Washing Cars

That's about what I think, dear Nic!

Of course I could always take it to one of those places where they clean them (valeting service?) for you and break someone's heart trying to make it look respectable! That would be both cruel and expensive! Hehe! Fredrik

PS: That would never happen, as I am too much of a skinflint.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Atkinson:
Which of the vast range of products or "kits" would you recommend buying, and are the products REALLY as good as the advert suggests?

Don

PS were you ever tempted to try this stuff on your Watt/Puppies?

I started with the Zaino "complete" kit, and have re-ordered; shampoos, polish, leather cream, and catalyst.
I like the fact that you don't get the white dusty residue of say Autoglym.
I like the fact that you can apply polish in direct hot sun.
I like the idea of a polymer rather than a wax, therefore much quicker and easier to apply. No elbow grease is required

The gloss finish is very smooth but probably doesn't have the depth of many layers of good carnuba wax. That is where I draw the line, life is too short.

The Wlsons went to a friend years ago, and now languish unused. The glue holding the woofer cones to the rubber surrounds gave out on all four and he can't be arsed to have them fixed.

Every now and again after a wash try a clay bar on the car - it's surprising what it will lift off. Clean and then apply polish. An awseome finish can be achieved.

quote:

Without getting into mail order, at the local Halfords I'd say go for Meguiars stuff.

Paul,

noticed the Meguiars stuff in Halfords for the first time today! then.....

I noticed that the Mercedes cleaning products I have used for years are produced for them by...yes...Meguiars. Small world. I presume they changed when Chrysler took them over?

Generally its good stuff. But i was hoping there was something better. Presumably you feel the Zaino stuff mentioned by Rockingdoc is better?

Cheers

Don

Don,

Zaino tends to be a very glossy finish, is easy to apply, and lasts a hell of a long time, whether it's "better" is very much a personal thing.

Have a look here for plenty of opinions Autopia

If your vehicle is a collectors item, then I suppose preserving your collection is worth the effort.

For most of the drivers, it is just a vehicle, washing it or not will not retain your retail value. A new car has a protective coating on it. If you do not wash it all that often, it will remain and protect. So you chronic washers out there, yours is gone forever, no wonder you have to apply it again. Sounds like going round and round incircles to me. Pah!

I got my car coated with some dirt repelling thing and I have not used any elbow grease in the last 5 years. Bloody marvelous.

An hour spent, twice a week and my car stays nice and clean.

Sure, it has picked up a few scratches and dings as a result of city life but I'm not anal about it.

Whether I get more for it as a trade-in I do not really care for. I like my car and adopt my personal standards to it. It's no collector's item so I don't fret about huge repair bills or worry about taking it onto the King's Highway.

I wear clean underwear, groom myself and polish my shoes. My car is clean.

Life is good ..........

Just as a curiosity (and possible justification) how many here fund their own vehicles entirely, i.e. not a company car, no company contribution whatsoever?

I do, which might be one reason why I don't begrudge an hour a week.

Of course I might just be a sad bastard

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Hutchings:
Just as a curiosity (and possible justification) how many here fund their own vehicles entirely, i.e. not a company car, no company contribution whatsoever?

I do, hence why I look after the car well. Why let something go to the dogs if you've worked hard to attain it?

quote:

Originally posted by long-time-dead:
I wear clean underwear, groom myself and polish my shoes. My car is clean.

I 2nd that!

Some people go to gyms and push and pull on machines. I can't see the point of that, but getting a bit of upper body exercise in the fresh air cleaning the car suits me. Cycling to work does the lower body bit, (and helps the car stay clean).

quote:

Originally posted by Dougunn:
A clean car is the sign of a wasted life!

Doug

Well said. and a superclean car has somthing
of howard hughes "Must " of keeping it all clean...........sigmund freud will tell you the rest.
on the other point of view: a dirty car is the
sign of a "dirty" life.

......personally i try to stay inthe middle

...yes yes , car and life O.J

(living healthy ,drinking whiskey)

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Hutchings:
Just as a curiosity (and possible justification) how many here fund their own vehicles entirely, i.e. not a company car, no company contribution whatsoever?

I do, which might be one reason why I don't begrudge an hour a week.

Of course I might just be a sad bastard

No you are not sad.

I just have a different view on a car. I own another car which is 10 years old. It must have been washed about 10 times in the entire 10 years, every time when it gets its yearly service. Now I will not skimp on the service but to clean it weekly, I would rather stick pins in my eyes as some comedian once said.

After the wash, it is still shinny, like newly polished. So how about that?

I keep hitting this thread hoping someone has posted a car washing pic like Erik's.
How sad is that?
But it would inspire me to have my car washed.
David