Cleaned & Waxed

[CVDH-TN]

Becoming increasingly a fan of meguiars ceramic wax, super easy to use (spray when hand washing the car) and the results are great (I have tried a few good products and I get better results with this one than most while being much easier to use).

 

[sethsquire]

Today was a good day for a spring detail. Five hours later.

1. Full wash
2. Full clay bar using Pinnacle ultra poly clay (I think I like this better than the mothers clay I was using before), for clay lube used Optimum no-rinse diluted 8-1 in a spray bottle
3. Some targeted polishing on areas which had developed some swirls, including the hood, top of the trunk lid, and passenger side doors (had previously polished out the drivers side doors a month or two back), used Sonax EX-04-06 as a one step polish/finish with a Griott's garage DA polisher and orange pad.
4. Full alcohol wipedown
5. Full coat of Optimum Optiseal on the prepped surface. I've become a big fan of Optiseal, as its super easy and quick to apply, flashes almost entirely and requires nothing more a quick wipedown for excess product. I had previously been using Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant for long-term protection, but it stains plastic and rubber trim something fierce, and finds its way into cracks and crevices, leaving little white residue areas which are extremely hard to clean. Ideally, I would hit the large areas with Wolfgang and then supplement with Optiseal around the edges, but this detail was already running a bit longer than I felt like spending. Also, Wolfgang requires a curing period where Optiseal doesn't, but the slickness and shine of Wolfgang is no doubt superior, not that anyone but me would notice.
6. Topcoat of Meguiar's quik wax on top of the Optiseal for enhanced protection, shine, and hydrophobic properties. Spray on, wipe off. I'm a big fan of Meg's quik wax, and it's like 7 bucks a bottle.
7. Tire shine!

I am pleased with the results! I only wish I had a garage to put it in.

Edit: It sure came out looking extremely blue in the photos, I attribute that to the angle of the sun and my middling Moto phone camera.

 

[Kraig Wilkinson]

Today was a good day for a spring detail. Five hours later.

1. Full wash
2. Full clay bar using Pinnacle ultra poly clay (I think I like this better than the mothers clay I was using before), for clay lube used Optimum no-rinse diluted 8-1 in a spray bottle
3. Some targeted polishing on areas which had developed some swirls, including the hood, top of the trunk lid, and passenger side doors (had previously polished out the drivers side doors a month or two back), used Sonax EX-04-06 as a one step polish/finish with a Griott's garage DA polisher and orange pad.
4. Full alcohol wipedown
5. Full coat of Optimum Optiseal on the prepped surface. I've become a big fan of Optiseal, as its super easy and quick to apply, flashes almost entirely and requires nothing more a quick wipedown for excess product. I had previously been using Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant for long-term protection, but it stains plastic and rubber trim something fierce, and finds its way into cracks and crevices, leaving little white residue areas which are extremely hard to clean. Ideally, I would hit the large areas with Wolfgang and then supplement with Optiseal around the edges, but this detail was already running a bit longer than I felt like spending. Also, Wolfgang requires a curing period where Optiseal doesn't, but the slickness and shine of Wolfgang is no doubt superior, not that anyone but me would notice.
6. Topcoat of Meguiar's quik wax on top of the Optiseal for enhanced protection, shine, and hydrophobic properties. Spray on, wipe off. I'm a big fan of Meg's quik wax, and it's like 7 bucks a bottle.
7. Tire shine!

I am pleased with the results! I only wish I had a garage to put it in.

Edit: It sure came out looking extremely blue in the photos, I attribute that to the angle of the sun and my middling Moto phone camera.

Nice! That color is gorgeous...

 

[Slip_Angle]

Looking good! Lots of elbow grease but it'll pay off.

 

[TinsleyC]

Car looks great.

How do you like the buffer? I've been thinking of getting one, see them ranging from a Black & Deck Decker for $26 up to hundreds of dollars. Do you get what you pay for? What would a low end but decent unit run me?

 

[sethsquire]

Car looks great.

How do you like the buffer? I've been thinking of getting one, see them ranging from a Black & Deck Decker for $26 up to hundreds of dollars. Do you get what you pay for? What would a low end but decent unit run me?

