Car Fanatics: Teach Me

[edslunch]

Inspired by the Style Police thread....how do people take care of their cars? I just bought my first brand new car in 16 years...a RAV4 Hybrid. My 16 year old Odyssey keeps plugging along as a people mover and I ditched the used S4 that was quickly turning into rust.

I’ve never been one to baby my cars, I don’t care if they are shiny every day, but I realize that there is a cost for not maintaining their appearance. So...how do you take care of your cars? What is your washing approach? Waxing? 3M treatment? Interior treatment?

You’re up Sliver...

[calgarygeologist]

I like to wash at home in my garage on a regular basis using the two bucket method and ONR (Optimum No Rinse). This is great for spring/Summer/fall. In the winter I don't like the thought of dragging a lot of dirt across the paint so I stick to coin washes. I polish once a year in the spring, twice if I have the energy and time for a fall polish. To finish it off I use a ceramic spray coating and recently I've been using Turtle Hybrid Ceramic (or something close to that in name as it was on sale at Walmart for really cheap.) Another product I really like is cquartz but I haven't used it much lately because of the added cost and application process. Ceramic coatings have become really mainstream on the market now. For plastic and rubber trim I like Aerospace 303. If you have leather get a good cleaner and conditioner to keep the seats looking nice.

I also like to hose down the engine bay a couple times a year to keep dust and grime from building up to heavily on the engine. I recently bought a hybrid as well and was concerned that spraying the engine would be a bad idea but found out online that as long as you keep most of the spray away from the thick orange cables it is safe to clean the engine.

[jwslam]

Well first question is do you park indoors or outdoors?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

It's a Rav4, not an AMG GT. You don't need to 3M it. You could get a half hood wrap I suppose, if you're particularly concerned about rock chips on the highway. As for washing, just find a good wand wash within a reasonable proximity and do that. If you enjoy washing your car by hand go for it, but it's not necessary.

[Sliver]

I'm not really a judgmental sort of person. However you'd like to take care of your car puts a smile on my face.

[btimbit]

It's a RAV4, touchless car wash, vacuum it, good enough.

But maintenance, maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Don't just do the occasional oil change, follow the maintenance schedule in the manual exactly.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

It's a Rav4, not an AMG GT. You don't need to 3M it. You could get a half hood wrap I suppose, if you're particularly concerned about rock chips on the highway. As for washing, just find a good wand wash within a reasonable proximity and do that. If you enjoy washing your car by hand go for it, but it's not necessary.

I disagree with Corsi on this. It's equally fun to take pride in a Rav4 as it is to take pride in a fancy car. I haven't waxed my Mercedes yet in 2021, but last week I clay barred, polished and waxed my wife's VW Golf Sportwagen.

Last year we put about $1K into the appearance of our 2011 Toyota Sienna at a body shop to fix up all the little rock chips that had accumulated over the years. Really wish I had put 3M on that vehicle years ago and I'd definitely recommend it for your Rav4. Also wish I had 3M'd my F-150 in 2016 - I'm going to be 3Ming everything I own from now on. Speaking of which, the new Rav4s have to be may favourite normal-guy SUV out right now. Some of the colour combos look super good...such a nice package. Great choice.

Recognizing that you may not want to make a lifestyle out of keeping your car looking its best, there are still a couple easy things your could do that will set your vehicle apart and above 90% of vehicles out there. Biggest one for me is wheels. Bring some wheel cleaner (you just spray it on), your drill, and one of these drill-mounted brushes to the car wash. When you get into the car wash, spritz the wheels and then clean them with the drill. It'll take five minutes and they'll look insane and make the entire car pop.

Other easy thing is just get into the habit of taking your trash with you every time you leave the car. To keep the dash and all the interior plastics clean, I like using Aerospace 303 (Armor-All Protectant is fine, too, but some people hate it for some reason) on a rag and just wipe everything down.

Finally, when you're done at the car wash shine your tires with some high-gloss tire shine. People think I have a new car all the time and are always surprised at how old my fleet is. Van is 10 years old. Mercedes is nine years old. Truck is five years old. Sportwagen is a 2017 and we just picked it up so that one doesn't really count.

Those are the basics. If you're wondering what to do in the car wash, I always go to wand washes. If you have to use the brush (some car guys never do; I don't on the Mercedes but my other cars I do), make sure you blast the #### out of it with the wand to ensure there isn't any debris in it and only do it once you've already soaped your car so it is somewhat lubricated.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by btimbit

It's a RAV4, touchless car wash, vacuum it, good enough.

But maintenance, maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Don't just do the occasional oil change, follow the maintenance schedule in the manual exactly.

