Cleaned & Waxed

[Kraig Wilkinson]

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.

I have a friend like that.. how right you are!!

 

[sethsquire]

I have a friend like that.. how right you are!!

I've asked my wife what car she wants next. She wants something with a hatchback because its practical, preferably in a cute color. She doesn't want anything from a luxury brand because she perceives that as gauche, but I guess it makes sense because she's not exactly into high fashion either, and for whatever reason, she likes her Saturn.

I guess its a matter of priorities. Some people just don't really care about cars. When such people ask what car they should buy, the answer is always Toyota. Bottom line, she's getting a Rav4.

 

[Toddasaurus]

I've asked my wife what car she wants next. She wants something with a hatchback because its practical, preferably in a cute color. She doesn't want anything from a luxury brand because she perceives that as gauche, but I guess it makes sense because she's not exactly into high fashion either, and for whatever reason, she likes her Saturn.

I guess its a matter of priorities. Some people just don't really care about cars. When such people ask what car they should buy, the answer is always Toyota. Bottom line, she's getting a Rav4.

My wife isn't much of a car person either, but she is nice enough to compromise with me by listening to my "car talk" and to occasionally go to car shows with me. She even makes the best of it by seemingly enjoying looking at the new cars and sitting in them. We went to the auto show before buying her Seltos just a couple months ago, and she said she had fun looking at the cars to help her decide on what she wanted. Even so, it didn't take long for her to be over it; but, still, I genuinely appreciate her reception for my interests, even though she doesn't exactly share them. I try my best to do the same back to her; but I gotta admit, I have a hard time listening intently when she talks about work. Lol. We're both nurses, and talking about work just stresses me out. Her actual out of work interests, on the other hand, I love hearing about, primarily because it's just nice to see her genuinely excited about something, even though I can't always relate very well to it.

Anyway, maybe you could share something similar with the wifey? Show her a couple cars, namely the Mazda 3 hatchback, or perhaps the CX-5? Heck, maybe even go check out the Seltos! It certainly is more exciting when you actually get to see, touch/feel the car. Make it a date to go check out a couple cars, then have a nice dinner (take out, of course).

Anyway, I feel you on the apartment living. We're currently in a very small, but nice, apartment complex. Most other residents here have nice cars and are very respectful, which makes us incredibly lucky considering this is our most cost effective option for the time being! But, the way the economy is looking, I am hopeful that we may actually get a decent deal on a home sometime in the near future. Up until now the market has been horrible. Someday I'll get my own garage as well. Haha.

 

[joschneider]

I've asked my wife what car she wants next. She wants something with a hatchback because its practical, preferably in a cute color. She doesn't want anything from a luxury brand because she perceives that as gauche, but I guess it makes sense because she's not exactly into high fashion either, and for whatever reason, she likes her Saturn.

I guess its a matter of priorities. Some people just don't really care about cars. When such people ask what car they should buy, the answer is always Toyota. Bottom line, she's getting a Rav4.

My wife is also looking at a hatch! All she cares about is a sunroof and seems to be leaning towards the mazda 3 hatch. Funny coincidences. Why rav4? Seems to be more of a CUV than hatch

 

[sethsquire]

I meant HAS a hatch, rather than IS a hatchback, but to wifey's credit she actually does want a hatchback if possible, preferably with a stick.

That said the Mazda3 would be the car that >I< would want her to buy so I can drive it sometimes, but Rav4 just makes sense for her since it'll be the most reliable in the long term and comes with a lot of standard safety features.

Saturn is sticking around until a baby comes along in any event.

 

[sethsquire]

My wife isn't much of a car person either, but she is nice enough to compromise with me by listening to my "car talk" and to occasionally go to car shows with me. She even makes the best of it by seemingly enjoying looking at the new cars and sitting in them. We went to the auto show before buying her Seltos just a couple months ago, and she said she had fun looking at the cars to help her decide on what she wanted. Even so, it didn't take long for her to be over it; but, still, I genuinely appreciate her reception for my interests, even though she doesn't exactly share them. I try my best to do the same back to her; but I gotta admit, I have a hard time listening intently when she talks about work. Lol. We're both nurses, and talking about work just stresses me out. Her actual out of work interests, on the other hand, I love hearing about, primarily because it's just nice to see her genuinely excited about something, even though I can't always relate very well to it.

Anyway, maybe you could share something similar with the wifey? Show her a couple cars, namely the Mazda 3 hatchback, or perhaps the CX-5? Heck, maybe even go check out the Seltos! It certainly is more exciting when you actually get to see, touch/feel the car. Make it a date to go check out a couple cars, then have a nice dinner (take out, of course).

