First new car, anything I should be doing to look after it?
Discussion
Most of my cars have been fairly old so my garage is full of various polishes, scratch remover, DA, trim restorer, you get the idea.
For the first time in my life I'm getting a new car. A Leon in metalic blue to be exact. Is there anything specific I should do with it to make looking after it easier going forward? I don't want to go over the top here (I remember the VXR Nurburgring thread) but thinking a few hours spent now may save many more hours down the line.
My initial thought is to forget polishing it unless there is something specific to address. In terms of what I have at my disposal, I was thinking of doing:
Wash
Clay
Black hole glaze
2-3 coats of natty blue wax
Wheel sealant
Is there anything I can be doing in the interior to protect it a little? Particularly thinking carpets and seats (alcantara and leather).
303 on plastics?
For the first time in my life I'm getting a new car. A Leon in metalic blue to be exact. Is there anything specific I should do with it to make looking after it easier going forward? I don't want to go over the top here (I remember the VXR Nurburgring thread) but thinking a few hours spent now may save many more hours down the line.
My initial thought is to forget polishing it unless there is something specific to address. In terms of what I have at my disposal, I was thinking of doing:
Wash
Clay
Black hole glaze
2-3 coats of natty blue wax
Wheel sealant
Is there anything I can be doing in the interior to protect it a little? Particularly thinking carpets and seats (alcantara and leather).
303 on plastics?
Not owned a new car myself - yet. But I'm not sure if you still have to "break them in" or not for the first few thousand miles? I guess it will state it in the owners manual.
Also, I noticed on a lot of used cars that the paint seems to be trashed from lots of bad car washes (you can notice by the very faint scratched up lines if you look really carefully), I guess you should take extra care when getting it washed.
Edit: Oh and also watch out for the any in-car screens, some of them have anti-glare on them so if you are too rough when cleaning them, you could end up scratching off the anti-glare and it will end up looking horrible in the sunlight.
Also, I noticed on a lot of used cars that the paint seems to be trashed from lots of bad car washes (you can notice by the very faint scratched up lines if you look really carefully), I guess you should take extra care when getting it washed.
Edit: Oh and also watch out for the any in-car screens, some of them have anti-glare on them so if you are too rough when cleaning them, you could end up scratching off the anti-glare and it will end up looking horrible in the sunlight.
777GE90 said:
Not owned a new car myself - yet. But I'm not sure if you still have to "break them in" or not for the first few thousand miles? I guess it will state it in the owners manual.
Also, I noticed on a lot of used cars that the paint seems to be trashed from lots of bad car washes (you can notice by the very faint scratched up lines if you look really carefully), I guess you should take extra care when getting it washed.
Edit: Oh and also watch out for the any in-car screens, some of them have anti-glare on them so if you are too rough when cleaning them, you could end up scratching off the anti-glare and it will end up looking horrible in the sunlight.
Cheers. I'm pretty careful with my washing technique though I understand some cars can be a bit swirly before they're even handed over so I'll look out for that. I doubt I'll cause any scuffs myself.Also, I noticed on a lot of used cars that the paint seems to be trashed from lots of bad car washes (you can notice by the very faint scratched up lines if you look really carefully), I guess you should take extra care when getting it washed.
Edit: Oh and also watch out for the any in-car screens, some of them have anti-glare on them so if you are too rough when cleaning them, you could end up scratching off the anti-glare and it will end up looking horrible in the sunlight.
Will take on board your advice on the interior screens. Thanks for that.
I used a 303 fabric coating on the seats, mats and roof of the new MX-5 I ran for a few years.
Other than that it was pretty much as you suggested. I noticed that after the initial clay/wax the metallic paint popped a lot more, as I think there had been some sort of transport wax on the car to start with.
Other than that it was pretty much as you suggested. I noticed that after the initial clay/wax the metallic paint popped a lot more, as I think there had been some sort of transport wax on the car to start with.
Craikeybaby said:
I used a 303 fabric coating on the seats, mats and roof of the new MX-5 I ran for a few years.
Other than that it was pretty much as you suggested. I noticed that after the initial clay/wax the metallic paint popped a lot more, as I think there had been some sort of transport wax on the car to start with.
Cheers. Sounds like a plan.Other than that it was pretty much as you suggested. I noticed that after the initial clay/wax the metallic paint popped a lot more, as I think there had been some sort of transport wax on the car to start with.
This stuff?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303-High-Tech-Fabric-Gua...
Gassing Station | Bodywork & Detailing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff