Is it worth getting your car detailed ?
Discussion
This was the question I had been asking myself, I am quite a clean freak and generally thought that I keep Jessica pretty well up together but seeing the difference of newer cars was wondering how much difference detailing would make.
Like most of you I had read Paddy's articles and had brought many new bits from cleaning brushes, towels to quality waxes but still didn't have the confidence to take a power tool to her.
So I chatted to Francis AKA Paddy who came down and spent two days giving her a serious pampering.
The difference is most noticeable when the sun is out but what a difference, without sounding to cliché "it’s taken years of her " I have just got to keep on top of cleaning her properly which at the moment is hard due to hose pipe bans !!!
So if anyone is considering it give it ago you will see your pride and joy in a new light !!!
Like most of you I had read Paddy's articles and had brought many new bits from cleaning brushes, towels to quality waxes but still didn't have the confidence to take a power tool to her.
So I chatted to Francis AKA Paddy who came down and spent two days giving her a serious pampering.
The difference is most noticeable when the sun is out but what a difference, without sounding to cliché "it’s taken years of her " I have just got to keep on top of cleaning her properly which at the moment is hard due to hose pipe bans !!!
So if anyone is considering it give it ago you will see your pride and joy in a new light !!!
pommehogster said:
When we went to Gaydon I did ask if they would find out how many Vantages had been produced in Aston green and World wide there is 8 ! In the UK the total is 4 of which one is a roadster so Jessica is one of three !!! Dont get that with Porsche's
Aston Green, that's it. I couldn't remember the colour name. I love the way is takes on a yellow tint in some light too. I wonder why this colour is so rare as it looks nicer than the Aston Racing Green.And don't let Mike dirty it up now
I used to come back from oversea work assignments, spend a day cleaning the car at the start of break (3 weeks) and a day at the end. Got all the gear; wookies fists, foam gun, DA polisher, all the magic mutty snake-oil you can shake at a car etc... Loved it. But when I moved to an apartment where the garage/parking area was away from the water supply cleaning became a problem and not a pleasure.
Further analysis; given the cost per hour of my time, limited time and the cost of a decent Pro-detail the light now says:
Get the Pro's to do it. It can be done in storage time while i'm away so no lost time doing what really counts.
For me it means 25% less satisfaction (cleaning your PAJ yourself), 75% cheaper (my time/cost vs the Pro's)
No brainer.
Further analysis; given the cost per hour of my time, limited time and the cost of a decent Pro-detail the light now says:
Get the Pro's to do it. It can be done in storage time while i'm away so no lost time doing what really counts.
For me it means 25% less satisfaction (cleaning your PAJ yourself), 75% cheaper (my time/cost vs the Pro's)
No brainer.
I'd like to add that it was two days in the pissing rain! Thank god for my gazeebo and bens golf umbrellas!
Before I started, he said, it's ok, it's only got some light wash marring. This was not the case at all. But two long days and she was looking as good as she goes.
Ben and his very lovely and much better half looked after me very well.
Francis
Before I started, he said, it's ok, it's only got some light wash marring. This was not the case at all. But two long days and she was looking as good as she goes.
Ben and his very lovely and much better half looked after me very well.
Francis
Best looking Vantage out there!
Mine is a terrible state, but after the Welsh drive it it isn;t really worth detailing as the front looks like it has been machine gunned
That was from a point of view of zero stone chips as well, ah well, was worth it.
I had my Marcos detailed once, the cliche 'it looks like a new car' is entirely appropriate
Mine is a terrible state, but after the Welsh drive it it isn;t really worth detailing as the front looks like it has been machine gunned
That was from a point of view of zero stone chips as well, ah well, was worth it.I had my Marcos detailed once, the cliche 'it looks like a new car' is entirely appropriate
yeti said:
Best looking Vantage out there!
Mine is a terrible state, but after the Welsh drive it it isn;t really worth detailing as the front looks like it has been machine gunned That was from a point of view of zero stone chips as well, ah well, was worth it.
I had my Marcos detailed once, the cliche 'it looks like a new car' is entirely appropriate
Are the stone chips really that bad Lewis. I thought John only suffered a couple on his V12VMine is a terrible state, but after the Welsh drive it it isn;t really worth detailing as the front looks like it has been machine gunned
That was from a point of view of zero stone chips as well, ah well, was worth it.I had my Marcos detailed once, the cliche 'it looks like a new car' is entirely appropriate
Your car looks stunning.
Perhaps with some colours it might be 'brave' to have black wheels, but with Aston Green it is perfect.
Interesting to read how very rare the colour is - just 4 UK cars makes it much more exclusive than my own choice, Grigio Titanio - Ferrari.
