Who was into detailing and then went off it?

Who was into detailing and then went off it?

Author
Discussion

sonnenschein3000

Original Poster:

710 posts

89 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
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Hello everyone,

So I went down one of the two slippery slopes back in 2013... the detailing slope

Since then I have 3x pots of waxes, a few sets of polishes that include the various sorts from each brand (Compounds, Medium polishes, finishing polish) plus some interior items for leather and dash. So im definitely not as into it as some people are, but more than the average bloke.

However, my usage of the car has gone up a bit (i.e. Im not just carrying myself anymore) and I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle... as my paint is almost blemish free when seen under a strong single source light (e.g. security floodlight), and I can see the marks where peoples jackets might have lightly wiped a bit of dirt across the paint as they got out, or their legs touched the lower boot lip / rear bumper as they were loading bags in etc. - Im not talking about actual scratches, I'm talking about sets of microscopic (a set of e.g. an inch wide section of parallel thin-hair thickness lines) marring (to give the non-detailing amongst you an idea, have a look at the fine lines on the back of your credit card where the magnetic stripe is - less dramatic than this, but nonetheless) and I find myself spending about a good 15 minutes at the end of every day that I carry passengers (about a couple of times a week) trying to remove one blemish or other. At this rate, I'm probably going to go through my paint.

I was just wondering if theres anyone else who came off detailing later on, after being really into it? Did the swirl marks and hazing start to disturb you later on?

HannsG

3,031 posts

133 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
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Me. I ain't got time to fanny about for hours on end cleaning my car.

Even the nice cars I owned. I would wash em a few times and then they just collected dirt.

I actively avoid black cars as they are an absolute bd to keep clean.

JackP1

1,269 posts

161 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
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I used to be well into it, washed weekly ( fortnightly at a push ) in all weathers, went to all the shows and would do a mega detail at least twice a year.

Now within the last 2 years or so i barely bother, washed once in about 6-8 weeks. More time constraints and rl issues to come before it. Also just bored of the car scene generally and tailed off it. Still enjoy driving 100% though.

Fattyfat

3,301 posts

195 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
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Yes, I was interested in it way back in the early 2000's. Wet sanded my first car and imported a Porter Cable orbital polisher at reasonable expense from the USA. Still have a shelf in the garage full of various lotions and potions, clay bars etc.

Really lost interest these days and just about manage to jet wash the car maybe once a month. It doesn't bug me at all.

lee_fr200

5,475 posts

189 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
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Yep was well into it myself got all the good stuff in my cupboard still

BUT 2 kids and a very busy work life and homelife have made it very impossible! I literally go get it washed at the local hand car wash but I am booking it in with a detailer whilst I'm on holiday next year because I seriously don't have the time

jagnet

4,095 posts

201 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
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Yep, for various reasons. The cars now get a wash every other month and waxed once a year. The paint is still better than most cars on the road so that'll do for me.

GCH

3,984 posts

201 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
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PD9

1,994 posts

184 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
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Took mines through an Eastern European car wash the other day. My first ever visit to such an establishment.

Blasphemy.

sonnenschein3000

Original Poster:

710 posts

89 months

Wednesday 18th October 2017
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Thanks for the replies

Comforting to know that im not alone then!

Shappers24

816 posts

85 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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Bought a 2007 Ibiza for cheap motoring in black. Every swirl and scratch noticeable, looked like it had been dragged through several hedges and washed with gravel. Spent a day polishing the life out of it and got most of the superficial marks out. But black cars are a pain to keep clean, especially when you live on a half completed housing estate. It seemed to mark if you looked at it the wrong way. So I’ve given up. It’s a banger, and I’ve realised you can’t really see swirl marks when it’s buried under a layer of filth...


sonnenschein3000

Original Poster:

710 posts

89 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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Yeah, the problem is that ive got a black car lol. Its fairly hard paint though so I hope it wont be that bad with weekly washes at the local hand wash service, but unfortunately I can't keep on top of it now. Just washing and drying the car carefully using the 2 bucket method (including wheels and tyre dressing) takes a 2 hour chunk out of my Saturday morning, time which is now precious.

ashleyman

6,962 posts

98 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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I used to take mine to the Eastern European place down the road. £8 for a full wash inside and out. They used me to miss bits, but it was clean enough.

