Dedicated thread just for questions about so-called paint protection plans/products

[Mike Phillips]

Dedicated thread just for questions about so-called paint protection plans and products

There seems to be enough companies in the world continually trying to sell innocent people some type of paint protectant, or paint protection plan that typically costs lots of money and offers nothing more than what the average person can already do for themselves using products available off the shelf or over the Internet without the exuberant costs.


So to warehouse all of these questions about all of these products that continue to spring-up around the world, we have created a special forum just for them.

As I find older questions already posted about products like these, or if any of you find them, send me the link to the forum thread and I'll move it into here as a clearing house for answers on this topic.

Thanks!

[Marvinj]

Toyota's Toyoguard..any idea what this stuff is??? $19 a bottle is kinda pricey....

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Marvinj
Toyota's Toyoguard..any idea what this stuff is??? $19 a bottle is kinda pricey....

Never heard of it before, as far as paint sealants go, $19.00 is on the low-end.

[Marvinj]

it comes with new toyotas, the original package is $700 but youre suppose to use this stuff that comes with the vehicle every couple of weeks or so, I think its some type of cleaner or something....not sure what it is, thought maybe someone would know.:)

[Mike Phillips]

Any of these paint protection plans are basically a type of insurance policy that if you follow the rules there's some type of guarantee that the vehicle will be re-painted should the paint fail.

Because modern clear coat finishes are so durable, in most cases a factory finish with minimal upkeep will last a long time.

Note, don't confuse the above to mean that a clear coat finish will look good a long time, because that's certainly not true. You can swirls and scratch the heck out of a clear coat finish and it will look horrible but it will still last a long time.

In the big picture of life, here's what it comes down to. If you want you paint to always look good, then you need to find something you like to use and looks good in your eyes after you've applied and removed the product and then use it often.

If you do this, your car's paint will always look good. It's only when you neglect your paint for an extended period of time that it will go down hill and require lots of prep-work to remove the defects and restore the showroom new look again.

At this point you're back into the cycle, either find something you like and use it often enough to maintain your car's finish to your expectation in the environment you expose the vehicle to, or let it go and deal with it (or not), after it goes bad again.

See how this works?

There is no such thing as a miracle product that once applied will place an invisible force-field around your car and keep it looking new forever. Maintaining a finish requires action on you part, the only time you can have your cake and eat it too is to keep your car stored and covered and for the most part, don't use it.

[sneek]

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10516
http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10895\
http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9258

[X3M Corsa Freak]

I don't know if this is exactly what you mean, but my dad had his new bike done with swiss tech.....
I don't have the link to the swiss tech site, but it is comparable (?) with Protech
http://www.protech.nl/

Greetings, Stefan Maanders

[MaximusZTS]

I was talking to my boss about detailing his Excursion. he told me that it does not need to be detailed, EVER! he said he got some kind of ****** coating put on at the dealership when he bought it. And the stuff is suppose to last a life time. I told him that did not sound right and I would look into it for him.

Has anyone ever heard of this? Sounds to me like he got scammed.

[MaximusZTS]

you know the coating that they put on your pans so food does not stick!

[Michael Stoops]

Originally posted by MaximusZTS


Has anyone ever heard of this? Sounds to me like he got scammed.
You might be able to fry an egg on his truck and it won't stick, but you will get swirls in the finish. Oh, and unless dirt literally falls off when he goes over bumps and stuff, then I'd say he got scammed. Non-stick coating? Bah!!! If he's had the truck more than 6 months and it's been through an automatic car wash at least a dozen times, I seriously doubt there's any trace of that stuff left on the paint.

[the other pc]

No different from any of the others, except that they add the "you know what" word to the hype.

No finish ever needs to be detailed. It will look awful and eventually fall off the car if you don't, but that doesn't mean that it needs it. ;)

Not that it's ever a good idea to make your boss look stupid but if he ever wanted to discuss the issue rationally ask him how he knows that.

The most common answer is "that's what the salesman said." Never mind that everybody in the universe knows that car salesman will say anything to "close the deal" and are absolutely notorious for being either completely clueless or liars but for some strange reason people believe this one. The dealer may well have made more money selling this "treatment" than they did on the entire rest of the car because it costs them almost nothing and they sell it for big bucks.

The reality is that there's usually a small written brochure that spells out the real claims (which are generally minimal) and either gets included in the huge stack of car buying paperwork or gets lost altogether and nobody ever reads anyway. If he manages to actually dig it out and read it he can discuss just what he was promised for real.


