Is polishing and waxing a car really necessary?

[Petrol Pete]

Do I remember reading once that HM the Queen's cars are only ever washed with plain cold water ?? Ok probably got a few flunkeys who's job it is and the cars don't do many miles.

Mine's 12 years old with 130K on the clock. Drive through Car wash or bucket with Turtle wax shampoo if I'm not being lazy.

 

[Scooby_Doo]

My stock answer when ribbed about cleaning my car is " Why do you Hoover and dust around the house every week ? "

 

[baxlin]

My stock answer when ribbed about cleaning my car is " Why do you Hoover and dust around the house every week ? "

Mine is similar, if when ribbing, they point out that the car will only get dirty again, it’s either 'why do you shave every morning?' Or 'why do you mow your lawn or weed your garden'? As in each case they will only grow again.

 

[Scott_F]

My stock answer when ribbed about cleaning my car is " Why do you Hoover and dust around the house every week ? "

My stock reply is "I don't".

 

[chrisk2010]

they go better when polished/waxed...

They go much faster when waxed.

 

[Yugguy]

Depends on your priorities I guess. I clean the inside of my car a lot more than the outside as I sit in it a lot more than I look at it.

That said on the rare occasions I give it a proper going over with the two buckets and the polish and the zaino and all that it does look a treat so I get why people do it. I just don't have that many hours to spare on something I don't deem that important. When it comes to trade in the dealer won't care how often you've detailed your car.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Vincent Van Gough did alright out of swirl marks (after his death admittedly).

 

[l5foye]

I knew when I mentioned the 1931 Austin being in perfect condition, some would query it. It has never been painted. There is a full record of every penny spent on it from the day it was bought up to the present time. The Fiesta I also mentioned has no swirl marks either in sunlight or under flourescent lights. I was amused when people referred to water beading - it is only visible when the car is stationary (beauty in the eye of the beholder) . I am still to be convinced of the benefits of polishing and waxing.

 

[Yugguy]

We are venturing into PCP for the first time for the missus new Fiesta and I am wondering if it will be worth keeping that more polished and protected so that when the 3 years are up they are not charging us a fortune for tiny scratches

 

[Doodle]

Give me a week and I'll let you know, when the Renault gets collected. It has only ever been washed by the garage when it's been in for work (so perhaps more often than one might think!)

Most schemes work to BVRLA guidelines, they're not too worried about swirl marks.
BVRLA Fair Wear & Tear Guide | Hitachi Capital

 

[ph47mf]

i have gone without polish/wax on many cars over the years and I didn't have an i

We are venturing into PCP for the first time for the missus new Fiesta and I am wondering if it will be worth keeping that more polished and protected so that when the 3 years are up they are not charging us a fortune for tiny scratches

If you will part exchange it for another PCP after 3 years, they don't really care what state the car is in. They will just give you a value based on what car it is and mileage. The car will probably go straight to auction.

 

[Yugguy]

We already have a guaranteed future value figure, I've just heard horror stories about having to pay hundreds on return.

 

[ph47mf]

We already have a guaranteed future value figure, I've just heard horror stories about having to pay hundreds on return.

that's only if you just return the car and don't buy anything. I see it as one of their ways to penalise you.

If it's lease, as in leasing a new car, that's a different story, they will check everything.

 

[Doodle]

Bear in mind that you can contest their findings though. Take lots of photos just before handover.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

A decent wax or sealant (in my case I use a sealant) helps reduce the amount of crud that sticks to the car and adds a protective layer (UV protection etc). Metal and other invisible crap in the air does get stuck to the car and UV is not good for paint although modern paints are better.

I like a clean car.......I also hate watermarks on the glass and paint.

I have lots of different products and have tried comparing them but , as my car is white it is hard to seen any difference in finish, however I use Carlack 68 and Carlack Longlife (about 3 x per year) and do find that topped with Carpro Hydro2 helps to keep the car cleaner. I then just wash and dry!

I've also found that regular cleaning makes it easier to keep the car clean with less dirt buildup. I was a little slack over the summer and did not wash regularly and when I did give it a good wash a couple of weeks ago, it was hard work.

If you are on a 3 year lease on a less expensive car, you'd probably be less invested than me with my car and the intention to keep if for as long as I can get in and out of it!

 

[chrisk2010]

As it turns out today my car is stationery and being rained on look at this wonderful beading of water not touching my paintwork (sitting on sealent and wax) or being absorbed through stone chips.

I have to admit i must have stood staring at the beads rolling off for about 5 minutes completely hypnotised.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

As it turns out today my car is stationery and being rained on look at this wonderful beading of water not touching my paintwork (sitting on sealent and wax) or being absorbed through stone chips.

I have to admit i must have stood staring at the beads rolling off for about 5 minutes completely hypnotised.

The challenge is not to watch them moving about and joining up while accelerating and braking - caught myself doing that the first few times I gave my car a proper clean several years ago.

 

[chrisk2010]

The challenge is not to watch them moving about and joining up while accelerating and braking - caught myself doing that the first few times I gave my car a proper clean several years ago.

It's really hard not to! i was only walking past whent he rain started and ended up standing there completly fixated on it.

I liked watching them accelerate at the headlight curves on the bonnet like little skate boarders in a half pipe rocking around the place.

If anyone is wondering if the car is dirty or dusty after the rain .....



Nope