You Know What Really Grinds My Gears....The Sequel!

[btimbit]

'Swirl mark' meaning any light scratch, be it circular, straight or diagonal, caused by dirt particles being dragged through paint with insufficient lubrication and/or incorrect procedures. Most commonly caused by improper washing techniques, but poor waxing and drying is just as bad.

Long story short, don't psychically touch your paint with any product or process a professional wouldn't use. If you don't have access to that kind of stuff, like most people, it's best to do what pylon suggested, just let it air dry.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by btimbit

I'm not talking about a still dirty car, I mean even the smallest speck of dirt. No it won't be a deep very noticeable scratch, but it's just asking for paint swirls.

This is why we don't use them any more on new cars. When you are drying a car with a micro fibre cloth, and a spec of crud is on the paint it will usually just embed in the rag, and cause no problems.

With water blades, you just end up dragging it along the surface for the entire length of the swipe..

[Dion]

Originally Posted by btimbit

'Swirl mark' meaning any light scratch, be it circular, straight or diagonal, caused by dirt particles being dragged through paint with insufficient lubrication and/or incorrect procedures. Most commonly caused by improper washing techniques, but poor waxing and drying is just as bad.

Unless you take it to a professional all the time you're going to get the odd scratch. Frankly I don't know of anyone who goes to that extreme. Take care of it the best you can and enjoy driving it as opposed to always worrying about what may happen to the finish.

Long story short, don't psychically touch your paint with any product or process a professional wouldn't use. If you don't have access to that kind of stuff, like most people, it's best to do what pylon suggested, just let it air dry.

I'd like to think i'm well versed on how to deal with my paint job. I also expect that rock chips, door dings and general weather will marr the finish to some extent. Especially mine since it is 8 years old. It's washed often and waxed 2 - 3 times a year.

[btimbit]

That's fair, I'm just anal about the paint finish and appearance of my cars, and something like that is so avoidable

[strombad]

I have a 7 year old blue hatchback that the previous owner put two sick scratch/dents in, so based on the way this conversation has gone, I'm thinking it's totally cool I just keep rocking the foam brush.

I mean really, it's not like things are going to get better. I'll keep foam brush weariness on my mind for future vehicles though.

[sun]

Have any of you considered moving to a city where it rains 80% of the time? Keeping your car clean is a cinch.

[Red John]

Glad this has turned into the car detailing thread!

However everyone who offers their two cents should be adding what vehicle they have as it makes a big difference.

The guys bragging about how they never spend more than $2 are probably the kind driving old cars that aren't exactly show n shine calibre. There's a difference between washing your vehicle routinely to keep it relatively clean, and shining it up to showroom condition.

Dion's story about the blade is downright scary stuff. Wouldn't let a blade ever come near my car, but you can see he has an 8-year old SUV and is more interested in keeping it well maintained rather than immaculate. So the blade works for him but shouldn't be recommended for everyone.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Red John

Glad this has turned into the car detailing thread!

However everyone who offers their two cents should be adding what vehicle they have as it makes a big difference.

The guys bragging about how they never spend more than $2 are probably the kind driving old cars that aren't exactly show n shine calibre. There's a difference between washing your vehicle routinely to keep it relatively clean, and shining it up to showroom condition.

Dion's story about the blade is downright scary stuff. Wouldn't let a blade ever come near my car, but you can see he has an 8-year old SUV and is more interested in keeping it well maintained rather than immaculate. So the blade works for him but shouldn't be recommended for everyone.

lol, for all the jokes about CP and 1%'s, I don't think it should come as a surprise that most people don't own "show and shine" caliber vehicles.

[Yasa]

Hey man, my Kia is amaaaaaaazing

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by flameswin

lol, for all the jokes about CP and 1%'s, I don't think it should come as a surprise that most people don't own "show and shine" caliber vehicles.

I find the people who are well off are driving the older vehicles and the people who can't afford to buy new vehicles are the ones who need the brand new spanking vehicle.

