TomAssBender

Being a first time new car owner (I feel like I type this disclaimer at the beginning of every post) I find it pretty humorous how many liquids/sprays/goos/gunks I have purchased for my 8. It seems like every week I have a new bottle to buy, and have had to put off funneling money into mods because I keep buying more cleaning products! Haha. anyway.

Liquids/Gunks I have bought/should buy for my 8
Car washing soap
NXT Wax
Leather conditioner
Vinyl cleaner
Tire shine
Anti-seize (rotary valve stem caps)
Goo Gone (visor stickers)
Back to black (first time idiot getting wax on my plastics)
Never Dull (nasty exhaust tips)
Contemplating RainX

What am I missing? (dont need any PlastX yet!)

Clavius

Detailing spray! ya missed that.
The back to black ya bought.. could of saved yourself some $$$ and used a #2 pencil eraser. I found that trick out on here somewhere and it works awsome, just cost's you maybe .25-.50 for the pencil if that. A full pencil took care of my entire car's plastic (because I was a moron a few times lol).
For tires I'm a fan of Black Magic foam cleaner and Wet shine
Wax I'm also using NXT Wax from Maguiars havent switched to the famous Z yet maybe next year.
Sadly I'm stuck buying Armorall since its the only thing stores carry around here (most is bought on impulse hence no internet ordering for the better stuff guys!)

But I hear you.. Part of me feels bad if I'm not buying something for my baby each week to keep her clean or healthy. Sad when you realize you've bought more stuff cash wise for your car in 4 months than you've spent on yourself in clothes all year haha..

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

Thats it? j00 need some www.autopia.org for some good stuff! yes it gets addictive

TomAssBender

SNTP, I've been trying with all my might to resist autopia.org. I can barely keep up with this forum! Besides, I'd probably feel so down about my car and how "dirty" it is after spending time over there. Its hard enough as it is watching all the people with money hook up their weekend cars when I'm breaking my back to keep my daily driver relatively clean. damn im good at whining

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

Lol. cmon. a days worth of detailing and a wash every two weeks will make your car look better than the cars at those stupid Hot Import Night shows! Youre not going to spend some money into clay and polish/polisher? How bout plastic protectants (i recommend 303 aero space protectant which is avaible at 303products.com . its the best you can get when it comes to protecting exterior/interior plastics and making them look great w/o making it slippery/oily)? what car wash soap are you getting? do you have 2+ gallon buckets? microfiber towels (youcant keep a car clean w/o them! once you go MF you wont go back!)? sheep skin/wool wash mitt?.

RotrDoc

You really need to do some serious thinking about what you're putting on your plastic. Sounds like you're using junk on the interior and nothing on the exterior simply because good products aren't staring at you from the Wal-Mart shelves.

Quality vinyl protectants are readily avilable at any auto supply store. Even better ones are widely available on the Internet.

stealitnow

Well for us newbies, what is the product that clavius stated (famous z) i think it is a wax but don't know. don't shoot me just new at all of this stuff

RotrDoc

The reference is to the Zaino system of polishing and protectant products. I don't use it (I'm too lazy), but it is, far and away, the preferred system for those who take great pride (and the requisite effort) in top-quality detailing.

The system is fairly expensive to set up (a hundred bucks or so) and uses multiple steps to achieve a gorgeous, long-lasting result.

I've never seen this in the stores. I think most folks buy it on-line.

Clavius

Hrm I see a general point to others but can't help but see the personal stab.
First, as I stated Armorall is widely avialable in my area, and the autoparts stores dont seem to carry top-notch products. The only two autoparts stores around my area are Advanced Auto Parts and Pep Boys. I have no O'Reilly's or any other company that would stock those kind of products. Second kinda offended you assume I goto Wal-Mart for my products. Was it the list of products that I use to clean my car that lead you to this choice?
Oh Thrid.. I picked up a friend of mine this weekend and he was starting at my door and dash. I asked him what was wrong and he just stated "damn **** looks shiny and rich what the hell dont tell me you cleaned it today". I told him I didnt clean it today and actually cleaned it two weeks ago. So to me I took that as a compliment. Do I know there is better stuff for interior.. sure.. do I feel like pouring out the $$$ for it, not right now. Then again unless someone wants to pay for those products and ship them to my place them I'm game!

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

^ spend 2-3 bucks more for some meguiars stuff... stop being so cheap. youll regret it when your rx8 starts to fade.

TomAssBender

I got all Meguiars wash products from Target. Micro fiber wash mit, and traditional chamois for drying.

Its starting to get difficult to wash/clean my car consistently, which I dont like. I am at work while the sun it out and away on the weekends. Not to mention I live in an apartment and have to take the car to my parents house to wash it. Might as well have my mom do my laundry while I am there....right?

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

Try to get sheepskin wash mitts for washing instead because dirt and grime gets stuck on MF's and its basically like dragging dirt on your paint. MF for drying and buffing ftw.

stealitnow

could someone tell me who makes the wax product called [ nxt ] and also what you would use for a pre-cleaner before you use the wax

thanks

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

^ Meguiars makes NXT tech wax (its actually a sealant since its synthetic). pre-cleaers wont be much use if you dont go through the whole process liek claying and polishing before sealing/waxing. the wax will not bond tot he paint well and it wont last as long and ofcourse the car wont look much different because you didnt prep the paint.