PC.

[OPA1]

I'll tell you Mike. It makes me laugh when the dealers try to sell these coating jobs for the ammount they are charging. They know that not to many people are going to follow the instructions to the letter to keep the warrenty on the paint is effect. Just look at how many people are in the MEG. forums compaired to the number of vehicles on the road. If everyone was as CAR CRAZY. as the people here ALL of the care product forums around couldn't keep up. My dad said it righht a londg time ago "NOTHING LASTS FOREVER":wall:

ED:cool:

[9C1 MAN]

carbright is a so called paint sealent that all the dealers both old and new try to push on you at 600.00 to 800.00 a pop no thanks il stick to meguiars; a proven winner............................

[STG]

Let's not forget a very important fact about these new car dealer added guaranteed paint protectant systems.

Like Mike pointed out, modern finishes are very durable. It's no problem to warrant paint against "failure" forever to the orinial owner when:

Most cars are leased.

The average length of ownship is probably equal to the length of the loan.

[farmboy]

Originally posted by 9C1 MAN
carbright is a so called paint sealent that all the dealers both old and new try to push on you at 600.00 to 800.00 a pop no thanks il stick to meguiars; a proven winner............................

Carbright is a company that sells dealers product. They probably have a sealant, but Carbright alone is the company.

[9C1 MAN]

i would say your right on that mike..............

[rascal]

What about "Auto Butler" protectant? The dealer I bought my car from treated it before I left, but I know for a fact that it won't last forever. They said I would need to come in every six months to have it recoated to keep it effective. I told them no thanks, I use Meguiar's products on my baby and that's it. They had the nerve to put that damn sticker on the inside of my window. :mad: If that stuff is so great like they claim it is, how come my front bumper is going to need repainting due to the insect etching from the previous owner? They thought I was stupid enough to sign up for their treatment plan, but caught it before I signed the papers. They gave me a freebe treatment before I left, but I went home and rewashed my car and put on some DC 1, 2, and 3 to give it some real protection.

[pcfxer]

In conclusion...if it does not say Meguiar's on the bottle then it isn't worth your time and money.

[buda]

Paint protection plans came about because the "market wanted them."

A paint sealant is somewhat different than a wax, not really all that much different as protection products go, but different.

If you want an analytical discussion of the difference between waxes and paint sealants you might want to read the article I just submitted to www.mobileworks.com on the subject.

To briefly explain. The best wax, be it natural or synthetic wax uses only what are called standard silicone fluids and at best they will last from 30 to 60 days depending on climatic conditions in the area and how the car is cared for.

Paint sealants, among other things, uses amino-functional silicones which form a cross-linking molecule when they air dry so they bond to the finish of the paint and last, NOT FOREVER, but maybe, under the best conditions up to 6 months. Under the typically normal conditions maybe only 3 to 4 months.

As Mike points out a dealer protection plan is nothing but a wax job and then insurance which is what the consumer wants. Someone to tell them they do not have to wax their car and it will be OK>

Most of these plans require a reapplication within 6 months. What does that say?

The thing that is wrong with these dealer sold protection plans is that they really do not tell the consmer the whole truth. They make them believe things that are not true.

When I sold guaranteed paint sealants all I guaranteed was that the they will have shine and protection for one year, but they have to come in for a FREE reapplication in 6 months. We sold it for $129.95.

Shine is subjective. The protection was determined by their subjective determination that the water was beading on the finish. Actually beading water is not a determinant of protection. Oil will make water bead. The ingredients in a paint sealant that provide protection, in fact, do not make water bead.

Key is truth in selling.

Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS

[gb387]

There seems to be enough companies in the world continually trying to sell innocent people some type of paint protectant, or paint protection plan that typically costs lots of money and offers nothing more than what the average person can already do for themselves using products available off the shelf or over the Internet without the exuberant costs.


So to warehouse all of these questions about all of these products that continue to spring-up around the world, we have created a special forum just for them.

As I find older questions already posted about products like these, or if any of you find them, send me the link to the forum thread and I'll move it into here as a clearing house for answers on this topic.

Thanks!

Where is this forum I was just looking for it? Cant seem to find it.

[gorin002]

are so Manny waxes
i remeber a few what do you think or personal opnion on
zaino
mothers
zymnol and dupont ordu pont wax ?

[pcfxer]

Paint protection plans came about because the "market wanted them."

