Is it irrational to be obsessive over scratches and dents on your car?

[Celica00]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

So is it wrong to wash a dirty car once a week? I like a clean car. I think that's rational, I never expected my car to remain pristine. But I also like to clean and protect my paint whenever possible and maintain it mechanically the best I can. Just my way. For some they think this is not rational.

Not at all. I typically like to wash my car at least twice a week, but it's more of a therapeutic activity than anything else.

There's nothing wrong with doing what you can to keep what you own in great condition. Just don't be neurotic about it!

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by sofrsnsokleen

When I first got my car i was obsessed with keeping it clean and scratch free etc.
Then i accidentally ran over a cement parking brick thing and gave up.

It's a losing battle, and if you drive it daily, you're risking it getting far worse than scratches every single time you drive it.

Just enjoy the car, scratches and dings suck, but they happen, even if you're the greatest driver on earth.

Originally Posted by Celica00

Not at all. I typically like to wash my car at least twice a week, but it's more of a therapeutic activity than anything else.

There's nothing wrong with doing what you can to keep what you own in great condition. Just don't be neurotic about it!

I don't claim to be right but common sense tells me washing too often will erode away the clear coat/paint finish faster than washing less often (if the water you use contains minerals and/or you spray with pressure).

I believe most of the dust that accumulates on my car is rubber tire particles and only wash when a layer is visible. I used to be more obsessed with a previous car. Always kept the paint finish glass smooth using a clay bar periodically. I never used a nozzle on the hose and turned it on only to a low pressure stream. I would hold the hose directly above the area I was washing and let the water flow straight down using only the pressure of gravity. Water would sheet over as if my car's surface were hydrophobic. If any water broke up on the surface and didn't sheet that meant it was time to clay bar again.

Then I got into '90s MR2s where it's nearly impossible to find examples with perfect paint. So my standards went down to accept paint that serves its function of preventing rust and try to maintain the clear coat with a polymer wax just for aesthetics. But I'm ok with letting dust build up so long as it doesn't mix with moisture (atmospheric acids) and not sit so long to prevent etching away of clear coat. And I quit claybarring lol.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

I don't claim to be right but common sense tells me washing too often will erode away the clear coat/paint finish faster than washing less often (if the water you use contains minerals and/or you spray with pressure).

I believe most of the dust that accumulates on my car is rubber tire particles and only wash when a layer is visible. I used to be more obsessed with a previous car. Always kept the paint finish glass smooth using a clay bar periodically. I never used a nozzle on the hose and turned it on only to a low pressure stream. I would hold the hose directly above the area I was washing and let the water flow straight down using only the pressure of gravity. Water would sheet over as if my car's surface were hydrophobic. If any water broke up on the surface and didn't sheet that meant it was time to clay bar again.

Then I got into '90s MR2s where it's nearly impossible to find examples with perfect paint. So my standards went down to accept paint that serves its function of preventing rust and try to maintain the clear coat with a polymer wax just for aesthetics. But I'm ok with letting dust build up so long as it doesn't mix with moisture (atmospheric acids) and not sit so long to prevent etching away of clear coat. And I quit claybarring lol.

LOL



Some of MUST wash our cars at least once a week.

[kakacarrotcake]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Some of MUST wash our cars at least once a week.

MY EYES!!!
wash it daily! lol

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by kakacarrotcake

MY EYES!!!
wash it daily! lol

That was 45 minutes after it had been washed!

[kakacarrotcake]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

That was 45 minutes after it had been washed!

Note to self. Never move to Ontario.


Unless it's Ontario, California. lol.

[humfrz]

[QUOTE=Tcoat;2868088]But what is the rationale to be rational about the irrationality of rations?[/QUOTE]

But rations were very rational ...... they had meat, vegetables, a biscuit, peanut butter or jelly, a can opener, cigarettes, matches and toilet paper.




humfrz

[Tcoat]

[quote=humfrz;2868313]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

But what is the rationale to be rational about the irrationality of rations?[/QUOTE]

But rations were very rational ...... they had meat, vegetables, a biscuit, peanut butter or jelly, a can opener, cigarettes, matches and toilet paper.




humfrz

I will give you all that except "meat". It was close but still...

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

That was 45 minutes after it had been washed!

So, why did you follow the leaking cement truck for 45 minutes ..... ??


humfrz

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by humfrz

So, why did you follow the leaking cement truck for 45 minutes ..... ??


humfrz

Mostly beet juice.

[humfrz]

[quote=Tcoat;2868317]

Originally Posted by humfrz

I will give you all that except "meat". It was close but still...

Yep, I should have said "ground up animal parts" .....


humfrz

[Gil Scott Heron]

The problem I have is dust and bugs. I washed my 86 just today at about noon and went for a drive to the store at around 6 pm. No sooner than I had driven a couple of miles down the road I was observing the bugs smear themselves on my windscreen, bumper and hood as a layer of fine desert dust accumulated. After I got home, I was out there fiending over the paint with my micro fiber towel and bug sponge.

A few more weeks and I think I'm going to get over this unhealthy desire to preserve new paint for eternity. I'll treat the 86 like my well used Mazda 3 and Miata: Say to hell with it and let the bugs and dust sit until I get around to washing it again next week. Life will be easier once again.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Gil Scott Heron

The problem I have is dust and bugs. I washed my 86 just today at about noon and went for a drive to the store at around 6 pm.

Within the next couple of weeks we'll enter the "Every Car is yellowish-green" season in the Atlanta area as the pollen starts to fall. It gets so thick here (primarily pine and oak) you can literally see it in the air.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Within the next couple of weeks we'll enter the "Every Car is yellowish-green" season in the Atlanta area as the pollen starts to fall. It gets so thick here (primarily pine and oak) you can literally see it in the air.

I would be dead of advanced allergies. Or at least I would want too die.