The rich didn't get rich by making stupid financial decisions. And buying a new car off the lot isn't a smart financial decision unless you aren't financing it and buying it cash and can afford to do that. Too many people go into debt trying to have the newest shiniest toy. I drive an 04 Acura MDX that I bought cash like I do with all my vehicles. I started off with an 89 Ford Tempo and moved up even though at the time I could have went out and bought something through financing but what for? To look like I have money when I was living pay cheque to pay cheque? Meh I know that last paragraph won't be popular but so be it. It's my opinion and I strongly believe buying a car off the lot is throwing your money away. If you got a lot of money and don't mind throwing it away then that is your choice but for some people to have to depend on their cheque at the end of the month to pay off their car loan? To me, that is stupid.

[Table 5]

I usually spend a minimum 3 hours detailing my car. I tend to go in this order: hand shampoo wash, hand dry, clay, shampoo wash again, tape off 3M film, do two rounds of sealant glaze, and then do the carnuba wax to finish it off. Then I move onto the interior, first with leather cleaner and then leather conditioner.

I then run my wife's car through the automatic car wash.

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

I find the people who are well off are driving the older vehicles and the people who can't afford to buy new vehicles are the ones who need the brand new spanking vehicle.

The rich didn't get rich by making stupid financial decisions. And buying a new car off the lot isn't a smart financial decision unless you aren't financing it and buying it cash and can afford to do that. Too many people go into debt trying to have the newest shiniest toy. I drive an 04 Acura MDX that I bought cash like I do with all my vehicles. I started off with an 89 Ford Tempo and moved up even though at the time I could have went out and bought something through financing but what for? To look like I have money when I was living pay cheque to pay cheque? Meh I know that last paragraph won't be popular but so be it. It's my opinion and I strongly believe buying a car off the lot is throwing your money away. If you got a lot of money and don't mind throwing it away then that is your choice but for some people to have to depend on their cheque at the end of the month to pay off their car loan? To me, that is stupid.

That could be said for anything though. Spending more than you earn is just stupid no matter what you buy. But I get what you're saying.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

I find the people who are well off are driving the older vehicles and the people who can't afford to buy new vehicles are the ones who need the brand new spanking vehicle.

The rich didn't get rich by making stupid financial decisions. And buying a new car off the lot isn't a smart financial decision unless you aren't financing it and buying it cash and can afford to do that. Too many people go into debt trying to have the newest shiniest toy. I drive an 04 Acura MDX that I bought cash like I do with all my vehicles. I started off with an 89 Ford Tempo and moved up even though at the time I could have went out and bought something through financing but what for? To look like I have money when I was living pay check to pay check? Meh I know that last paragraph won't be popular but so be it. It's my opinion and I strongly believe buying a car off the lot is throwing your money away. If you got a lot of money and don't mind throwing it away then that is your choice but for some people to have to depend in their check at the end of the month to pay off their car loan? To me, that is stupid.

Totally agreed. Buying new cars and financing or leasing them is one of those awkward things in our society where a majority of people feel a huge desire to "keep up with the jones'", when it comes to driving a vehicle.

Even though most people would never admit it, vehicles are one of the most important "status symbol's" in our lives, for people that find that kind of thing important.

I see so many people that never drive around in a vehicle older than a year, people that I know for a fact are making under $20/hr driving around on forklifts, doing office admin etc. And when the topic comes up about how they afford it, it almost always boils down to;

"The payments are really tough to make, but this vehicle met all my needs". Oh, so you had to buy a 2013 SUV at $28k because of your needs? That's such a "falling for advertising" attitude. You hear "your needs" in almost every car commercial.

But yeah, if you line up 10 brand new vehicles in this city and pull the drivers and find out their "story", I would bet more then half of them would be along the lines of "I've got a wife and kids, a brand new house in (insert newer community), (a need), a yearly vacation (a need), and this $400/month payment for my brand new Dodge Durango, which they somehow justify as a need, even though it's likely the difference between them struggling financially and being OK.

