Taking care of a new car

[black2002ls]

Well, we bought our first new car today. I want to make sure that we take care of it properly from the get go.

We bought a '17 Explorer with White Platinum tri coat paint. The interior is black leather.

What do you guys recommend for paint and interior protection?

Primary concerns/goals

protect and keep the paint looking great
help prevent the leather from fading and looking worn pre-maturely
keep exterior plastics from fading

[95DRGT]

303 protectant for all trim and plastics

[Gasser64]

Luxor for leather.

For the exterior, a mild correction and then a wax. Reapply wax every 6 months. About the correction, if you ask over at autopia they'll tell you that most new cars need it. Apparently the outside goes through some shit before they get to the dealership and then the dealership does little if anything to actually protect the finish.

[black2002ls]

Originally Posted by Gasser64

Luxor for leather.

For the exterior, a mild correction and then a wax. Reapply wax every 6 months. About the correction, if you ask over at autopia they'll tell you that most new cars need it. Apparently the outside goes through some shit before they get to the dealership and then the dealership does little if anything to actually protect the finish.

I've done a little reading on autogeek so far. What about sealant?

Anyone have product recommendations for wax?

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[txminime]

Unless your car is a garage queen, wax won't last 6 months. Try something like Chemical Guys Jet Seal and layer wax on top.

[Gasser64]

They say the sealers leave a "hard candy shine" and the waxes more of a "warm glow shine". I've only ever used waxes, but maybe I'll try sealer some day.

There are lots of different waxes as you well know, and their uses vary wildly. Some are made just to be easy to wipe off, which itself is real nice. Others are harder to get off (when you're doing the waxing) but supposedly last longer. The furthest out I've been able to come up with on autopia forums, is 6 months. They seem to think that after that, it is too degraded and its time to reapply.


I like Griots Best Of Show and Collinite 915. But without the correction first, your results won't look as good as they could have. If you call a pro detailer to just come over and do the light correction, it won't be that much. If he does that and only that. Wash it first and wax yourself it as soon as he says its ready for it. Don't know what he'd say, I always just make sure all the compound is gone and then go at it.

http://www.autogeek.net/collinite-marque-wax-915.html

Another really nice one is HD Speed. I love that stuff for flip cars, gets you real nice results for minimal work. Can't say how long it lasts though, always sold the car and then taking care of the finish is their concern now.

[black2002ls]

I think I'm going to wash, clay, and wax/seal

I need to pick up some clay and lubricant.

What are you guys using for wash? I've used Meguiars gold class in the past, but the more I read on autogeek and autopia, a shampoo is better. I've got the Blackfire wash/dry kit in my cart on autopia

[black2002ls]

damn there is a metric shit ton of information out there about sealants.

I'm going to stick with my Meguiars gold class wash for now.

Wash, clay bar, sealant (still trying to figure out what to use here. spray on wipe off, paste, etc), then follow with collinite #915

[GeorgeG.]

IMO, most of what you'll get is going to be personal preference. For leather care, I use Blue Magic leather cleaner and conditioner. I use to use the all-in-one products but found the two step to leave the leather feeling better. For wash, I use what ever car wash I grab and add plenty of extra in the bucket. It's soap, all it needs to do is lift the dirt and wash it away so I probably pour 3-5 times the recommended amount just because. I've used Mother's and Meguiar's clay bars with the car wash as the lube. I have used carnuba wax but as mentioned, it only lasts a few months plus if you get it on black trim, it'll leave a white residue that's touch to remove. I've also used Meguiar's synthectic wax and have had good results with it. I'm not really into the whole sealants, expensive ceramic this and that since I wash and detail my rides regularly.

When I use the DA polisher I use Meguiar's professional products (I forget which ones at the moment)

[black2002ls]

Originally Posted by GeorgeG.

IMO, most of what you'll get is going to be personal preference. For leather care, I use Blue Magic leather cleaner and conditioner. I use to use the all-in-one products but found the two step to leave the leather feeling better. For wash, I use what ever car wash I grab and add plenty of extra in the bucket. It's soap, all it needs to do is lift the dirt and wash it away so I probably pour 3-5 times the recommended amount just because. I've used Mother's and Meguiar's clay bars with the car wash as the lube. I have used carnuba wax but as mentioned, it only lasts a few months plus if you get it on black trim, it'll leave a white residue that's touch to remove. I've also used Meguiar's synthectic wax and have had good results with it. I'm not really into the whole sealants, expensive ceramic this and that since I wash and detail my rides regularly.

