Discussion
Now that I've had the Exige for nearly a week, my country lane commute has covered it in cr*p. Can you wash it with a jet wash? Or does it just get into all the electrics?
regards
Rob
P.S. Went up to the Cat & Fiddle last night,
brilliant, can't believe how much it grips in the wet. I'm still treading carefully though, not going too fast as still in the running in period. Got to be the most fun you can have with your trousers on!!
regards
Rob
P.S. Went up to the Cat & Fiddle last night,
brilliant, can't believe how much it grips in the wet. I'm still treading carefully though, not going too fast as still in the running in period. Got to be the most fun you can have with your trousers on!! 
Never use washing up liquid. Not good for the paintwork and it will strip the wax off. Use a decent car shampoo. You can get sealer for your alloys, seems to stop them getting so dirty so quickly! Not such a problem for you with those beautiful black, lightweight alloys (mumble)
Gooby, a.k.a. Mr AutoGlym
Gooby, a.k.a. Mr AutoGlym
Another problem with wasking up liquid is that it has a high salt content - which makes you dishes 'squeaky' clean but not much good for most steel bodied cars.
Even so, on the Elise there are still a good number of steel parts that won't like the excessive salt content of washing up liquid....
Mike
Even so, on the Elise there are still a good number of steel parts that won't like the excessive salt content of washing up liquid....
Mike
Personally, I'd avoid a jet wash. On a car as small as an Elise it really doesn't take long to give it an old fashioned wash.
I'd recommend the Meguairs stuff. Rinse worst off with hose, then wash by hand with their Gold Class Shampoo, hose and chamois dry. The Meguairs 3 step is the mutts. If your paint is already good, you won't need step one. Just buy the Polish and Carnauba Wax (about £9 each) and buy the applicators and terry towel. The car really will look fantastic.
I'd recommend the Meguairs stuff. Rinse worst off with hose, then wash by hand with their Gold Class Shampoo, hose and chamois dry. The Meguairs 3 step is the mutts. If your paint is already good, you won't need step one. Just buy the Polish and Carnauba Wax (about £9 each) and buy the applicators and terry towel. The car really will look fantastic.
I use a jet wash but on low power. I learnt my lesson when I blew a huge chunk of paint off the wing mirror.
Washing up liquid is fine to use once or twice a year for the purposes of stipping off the old wax before you re polish and wax again.
Would you honestly be that bothered about the salt content in a bucket of washing up liquid given the huge amounts of the stuff that are sprayed on our roads all winter?
Washing up liquid is fine to use once or twice a year for the purposes of stipping off the old wax before you re polish and wax again.
Would you honestly be that bothered about the salt content in a bucket of washing up liquid given the huge amounts of the stuff that are sprayed on our roads all winter?
Bob_Defly said:
Sorry to hear that Davey, so if I'm using one that you pay for (I don't have a drive or my own jet-wash) then stand well back from the car?
Bob those should be ok as they are not very powerful.
DO NOT use the brush attachment on the machine. These are usually covered in cr@p from other cars, dropped on the floor and are generally full of grit and muck.
If you want your nice Chrome Orange paint to stay that way I would take a bucket and a clean sponge with you.
i use my power washer on the elise. stand a wee bit away for paint work, close up for glass. It's especially good for wheel and wheelarches and I crouch down and do the floor/diffuser to get the salt and crud off of it.
I really don't like Meguiars I think it's little better than turtle wax etc. If you want a REAL shine, invest in a Zymol kit.
I really don't like Meguiars I think it's little better than turtle wax etc. If you want a REAL shine, invest in a Zymol kit.
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