To Detail or not to Detail?

[zoros]

Have to admit, I sent my Masser for detailing and paint correction for what seemd to be a very good price. They had the car for 3 days and said they had spent 30 hours on it in total. They showed me the photo's from beginning to end - pre and post etc etc.

I picked it up on a sunny day so the deep metallic blue showed up well.

BUT-with hindsight, I would have to say - it isn't worth all the fuss attached to it. It's very nice and lookked the dogs b o l o x until it got dirty again. The problem being - Joe average can't simply wash and wax it ever again without contaminating that virginal look. Even the best micro wash and polish causes swirls/hologram/s microscopic scrathces to form and voila - you are back to the result one would get after a heavy waxing session. Unless you use your girlfriends most expensive knickers doused in Channel 5, wiped by pure vole skin chamois and blow dried with sceneted helium.... forget it and spend your money on a private number plate instead!
It's all in the psychology................

 

[developer]

It's all in the psychology................

It's not.

A Gtechniq type product does away with polishing/waxing for the duration the coating lasts - perhaps two or three years, during which time a quick lambswool mitt wash has the car swirl free and gleaming again quicker than you can type Channel 4 (or was that 5?).

 

[ea666]

I've always used Gtechinq products.

Once your surface prep has been completed by the detailer, they can coat the finish with and clear coating which help protect against everyday pollution etc.

Also to maintenance the car all i do is wash with their own branded shampoo, dry and then use a detail spray to finish. The coating last a good year or so.

Hope this helps.

 

[luckyamg]

I generally strip off the old wax, clay, Polish then wax twice a year. I find that doing that it Makes the car easier to clean through the year with much better results even just washing and also gives a bit more protection from grime/birds etc.

I found Blackfire products work very well giving a nice deep shine (black paint) and are very easy to use as they don't go chalky like some polishes. It does help I enjoy doing it I guess!

 

[Jonwatson]

That looks amazing

 

[lordlee]

Looks like we'll have to spring Rash from the Priory again.

Joking apart, I enjoy what passes for detailing chez moi. Spent the day cleaning out the interior of my new arrival (the filth that came out of the two front mats was extraordinary), and then tried out the new snow foam on the Volvo and the Alpina. This was proper money shot stuff, none of the thin watery Halfords stuff. An hour after doing it it's still visible on the drive.

Lovely collection Charles.