RX-EVolved

...just a few thoughts.
Upon finally taking delivery of our new ride, the question of how should the renesis be broken in? Go gentle, or fast & furious? If we are to take the go gentle route, how long are we to do so?

Also, I have seen some talk about maintenance over the first few months. Specifically regarding waxing, sealants & treatments.
What are some good ideas on this. How long do we wait to slather a wax job to it? What products are best?

I for one would love to see some feedback on these inquiries!

Keeper

I don't know the proper way to break in a rotary, but odds are there will be instructions in the owner's manual -- read 'em, follow 'em, and you'll be fine.

Regarding paint care: The surface is safe to wax the day the car rolls onto the dealer's lot. The paint is baked onto the car in the factory, so you don't need to wait 60-90 days for it to cure. Now, what you should do to actually take care of the surface -- there's a lot of voodoo/theory about what works best. But, if you're happy with how the finish on your current car has been maintained, keep doing it. I personally use Megiars products. Some people like Mother's. Others swear by Zanio (sp?). I think that all three of the brands I mentioned will give you excellent results.

RX-EVolved

Keeper ... TY

brothervoodoo

Refer to some of east moon's earlier posts. He quoted a 1000km (~620mi) break-in period not to exceed a certain rev limit. Check out his posts, but more importantly as keeper said, follow the directions in your owners manual.

Quick_lude

Regarding the paint, I'd suggest doing the claybar treatment to get off the crap that got on it during shipping from Japan. After that lock in that shine with Zaino.

DisneyDestroyer

What about that Dura Shine stuff they advertise on TV - never wash the car again, etc etc etc?

SL01

For the paint, I plan to do the same thing I did with my current car when it was new (it's 2 years old now, but the paint is still very clean, deep shine, no swirls):

a) Wash with dish soap (removes wax)
b) Clay bar + car soap to clean the paint
c) Apply Zaino
d) Apply more Zaino
e) Apply even more Zaino :D

--SL01

TybeeRX-8

I could be wrong, but I suspect there is nothing unusual about the paint and it's maintenance. I've ordered a Titanium GT/6mt and I have a Titanium Miata. In the course of a year, I've waxed it once with a Meguire product, but wash it regularly and wipe with Meguire finishing stuff every so often when it's not very dirty. After 15k miles, 6-8 autocrosses, lots of hot sun (live in the south on the coast), it still looks like new. BUT, I think it depends on where you live. It it gets subjected to snow/ice/salt, or in and around a large city with bad air, then you may need to give it a little more TLC. My Miata still looks good enough that it been selected for a auto show on Hilton Head in November.:D

Quick_lude

that's what I'm talking about!

eccles

I'm buying it to drive, not to coddle!

RX-EVolved

...FAST & FURIOUS THEN I PRESUME?

JerryR

I just went and looked at Zaino's web site and I have a question. Which Zaino should be used, #2, #3, or #5?

Hercules

There's a FAQ on the site too

JerryR

Yes, and I read it, but it left me wanting. Let me elaborate on my question.

1. Does the RX-8 have a clearcoat finish?
2. According to the Zaino FAQ, I should get Z-1, 2, 5, 6, _and_ 7., and of course they'd like me to buy as much Zaino as possible. For you people who use Zaino, Zaino, and more Zaino, what do you recommend for real world Zaino use on a car that won't be going to shows but which I do want to keep looking good?

Thanks,
Jerry

Hercules

I think your best bet is to visit Autopia , as they are full of info we don't have

JerryR

>I think your best bet is to visit Autopia , as they are full of info we don't have

That Autopia link goes to a site for dental scheduling software. You're right, they seem to be full of information not available on this forum. Thanks, my teeth are much cleaner now.

Quick_lude

I have the Z1, Z2 for clearcoats, Z5, the car wash and detailing spray, whichever numbers those are. I don't wash my car that often, maybe once every two weeks in the summer and I still have a half bottle of the car wash left. The quick detailing spray is awesome but the more you use it, the faster you need a new one of course.

I have put on two coats of Z1 and probably 10 coats of Z2/Z5 over two summers and I have used maybe half of each bottle of Z2/Z5. Like the website says, it's better to use less more often. Apply it very thin. Looks like my initial investment of about $100 Canadian will last me at least 4 yrs.. This is for the Zaino products only of course.

Honestly, I find Zaino to be very easy to apply and take off compared to "conventional" waxes.. And it really lasts a long time! I put on about 5 coats last summer.. last coat was about September.. We had a VERY tough winter in Toronto.. my car is STILL beading as of now and it looks quite well after I wash it. But it's time to put on a couple of coats again..

Btw, now that the ZFX is available, it eliminates the need for Z1 and speeds up the curing process..

You'll have to find out if the colour you choose is a clearcoat or not.. most likely it is.

To sum up, I think Zaino is a great product for lazy people like me, I like my car shiney but don't like hand washing it/waxing it/drying it. It makes the whole process as easy as possible and lasts a long time and as you can see from how much product I have left, it's not THAT expensive in the long run.

Here are some pics of my car after only one coat of Zaino..

Quick_lude

Haha.. Herc meant this.. http://www.autopia-carcare.com/

JerryR

Thanks much, Quick_lude! Mine will be titanium, btw.

SL01

I do pretty much the same thing as Quick_lude and have used about the same amount of Zaino over the past two years.

But, I've used both Z1 and Z-FX (Z-FX wasn't available when I first started using Zaino). Z-FX is great stuff--really speeds up the whole process. One caution about Z-FX--it might not have much of a shelf life. When I went to Zaino the car last month, I found the Z-FX had dried up--could have been a bad seal from when I last closed the bottle, not sure--anyone else experience that? The Z1/Z2/Z5 were all still good to go.

--SL01

pmacwill

They don't even sell zaino there.... are their products as good?
Expensive, but he makes convincing write-ups.

I feel like I want to be lazy and just order a Perfect Shine Kit, a Detailing Clay Kit, a Complete Wash Kit, and a Interior Detailing Kit.

Too much?

Keeper

Every car made for at least the last 10 years has had a clearcoat finish. You usually see that disclaimer because cars without a clearcoat still drive around on the road. For example, the '84 ranger I used to have...

MPester

I find it is important that you don't let the dealer pre or wash your car when take delivery. While waxing my new '99 Miata back then, a week after I took delivery, I've found swirl mark all over.

eccles

Not true - some of the recent Miata colors have been non-clearcoat.

Quick_lude

I've read that RED colours are the ones without clearcoat sometimes.. but it's best to ask..

Definitely DO NOT let the dealer wash the car before delivery.. If you are **** they also should let you take the protective tape off by yourself..