Anyway, I feel you on the apartment living. We're currently in a very small, but nice, apartment complex. Most other residents here have nice cars and are very respectful, which makes us incredibly lucky considering this is our most cost effective option for the time being! But, the way the economy is looking, I am hopeful that we may actually get a decent deal on a home sometime in the near future. Up until now the market has been horrible. Someday I'll get my own garage as well. Haha.

I'm pretty happy where we live other than the garage situation, it's very suburban for being within the NYC borders, and I can oftentimes park right in front of my house on the street. Still, garage is the dream...

I'm a lawyer and wifey is a mental health worker, so we typically have decent things to talk about. We do have basically no interests in common, but it somehow works.

 

[TinsleyC]

Ahh! Know any good lawyer jokes?

 

[Toddasaurus]

Just bought some clay bars, and polishing/finishing compound, and a new applicator pad. I'm gonna try to apply ceramic on my wife's new car, but do it properly (mostly) this time. Just gonna do a little bit at a time, though. Will post progress.

 

[Toddasaurus]

Okay, so I'm a total noob when it comes to exterior detailing.. So, this is my first go actually doing all of the steps - even so, I am doing this as kind of a test run/learning experience, so I understand that I most certainly can go much further into each of these steps by using higher quality products and equipment.

I figured I'd just do the front end today.

Anyway, first step was to wash and dry the car. I used a rain-x auto wash, then used a thick, plush, extra soft microfiber towel to dry it (even though this product supposedly does not need to be dried, but whatever).

Results, it's a brand new car, so the finish is already pretty dang good...




Next up, I clayed the front end. This is the first time I've ever used automotive clay, and the process was pretty straightforward and simple. I used this Mother's combo kit...


...the lubricant actually smelled kinda nice. It was a pleasant surprise! Another surprise was just how smooth the finish became after claying, it was almost slippery. I never realized it would make that big of a difference!

Here it is after claying...




Next up, I wanted to polish the finish, but only very gently as it was already so new. So I found probably the most gentle compound I could find at the auto store, and this is what I got...



Now to apply it, I was going to buy an orbital polisher, but instead I went the cheaper route and got a polishing pad attachment for my cordless drill. I used a very fine white finishing pad.




I know that using a higher speed random orbital polisher would've been better, but I was still very pleased with the results! The clear coat is so dang slick now, it's great! I know that with more aggressive polishing compound and a proper orbital polisher I could totally remove any hint of orange peel and in turn make it into a perfect mirror, but I'm not that committed at this point.

Anyway, results of it polished!






After the polish, I cleaned it all off with an IPA solution (half distilled water, half 91% isopropyl alcohol)...



And now finally, the ceramic coating. I used my leftover McKee's 37 SiO2 ceramic coating. I ran into some problems with this, though. The product is a year old, and it seemed to have evaporated a little bit, so it came out much thicker. I quickly learned that I had to work in MUCH smaller sections or else it would flash super quick and begin to solidify. At this point, I should have stopped and just bought a new replacement of the same product, but no local stores have it, and Amazon is so dang backed up it would take forever to get here, so I decided to just keep working with it. Considering this, it took a lot longer to apply it because I had to do it in TINY sections, and quickly, vigorously, wipe and buff it down with a separate microfiber towel.

Finally, I finished the front end... Here it is.




I realize that my phone isn't showing all the tiny changes, but you can certainly see it and feel it in person! I still have to do the doors, the roof, and the rear hatch, but now I feel much more confident in everything.

Thanks for reading!

 

[pulsar]

Todd, you practiced on your wife’s car. Lol. Could be a good safe move so by the time you move over to the G70 you have your process down. My wife does not pay attention to detail so even if I was to screw something up practicing with the finish of her car, she would not know it.

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[Husky]

Okay, so I'm a total noob when it comes to exterior detailing.. So, this is my first go actually doing all of the steps - even so, I am doing this as kind of a test run/learning experience, so I understand that I most certainly can go much further into each of these steps by using higher quality products and equipment.

I figured I'd just do the front end today.

Anyway, first step was to wash and dry the car. I used a rain-x auto wash, then used a thick, plush, extra soft microfiber towel to dry it (even though this product supposedly does not need to be dried, but whatever).

Results, it's a brand new car, so the finish is already pretty dang good...
View attachment 28444



Next up, I clayed the front end. This is the first time I've ever used automotive clay, and the process was pretty straightforward and simple. I used this Mother's combo kit...
View attachment 28445

...the lubricant actually smelled kinda nice. It was a pleasant surprise! Another surprise was just how smooth the finish became after claying, it was almost slippery. I never realized it would make that big of a difference!

