I really need some tips/pointers and general help, I have read a lot on autotopia and various other areas of this site... and I really am afraid to mess things up every time I wash. I use microfiber and in some cases people love it but then they say that it can scratch... every manufaturer says it is proven not to scratch... the problem is how will I ever know!? I see swirl marks on my car anyways because of the previous owner but I also don't really know if I am making them myself with my microfiber sponge...

Anyway point is, I know there are some of you in the Bellevue/Redmond area with RX8's and maybe you can help me out by giving me a place to wash and a few pointers. Currently I just take it down to Brown Bear and use my own stuff... but I know you may have access to more stuff than me, things that are tride and true to your car so I wouldn't be "experimenting" so much... this car is black so everything I do shows... and I just want to learn how to do it right. I still have yet to wax my car but I've only had it for a month... I just am afraid I'll end up getting dirt under the wax or messing something up with a big scratch... I don't own a polisher... lots of dangerous and scary areas that I am just not ready to venture into... this is my first black car and I really care about it... my previous car I probably washed once a year at a drive through carwash and that was good enough for me... it was an automatic though and I really didn't enjoy driving it... This is my dream car and I want to keep it taken care of right however I have no practice with this so... I am asking for help.

PM me if this sounds like something you might want to help me with.

 

Buy a Zaino kit. Stuff is hands down tha shizzle. I've been using it for about 9 months now (bought my car in January) and it's never failed me. I've only waxed it once back in March/April and the water still beads off it like I just waxed it yesterday. Plus all the other crap that falls on my car washes off very easily.

Use 100% cotton towels to wash your car, they envelope dirt much more thoroughly and reduce any chance of grit causing swirl marks. I bought some nice Egyption towels from Bed Bath and Beyond (my girlfriend says I'm a moron for using expensive towels on the car and crappy ones in the shower haha).

Since you already have swirls (surprise, it's a black car) Zaino also has some optional stuff that'll make the swirlies go away. Meguiar's also has a microfiber drying towel that's great for drying your car, I have two of them (forgot what they're called but they go for around 9 or 10 bucks each). They suck up tons of loose water!

For the interior I use Aerospace 303 UV protectant for the hard plastics like the dash and Black Magic leather cleaner/conditioner for the seats.

 

Hey Fox.
I have a black rx8 as well. I had it (yes had it) swirl free for 18 months until the dealership washed it while in for warranty work. It can be kept looking good.

Im not sure how much you can or are willing to spend but Ill let you know what I use. There are a lot of great brands to choose from. IMO these are the products you should have on hand at the minimum. I use a lot of Griots Garage products. Theyre based in Tacoma and can be purchased online, or at a high end car shop in Bellvue (ill have to check which one). I also like Zaino, Meguirs.

First I would start by washing your car with a dawn/car shampoo mix to remove any wax etc. still on the car by the previous owner.
Then clay bar the car.
Then polish (not wax) to remove the swirls using a random orbital. Then wax/zaino.
I would (and do) rewash the car between each step. Yes its a lot of work. This is a whole weekend job. I do this every year. It is about a 10-12 job.
I would definetly use white cotton towels to wash the car. (make sure the edges/thread is not polyester). I also use a boars hair brush to wash the car as well. (wash cloth first- then boars hair). VERY IMPORTANT- it has to be REAL boars hair- this will NOT scratch the paint. The brush can be expensive- (see griots garage, its the one I use). Imitation boars hair WILL scratch the paint.

I use only microfiber towels to dry/detail. I use the griots garage towels and can attest to their quality.

Also while washing DO NOT use the same cloth/brush you wash the car with that you wash your wheels/exhaust tips. I have separate towels I only use on the wheels/towels.

Below I list the type of products I would start with. Again, you dont have to use Griots garage per se, just make sure you use a quality brand (i.e. meguirs).

Random Orbital-

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....2060&SKU=10925

Pads for orbital- one set for polish, one for wax.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?
L1=L1_1000&L2=L2_1004&SKU=10626
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?SKUupsell=10628

Clay bar kit-

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....1004&SKU=11153

Polishes (to remove swirls)

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....1004&SKU=11560

Speed Shine (best product) use this as the lubricant for the clay bar.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....1001&SKU=11146

Boars hair brush

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....1001&SKU=66073

Car wash - (again any high quality car wash) I also used Meguirs NXT and love it. (The meguirs Gold Class shampoo is terrific as well).

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....1001&SKU=11102

Water Nozzle- again I have this. It has a rubber tip so you can accidently scratch your paint while washing. I can count how many times its saved me.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....1001&SKU=50040

Wax/sealant- again lots of top brands. Ive used the Griots best of show wax. Great stuff. Ive used Meguirs NXT - hides swirls very well. Currently using Zaino- great shine, doesnt hide swirls so well. Again chose a brand type that suits you.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....1005&SKU=11171

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....1005&SKU=11154

Drying Towel- I use this one- its excellent.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....1003&SKU=11117

Micro Fiber towels-
There are a bunch on the Griots garage site. I have some I only use on the exterior and another set that is only used on the interior.
I prefer Meguirs line of interior detailing products.

Even if you dont buy any Griots products check out their site, it will give you a lot of ideas on what kind of products you want (has how to articles as well).
Also, the "starter" packs are great too. Cheaper than buying everything separate.

 

umm you want to detail my car and i mean show me how

 

Cam's advice is spot on. I use Meguire's myself, and do EVERYTHING by hand. I don't wash between steps and haven't had any trouble, nor do I use a boar's hair brush.

Regardless of products and process, you have to do several things.
1 - Go slow and be deliberate.
2 - Use lots of water, make sure the car is absolutely dreanched before you start to wash.
3 - Be CERTAIN you've gotten the paint as clean as possible before polishing/waxing.

You can use a random orbital, but I'd do it manually until you know you've gotten the hang of it. It's a lot easier for your hands to tell if the paint feels wrong than it is for a machine to.

 

Thx guys! I'm getting ready to do this myself - thx for all the pointers. I got the Zaino kit and just need to schedule a whole day for the 8. I need to get more towels though. If the weather cooperates maybe I'll do it this Sunday, but it depends on when I get my new tires mounted. I'd like to do the Zaino process before the weather gets really bad.

CorranFox - If you need somewhere to wash your car and get moral support , you can bring it over to my place. I have a really long flat driveway. PM me and we'll work something out.

 

This is extremely good advice. I use Meguire's as well and have been happy with the results.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys. I really appreciate all the info I'm getting. It's hard owning a car like this and being so ****. I liken it to the PSP or a black cell phone, it is impossible to keep 100% clean and if the sun hits it just right you notice all the imperfections... I don't know if any of you own a PSP but it shows every figerprint and if you try to wipe them off even with a microfiber cloth you can still lightly scratch the surface and it will never go away... again if the sun hits it just right you see the scratch. At least the PSP and cell phones have screen guards that you can buy for a buck... where as that 3M chiprotect(hardly comparable to a screen guard) costs more like $300 or somethin'... anyways I probably could be a little less **** about my car... but its tough makin' that switch as it is something I really care about.

Thanks again for all the info guys, I don't know what I would do without this forum!

 

I highly recommend the 3M clear mask, I had it done in Portland and haven't had any paint chips or scratches to the front of my car since. Worth every penny in my book.

 

If you drive fast enough you achieve a higher energy state in which the rocks pass through un-phased and without damaging your car. Of course, the friction from the wind does get awful warm, and the fuel required to get there is tremendous, but that's another option. :p