A paint sealant is somewhat different than a wax, not really all that much different as protection products go, but different.

If you want an analytical discussion of the difference between waxes and paint sealants you might want to read the article I just submitted to www.mobileworks.com on the subject.

To briefly explain. The best wax, be it natural or synthetic wax uses only what are called standard silicone fluids and at best they will last from 30 to 60 days depending on climatic conditions in the area and how the car is cared for.

Paint sealants, among other things, uses amino-functional silicones which form a cross-linking molecule when they air dry so they bond to the finish of the paint and last, NOT FOREVER, but maybe, under the best conditions up to 6 months. Under the typically normal conditions maybe only 3 to 4 months.

As Mike points out a dealer protection plan is nothing but a wax job and then insurance which is what the consumer wants. Someone to tell them they do not have to wax their car and it will be OK>

Most of these plans require a reapplication within 6 months. What does that say?

The thing that is wrong with these dealer sold protection plans is that they really do not tell the consmer the whole truth. They make them believe things that are not true.

When I sold guaranteed paint sealants all I guaranteed was that the they will have shine and protection for one year, but they have to come in for a FREE reapplication in 6 months. We sold it for $129.95.

Shine is subjective. The protection was determined by their subjective determination that the water was beading on the finish. Actually beading water is not a determinant of protection. Oil will make water bead. The ingredients in a paint sealant that provide protection, in fact, do not make water bead.

Key is truth in selling.

Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS

1. How can you generalize all of the waxes having x ingredients and all of the sealants having y ingredients?

2. Just because something doesn't have amino functional polymers also doesn't mean that it won't have crosslinked molecules either. In amino functional polymers (and please, mr. chemist if you're out there help me out because I haven't taken chem in a year or so), the polymer is the monomer and the amino is the crosslinking molecule. The aminos fit uniquely into the monomer and when 'bonded' are much stronger than a monomer alone.

This is just one case of this. Meguiar's would most likely use other crosslinking molecules than aminos for various reasons, but to state "at best" performance without proof is pretty pathetic.

Anyway, before I get personal and actually crack out my chemistry book I'll refer you to a Meguiar's 5-step process to protection and that I will guarantee for YEARS!

[buda]

Well, if you think that a paint sealant, any paint sealant or paint finishing process will last for 5 years, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I would like to sell you.

Thanks

Bud Abraham

[pcfxer]

Are you misunderstanding what I wrote?

When the Meguiar's 5-step process is completed whenever required, in my case, at least twice a month will make paint last for years. I would be willing to guarantee that any time of the day. We have a 1997 Nissan Quest with pathetic Ford paint and it isn't peeling, cracking or failing in ANY sort of way. That is in the harsh winters of Canada in conjunction with beautiful road salt.

Like I said, I'll guarantee paint by using this process for YEARS!

[Mike Phillips]

I think there is just some simple miscommunication, or understanding going on here, that's all. Sometimes the typed word cannot convey fully the intentions of the writer's thoughts and even when they do, sometimes they are not understood as the writer intended. Happens to me all the time.

Sometimes it's a good idea to...

Push away from the keyboard


:) :) :)

Leaving for the open class tonight at Meguiar's... everyone be cool.

[cmd]

here in maine the dealerships use a product called ressistall.. and i have to say the warrenty they provide is very impressive. but the product is only so so.

[Mike Phillips]

here in maine the dealerships use a product called ressistall.. and i have to say the warrenty they provide is very impressive. but the product is only so so.

Mosca said the dealership he works for uses this... have't seen him posting for a while? Let's hope his health is doing good... :xyxthumbs

[MaximusZTS]

Has any one ever heard of "Tropic Shield"? http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile_headscratch.gif There was a panflet of it on my desk this morning. http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile_paranoid.gif

Edit* I just did a google search and found the web site. (tropic-shield.com) at the bottom of that page there is a link to the brochure left on my desk. The people I work with seem to be having this done to thier car despite my best efforts to educate them on proper car care. Can any one help me out with this?

[MaximusZTS]

one of the claims is "Conventional sealants & waxes begin to melt when surface temperatures reach 75 F. Your vehicles surface can exceed 150 F in the sun!"

[pcfxer]

Isn't that why you wax in the shade and only when the surface is cool to the touch?