Here it is after claying...
View attachment 28446



Next up, I wanted to polish the finish, but only very gently as it was already so new. So I found probably the most gentle compound I could find at the auto store, and this is what I got...
View attachment 28447


Now to apply it, I was going to buy an orbital polisher, but instead I went the cheaper route and got a polishing pad attachment for my cordless drill. I used a very fine white finishing pad.
View attachment 28448



I know that using a higher speed random orbital polisher would've been better, but I was still very pleased with the results! The clear coat is so dang slick now, it's great! I know that with more aggressive polishing compound and a proper orbital polisher I could totally remove any hint of orange peel and in turn make it into a perfect mirror, but I'm not that committed at this point.

Anyway, results of it polished!
View attachment 28449





After the polish, I cleaned it all off with an IPA solution (half distilled water, half 91% isopropyl alcohol)...
View attachment 28450


And now finally, the ceramic coating. I used my leftover McKee's 37 SiO2 ceramic coating. I ran into some problems with this, though. The product is a year old, and it seemed to have evaporated a little bit, so it came out much thicker. I quickly learned that I had to work in MUCH smaller sections or else it would flash super quick and begin to solidify. At this point, I should have stopped and just bought a new replacement of the same product, but no local stores have it, and Amazon is so dang backed up it would take forever to get here, so I decided to just keep working with it. Considering this, it took a lot longer to apply it because I had to do it in TINY sections, and quickly, vigorously, wipe and buff it down with a separate microfiber towel.

Finally, I finished the front end... Here it is.
View attachment 28452



I realize that my phone isn't showing all the tiny changes, but you can certainly see it and feel it in person! I still have to do the doors, the roof, and the rear hatch, but now I feel much more confident in everything.

Thanks for reading!

Impressive first effort for a so-called noob. Of course, we would expect nothing less from you. Looks great and in sure it feels even better.
It is really amazing how smooth and nice it feels after a good polishing. I'm really impressed with how well the "nano" finishes (Meguiars Ultimate) and ceramic finishes repel water. I was always a carnuba paste wax guy, and have several containers of various highly rated products, but after using the Meguiars on the G70 last summer, and now the spray on ceramic, I may never go back to those old waxes.

 

[sethsquire]

Okay, so I'm a total noob when it comes to exterior detailing.. So, this is my first go actually doing all of the steps - even so, I am doing this as kind of a test run/learning experience, so I understand that I most certainly can go much further into each of these steps by using higher quality products and equipment.

I figured I'd just do the front end today.

Anyway, first step was to wash and dry the car. I used a rain-x auto wash, then used a thick, plush, extra soft microfiber towel to dry it (even though this product supposedly does not need to be dried, but whatever).

Results, it's a brand new car, so the finish is already pretty dang good...
View attachment 28444



Next up, I clayed the front end. This is the first time I've ever used automotive clay, and the process was pretty straightforward and simple. I used this Mother's combo kit...
View attachment 28445

...the lubricant actually smelled kinda nice. It was a pleasant surprise! Another surprise was just how smooth the finish became after claying, it was almost slippery. I never realized it would make that big of a difference!

Here it is after claying...
View attachment 28446



Next up, I wanted to polish the finish, but only very gently as it was already so new. So I found probably the most gentle compound I could find at the auto store, and this is what I got...
View attachment 28447


Now to apply it, I was going to buy an orbital polisher, but instead I went the cheaper route and got a polishing pad attachment for my cordless drill. I used a very fine white finishing pad.
View attachment 28448



I know that using a higher speed random orbital polisher would've been better, but I was still very pleased with the results! The clear coat is so dang slick now, it's great! I know that with more aggressive polishing compound and a proper orbital polisher I could totally remove any hint of orange peel and in turn make it into a perfect mirror, but I'm not that committed at this point.

Anyway, results of it polished!
View attachment 28449





After the polish, I cleaned it all off with an IPA solution (half distilled water, half 91% isopropyl alcohol)...
View attachment 28450


And now finally, the ceramic coating. I used my leftover McKee's 37 SiO2 ceramic coating. I ran into some problems with this, though. The product is a year old, and it seemed to have evaporated a little bit, so it came out much thicker. I quickly learned that I had to work in MUCH smaller sections or else it would flash super quick and begin to solidify. At this point, I should have stopped and just bought a new replacement of the same product, but no local stores have it, and Amazon is so dang backed up it would take forever to get here, so I decided to just keep working with it. Considering this, it took a lot longer to apply it because I had to do it in TINY sections, and quickly, vigorously, wipe and buff it down with a separate microfiber towel.

Finally, I finished the front end... Here it is.
View attachment 28452



I realize that my phone isn't showing all the tiny changes, but you can certainly see it and feel it in person! I still have to do the doors, the roof, and the rear hatch, but now I feel much more confident in everything.

Thanks for reading!

