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Unforunatly polish and waxing your car will take more than 2-3hrs even done quickly and it will not stop bugs from sticking to the car. What your better off doing instead of pollishing and waxing seperate use a cleaner wax. There applied in mins and easy wiped off. I've use Zymol cleaner wax also my father recommends turtle wax platinum range. these both will protect your paintwork with less effort and time. Other than that you have to start doing things in stages and is time consuming
Yeah, that's what I was thinking jonnie5. Although I can probably get away with waxing occasionally, it won't happen every week like some people on here do! I'll stick to the Turtle Wax Nano for now, it seems to do a decent job and it's a one step wash and wax so I assume it offers a bit of protection for the paintwork. Just need to get some mitts so I can stop using the tatty sponges I've got and save them for washing the wheels or whatever, and some bug remover to get rid of the insect graveyard across the front of my car!
Maybe I'll get in touch with one of the sponsors and see how much a pro would do it for, although I'm wary of laying out hundreds of pounds over a weekend, jumping in it to go to work Monday morning and undoing all the hard work with motorway grit and traffic film
As i said my dads uses the platunum range and it could show up a few professional with shine and with the rain beading down nicely. Try and use the 2 bucket methood mate it make sure your not rubbing grit in to the car again and contaminating your soapy bucket.
But you're not undoing the hard work by getting it dirty.
Once a car is properly detailed, not only will the paint be bought up to a high standard, but with the right products applied it will help you keep it that way very easily.
An example. 2 weeks ago I went to Cambridge to detail a Passat W8. The guy came down from Manchester to Cambridge because it was roughly half way between us. When I'd finished it was sparkling, but by the time he left to drive home it was hammering down with rain, and it continued to do so all the way home.
Next morning I get a phone call from him to tell me this. His wife had got up, looked outside and seen the car looking absolutely immaculate. She then woke him up to ask why he'd been outside and washed it already!
A week later he said there was still hardly any dirt on this car (its dark blue), but he gave it a quick wash, 20 minutes start to finish, and its back to perfect again. So its not just about spending £250 to have it looking good for a couple of hours after the detail.
Once a car is properly detailed, not only will the paint be bought up to a high standard, but with the right products applied it will help you keep it that way very easily.
An example. 2 weeks ago I went to Cambridge to detail a Passat W8. The guy came down from Manchester to Cambridge because it was roughly half way between us. When I'd finished it was sparkling, but by the time he left to drive home it was hammering down with rain, and it continued to do so all the way home.
Next morning I get a phone call from him to tell me this. His wife had got up, looked outside and seen the car looking absolutely immaculate. She then woke him up to ask why he'd been outside and washed it already!
A week later he said there was still hardly any dirt on this car (its dark blue), but he gave it a quick wash, 20 minutes start to finish, and its back to perfect again. So its not just about spending £250 to have it looking good for a couple of hours after the detail.
I tend to agree. I'm driving a Leon not a Porsche or Jag. These extremes are not needed on a everyday work horse
Jonnie5 - all I will say is have a look at this Sparkly!
Didnt look too bad before hand but afterwards - WOW
Well worth it in my opinion, and not something that needs doing too regularly if you give it the care nedded in the mean time.
I've had similar maybe not quite as good with my car this week. cost me less than £40 and I still have loads of the bottles left to use again and again. I can see the point in spending that money on a top end car but not a Leon. I did this for nect to nothing compaired to the price of a detailer with similar result.And if I bought the products could do just as well, but come on mate not on a Leon
Have a look in the thread I started www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=125071
Does indeed look good.
£40 is a bargain aswell, the stuff I got to clean my car cost more than double thatooppss
and in 3-4months just look the same again lol
Still think it was money well spent.
Wouldnt have been able to remove the swirls myself.
Black is a bitch to keep clean though.
As for only having an hour for your car - think if you can give it a regular hour and then a little bit more time when you have it you can still keep the car looking good.
Wouldnt have been able to remove the swirls myself.
Black is a bitch to keep clean though.