[jayswin]

And just to clarify I'm not trying be a dick about people who live beyond their means, it's fine, we all make choices and we only live once, so it's all good.

I just wish more people would be more honest about it. There's certain things in a vehicle that can be considered "needs". IE: I have 3 kids, so we need a van or SUV.

Great, but what does that have to do with a 2014, $28k SUV with all the upgrades? Nothing. You just want a new vehicle, and are willing to take on a $400 monthly payment, or worse, a lease payment to drive around in the latest model so that your friends and neighbors see you in it. Or so that you appear to not have to make any sacrifices and that you are on the high end of the middle class, when the reality is you're a little closer to the bottom end.

[Table 5]

28K would be a steal for most SUVs. Try more like 40k (which is what the Durango starts at).

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

The rich didn't get rich by making stupid financial decisions. And buying a new car off the lot isn't a smart financial decision unless you aren't financing it and buying it cash and can afford to do that.

What? Buying a new car off the lot in cash is considered more financially responsible than financing it? The financing on my car was 0.9% Who would pay for a new car outright, unless your investments were doing poorly.

It surprises me that there are people who think this way. Do some cash flow diagrams and figure out where your money is best allocated. A majority of the time, you'd be better off investing than paying down your new car.

I am not trying to disparage people who pay cash for a brand new car, but it doesn't seem like a financially savvy move, unless you really need a specific vehicle and the finance rates are garbage.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Red John

Glad this has turned into the car detailing thread!

However everyone who offers their two cents should be adding what vehicle they have as it makes a big difference.

The guys bragging about how they never spend more than $2 are probably the kind driving old cars that aren't exactly show n shine calibre. There's a difference between washing your vehicle routinely to keep it relatively clean, and shining it up to showroom condition.

Dion's story about the blade is downright scary stuff. Wouldn't let a blade ever come near my car, but you can see he has an 8-year old SUV and is more interested in keeping it well maintained rather than immaculate. So the blade works for him but shouldn't be recommended for everyone.

I hope you remember what they say about assumptions

If I didn't care about keeping the outside of my vehicle as nice as possible I wouldn't spend hours detailing it. I'm just realistic in the fact that it is almost impossible to keep an 8 year old vehicle "immaculate". Nor do I have the money to be trading it in every 2-3 years to always own an immaculate vehicle. Maybe you do, but I don't. To me it's a depreciating asset and I will drive mine as long as possible.

If the blade is as bad as try to make others believe, mine would be all scratched up with endless swirl marks and such. Much to your dissapointment it isn't. As for others they are free to do as they please and have never said otherwise.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Wormius

What? Buying a new car off the lot in cash is considered more financially responsible than financing it? The financing on my car was 0.9% Who would pay for a new car outright, unless your investments were doing poorly.

It surprises me that there are people who think this way. Do some cash flow diagrams and figure out where your money is best allocated. A majority of the time, you'd be better off investing than paying down your new car.

I am not trying to disparage people who pay cash for a brand new car, but it doesn't seem like a financially savvy move, unless you really need a specific vehicle and the finance rates are garbage.

I feel like I'm really stupidly missing something here. When dealerships offer .9% financing, you're paying .9% not earning .9%, and therefore it would be a better financial move to pay cash for the vehicle.

Seriously, I'm so confused by your post lol.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I feel like I'm really stupidly missing something here. When dealerships offer .9% financing, you're paying .9% not earning .9%, and therefore it would be a better financial move to pay cash for the vehicle.

Seriously, I'm so confused by your post lol.

What he is talking about is taking the cash that would pay for the vehicle out right and and investing it elsewhere. At .9% you are not really paying any interest at all. Chances are excellent, if the money is invested right that his investment earning will be greater than what he had to pay in interest.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I feel like I'm really stupidly missing something here. When dealerships offer .9% financing, you're paying .9% not earning .9%, and therefore it would be a better financial move to pay cash for the vehicle.

Seriously, I'm so confused by your post lol.

If you could find an investment that pays you more than the finance rate, then you would be better off putting the money into that than paying off the car right away.