[Whelan]

In my area a alot of dealers use Simoniz System 5 and charge $500 to have it done. its a simple 20 minute wax job the dealer does. Alls it is is essentially (and most of these protectors) are ****** waxes that claim you need to let it sit for 24 hours with no water on it in order for it to work properly. I've used it before since I worked for Acura and got the bottles for free. It's kinda a gimmick if you ask me and just another form of warranty sales the dealer is offering. Just like rim and tire protection, extended warranties etc. etc.

Just stick with Meguiar's stuff on a regular basis and you will be fine.

[RamAirV1]

I hardly ever see dealers around here pushing the paint protection scam anymore. Maybe people are catching on to it?

The bad news is that they are replacing it with other scams like engraving all the glass on the vehicle!

Several years ago I actually got a dealer body shop manager to admit to me that those paint protection scams are just glorified car wax! He then said "you didn't hear that from me!" He was worried he would be in big trouble if someone found out that he said that.

RamAirV1

[gorin002]

In my area a alot of dealers use Simoniz System 5 and charge $500 to have it done. its a simple 20 minute wax job the dealer does. Alls it is is essentially (and most of these protectors) are ****** waxes that claim you need to let it sit for 24 hours with no water on it in order for it to work properly. I've used it before since I worked for Acura and got the bottles for free. It's kinda a gimmick if you ask me and just another form of warranty sales the dealer is offering. Just like rim and tire protection, extended warranties etc. etc.

Just stick with Meguiar's stuff on a regular basis and you will be fine.

at mi Meguiar's dealer ship was a buisnes a ****** coat and he saw swirls
he done second time.do not dollars in euros was 400
and than he took bottle of Meguiar's was all gone

[Whelan]

Yep, it is all a scam. The Jeep dealership wanted to charge my gf $1,200 for VIN etching on the windows, she was like umm no. So when she got the car, they actually had picked it up from another dealer. 2005 Liberty Renegade in Silver. So we took it home and realized it had the etching. After checking it turns out the dealer they got it from does it automatically to all cars on the lot, so we got it for free! lol.

Funny too cause at Acura it was only $159 for the etching.

[STG]

You can get a stencil & acid etching kit for a few bucks. It's probably right next to the super sealent (Nxt) on the self at Walmart.

[buda]

Paint Sealants are nothing but an evolution of wax technology. In short, in my experience they are nothing but an improved wax. Most good sealants contain a bit of wax in them.

The key difference between a wax and a paint sealant is the use of Amino-Functional Silicones used in sealants vs the standard silicone fluids used in waxes.

These silicones have a cross-linking molecule when cured more or less bond to the finish of the car. That is not to say they stay there for a year or more as some claim. Of course, the small print says you have to renew within 4 to 6 months and give you a small vile of product to apply.

But this become a gold mine for chemical companies and also smart marketers. Who have put together these protection package deals for car dealers with a fancy warranty sheet. Everyone makes money, the chemical company, the marketer, the dealer.

The consumer is getting what they want, "insurance." That is, comfort that their car will shine and be protected, and it comes from a reputable auto dealer. (Wait is that an oxymoron?).

Not all sealants are the same. Some have more shine than others. Some last longer than others. Some are more resistent to corrosion than others.

Hard for one product to be tops in all catagories.

So the chemist formulates what the marketing dept wants to sell.

For example, in our comparative study of 25 popular waxes and sealants used by detailers in the USA and Canada the two products that were #1 and #2 in percentage increase of reflective gloss before and after application as measured by a Glossometer were #18 and #19 in resistence to salt water corrosion.

If anyone would like to see the report email me with your email address buda@detailplus.com

Regards, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Bud Abraham

[pcfxer]

You can get a stencil & acid etching kit for a few bucks. It's probably right next to the super sealent (Nxt) on the self at Walmart.

lol, nice!

[1937]

I Just Purchased A 2007 Solara Without The Toyo Guard. I Have Just Put Some Water In A Bucket And Was About To Start The Car's First, At Least, My First Wash Job. Ok....what's Next....do I Start With A Carnuba Wax Or Poly Wax, One Of The Nxt Products....etc. What Is The Best First Protection, Kinda Like That First Love, What's The Story About Gold Class Vs The Poly Waxes. Now This Is A Red Solara, Rag Top So You See, I Want To Keep This Beauty Beautiful Forever. Thanks Kind Online Expert About Detailing.

[Murr1525]

It would probably be best to just start a new thread in the Detailing 101 forum, and we can give you all the new car links there. We can keep all your questions and answers in one spot easily then.

