getpower

How do you keep your cars looking good.

I know that traditionally, a black car shows a lot more defects, but on a riday night, all glossy and shiny, IMO nothing looks as sexy as a polished-up black car.

02TransAm/Batmobile

iTrader: (32)

True Dat!!

I was only able to get optimal results using a Porter Cable 7424 that I purchased from Tropi-Care.com. After removing as many swirls from the paint as I could, I kept up with it by purchasing the squared foam washing mitt from Trop-Care as well. It helps to minimize swirls and a lot of the swirls that I was inflicting came from my poor washing habits. Other than that, clay bar the car and choose a wax and polish you like the most.

Mr. Luos

iTrader: (9)

PorterCable.
Assortment of pads from LC.
Prima polishes (Cut, Swirl, Finish, Amigo)
Victoria's Red Concours wax

Victoria's quick detailer, Prima Slick detailer.
Cobra microfiber towels. Different thicknesses for different steps.

WS6_00

iTrader: (10)

x3 on the porter cable. also proper washing techniques, ie two bucket method. I also wax the car religiously now that I have taken off the defects with the PC.

using good quality microfiber, waffle weave towels ( not the autozone, walmart crap) is another must.

ZaneO

With black vehicles, your wash/dry routine is crucial to minimizing swirls/scratches/etc. that really dull a finish (especially black).

Here's my recommendation:

-Wash wheels/tires/wells first to prevent spotting on paint and glass

-Don't use the same mitt or bucket for wheels that you use on your paint. The brake dust, etc. from your wheels will cause scratches and swirls in your paint.

-Using foam gun, cover vehicle in a thick layer of foam (optional)

-Use two buckets for washing paint. One with a soapy mixture, the other with plain water to rinse the mitt between panels.

-Never use circular motions. Always wash, dry, and wax using front to back and top to bottom motions.

-When vehicle is fully cleaned, allow a slow, steady stream of water to flow over each panel...sheeting the majority of the water off

-Use the leaf blower to blow all water from flat surfaces, mirrors, lights, etc.

-Remove any remaining water with a waffle weave drying towel and detail spray

*The less you touch the paint, the less chance of marring*

Keeping a good sealant and/or wax on the paint will assist in cleaning and reduce chances of marring.

camracingah

LOL Well when I used to have my camaro it helped that my husband is an automotive painter. It wasn't ever garage kept but he kept up with it well. Routinely washing waxing. Try to keep up with as much as possible. Black is a pain but sleek as hell.

LS1BLKSS

iTrader: (36)

i wash my car then use the clay bar and use my porter cable buffer to make it look all sexy and shiny and park it and cover it lol j.k you gonna clean it every day wash it once a week!!! black is hard to keep clean but looks fucken sexy!!!!!

Trojan35

iTrader: (4)

Step 1) Find a great detailer.
Step 2) Chain said detailer in your garage.
Step 3) Trade him food for detailing your car.






Step 4) Replace great detailer with a hot chick...
....who can detail a black car.

02gtp4now

iTrader: (7)

hand wash, and a good wax will help a bunch

96silverbullet

haha i think that's sig worthy lol!

Bajapat

iTrader: (2)

ZaneO hit it right on the head with great washing and being carefull goes a long way.

Ryanm86

iTrader: (12)

I had a 95 Z28 and the hardest thing was keeping up with all the rock chips on the nose

Fast_94_Z

iTrader: (12)

i use the rotary buffer with chemicals guys compounds for regular details and 3m products on cars with fresher paint. zanio sealents. all microfiber towels a clean wash bucket with grit guard. most chain detailers arent that great. best detailers are the ones the work with high end cars or guys that do it out of the garage and really take the time to put care into every single vehicle.

CptMidway

iTrader: (2)

Rotary Buffer
Chemical Guys Pro Polish or CG's Scratch and Swirl Buff
Jetseal 109
Pete's 53

End result

thecobrahunter

iTrader: (1)

I'll try to make it quick what I do.

1) California Duster everyday
2) Maguire's spray detail it every other day (takes 10 min tops)
3) Maguire's car polish it at least once every other week
4) Use only microfiber towels; 100% towels can scratch!
5) Clay bar the car once every 6 months or so

Still original 1998 paint..
There's nothing that looks as goos as a shiny BLACK car








Same concept for under the hood

Trojan35

iTrader: (4)

You've polished your car "at least" 260 times?

Evaporate

iTrader: (22)

Holy jizz! Thecobrahunter that's just plain sweet. I'd have to repaint the car all over again to ever get mine like that.

Fast_94_Z

iTrader: (12)

cptmidway nice to see you use the some of the same products. way to keep the black car nice. so hot to hijak the thread but being that its about black cars and all ill ask. how many of you want to see a phantom black camaro? basically black with a light silver pearl over it.

thecobrahunter

iTrader: (1)

Twice a month since the day I got her back in June of '01. And I still get tons of compliments on the paint. When people refer to your 10 year old car as if it's only 6 years old, that says something.

Mr. Luos

iTrader: (9)

1. Washed with Meguiars Gold Class and wool mitt.
2. Special concoction (Menzerna and Ultrafina mix) to remove light swirls and clean the paint.
3. Prima Finish
4. Prima Amigo (removed product, allowed to cure overnight)
5. Washed with Meguiars Gold Class and wool mitt.
6. Prima Amigo
7. Victoria's Concours Red (2 coats)

Factory paint...car is an early 1999 car.










85% of the work is product. With the right products....damn near anyone can make their car look the way it should.
Since I have found 'designer' type products ...I will never go back to Meguiars, or anything I can get at AutoZone.

I used to think Meguiars did a GREAT job...until I started using better product.