Would washing, waxing, and claying be enough?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by btan219

Hi everyone, recently got a BRZ. It's my first nice car and I want to keep it presentable, but I'm not over zealous about every detail.

In terms of the exterior, would washing every 2-3weeks, waxing every 3-4months, and claying 2-3 times a year be enough to keep it in presentable condition?

Also, are these products recommended to use?

car wash: meguiar's gold class wash and shampoo https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00068OU7U...I2PO6YD3KWRAJB

car wax: smartwax pure carnauba based wax and polish https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028SCLJU...I2P9HL9EAL1OKQ

or collinite liquid insulator wax #845 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JK2D06...I3J3W7PUELG7WU

car clay: meguiar's smooth surface clay kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00063X7KG...5WCTHI5O&psc=1

I do believe you got a good plan! For Florida, I'm thinking just clay it once per year, wash it when you think it looks dirty, and you feel like it, wax it once per year ..... or more often, if it makes YOU feel good.

As far as products, most all name brand products will do just fine ....... after all, it's not you SO's face ......


humfrz

[humfrz]

Poor OP starts a thread about car care .... and you pre-verts turn it into something sexual .... shame on you all .......

(who posted that.....??)

[alan.chalkley]

Bluemoon gets washed once a month with meguires ultimate wash and wax , waxed with meguires quick wax once every 6 months , always use a car cover when it is not used.
It still looks brand new after 4 years.
Because the original factory paint is not top quality , i don't see the point in ceramic clear coats.
I would rather save the money towards a custom shop respray.

[JD001]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Poor OP starts a thread about car care .... and you pre-verts turn it into something sexual .... shame on you all .......

(who posted that.....??)

Is a "pre-vert" phase just before breaking into a full blown "pervert" phase?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by JD001

Is a "pre-vert" phase just before breaking into a full blown "pervert" phase?

Sounds about right to me ........


humfrz

[86geek]

Originally Posted by alan.chalkley

Because the original factory paint is not top quality , i don't see the point in ceramic clear coats.
I would rather save the money towards a custom shop respray.

Ceramic coating is great & has UV protection as well. My car sits 24/7 in the sun which is why I invested in it. Best $400.00 I spent. Cost can reasonable if you get the car ceramic coated right after you buy a brand new car. It's the prepping of the car that is labor intensive and can be costly when paint correction needs to be done. I only had a small swirl on bottom of my hood.

I get compliments all the time how my metallic flakes in the paint stand out and is so shiny after 2 years.

Blending of the paint is a difficult to do especially with metallic colors.
Flakes are different sizes on the panels of our cars.

[sodjer]

All great products. I've used Meg's Gold class for years and haven't found another product that's convinced me to switch yet (plus it smells good ).
Just recently tried Collinite 845 for the first time. It's been 2 months since applied and still beading water nicely. You probably don't need to clay that often, but Meg's clay is pretty good (although you could also pick up clay on Amazon or somewhere and use wash solution vs. detail spray and save a few $'s).

Although after seeing ceramic coatings in person (one application of which was 3 years old) I'd also suggest you strongly consider that, especially if you want great protection and easy maintenance. I never really thought they were worth the money either, but will probably invest in it soon (especially since my car always seems to be target #1 for birds... 15 other cars in the lot at work and only mine gets nailed, sometimes 2-3 times a day ).

Here's video of a popular ceramic coating, Opti Coat. The water sheeting and beading is pretty phenomenal. Dirt will also pretty much rinse right off:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUevm1WUzWc"]Opti coat paint protection 2.5 years after application - YouTube[/ame]

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by sodjer

(especially since my car always seems to be target #1 for birds... 15 other cars in the lot at work and only mine gets nailed, sometimes 2-3 times a day ).

You want bird issue? We have bird issues at work. Luckily they seem to like the high ground and have left me alone so far.

[JD001]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

You want bird issue? We have bird issues at work. Luckily they seem to like the high ground and have left me alone so far.

I think they are usually attracted to either dark or silvers as both colours look like water from a distance and birds like pooping over water... and who wants to sit on an orange thingy.

[86geek]

Originally Posted by JD001

I think they are usually attracted to either dark or silvers as both colours look like water from a distance and birds like pooping over water... and who wants to sit on an orange thingy.

Yuh, my car gets the bombs of hell with my dark color car. Other cars around me get nothing.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by JD001

I think they are usually attracted to either dark or silvers as both colours look like water from a distance and birds like pooping over water... and who wants to sit on an orange thingy.

Geese crap everywhere they've no preferences!

[86geek]

Originally Posted by sodjer

Although after seeing ceramic coatings in person (one application of which was 3 years old) I'd also suggest you strongly consider that, especially if you want great protection and easy maintenance. I never really thought they were worth the money either, but will probably invest in it soon (especially since my car always seems to be target #1 for birds... 15 other cars in the lot at work and only mine gets nailed, sometimes 2-3 times a day ).

Here's video of a popular ceramic coating, Opti Coat. The water sheeting and beading is pretty phenomenal. Dirt will also pretty much rinse right off:

Yup, Opticoat or Cquartz Finest ceramic coatings FTW!

[alan.chalkley]

Originally Posted by 86geek

Ceramic coating is great & has UV protection as well. My car sits 24/7 in the sun which is why I invested in it. Best $400.00 I spent. Cost can reasonable if you get the car ceramic coated right after you buy a brand new car. It's the prepping of the car that is labor intensive and can be costly when paint correction needs to be done. I only had a small swirl on bottom of my hood.

I get compliments all the time how my metallic flakes in the paint stand out and is so shiny after 2 years.

Blending of the paint is a difficult to do especially with metallic colors.
Flakes are different sizes on the panels of our cars.

It is inevitable that a very skilled driver , shopping trolley or kangaroo will occupy real estate with our cars.
Does insurance cover the re application of ceramic coat after panel repairs?

[86geek]

Originally Posted by alan.chalkley

Does insurance cover the re application of ceramic coat after panel repairs?

Yes, my insurance told me it would cover as long as I have a receipt of documentation that ceramic coating was done.

I had a situation last year with a auto body paint shop that damaged the front bumper of my car. Also my car had overspray of white paint all over my drivers side, the front hood & roof of my car. I didn't go through the paint shop insurance. I had them refund me the cost of the original repair. Also got them to pay the detail shop for the removal of the overspray of white paint & to reapply the ceramic coating to my hood, roof & the entire drivers side of my car.

Now my car is ceramic coated with 3/4 Cquartz Finest & 1/4 Opticoat Pro
That's why my signature says, Opticoat & Cquartz Finest. The detailer I go to now only uses Cquartz finest now.