On the subject of detailing, my only contribution is that I now use Bilt-Hamber Laboratories auto-clay. I have nothing to do with this company, but when I first used their clay bar product, I was amazed at the result. Before using it, the apparently spotless clean paintwork still felt very slightly rough, whereas after the treatment it is absolutely smooth. The Bilt-Hamber product is used with water. I understand that some makes of clay bar, need to be used in conjunction with their manufacturer's fluids.
I carefully clay bar just one body panel, make a note, then do another when time and enthusiasm allow.
Perhaps with some colours it might be 'brave' to have black wheels, but with Aston Green it is perfect.
Interesting to read how very rare the colour is - just 4 UK cars makes it much more exclusive than my own choice, Grigio Titanio - Ferrari.
On the subject of detailing, my only contribution is that I now use Bilt-Hamber Laboratories auto-clay. I have nothing to do with this company, but when I first used their clay bar product, I was amazed at the result. Before using it, the apparently spotless clean paintwork still felt very slightly rough, whereas after the treatment it is absolutely smooth. The Bilt-Hamber product is used with water. I understand that some makes of clay bar, need to be used in conjunction with their manufacturer's fluids.
I carefully clay bar just one body panel, make a note, then do another when time and enthusiasm allow.
Now I'm not biased at all, but I think everyone should have their car detailed......
Getting it machine polished is the single biggest difference you can make to the look of a car. Don't expect to get it done for next to nothing though folks. Remember that old saying "you pay peanuts, you get monkeys"
Francis (not advertising, so please don't ban me.....)
Getting it machine polished is the single biggest difference you can make to the look of a car. Don't expect to get it done for next to nothing though folks. Remember that old saying "you pay peanuts, you get monkeys"
Francis (not advertising, so please don't ban me.....)
I would also assume that you really need a professional if you are going to machine polish as they will measure the paint depth to make sure that polishing is feasible and that there is suficient depth there. Personally I couldn't imaging putting anything electrical and rotating on my bodywork
paddy328 said:
Now I'm not biased at all, but I think everyone should have their car detailed......
Getting it machine polished is the single biggest difference you can make to the look of a car. Don't expect to get it done for next to nothing though folks. Remember that old saying "you pay peanuts, you get monkeys"
Francis (not advertising, so please don't ban me.....)
I concurGetting it machine polished is the single biggest difference you can make to the look of a car. Don't expect to get it done for next to nothing though folks. Remember that old saying "you pay peanuts, you get monkeys"
Francis (not advertising, so please don't ban me.....)
Once a year
I have a local guy is does the machine polishing I do the rest
It makes the "weekend wash" so much easier
Mine still looks better than it came out the factory after 4k miles of back roads and rain!
AMDBSNick said:
Are the stone chips really that bad Lewis. I thought John only suffered a couple on his V12V
Didn't notive them until I >ahem< cleaned the car. Literally hundreds of them, very small, white chips in the paint over the front bumper and around the grille. C'est la vie, it's a car that is used hard.I'll get some new paint on there when i have finished dicking around with the bumper design (either Vanquish driving lights, brake ducting, or both!) and then perhaps armourfend the whole front of it.
yeti said:
AMDBSNick said:
Are the stone chips really that bad Lewis. I thought John only suffered a couple on his V12V
Didn't notive them until I >ahem< cleaned the car. Literally hundreds of them, very small, white chips in the paint over the front bumper and around the grille. C'est la vie, it's a car that is used hard.I'll get some new paint on there when i have finished dicking around with the bumper design (either Vanquish driving lights, brake ducting, or both!) and then perhaps armourfend the whole front of it.
I wouldn't just do the bumper though with your driving style
Edited by mikey k on Tuesday 29th May 14:50
yeti said:
Didn't notive them until I >ahem< cleaned the car. Literally hundreds of them, very small, white chips in the paint over the front bumper and around the grille. C'est la vie, it's a car that is used hard.
I'll get some new paint on there when i have finished dicking around with the bumper design (either Vanquish driving lights, brake ducting, or both!) and then perhaps armourfend the whole front of it.
So how did rear gunner John get away so lightlyI'll get some new paint on there when i have finished dicking around with the bumper design (either Vanquish driving lights, brake ducting, or both!) and then perhaps armourfend the whole front of it.
AMDBSNick said:
Are the stone chips really that bad Lewis. I thought John only suffered a couple on his V12V
A couple !! Er a couple of hundred maybe. As Lewis says loads of small chips and a few big ones. Chipex slowly getting it back to half decent finish though ready for next time...front end paint required in October after SPA.
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff