"Miracle Detail" on Sports Racer!
Discussion
Prior to collecting her new car, Mel (slamm) had Paul Dalton (Miracle Detail) "detail" it to remove any swirl marks, clean up the paintwork and then give it a coating of Zymol Royale wax.
Paul then popped over yesterday to give her some advice for caring for the paintwork, and helped clean the car before applying some more wax and taking some photos for his website.
The pics are here although they don't really do the car justice.
It's fair to say that he's done an amazing job, and the car looks awesome! I'll also be taking a few photos of my own once we get some decent weather, so keep em peeled!
Paul then popped over yesterday to give her some advice for caring for the paintwork, and helped clean the car before applying some more wax and taking some photos for his website.
The pics are here although they don't really do the car justice.
It's fair to say that he's done an amazing job, and the car looks awesome! I'll also be taking a few photos of my own once we get some decent weather, so keep em peeled!
S Works said:Bling? Nah - that's with the neons and 20" spinners fitted
Certainly looks very bling. Is it expensive?
Cost all in was about £450, which was for a full day's work plus a few hours of Paul's own time yesterday, and waxing the car with Zymol Royale which is about £5k a tub
It may seem a lot, but the quality of the paintwork now is visibly better than when it came out the factory and the wax will ensure it's protected for 6-12 months, plus it's easier to keep clean now as water and dirt just beads off it.
>> Edited by ehasler on Monday 20th March 11:28
Has anyone taken a look at some of the other cars he has photos of. Very nice Orange S1 Exige and a Magnetic blue 111R, as well as the Sport racer.
My car is identical as the 111R and I can not beleive how good that car looks. If £450 really does protect the car for upto 12 months, I might actually consider it, later on in the year. That car looked better than mine when I picked it up from the dealer !!!
My car is identical as the 111R and I can not beleive how good that car looks. If £450 really does protect the car for upto 12 months, I might actually consider it, later on in the year. That car looked better than mine when I picked it up from the dealer !!!
looks great 
...Ive never picked up a new car yet from a dealer that has been prepared properly - they always have swirl marks in the paint from some 19 year old washing it with a sponge, then giving it a quick polish with some Autoglym...most people dont notice and are happy that its 'shiny' and new
...how to ruin a factory fresh paint job in 1 easy step...I cant understand why they dont emplor professional, trained car valeters.
...Ive never picked up a new car yet from a dealer that has been prepared properly - they always have swirl marks in the paint from some 19 year old washing it with a sponge, then giving it a quick polish with some Autoglym...most people dont notice and are happy that its 'shiny' and new ...how to ruin a factory fresh paint job in 1 easy step...I cant understand why they dont emplor professional, trained car valeters.
...or just do the treatment as a matter of course. Seems to me that car manufacturers and their dealer networks are scrimping all the time. I guess the cost will only get transferred to the client in the end though.
Have to say, with a spare 3 hours of your own time and less than £50's worth of Meguiars stuff you can get a similar finish (well at least from the photo's). Last time I waxed my car properly was just after Xmas, giving it a wash with just hot water and a good chamois retains the wax coat and leaves it gleaming.
Have to say, with a spare 3 hours of your own time and less than £50's worth of Meguiars stuff you can get a similar finish (well at least from the photo's). Last time I waxed my car properly was just after Xmas, giving it a wash with just hot water and a good chamois retains the wax coat and leaves it gleaming.
S Works said:
...or just do the treatment as a matter of course. Seems to me that car manufacturers and their dealer networks are scrimping all the time. I guess the cost will only get transferred to the client in the end though.
Have to say, with a spare 3 hours of your own time and less than £50's worth of Meguiars stuff you can get a similar finish (well at least from the photo's). Last time I waxed my car properly was just after Xmas, giving it a wash with just hot water and a good chamois retains the wax coat and leaves it gleaming.
big ding - I use Meguiars stuff also..and yes 3 hours on a Sunday morning with some basic knowledge/techniques and you can do a proper job...at the dealer they probably have 1/2 hour to wash it and slap some polish on.
S Works said:The photos don't really do it justice to be honest. I've spent a whole day doing my Tuscan with Zymol cleaning products and wax, however the job Paul did on Mel's car is noticably better.
Have to say, with a spare 3 hours of your own time and less than £50's worth of Meguiars stuff you can get a similar finish (well at least from the photo's).
>> Edited by ehasler on Monday 20th March 13:30
bogie said:
looks great
...how to ruin a factory fresh paint job in 1 easy step...I cant understand why they dont emplor professional, trained car valeters.
I agree 100%. Local Audi dealer has a new RS4 in that is basically ruined paint wise. They must wash and polish it (badly) after every test drive before sticking it back in the showroom.
