Is it normal for new cars to have swirl marks and scratches?

[cat94]

Originally Posted by 86geek

Just use two bucket method with grit guard as gramicci101 already mentioned. No need rinse the car down first before using it.

Btw make sure you're not getting the Opticoat Pro or Gloss Coat ceramic coating from the dealership. Find a authorized installer in your state. Dealerships will charge you a high price. An auto Detail shop is better since they know what products to use and how to prep the car and apply the ceramic coating.

http://opticoat.com/dealer/usa

The nearest authorized dealer is almost 100 miles away =/
Are there other brands that are on par with Opticoat?

Edit: You did mentioned Cquartz Finest. I've inquired about the brand that a local detailing place uses.

[86geek]

Originally Posted by cat94

The nearest authorized dealer is almost 100 miles away =/
Are there other brands that are on par with Opticoat?

Edit: You did mentioned Cquartz Finest. I've inquired about the brand that a local detailing place uses.

👍👍👍Cquartz Finest is good too. I got part of my car coated with it cause detailer I go to uses that now. I had some overspray from a auto paint shop so now I have cquartz finest on parts of my car.

IMHO your car shouldn't cost more than $500.00-$600.00. My friend will be getting his 2016 Tacoma truck coated with Cquartz finest for $800.00.

[NLS8520]

Absolutely if you have a reputable and authorized Cquartz Finest installer close by that would another great option.

[BRZnut]

Op, what you are seeing is scratches in the clear coat....I have used Zanio products for almost 18 years and have found that simply using their Z2 pro (alone with nothing else after a hand wash) keeps the paint clean and scratch free. I have a 2013 DGM BRZ since nov 2012 and the paint looks great. People see it and ask if its a new car after 4 years.

http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/mercha...Category_Code=

As others have said, don't take it to the dealer. They will just take an orbital polisher to it and thin out the clean coat.

[cat94]

Originally Posted by 86geek

👍👍👍Cquartz Finest is good too. I got part of my car coated with it cause detailer I go to uses that now. I had some overspray from a auto paint shop so now I have cquartz finest on parts of my car.

IMHO your car shouldn't cost more than $500.00-$600.00. My friend will be getting his 2016 Tacoma truck coated with Cquartz finest for $800.00.

I was given a quote for Cquartz and also Crystal Serum for $50 more. They haven't seen the vehicle yet, but the estimate was 450 for the coating and 900 for the detail/paint correction. The prices seem reasonable from what I've seen online.

Originally Posted by BRZnut

Op, what you are seeing is scratches in the clear coat....I have used Zanio products for almost 18 years and have found that simply using their Z2 pro (alone with nothing else after a hand wash) keeps the paint clean and scratch free. I have a 2013 DGM BRZ since nov 2012 and the paint looks great. People see it and ask if its a new car after 4 years.

http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/mercha...Category_Code=

As others have said, don't take it to the dealer. They will just take an orbital polisher to it and thin out the clean coat.

My friend wants to detail the car with me and teach me some techniques to keep the paint looking good before I drop $1000 - $1500 on the professionals though.

[new2subaru]

Originally Posted by cat94

My friend wants to detail the car with me and teach me some techniques to keep the paint looking good before I drop $1000 - $1500 on the professionals though.

Take him up on it! Doing it yourself is very rewarding, if you're into it. Only one way to find out!

I can't believe how much it costs. I've been doing it myself for years. I detailed mine (including paint correction) the second day I owned it. It's not perfect but looks damn good IMHO

[86geek]

Originally Posted by cat94

I was given a quote for Cquartz and also Crystal Serum for $50 more. They haven't seen the vehicle yet, but the estimate was 450 for the coating and 900 for the detail/paint correction. The prices seem reasonable from what I've seen online.


My friend wants to detail the car with me and teach me some techniques to keep the paint looking good before I drop $1000 - $1500 on the professionals though.

What a rip off to get your car done. Find another auto detail shop.

[cat94]

Originally Posted by new2subaru

Take him up on it! Doing it yourself is very rewarding, if you're into it. Only one way to find out!

I can't believe how much it costs. I've been doing it myself for years. I detailed mine (including paint correction) the second day I owned it. It's not perfect but looks damn good IMHO

Yep, I definitely will. He has a detailing certification of some kind too.

Originally Posted by 86geek

What a rip off to get your car done. Find another auto detail shop.

What I'm really wondering is if I do polish the car for years and years down to the base color layer, can I then do the ceramic coating and treat it like a new clear coat?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by cat94

Yep, I definitely will. He has a detailing certification of some kind too.


What I'm really wondering is if I do polish the car for years and years down to the base color layer, can I then do the ceramic coating and treat it like a new clear coat?

You would need a new paintjob well before you will ever polish it down that far. Or if you do polish it down that far that fast then you are doing something dreadfully wrong.

[cat94]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

You would need a new paintjob well before you will ever polish it down that far. Or if you do polish it down that far that fast then you are doing something dreadfully wrong.

Sounds good to me. Out of curiosity, would you happen to know about how much a professional completely redone high quality paint job would cost? I know it'll vary widely but if its, say, under $3,000 then a $1500 detail & coating doesn't look so appealing.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by cat94

Sounds good to me. Out of curiosity, would you happen to know about how much a professional completely redone high quality paint job would cost? I know it'll vary widely but if its, say, under $3,000 then a $1500 detail & coating doesn't look so appealing.

Way more then that! And you would still be back to square one after a very short time.

[geezerbrzeezer]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I took the first high velocity rock hit in my first week. Damn near cried. Second a few weeks later. Was upset. After the 3rd or 4th dozen of them I no longer even flinch. Just walk by and think "oh that's new" and carry on.

Knock off the rallying on those logging roads man.

[geezerbrzeezer]

OP, you have every right to be pissed at the dealership. But it would be a waste of time pursuing it with them - if they couldn't get it right when handing the car over to you for the first time, they're sad sacks that will never be able to make it right.

You also put a target on your back when you complain, so battles have to be selected carefully.

I had the opportunity to see my black BRZ at night sitting in the dealer parking lot after being shipped to ON from another province, covered in grime and looking pretty sad. I worried about how it would be treated.

When I picked it up two days later, it was absolutely perfect. And I'm picky - my BRZ is my seventh black car in a row. So dealerships can get it right if they want to.

Paint/clearcoat correction is pretty straightforward. I'm a big fan of Malm's Ultra Fine Polishing Cleaner, but hey, there are tons of options out there.

Ceramic coatings? I've considered those also, but I've got a great touchless close by and I find that a quick detail with BlackFire after the touchless makes me very happy.

As has been mentioned, YouTube is your friend.

And, good luck.

[86geek]

OP I dunno how much paint correction you need done but I find it odd that the estimate for your car is outrageous. You must have some mean swirls and marring if they're estimation is so high...$1000.00 that's just crazy....Is that just from one auto detail shop?