As for only having an hour for your car - think if you can give it a regular hour and then a little bit more time when you have it you can still keep the car looking good.
I can Pre-soak, wash and dry mine in 30mins. [ and its a mondeo!]
The wax will last 6weeks+ so hardly needs topping up.
Try Collinite 476, it lasts 6months plus and makes the car alot easier to wash next time round.
Spending £100 is nothing really on a car that cost well over 10k,
It could even add on £100 quid when you come to sell up...
Oh and gavinchappell, im in the derbyshire area and have a porter cable and loads of products, i could give you a demo of a few bits and bobs...?
The wax will last 6weeks+ so hardly needs topping up.
Try Collinite 476, it lasts 6months plus and makes the car alot easier to wash next time round.
Spending £100 is nothing really on a car that cost well over 10k,
It could even add on £100 quid when you come to sell up...
Oh and gavinchappell, im in the derbyshire area and have a porter cable and loads of products, i could give you a demo of a few bits and bobs...?
Gavin, if you do decide to get it done, Iain's work is second to none.
And Jonnie, I respect your opinion that you don't think a Leon is worth the effort, but I don't agree with it. To a lot of people, their car (whatever it is) is their pride and joy. Just because its not a 'top end motor' doesn't mean it doesn't deserve the same treatment if it makes the owner proud.
With the right products I'm sure you make a great job of making your car look good, after all, wiping products on and off isn't rocket science. The difference comes down to the preparation, and the difference in having a car properly machine polished to remove the swirls, scratches and oxidation giving you the best possible base to then build on using Last Stage Products.
And Jonnie, I respect your opinion that you don't think a Leon is worth the effort, but I don't agree with it. To a lot of people, their car (whatever it is) is their pride and joy. Just because its not a 'top end motor' doesn't mean it doesn't deserve the same treatment if it makes the owner proud.
With the right products I'm sure you make a great job of making your car look good, after all, wiping products on and off isn't rocket science. The difference comes down to the preparation, and the difference in having a car properly machine polished to remove the swirls, scratches and oxidation giving you the best possible base to then build on using Last Stage Products.
Agreed with Reg, i was always a little sceptical about machine polishing, true by hand you can make it nice and shiny - no one is disputing that. If you want ALL the swirls, marks, blemishes etc removed then there is no way you can reasonably do this by hand, I know ... i tried and just couldn't get the same finish.
Having done mine a couple of times, a knackered old BMW and Nics Arosa using the PC I can say that machine polishing ( whichever one you use) beats working by hand every time, especially when it's on hard paint.
Total cost for the PC and pads and polishes is probably close to £300, however i've learnt a new skill, i've done 3 cars, I can do my Dads for his birthday and i've still got the PC and all the bits and pieces to do other cars as I want.
Each to their own i guess but for me, it was defintely £300 well spent
I should add, as Sisson said, once all the ground work is done, you can achieve the same finish again in less than an hour each time you wash - none of us are likely to grumble about that
Having done mine a couple of times, a knackered old BMW and Nics Arosa using the PC I can say that machine polishing ( whichever one you use) beats working by hand every time, especially when it's on hard paint.
Total cost for the PC and pads and polishes is probably close to £300, however i've learnt a new skill, i've done 3 cars, I can do my Dads for his birthday and i've still got the PC and all the bits and pieces to do other cars as I want.
Each to their own i guess but for me, it was defintely £300 well spent
I should add, as Sisson said, once all the ground work is done, you can achieve the same finish again in less than an hour each time you wash - none of us are likely to grumble about that
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And I respect yours.
Its just I think at the end of the day you can do a decant enough job with out spending that kind of money and successfully remove swirls etc
Its not that I dont think you shouldn't be looking after your car, its you can do similar things for a 1/3 of the money. I know the products I use arn't the best but for a little more you could have someZymol glazes Jeffs or poorboys which will mask all swirls etc. I would spend at little more, but not to the extend of a detailer. I would buy products that I could use myself.