Thanks. I think I actually have the cheap black and decker buffer you're talking about. It's good for spreading wax but it doesn't have the power or speed for real polishing or correcting work. This is the one I have:

6" Random Orbital (Gen 3 Orbital) - Griot's Garage

It's the only I've bought but I think pricing is pretty much in line with other brands. Of course, you also need to buy a few other things, like polish itself and some pads (they come in different types for correcting paint, fine polishing, applying wax and sealants). Think probably a couple hundred bucks investment to get started.

Then there's the clay bars, the waxes/sealants, the microfiber towels... it's a deep hole if you keep digging. I guess it all depends on whether you want to do your own detailing in lieu of paying someone to do it. I've probably spent 1000 bucks on detailing crap over the last couple of years when I started getting into it, but it's worth it if the alternative is paying someone a few hundred bucks to detail your car a couple of times a year.

Of course, some people never wash their cars and are okay with that, so in that case it probably wouldn't be worth it.

 

[Husky]

We had 2" of snow yesterday, but it was a beautiful, sunny, 60 degree day here today. Great day for a wash and wax. Here's my Black Forest Green (which I find very hard to properly capture in photos). After wash and clay bar, tried a new Turtle Wax ceramic spray, supposed to be good. It was certainly easy.



Oh God, I'm horrible at attaching files in this app. Sorry if there are dupes or....

 

[tarhoosier]

There are few green cars I appreciate but this is one.
My general rule is if I see a man wearing a hat driving a green car I stay clear. I will make an exception in this case.

 

[sethsquire]

We had 2" of snow yesterday, but it was a beautiful, sunny, 60 degree day here today. Great day for a wash and wax. Here's my Black Forest Green (which I find very hard to properly capture in photos). After wash and clay bar, tried a new Turtle Wax ceramic spray, supposed to be good. It was certainly easy.
View attachment 28392
View attachment 28393View attachment 28394View attachment 28395View attachment 28396

Oh God, I'm horrible at attaching files in this app. Sorry if there are dupes or....

I do like that color very much but you're right about being hard to photograph, camera definitely only wants to capture the grey.

 

[Husky]

Thanks to all. One more try in different light.


I like that the color is subtle and hard to nail down (and it's appropriate for a guy my age, haha), doesn't draw too much attention, but I am jealous sometimes of the beautiful reds, blues, silvers and whites that others have. I do hope to own an orange or yellow car sometime before it's all over lol.

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[pulsar]

Subtle is good. Different is a bonus. I have to see this green color in person but I’ve not found a Genesis color I disliked. When I was shopping none of my local dealers had that color on their lot. G70s in my area are still far and few between so all colors are unique.

 

[sethsquire]

Thanks to all. One more try in different light.
View attachment 28397View attachment 28398

I like that the color is subtle and hard to nail down (and it's appropriate for a guy my age, haha), doesn't draw too much attention, but I am jealous sometimes of the beautiful reds, blues, silvers and whites that others have. I do hope to own an orange or yellow car sometime before it's all over lol.

I envy your garage situation.

 

[Husky]

I envy your garage situation.

Lol, I have to admit it is nice. I feel very lucky, but if I only had one more bay... Says the guy whose love of cars is limited only by $$ and garage bays. I'm at a point of "one in, one out" as my wife repeatedly reminds me.

 

[pulsar]

Lol, I have to admit it is nice. I feel very lucky, but if I only had one more bay... Says the guy whose love of cars is limited only by $$ and garage bays. I'm at a point of "one in, one out" as my wife repeatedly reminds me.

You can never have too many garage bays. I have 3 attached bays with two cars and one airplane, a fully enclosed detached at the end of my drive for the wife’s car, and I still could use another bay for more storage. Yes I don’t throw a lot of stuff away.

 

[sethsquire]

One day I'll move out of this apartment (and preferably out of the city) and I can have something with a garage. Right now, my ideal situation is parked at the end of the lot, not under a tree, with my wife's Saturn protecting me (see picture). There are garages here, but the waitlist is 7-9 years long...

 

[Husky]

Yeah, I'm sure garage space is tough to get and expensive in the city. I remember having to fix my cars in the apartment complex parking lot many years ago. Not easy or fun.

 

[Slip_Angle]

I like your thinking. Sacrifice the Saturn. Makes perfect sense with the plastic doors and all

That back angle shot made me think white sidewall lettering would look awesome on your tires!!!