Good work! I've been using the exact same mother's clay kit until I decided to switch up and try another one. I think clay is really the unsung hero of detailing. Especially on a car that's a couple years old but has never been clayed (and even a new car!), it's amazing how much crap it lifts on the surface, leaving that glassy smooth feel.

In lieu of getting new ceramic coating, no harm in picking up a spray coating at the store (Megs quik wax, turtle wax, etc.) Cheap and super easy and leaves a nice slick protected finish.

How do you like the Seltos btw? How's the back seat room? Big enough for car seats you think?

 

[sethsquire]

Ahh! Know any good lawyer jokes?

Q: Why aren't lawyers allowed to have sex with their clients?
A: To prevent clients from being billed twice for essentially the same service.

 

[Slip_Angle]

Looks really good @Toddasaurus!

How long did it take? Looks like so much work!

 

[Toddasaurus]

Good work! I've been using the exact same mother's clay kit until I decided to switch up and try another one. I think clay is really the unsung hero of detailing. Especially on a car that's a couple years old but has never been clayed (and even a new car!), it's amazing how much crap it lifts on the surface, leaving that glassy smooth feel.

In lieu of getting new ceramic coating, no harm in picking up a spray coating at the store (Megs quik wax, turtle wax, etc.) Cheap and super easy and leaves a nice slick protected finish.

How do you like the Seltos btw? How's the back seat room? Big enough for car seats you think?

Yeah, I think I should have just gone back to the auto store and just grabbed a wax/ceramic combo spray and used that instead. Even so, the finish still looks really good; but, I know it would've been better had my ceramic coating were up to snuff.

As for the Seltos, my wife really likes it! It has decent power, it's responsive, and the touch screen is huge (the turbo model has all the bells as whistles). It has good ground clearance, and a locking center diff along with hill descent control. It's pretty dang nice. It has a good amount of room in the back seats for car seats, especially for a compact SUV. We have a convertable seat for my toddler, and an infant car seat for our new baby. Way more room than my G70, and more than her old WRX hatchback. There's also plenty of room in the hatch as well for cargo, even the floor can drop down for a little more room. Last, but not least, the gas mileage is fantastic. We both like it and feel like it was a good purchase for us.

Looks really good @Toddasaurus!

How long did it take? Looks like so much work!

It took me about 1 hour and 45 minutes, my daughter was "helping" me along the way. I think the hardest thing was the ceramic application. Had it been the same consistency as when I first bought it, I would have taken at least 20-30 minutes less and overall would have been much easier. Really, the claying and polishing weren't as bad as I thought they would be!

 

[sethsquire]

As for the Seltos, my wife really likes it! It has decent power, it's responsive, and the touch screen is huge (the turbo model has all the bells as whistles). It has good ground clearance, and a locking center diff along with hill descent control. It's pretty dang nice. It has a good amount of room in the back seats for car seats, especially for a compact SUV. We have a convertable seat for my toddler, and an infant car seat for our new baby. Way more room than my G70, and more than her old WRX hatchback. There's also plenty of room in the hatch as well for cargo, even the floor can drop down for a little more room. Last, but not least, the gas mileage is fantastic. We both like it and feel like it was a good purchase for us.

Thanks for the quick review, especially the part about the car seats, because that will end up being the impetus when we move to a new car!

 

[Toddasaurus]

So I ordered a new bottle of McKee's 37 SiO2 coating. SO much better, and SO much easier to apply! This stuff is awesome.

Did the doors and rear 1/4 panel on both sides today. Wow. It looks great after claying, and really great after polishing, and REALLY great after applying the ceramic! It deepens the color and adds to the shine and smoothness.

Pic for reference...



Once I'm done with the rear hatch and the roof, I think I'll go back around and do the front again for good measure.

 

[canucklehead604]

i just noticed Husky's New Hampshire plates. "Live Free Or Die" is the state slogan? who wrote that, Bruce Willis? yikes. i assume this is a historical throwback to the Civil War era or something...

makes Canada's provincial slogans seem pretty innocuous, i.e. "Beautiful British Columbia", "Friendly Manitoba", "Land of Living Skies", etc. i better go sharpen my hockey stick in case things get serious.

 

[tarhoosier]

Québec-Je me souviens (I remember). There is a complex and ultimately meaningless explanation for that one.

 

[Husky]

i just noticed Husky's New Hampshire plates. "Live Free Or Die" is the state slogan? who wrote that, Bruce Willis? yikes. i assume this is a historical throwback to the Civil War era or something...

makes Canada's provincial slogans seem pretty innocuous, i.e. "Beautiful British Columbia", "Friendly Manitoba", "Land of Living Skies", etc. i better go sharpen my hockey stick in case things get serious.

Yeah, it's pretty crazy. We have no seatbelt law (for adults) and no helmet law. I call it "Life Free and Die".