car cleaning

[dickbastardly]

Hi All.
i am fairly new to this and to be honest never owned a car i wanted to spend time and money on!
my question is what do most of you clean and polish your car with? i know there are many threads on detailing your car but i dont want to spend that much time cleaning it (i'd rather be driving it!!)
What do the average tvr owner clean their car with?
thanks
Andy

[zippee]

meguirs


PS - Rather nice looking car you have there, though I may be a little biased.
(Blue 97 400 with Cream leather)

Edited by zippee on Tuesday 23 January 12:36

[cs174]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Wot he said.

cs174

[tvrbob]

I use P21 products from the Polishing Company (well actually I source them cheeper elsewhere). I have some Meguirs stuff but personnally prefer P21 for lasting finish and ease of use.

[moresauce]

I use the Meguiars stuff and also Autoglym on my car (not yet a TVR owner). It is great. The best car shampoo I have ever used is Meguairs Gold Shampoo.

If at all possible never take your car through a car wash and never, ever use washing up liquid to wash your car.

Worth while investing in some decent cloths, sponges etc. to make life easier for you if your putting this stuff on!

[seasider]

tvrbob said:

I use P21 products from the Polishing Company (well actually I source them cheeper elsewhere).

You cant leave it like that Bob

[mgaut]

I use the Mothers from maxx-waxx. Never got on with that P21 stuff (probably laying it on too thick) so stick to the 3 stage runny stuff.

mind you, trying to get a grey car to sparkle isn't that easy !

[Nuggs]

moresauce said:

If at all possible never take your car through a car wash...

Given that it's a soft top - do you have any more startlingly obvious advice for our original poster

[bunglist]

moresauce said:

I use the Meguiars stuff and also Autoglym on my car (not yet a TVR owner). It is great. The best car shampoo I have ever used is Meguairs Gold Shampoo.

If at all possible never take your car through a car wash and never, ever use washing up liquid to wash your car.

Worth while investing in some decent cloths, sponges etc. to make life easier for you if your putting this stuff on!

Just out of interest why should you not use washing up liquid????????

[Red V8]

The detergent in washing up liquid is far too strong... not only takes the dirt away, but also the wax... It also can affect the paintwork itself and leaves your windscreen streaky and is a bugger to get rid of.

I've read a few classic car mags where the advise no detergent at all, only wash with warm water... for me I use AutoGlym Car Shampoo and Conditioner followed by a quick blow dry (at about 70MPH) then back home for a polish.

[Nuggs]

bunglist said:

moresauce said:

I use the Meguiars stuff and also Autoglym on my car (not yet a TVR owner). It is great. The best car shampoo I have ever used is Meguairs Gold Shampoo.

If at all possible never take your car through a car wash and never, ever use washing up liquid to wash your car.

Worth while investing in some decent cloths, sponges etc. to make life easier for you if your putting this stuff on!

Just out of interest why should you not use washing up liquid????????

It's abrasive and contains salt, so corrosive too...

[geo28]

Yep I use Mothers from Maxx waxx too great stuff.

Be aware though I ended up spending a lot of money when I went to the site, but has been well worth it

Washing - Meguiars Soft Wash Gel
Polish - Mothers California Gold Pre-Wax Cleaner
Wax - Mothers California Gold Pure Carnauba Wax Paste 12oz tin

I've also used the Meguiar's Quik Clay Detailing System which gave excellent results, you really can feel the difference.

Definately invest in decent cloths to clean with also, I found using a lambs wool mitt for washing and micro fibre towel for drying the best option. Oh and don't forget decent polishing cloths, and wax applicator pads

[.Mark]

Red V8 said:

I've read a few classic car mags where the advise no detergent at all, only wash with warm water... for me I use AutoGlym Car Shampoo and Conditioner followed by a quick blow dry (at about 70MPH) then back home for a polish.

I just had mine completely resprayed and was talking to the body shop about after care.

The advise was never to wash it unless it really, really needs it (suits me fine, I'm not one to stand on ceremony with a clean car - you can't clean it while you are driving it!) and where possible avoid all cleaning products as they yellow and scratch the laquer and that spoils the finish. Wax if you must once a year with either Autogym or Turtle Wax.

I now have 2 chamois, one I use first to get worst of the dirt of genlty wiping along the lines of the car, then the other same again with a clean bucket of luke warm water to finish it - and it always looks great.

[moresauce]

Washing up liquid as already posted will strip not only the dirt off your car but also all the waxes etc you may put on and so it exposes your paperwork to extra damage from sun etc. etc. It is also full of chemicals that are great for getting c**p off your plates but not so great for your car!

On the question of the car wash, you can take convertibles through a car wash, I guy I work with takes his Boxster S through every fortnight and as a result his paint is full of little scratches and swirl marks becasue the brushes on auto car washes are so rough with the car and they build up crud in the brushes as it gets more and more use.

[Nuggs]

moresauce said:

On the question of the car wash, you can take convertibles through a car wash,

[geo28]

Chimaera definately not designed for a Car Wash

[.Mark]

Nuggs said:

moresauce said:

On the question of the car wash, you can take convertibles through a car wash,

He did say it was a boxster - so doesnt really count does it?

[moresauce]

Nuggs said:

moresauce said:

On the question of the car wash, you can take convertibles through a car wash,

I agree I would never take a rag top through a car wash but to say convertibles can't go through car washes just isn't the case.

The trsuth is proper convertibles like TVR, Elises etc can't go through them but more conventional and ordinary cars, A4, Saab rag top etc can

[tvrsmurf]

Best recommendation I can give is to take it in to a proper detailers. End finish is superb and they'll give you some very good advice on cleaning and maintaining the look. Well worth every penny. And when you clean it afterwards yourself, you don't have to bother too much with little brushes and cotton swabs getting into every nook and cranny unless you're particularly pedantic! Proper wax finish is the mutts danglies.

Reminds me, must get my mate's place to post on the site...

--
smurf

[dickbastardly]

wow! thanks guys!
some great advice!
will be looking through e-bay to purchase some cleaning materials! unless you know of a better place to buy from?
thanks again
andy