking for advice to keep my car in great shape without a garage, but I dont want to spend 1000$ on detail supplys because I dont think I need that.

And im also looking to remove the swirl marks and fine scratches....thanks everyone




And if anyone is local in Savannah, i would like to know a price on a professional to detail my car, with all the works, scratch removal, etc etc.

 

[stangaholic280]

Don't have any specific answers for you, but if you browse this forum for a bit all of these questions will be answered. Tons of pics of people washing/waxing/removing scratches, etc. Just find what you want and see what that person did! Good luck. :rockon:

 

[MAXSE2kMT]

It depends on the level that you want to take it to. Imo you won't get the clarity and look you seem to be wanting without a proper correction detail. Trying to do it by hand won't achieve the results you seek and you can certainly jump in with a pc, but practice first on a the beater or scrap pieces.

Either way, when you are washing you want a lot of lubricity. When I wash I always pre-rinse with the pressure washer than use the foam cannon to grab and remove as many loose particals as possible. I use a grout sponge from Lowes for my washing, using the 2 bucket method with a grit guard. I also use a different sponge for the lower portions of the car that see more road grime and tar. When I dry I use a waffle weave to gather as much of the water as possible without dragging it across the paint. I then use a leaf blower to chase any remaining water and blot it with the ww.

As far as wax, when it comes to durability I don't think anything beats Collinite 845 insulator wax. I use this for the fall and winter and go with Blackfire wet diamond in the spring and summer because I reapply more frequently. I can probably go on for hours, but I'll leave you with the above to start.

 

[Mudd92]

Yeah ive been doing some mild research, on here and autogeek. I do use 2 buckets, i use a diffrent brush for wheels and car. I do dry with a blower and chamois.

I think she really needs rotary attention, so thats why Id like to try and find a local pro. And get some pricing, and then from then I could probably handle it myself.

Is wash once a week and waxing a month is that good to help protect the paint from fade, dirt, turds, etc lol.

Thanks for all the advice so far.

 

[jrock817]

go to autopia.org and spend an hour or two researching how to videos and reading up a bit. you need to realize what level you are willing to take yourself before approaching a professional. detailing is an awesome hobby, not a cheap one, but a rewarding one. do yourself the favor of researching it a bit more