[cmd]

i would suggest a 21 with a top coat of nxt wax

[Mike Phillips]

I Just Purchased A 2007 Solara Without The Toyo Guard. I Have Just Put Some Water In A Bucket And Was About To Start The Car's First, At Least, My First Wash Job. Ok....what's Next....do I Start With A Carnuba Wax Or Poly Wax, One Of The Nxt Products....etc. What Is The Best First Protection, Kinda Like That First Love, What's The Story About Gold Class Vs The Poly Waxes. Now This Is A Red Solara, Rag Top So You See, I Want To Keep This Beauty Beautiful Forever. Thanks Kind Online Expert About Detailing.

Like Murr1525 mentioned, your questions would be better posted here,


Detailing 101 (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22)


Simply copy and paste your words and start a new thread in the above forum.

Then we'll answer your specific questions. Thank you! :)

[BlackTop]

I was talking to my boss about detailing his Excursion. he told me that it does not need to be detailed, EVER! he said he got some kind of ****** coating put on at the dealership when he bought it. And the stuff is suppose to last a life time. I told him that did not sound right and I would look into it for him.

Has anyone ever heard of this? Sounds to me like he got scammed.
It's not really a scam. It's like the extended warranty for that TV. Straight commision for the salesman. It's just paint sealant that they put on, and they warrenty the paint. Should he wax it? Hell yeah. Nothing wrong with double protection.

[pcfxer]

I know Black Top...geez, where did I see Black Top detailing....? St.Joseph right? With the Meguiar's banner? How's it going? I use to work with KGCCS, but Kyle wants to pay me 15/hr and charge the customer 45/hr so I said screw that.

I've never stopped by, but I've been too busy-I've always figured, hey, they SHOW OFF Meguiar's usage they can't be that bad ;)

[nobody]

Hi All,

Wonder Meguiars W8006 Polishing Pad can be use on DA machine like PC 7424 that I currently had. I would like to use it on my PC7424.

Thanks
Nobody

[Mike Phillips]

Hi All,

Wonder Meguiars W8006 Polishing Pad can be use on DA machine like PC 7424 that I currently had. I would like to use it on my PC7424.

Thanks
Nobody

Yes, you can use the W-8006 on an Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher.

[johnyB]

question for Mike Phillips. Have u ever used or heard any reports about pps technolgy as a product. Take for instance a customer of mine just bought this suv and asked me to redo the interior that the dealer worked on, while i was at it i asked him if he would like it polished and waxed and then whamo i got the "i dont need it waxed for 5 years." So i asked him if they gave him anything tht he needs to use to maintain it, he then showed me a small white bottel (hotel shampoo bottle size). long storie short it had PPS writtin on it and thts it. So i went on the net and did a search there seems to be a pps as a style (if that makes sense) of protection eg. wax and sealent. And theres also a patent claim. Anyways i hope u can shed some light.

[Detaillab]

A guy called our shop today and claimed to have a $400.00 polyurethane wax on his hummer. He wanted to know if we had anything as good as or better than this special "wax" I think he got scammed, what do you think?

[Mike Phillips]

He got scammed, he just doesn't know it.

You'll have educate him, might be easiest if you can get him to bring his special wax and let you do a side by side demonstrtion with it on black paint.

[Blackisbest]

I'll be picking up my new 2007 Nissan Altima in Super Black next month and the dealership is pushing a Simoniz System 5 with ****** paint protection for $500.
I firmly believe Meguiar's products will be more effective. I would like some guidance on the correct steps to give my new car the ultimate paint protection when I get it home. I'm wanting to do the necessary steps the minute I get the car home from the dealership. Please provide me a detailed protocol you would follow if you were bringing home a new car.
Also, what is your opinion on invisible bras? Do you think they are a valuable asset to protect a car or is it hype?

[Mosca]

Mosca said the dealership he works for uses this... have't seen him posting for a while? Let's hope his health is doing good... :xyxthumbs

Hi Mike, Tom checking in here.

The dealership I used to work at used Resistall. The one I'm at now uses Simoniz System5. We sell it for $398, the warranty is for 5 years, and no reapplication is necessary.

Since my paycheck (and employment) depends on how many people choose Simoniz System5, everyone gets to hear about it. I simply present the product, say what it is, explain the warranty, and ask them what they prefer, the protection or the $6/mo in their pocket. About half the people say yes to the System5.

