The Psychology of Detailing
Discussion
I'd like your thoughts on this. I started to think about this more as I have been increasingly watching videos of people cleaning (detailing) cars on Youtube. I would then proceed to implement some of their methods on my own motor: the enthusiast/hobbyist detailer. I only considered the actual psychology of this when I found myself, inexplicably, watching a video about how to wash microfibre towels. I thought this must be a step too far.
My wife caught me watching these videos. The shame was en par with porn. I know people joke about OCD and stuff, but what explains that strange satisfying feeling that one (men?) get when they're obsessive about things? Is it just pretty typical obsessive behaviour? It's strange, right?
My wife caught me watching these videos. The shame was en par with porn. I know people joke about OCD and stuff, but what explains that strange satisfying feeling that one (men?) get when they're obsessive about things? Is it just pretty typical obsessive behaviour? It's strange, right?
Sump said:
I think it's a combination of OCD and wanting your P&J looking exceptional. Some petrolheads feel a connection to their car on pressing down an A road and some find the connection it making their car look immaculate. Different strokes for different folks.
I think detailing is just one of the things that you can apply this obsessive psychology to though. Just add men and internet forums together and you're pretty much there. now i like a clean car, if its a nice car i liked it really clean, polished up, looking good. however the lengths some of these detailing people go to for their day to day cars is weird, its seriously weird.
detailing to an extent serves a purpose. a few years back i had a red eve 9 which was classic red, looked crap, swirls etc. after detailing it looked incredible and was then easier for me to keep looking good. but would i obsess about cleaning it every day or two with toothbrushes....
detailing to an extent serves a purpose. a few years back i had a red eve 9 which was classic red, looked crap, swirls etc. after detailing it looked incredible and was then easier for me to keep looking good. but would i obsess about cleaning it every day or two with toothbrushes....
There's more important stuff to do in life than clean cars. Proper clean inside and out once in a while will do.
I wish I could find it but via barryboys there was a link to some bell end detailing his new Astra vxr. Not a month old or with a months dirt on, but squeaky clean with no miles on from dealer. Even measuring the microns of paint depth.
Internet gold.
I wish I could find it but via barryboys there was a link to some bell end detailing his new Astra vxr. Not a month old or with a months dirt on, but squeaky clean with no miles on from dealer. Even measuring the microns of paint depth.
Internet gold.
austinsmirk said:
There's more important stuff to do in life than clean cars. Proper clean inside and out once in a while will do.
I wish I could find it but via barryboys there was a link to some bell end detailing his new Astra vxr. Not a month old or with a months dirt on, but squeaky clean with no miles on from dealer. Even measuring the microns of paint depth.
Internet gold.
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=81391I wish I could find it but via barryboys there was a link to some bell end detailing his new Astra vxr. Not a month old or with a months dirt on, but squeaky clean with no miles on from dealer. Even measuring the microns of paint depth.
Internet gold.
There is a strange futility to cleaning a car to the nth degree in this kind of extreme "detailing" especially when it's going to be instantly ruined after driving for 30 seconds. Im thinking specifically of that dude who detailed the white vauhall with the chequered decal up the length of it. Definitely a case of the devil making work for idle hands.
austinsmirk said:
I wish I could find it but via barryboys there was a link to some bell end detailing his new Astra vxr. Not a month old or with a months dirt on, but squeaky clean with no miles on from dealer. Even measuring the microns of paint depth. Internet gold.
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=81391I've got you covered! I've never read the thread in full but from what I remember he comes very close to trying to reject the car for the paint on the roof not being a uniform thickness.
Detailing is an aspect of motoring I wouldn't mind getting a little more into. When I clean my car myself, I don't mind whiling an hour or two away at making it look absolutely exceptional. However, I'm no expert on the matter, and what I do know is that there are probably techniques I'm missing out on. Nevertheless, when I'm done the car has a glossy, near mirror finish and the faded trims are back to their true black (for about half an hour).
Most of the time I'm happy enough to bring the car to a hand car wash and let the lads there get it looking presentable with their power washers and foam lances. I've never had any issue with the finish I've gotten from them, nor have I noticed damage to the paintwork.