I use Autoglym as my dad works in the motor trade and I get Autoglym products cheaper and if you spend the time you get good results. Also Autoglym wouldn't be good if the Royal stamp wasn't there and the likes of Aston Martin as well.
Go buy the productd yourself and save the £25-£35 pre hour rates. As you say its no rocket sience its just preperation
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Fair enough, I hear what you're saying.
But just to add, whatever is on Autoglym bottles, it certainly doesn't go on Aston's.....(I know a guy in talks to supply a new type of polish product, and its appauling to find out they just use whatever is the cheapest stuff they can buy. After detailing an AMV8 that the owner had collected 2 days earlier from the dealer, having been 'detailed', I can believe it).
But just to add, whatever is on Autoglym bottles, it certainly doesn't go on Aston's.....(I know a guy in talks to supply a new type of polish product, and its appauling to find out they just use whatever is the cheapest stuff they can buy. After detailing an AMV8 that the owner had collected 2 days earlier from the dealer, having been 'detailed', I can believe it).
ive had my car detailed
It looks stunning straight after, but its best to top it up every couple of weeks just to keep it looking spot on.
I had mine done by Tim at cleanyourcar.co.uk site sponsor i think now, but after we did it, you automatically want to keep it looking the same. Even if its just a top up of sealent and wax every week, thatll only take you about 45 minutes, so with a wash and a dray and what not your looking at your hour only every 2 weeks.
I top mine up frequently, with carlack 68 long life sealent and P21S wax, and its recommended every 3 months, i use the same process with carlack 68 nano systematic care before the other 2.
Looks very nice
EDIT: heres the detailing thread: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=107647
and heres a thread i did after wards about 3 months i think it was after the detail, and thats topped up with the products i described above
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=119588
It looks stunning straight after, but its best to top it up every couple of weeks just to keep it looking spot on.
I had mine done by Tim at cleanyourcar.co.uk site sponsor i think now, but after we did it, you automatically want to keep it looking the same. Even if its just a top up of sealent and wax every week, thatll only take you about 45 minutes, so with a wash and a dray and what not your looking at your hour only every 2 weeks.
I top mine up frequently, with carlack 68 long life sealent and P21S wax, and its recommended every 3 months, i use the same process with carlack 68 nano systematic care before the other 2.
Looks very nice
EDIT: heres the detailing thread: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=107647
and heres a thread i did after wards about 3 months i think it was after the detail, and thats topped up with the products i described above
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=119588
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I recommend getting your car detailed by a professional 110%. Yes it is a lot of money but the rewards as Reg stated are well worth it.
I have seen Reg's work first hand 1 week after her detailed slicks car. The car was dirty however it was still so shiney, mirror like...Slick just gave it a quick was over and the result was out of the world.
I got Reg's card so when I get some money through I will get it done. Yes I detail my car by hand but I know I am not going to get a finish like i know I could get. Slicks car just proved that to me.
I have seen Reg's work first hand 1 week after her detailed slicks car. The car was dirty however it was still so shiney, mirror like...Slick just gave it a quick was over and the result was out of the world.
I got Reg's card so when I get some money through I will get it done. Yes I detail my car by hand but I know I am not going to get a finish like i know I could get. Slicks car just proved that to me.
ive had my car detailed
It looks stunning straight after, but its best to top it up every couple of weeks just to keep it looking spot on.
I had mine done by Tim at cleanyourcar.co.uk site sponsor i think now, but after we did it, you automatically want to keep it looking the same. Even if its just a top up of sealent and wax every week, thatll only take you about 45 minutes, so with a wash and a dray and what not your looking at your hour only every 2 weeks.
I top mine up frequently, with carlack 68 long life sealent and P21S wax, and its recommended every 3 months, i use the same process with carlack 68 nano systematic care before the other 2.
Looks very nice
EDIT: heres the detailing thread: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=107647
and heres a thread i did after wards about 3 months i think it was after the detail, and thats topped up with the products i described above
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=119588
Thats stunning mate
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