Then I saw a picture of a black car that looked nice so decided to get black instead of the grey I was considering.

When I first got the car it would get a proper wash every 2 weeks. I bought all the gear and spent hours and hours cleaning the car.

Doesn’t matter what I tried I would always end up with some form of mark on the paint after washing and in the end gave up.

I still wash the car often as I find it relaxing and I’ve found some products I really like and get on with. I don’t like the swirl marks and defects but I’m not overly precious. I have only used my DA once in 2 years.

My coating on the car is starting to wear off so it needs sorting out but I’m not overly fussed. I’ll get to it when I have time.

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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I clean my car and occasionally polish/wax/etc. it.

But I've never called it "detailing".

Garvin

5,156 posts

176 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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I like my cars to be clean but I have never been 'anal' about it. I used to give them a thorough wash, polish, and (expensive) wax every six months but I have never mopped them and only taken out noticeable swirls with mk1 elbow grease at these six monthly points. Between these they have been regularly washed but not every week.

When the Mustang arrived I had it professionally polished (just to get rid of any light swirling) and then comprehensively ceramic coated (Gtech). Very expensive but guaranteed for seven years. Six months in I am impressed. Any general surface dusting etc., apart from proper road grime, gets washed off when it rains. The car really does stay remarkably clean and washing it, especially the wheels which remain pretty clear of brake dust, is an absolute doddle. Indeed just a run over with the power washer brings the car up pretty clean between proper washes. Will this last seven years, only time will tell but the early signs are very encouraging.

HJMS123

988 posts

132 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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I was obsessed with detailing for a good two years about 3 years ago ... now I couldn't care less tbh! I've just got realy lazy and the thought of dragging out the jet wash etc for an hour or two just for a maintanence wash on the weekend just doesn't interest me anymore yet alone a full detail.

I also live in a flat now so it's impossible but all my gear is still at my parents if I really wanted to do it myself. My last two cars have been lease cars but that doesn't make any difference as I treat them exactly the same way i would if I owned them.

juice

8,508 posts

281 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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Used to be - have a DA, various Menzerner potions, claybars, detailing sprays etc

Now I just whack on some Bilt Hamber Auto Balm (as it has fillers) and that's job done.

Yoghurt Rifle

28 posts

93 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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Simliar here. I think getting into detailing can be a road to despair. Fair play to anyone who has the time and enjoys the hobby but that sinking feeling when finding a new stone chip or blemish and the constant obsession over parking is just soul destroying. I still wash my own cars and do it properly- snowfoam, 2 buckets and wash mitts etc but I can't bring myself to spend hours correcting/polishing/waxing. Different priorities now.

Craikeybaby

10,369 posts

224 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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I don't think my MR2 has even had a wash this year!

A combination of lack of time and having to shuffle cars around to get space on the drive. I would love to have the time to do a full detail on my cars before the winter.

Dermot O'Logical

2,547 posts

128 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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I learned a lot on sites such as Detailing World, and bought lots of Dodo Juice, Gtechniq and Poorboys potions, together with a DA polisher etc.

I'm not what you would call a "detailer", but I do like my cars nice and clean. I like to think that I've found the middle ground, where I use quality products to clean and protect the car, but I'm not so obsessive that I don't worry about driving it in bad weather.

Where's the link to the thread on the bloke with the white Astra? There's a lesson there for all of us!

mon the fish

1,412 posts

147 months

Thursday 19th October 2017
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I used to wax my car pretty much every time I washed it, but age or an awareness of better things to do on a Sunday, coupled with being fortunate enough to have a few cars, means I don't have the time or inclination to dedicate as much time as I used to.

Still do the 2 bucket method, pat dry etc but the discovery of spray-on quick detailers has been a massive boon for me - good results for minimum time and effort