OCD hasnt really got anything to do with keeping things clean.
I think the rise in detailing comes as it gets a lot harder to modify your car, theres no barry boy Saxo scene anymore, its all swanky German cars on lease with a nice set of wheels. The only thing left to do is continually detail your car within an inch of its life. Does feel good when your car is sparkling though.
I think the rise in detailing comes as it gets a lot harder to modify your car, theres no barry boy Saxo scene anymore, its all swanky German cars on lease with a nice set of wheels. The only thing left to do is continually detail your car within an inch of its life. Does feel good when your car is sparkling though.
It's not just men, I was at an event the other week and there were quite a few women there too, all young, and all with nicely detailed motors, some of which were modified as well.
It was so refreshing to meet people who are seriously into their cars that it's got me tempted with an FRS
It was so refreshing to meet people who are seriously into their cars that it's got me tempted with an FRS
austinsmirk said:
There's more important stuff to do in life than clean cars. Proper clean inside and out once in a while will do.
I wish I could find it but via barryboys there was a link to some bell end detailing his new Astra vxr. Not a month old or with a months dirt on, but squeaky clean with no miles on from dealer. Even measuring the microns of paint depth.
Internet gold.
If you've ever seen how new cars are comically "prepped" for delivery by dealers then you'd be doing it too.I wish I could find it but via barryboys there was a link to some bell end detailing his new Astra vxr. Not a month old or with a months dirt on, but squeaky clean with no miles on from dealer. Even measuring the microns of paint depth.
Internet gold.
Last new car I bought I told them to leave it the hell alone aside from the PDI and promptly took it to a professional detailer and spent well into 3 figures having it done properly.
Better that than needing paint correction further down the line.
Measuring paint depth may be a step too far, but since a lot of supposedly new cars have had some kind of repair done before they're picked up by the first owner, maybe not.
I see nothing wrong with the detailing idea. Essentially it's all about taking care of your bodywork and keeping it looking good.
I enjoy driving my car but I also enjoy spending a sunny afternoon giving it a proper wash and buffing the brightwork. There's a sense of satisfaction after cleaning your vehicle that you finish with it in better condition than when you started, and that's rewarding.
That being said, it's also satisfying in winter having the car covered in mud and grime from a good hoon, luckily it's satisfying removing it again.
I enjoy driving my car but I also enjoy spending a sunny afternoon giving it a proper wash and buffing the brightwork. There's a sense of satisfaction after cleaning your vehicle that you finish with it in better condition than when you started, and that's rewarding.
That being said, it's also satisfying in winter having the car covered in mud and grime from a good hoon, luckily it's satisfying removing it again.
IMHO the message most of those vids are trying to convey is, 'I'm so fastidious, me - how can you risk the damage you'll do trying to clean your own car? LEAVE THIS ONE TO THE PROS IF YOU VALUE YOUR PAINTWORK' or similar.
Having said that, I was wondering how to wash the little cloth that came with a laptop... (it's really soft! Don't want to shrink or get bobbled)
Perhaps I'd better send it to Cleanasaurus Rocks(<not TM'ed so get stuck in
)
Having said that, I was wondering how to wash the little cloth that came with a laptop... (it's really soft! Don't want to shrink or get bobbled)
Perhaps I'd better send it to Cleanasaurus Rocks(<not TM'ed so get stuck in
)Get the swirls out of it, then 3 bucket (wheels is one) and occasionally SRP + carnuba wax = looking good without obsession.
The one time I couldn't be bothered... took it to the £5 wash and they f
king scratched it with a silicone blade all the way across the bonnet.
Winter now = plates windows lights
Summer = wash and polish myself
The one time I couldn't be bothered... took it to the £5 wash and they f
king scratched it with a silicone blade all the way across the bonnet. Winter now = plates windows lights
Summer = wash and polish myself
Taita said:
Those guys had been radicalised I'm a interested bystander to detailing really - my cars are usually dirty. But I'd love them to be perfect.
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