Washing and Waxing - Please Advise

OK, I've taken delivery of my new car and I will have to wash it and wax it soon enough. I have no serious experience here, so what do people suggest as the best products and procedures ?


Gz

I'm sure everyone's opinins will be similar...

meguires makes a full package that works great. under 20 bucks at walmart

Personally, I would hold off on waxing for at least six months and wash carefully using plenty of water and a soap intended for car washing. Pat dry with a chamois. Unless the car gets really dirty, you can do a fast job with a detailer such as Meguiars or similar product and a micro fiber towel. The main thing is not to allow abrasives to scratch the surface and make those nasty swirl marks that are easy to get and not so easy to get rid of.

BTW, congratulations and happy motoring. We will all be looking forward to a drive report. Thanks.
Hoss

THe previous posts are right on. Meguiar's is great. Use a Carnauba Wax based car wash solution such as Johnson Wax's (can't recall the name right now but it's a concentrated clear yellow solution that gets diluted in water..does Rally sound right?).

I don't think there is a better carnuba wax than P21S. I've tried quite a few and found this one the easiest to apply and remove, the best shine, and the longest lasting. There was a wax comparison published by "Guru Reports" a couple of years back that rated it as the best conventional wax, and as good in some of their eyes as the Zaino stuff (that seems tough to apply). My opinion of Mequiar's is that they are ok, but don't last very long at all. Guru Reports had the same results.

I recommend their starter kit with the wax, pre-wax cleanser, and car wash. Get a few good quality micro fiber towels and use them exclusively. Also get a clay bar. Griot's Garage has a lot of wonderful stuff. Their clay bar, towels, and other things like Speed Shine are great, but they don't sell P21S. If you can't find it locally, try California Car Covers (www.calcarcover.com) or Bavarian Autosport (www.bavauto.com). The really good stuff ain't cheap, but you really do get what you pay for.

Lane...the guys that details our vehicles uses that same stuff, he swears by it, and being for the fact that he does take care of lots of very expensive cars , I do trust what he uses!~ Esther

I called Erik on his cell---you can get the P21S thru autogeek.net. Hope this was helful guys and gals.~ Esther

You guys are great. Henry is going to put together a "Care and Feeding" kit which will include top notch wash and wax products, which completely jives with your suggestions above. I really know nothing about this and am trying to make sure the car looks it's best right from the get go. If only I took the same care of my wardrode in the 70's.

No drive report yet, there is still ice on the ground and salt on the roads, but my daugter likes the comfy leather seats when she plays in it in the garage. Rain expected tomorrow to wash the roads clean and then I'm out the door.

Gz

Personally I'm a "Mother's" boy.

I really like Zaino.

Mothers has the most awesome metal polish I've ever used....

I agree with that Ricardo. I use it on my steering wheel spokes and it does a great job.

Oh yeah, the Mother's metal polish, along with their mini ball thingy, is great for aluminimum, er alumiuium, um aliminumin, ah *^#%&!

If you use dielectric grease on the rubber parts it will keep them from drying out and oxidizing as soon.

Use it very very sparingly, you only want enough to moisturize and protect without getting it on the paint. If you get it on the paint, it is some extra work to remove it and then wax. Avoid getting the wax on the black rubber pieces for the opposite reason. Avoid using soap products on your top, just rinse the top well with plain water.

Tire rubber needs to be completely clean before adding any tire shine product or it will look worse later.

Guys:

I use Zymol and it really makes the cars shine. You need to stay on top of it as you need to was on properly and more importantly you need to take the wax off at the right time. If you do it correctly it looks awesome.

Andres D.

John,

Ship down to me in Olympia (use a covered shipper please). I will keep it in top notch driving condition and wash it too. It is much too wet and snowy up there in BC for the car.

With all your best interests in mind and as always,

Tomm

Man, it's driving me nuts. I've had the car for almost a week and the roads are still covered in salt, or it snowed again every single day, so the only real drive I've had is back from Henry's.

All over Vancouver the snow is gone, the ice is gone, but in my neighbourhood the show is still there and the roads are almost impassable because of the ice on the hills around my house. It usually snows for a couple of days a year at most here.

At least I will not have to wash the car if I never use it....

Gz