Here's another one of the "it's only..." guys. Btimbit knows his cars for sure, but I disagree so hard on this. I get more stoked to see a young person in a meticulously maintained and detailed '93 Corolla than I do somebody in a brand new 911 with smudges on the interior glass, a slurpee cup in the cup holder and brake dust all over his rims. The cost/type of your vehicle is irrelevant. It's about looking good...maybe not too dissimilar to the fashion thread - we can't all look like Brad Pitt, but do your best with what you have and you'll look good and feel proud.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Here's another one of the "it's only..." guys. Btimbit knows his cars for sure, but I disagree so hard on this. I get more stoked to see a young person in a meticulously maintained and detailed '93 Corolla than I do somebody in a brand new 911 with smudges on the interior glass, a slurpee cup in the cup holder and brake dust all over his rims. The cost/type of your vehicle is irrelevant. It's about looking good...maybe not too dissimilar to the fashion thread - we can't all look like Brad Pitt, but do your best with what you have and you'll look good and feel proud.

Woah woah woah

..... leave Slurpees out of this

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Woah woah woah

..... leave Slurpees out of this

You're right. Too far. You know how I get.

[Calgary14]

I wash my car regularly, about 2-3x per week and I noticed a big difference in the paint when I stopped using the soap brush at the car wash. Now I just rinse and then occasionally at home I will wash with a soft rag. The brushes at the car wash must be brutal for a paint job because it's noticeably better now, when I was using the brush I was noticing little scratches, marks and it just generally looked worse

[81MC]

Slivers right. Not only is it not ‘just’ a RAV4, it’s one of those universally sought after vehicles by a huge swath of the demographic, and retains its resale value better than average.

Putting a little bit of money and time into it over its life will serve you day to day and in the long run.

A properly done 3M treatment on the front bumper/hood can make a world of difference after 5 or 6 years, but that’s expensive.

Maintain the fluids, keep it mechanically sound, keep it waxed (3/4 times a year with a. Decent carnuba is cheap, fun, and makes washing a breeze). Avoid touching the lint with anything but a *quality* detailing cloth or wash sponge. Never ever ever use a car wash brush on it...if that’s your only option, leave it alone. The dirt isn’t doing any particular damage sitting on your paint, but rubbing it with the sandpaper that is car wash brushes sure does.

New vehicle, I seriously recommends doing a fluid film/waxoyl type treatment. This is, in my mind, the single most important thing you can do for the long term protection of your vehicle. All the exterior maintenance in the world means nothing if it rots from the inside out. Do it.

[Fuzz]

A hood deflector is a cheap alternative to 3M, and helps protect your windshield. Doesn't do much for the bumper, but helps with hood chips.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I disagree with Corsi on this. It's equally fun to take pride in a Rav4 as it is to take pride in a fancy car.

Yeah, but how you take pride in a vintage Bentley vs. how you take pride in an off-road modded 4Runner are very different things, even though both are enthusiast vehicles. I'm not saying he shouldn't take care of it - I just don't think a Rav4 needs a bunch of 3M on it, just like I wouldn't put it on a Defender.

As for the wand wash, that's what I do with my cars.

[Calgary14]

FYI for what it's worth a new Rav4 Prime is about $60K which is entering (base) luxury car territory

[burn_this_city]

I have a 14 year old truck with 3M on the major areas. The headlights look brand new still and it completely prevented the oxidation/sun damage that normally occurs. I took the film off one of the lenses and was amazed at the difference between the 3M areas and the parts it missed. Clear glass vs yellowed and opaque. If you care about your vehicle spending a $1000 on 3M when its brand new is completely worth it.

[DFO]

I think the most neglected part of vehicles is the undercarriage. I think the underside should get as much attention as the top side. Find a car wash with some sort of undercarriage spray contraption in addition to the wand wash.

I wrapped the entire AMG wagon and have no regrets about that expense. That being said I'll probably just do the front and mirrors/pillars on the new F-150.

[InglewoodFan]

Car care question - I bought a new Mazda about a year ago and have been babying it since. Wash at least once a week, never use the brush, dry it with detail cloths afterwards. Once thing I am noticing is it is covered in tiny bumps of what I am assuming is sap as I have had it parked out front as the garage is full of furniture due to a reno project.

If it is indeed sap, what is the recommended removal method? Clay bar?

Also, thumbs up for 3M. This is the first car I have had it done on, it is keeping things looking great.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by btimbit

It's a RAV4, touchless car wash, vacuum it, good enough.

But maintenance, maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Don't just do the occasional oil change, follow the maintenance schedule in the manual exactly.

I agree. Follow the maintinence schedule to a tee. I drive a 2006 Ford Escape with 240,000 kilometers and it's still running great. Also wash and wax it on a regular basis.

[Sliver]

I'd never guess that had a quarter million kilometers on it. Looks great, Dion.