Alright, alright... I give up! After seeing everyone come over "It's actually ok to clean your Elise you know?", I have to come out of the closet and admit I'm terribly, badly, stupidly, senselessly, lovingly, proudly and gleamingly anal about cleaning my cars!!!
There... I've said it.
Admittance is the first step to recovery after all.
I've spent stupid amounts on gear to do it all with and love it! For those who come from the 'stop cleaning and start driving' school - fair comment but 1200 miles in two and a half weeks ain't too shabby either
Would I spend £450 getting someone else to do it for me? No, that's a big part of the whole ownership experience and pleasure for me. Learn some good techniques, get some decent kit and you're away. To demonstrate the level of anal-ness I get to, check out www.detailingworld.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2794 and then read the rest of the forum, guides and stuff to get totally lost!
And drive
>> Edited by Janitor on Monday 20th March 23:34
There... I've said it.
Admittance is the first step to recovery after all.
I've spent stupid amounts on gear to do it all with and love it! For those who come from the 'stop cleaning and start driving' school - fair comment but 1200 miles in two and a half weeks ain't too shabby either
Would I spend £450 getting someone else to do it for me? No, that's a big part of the whole ownership experience and pleasure for me. Learn some good techniques, get some decent kit and you're away. To demonstrate the level of anal-ness I get to, check out www.detailingworld.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2794 and then read the rest of the forum, guides and stuff to get totally lost!
And drive
>> Edited by Janitor on Monday 20th March 23:34
Amazing photos - looks superb. I'm on the brink of ordering a Red Sport racer myself - today in fact! I'm having usual last minute doubts, main one being what it might be worth in 2 yrs time when I come to sell. I've never had a Lotus before, and have never ordered a new car before either. What do you think of yours so far? And can anyone give me any advice on what I might be looking at selling for in a couple of years time. I love the car, but just don't know much about the Lotus market at the moment.
Very nice Clive - that's impressive. I understand what you mean about the overall ownership experience of the car - it's a good way to also keep an eye on any stone chips and scratches if you wash the car regularly yourself. However, I can openly admit that I am impatient and I just couldn't get the same results as Miracle, even if I had spent a month on the car!
I too am trying to get some miles on the car and haven't got above 500 yet even though I've already booked the 1000 mile service and have a deadline to work to... Will be out in the car again this weekend. Last weekend was fantastic - I was out on twisty country roads chasing my mate in her TVR Griffith 500. The sun was shining - what more can you need...?
As for getting a sports racer, I don't know what they'll be worth in a couple of years time - no less than a any other 111R of similar age and mileage I hope! I didn't really buy the SR expecting it to hold it's value more than other sports cars, but then I don't expect it to drop like a stone. The fact it's a limited edition should contribute something to the stability of its value. The car is an absolute hoot. I've never driven a car with so much grip (perhaps with the exception of a Caterham). Driving it at the weekend just reinforced the fact that I had made the right choice for me and the way I like to drive.
I too am trying to get some miles on the car and haven't got above 500 yet even though I've already booked the 1000 mile service and have a deadline to work to... Will be out in the car again this weekend. Last weekend was fantastic - I was out on twisty country roads chasing my mate in her TVR Griffith 500. The sun was shining - what more can you need...?
As for getting a sports racer, I don't know what they'll be worth in a couple of years time - no less than a any other 111R of similar age and mileage I hope! I didn't really buy the SR expecting it to hold it's value more than other sports cars, but then I don't expect it to drop like a stone. The fact it's a limited edition should contribute something to the stability of its value. The car is an absolute hoot. I've never driven a car with so much grip (perhaps with the exception of a Caterham). Driving it at the weekend just reinforced the fact that I had made the right choice for me and the way I like to drive.
MJK 24 said:
I agree 100%. Local Audi dealer has a new RS4 in that is basically ruined paint wise. They must wash and polish it (badly) after every test drive before sticking it back in the showroom.
I agree, I recently bought a Grand Voyager for my wife at the local Chrysler dealership. they had a Brand new Viper in red sat in the showroom. I commented after looking around it for a while that I was amazed that the red paint didnt 'pop' under the lights. After doing a test, I found the paintwork was in desperate need of a clay. I even showed the salesman what I meant. He agreed and I offered to clay and wax the car for free to demonstrate what our business can do. They declined saying the car was sold. Two weeks later, when I went back the Viper was still there and I was told the new owner had changed his mind and bought a Ferrari 360.. I offered our services again but the still said no even though I showed them our show truck.
Some people have no idea how to prepare a vehicle... its sad that they dont see what that car could have looked like...
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