 

[Kraig Wilkinson]

Today was a good day for a spring detail. Five hours later.

1. Full wash
2. Full clay bar using Pinnacle ultra poly clay (I think I like this better than the mothers clay I was using before), for clay lube used Optimum no-rinse diluted 8-1 in a spray bottle
3. Some targeted polishing on areas which had developed some swirls, including the hood, top of the trunk lid, and passenger side doors (had previously polished out the drivers side doors a month or two back), used Sonax EX-04-06 as a one step polish/finish with a Griott's garage DA polisher and orange pad.
4. Full alcohol wipedown
5. Full coat of Optimum Optiseal on the prepped surface. I've become a big fan of Optiseal, as its super easy and quick to apply, flashes almost entirely and requires nothing more a quick wipedown for excess product. I had previously been using Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant for long-term protection, but it stains plastic and rubber trim something fierce, and finds its way into cracks and crevices, leaving little white residue areas which are extremely hard to clean. Ideally, I would hit the large areas with Wolfgang and then supplement with Optiseal around the edges, but this detail was already running a bit longer than I felt like spending. Also, Wolfgang requires a curing period where Optiseal doesn't, but the slickness and shine of Wolfgang is no doubt superior, not that anyone but me would notice.
6. Topcoat of Meguiar's quik wax on top of the Optiseal for enhanced protection, shine, and hydrophobic properties. Spray on, wipe off. I'm a big fan of Meg's quik wax, and it's like 7 bucks a bottle.
7. Tire shine!

I am pleased with the results! I only wish I had a garage to put it in.

Edit: It sure came out looking extremely blue in the photos, I attribute that to the angle of the sun and my middling Moto phone camera.

One day I'll move out of this apartment (and preferably out of the city) and I can have something with a garage. Right now, my ideal situation is parked at the end of the lot, not under a tree, with my wife's Saturn protecting me (see picture). There are garages here, but the waitlist is 7-9 years long...

Yeah man the color is really nice to look at! The whole no garage thing does stink..I feel for you man .

 

[sethsquire]

I like your thinking. Sacrifice the Saturn. Makes perfect sense with the plastic doors and all

Funny story about that Saturn... this is actually the SECOND grey stick-shift 4-door Saturn Ion my wife has owned in a row. She had a 2005 that she bought from her uncle and drove for a few years before it threw a rod and the engine started knocking at about 130k. I never much liked the car, the steering was awful, the interior was a den of cheapness, and it just generally kind of sucked in the way that mid 2000's pre-bailout GM cars suck.

Anyway, once the old one started knocking and we knew it was toast, I began to peruse Craigslist for another car, and what did I find? A 2007 grey Saturn Ion with a stick-shift and 63k miles! I made the mistake of showing it to her, and we "had" to get it, such was her love for the old Saturn Ion.

I woke up one Saturday morning 2 summers ago, drove the old Saturn to a scrapyard, made a cool 171 dollars, jumped in the car to Staten Island, paid 3400 to this eccentric Italian guy running a flip operation out of his garage, and had a identical replacement car that very night. Oddly this car has reliability issues that the old one never did (electronics, leaks) with half the miles, standing as a testament to the aforementioned questionable build quality of mid 2000's GM products.

Unbeknownst to me when searching Craigslist, it also came with the larger 2.4 liter engine with 175 thundering stallions - as opposed to 140 prancing ponies in the old 2.2 liter ecotec four. Once I realized this, I excitedly asked my then-girlfriend if she could feel the EXTRA POWER. She unceremoniously replied that no, she could not.

Fun fact: this same powerplant once powered the short-lived naturally aspirated version of the Chevy Cobalt SS, which I assure you was a thing, not that anyone other than me remembers or cares.

I still really dislike the car, but she's okay with it, and its ironic that now my wife - who doesn't care one lick about cars - is the one driving a manual and I'm driving an automatic.

 

[tarhoosier]

I may have mentioned this elsewhere but I have encountered so many women whom I admire; professional, educated, sharp thinkers, well put together, with a sense of personal fashion, delightfully designed homes and yet they drive used white goods appliances. And they are unaware of this blind spot in their lives. I understand they value different things in their auto purchases: fuel efficiency, long term value, color. But the gap in their smart sense of fashion and style starts at the driveway.