When I use the DA polisher I use Meguiar's professional products (I forget which ones at the moment)

Thanks. My head is spinning from all of the stuff I have read. This product, that product, these products.

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[black2002ls]

After talking with some folks on Autopia, here is my plan.

Wash, IronX, rinse, clay, wash, then hit it with Wolfgang deep gloss liquid seal. I was hoping to have all of the products here by this weekend, however, it looks like that isn't going to happen

[bcoop]

I'm just about to do this myself. Wanted to do it this weekend but it may be too hot.

I'm using the Chemical Guys V line polishes, CG White Light Glaze, CG Jetseal, then Collinite 845 wax. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[black2002ls]

Well, everything showed up this week. I got started at 8 AM, finished by 10.

All I can say is WOW. I may never wax a car again.

I started with turtle wax bug and tar remover and then washed using the two bucket method (grit guard in the bottom of both) rinsed and then sprayed it with IronX. I let the IronX dwell, light agitation with a sponge and dwell, then rinse. After that I followed with Mother's clay bar. Rinse after they clay, dried with a waffle weave towel and I went after it with the wolfgang deep gloss liquid sealant. I did everything, paint, trim, glass, and wheels.

Holy shit the pearl in the paint pops now!

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[Ruffdaddy]

No good advice, but I must say that one of the happiest days of vehicle ownership for me is when my car finally accumulates enough dings and scratches that I don't care about keeping it perfect anymore.

Anyways...good luck. The garage is probably a far better protectant than any product.

[silverranger]

Originally Posted by ruffdaddy

no good advice, but i must say that one of the happiest days of vehicle ownership for me is when my car finally accumulates enough dings and scratches that i don't care about keeping it perfect anymore.

Anyways...good luck. The garage is probably a far better protectant than any product.

this x a billion

[Counterfiend]

Late chiming in but you could look into doing a ceramic coating on the car. Lasts 2-4 years with proper maintenance compared to 6 months with a good sealant and 2-3 months of a wax.

www.facebook.com/hilldetailworks

I do lots of ceramic coating on new cars and all cars. Ha.

[black2002ls]

Originally Posted by Counterfiend

Late chiming in but you could look into doing a ceramic coating on the car. Lasts 2-4 years with proper maintenance compared to 6 months with a good sealant and 2-3 months of a wax.

www.facebook.com/hilldetailworks

I do lots of ceramic coating on new cars and all cars. Ha.

I thought about doing the ceramic coating. Right now, not having the vehicle for a day or two, and the cost led me to a WOWA type coating.

I just had the hood on my civic repainted, and the car buffed. I am less than thrilled with the buff job. For the most part it looks better, however, there are now swirls over most of the car, and a good bit of the hazing that the buff was supposed to take care of, is still present. It may be time for me to invest in a DA and learn to do some paint correction.

[Counterfiend]

If the bodyshop buffed it than yeah, they never do the job right. I've buffed several cars that had brand new fresh paintjobs.

Where are you located? Id be glad to take a look at the civic hood for you and discuss options for ceramic coating the car.

I can do the whole car in 1 day if there is no correction needed. Roughly 6-7 hours of labor.

[black2002ls]

Originally Posted by Counterfiend

If the bodyshop buffed it than yeah, they never do the job right. I've buffed several cars that had brand new fresh paintjobs.

Where are you located? Id be glad to take a look at the civic hood for you and discuss options for ceramic coating the car.

I can do the whole car in 1 day if there is no correction needed. Roughly 6-7 hours of labor.

I'm in Greenville and work in Forney.

The explorer needs a little bit of correction, there is a good bit of orange peel. I will probably look into correction and coating on it at some point.

[Counterfiend]

Unfortunatly orange peel is just part of the world we live in. I rarely recommend trying to remove orange peel, especially on a new car. Primarily because you have to remove lots of material to really remove a decent amount of the peel meaning that if you ever want to do correction in the future you don't have near as much to play with without potential of burning through.

Best bet is I could do a single stage correction to remove any of the dealer installed swirls and fine scratches and a ceramic coating (22PLE). If that is something you are concerned with, the swirls.