Nowhere in the literature does it say, or even imply, that the product will last 5 years; all they say is that if the vehicle gets acid rain spots, bird drop etchings, love bug etching, tree sap, etc, they will repair or repaint the affected panel. And in the actual contract they actually encourage regular washing and waxing! With SIMONIZ products, of course!

If you think about it, for the average person whose car is outside 24/7, it might not be so bad....

The thing is, people take the plan because they want their car to look nice, but without the work. They care, but they don't REALLY care; if they did, they'd wash and wax their car regularly. And since they don't REALLY care, when the car gets the marring they never think to file a claim. Because deep inside they really don't care. Think, the guy who contributes a lot to the collection plate on Sunday because he's such a SOB the rest of the week. You can spend the money but it won't compensate for the neglect.

Now, if they did file a claim, the warranty would work exactly as described; we'd buff, or color sand, or paint the panel as needed. And over a 5 year period, that could very well run over $400 on some cars, and not reach it on others. If a black Suburban parked under a flock of migrating geese it would be heck getting that top de-etched, working aroung the roof rack.

But nobody ever seems to file a claim. Because they care enough, at time of purchase, to spend the money, but they don't care enough after that.


EDIT: As far as appearance, I'd have to say that the stuff looks pretty good. It's fairly comparable to #21, not as wet as NXT but wetter than #20. It's nice and slick. I did a Corvette in the showroom with it, and a year later it's still slick. Of course the car hasn't been washed or waxed in that last year, just Cal Car Duster and a QD every now and then. Remember, the competition doesn't stand still (as well they shouldn't)!

Tom

[Setec Astronomy]

Mosca!! party:

[glucosegrin]

I'll be picking up my new 2007 Nissan Altima in Super Black next month and the dealership is pushing a Simoniz System 5 with ****** paint protection for $500.
I firmly believe Meguiar's products will be more effective. I would like some guidance on the correct steps to give my new car the ultimate paint protection when I get it home. I'm wanting to do the necessary steps the minute I get the car home from the dealership. Please provide me a detailed protocol you would follow if you were bringing home a new car.
Also, what is your opinion on invisible bras? Do you think they are a valuable asset to protect a car or is it hype?

Love the '07 Altima. Pushbutton start. Intelligent key. You getting the CVT or the manual? 2.5? 3.5?

Anyway, depending on where you live and how long your Altima was sitting around before you got it, it may have rail dust on parts of the car, and glue lines around where the paint guard film was taken off. Don't expect your car to have anything else on the paint, ie. wax. And don't expect the paint to be perfect. if you check the side body panels (rear quarters below the gas cap level and doors) you will notice the paint is most likely already a bit rough just from shipping. The hood will most likely look fine 'cuz it comes covered in paint guard film which is removed at the dealer, . So you'll want to start maintaining and correcting the finish from day 1.

With the invisible bra, 3M rockguard or whatever your dealer wants to call it, it does not look good on black. unless you do a lot of driving through gravel, it may look worse than the rock chips would :). When you wax the car, the wax will build up on the edge of the tape, putting a white line across the hood. The Altima doesn't have any from the factory, but 350z's, muranos, pathfinders, frontiers, xterras, and versas have clear rock guard tape just in front of the rear wheel wells, you should look at a black one at the dealership and picture the front of your car wrapped in it. Silver it looks okay, black makes it look wavy and outlined, on white the film tends to look yellow after a year or two. It protects well against small rocks they use to sand the roads in the winter here, but it will still tear and chip the paint with big rocks, and is a pain to remove to repair the paint.

If I were picking up a new black car, I'd wash it as soon as I got it home, clay out the dirty feeling parts, and wax it. Some of the more experienced people might give you some more detailed instructions, but your brand new car will look better than showroom if you take care of it right away.

[Blackisbest]

Thanks Glucosegrin!!
For economy purposes, I got the 2.5 with the CVT in the SL package. I've already ordered Meguiar's clay kit, show car glaze and the nxt generation tech wax and I'm just waiting on the car to come in. This will be the first new car I've had, so I really want to protect it from day one. I was hoping Meguiar's tech wax wouldn't leave a white residue along any leading edges..ie;leading edge on the hood where the bra adheres.

I've never used a clay bar before and I had reservations on using it on a new car, but do you feel it would be o.k. to use it on a new car? I do plan on protecting the car (polish & waxing....even claying if necessary) the minute I get it home from the dealership.
Thanks for your input!

[Murr1525]

Sure you can clay.

[DaGonz]

Thanks Glucosegrin!!
For economy purposes, I got the 2.5 with the CVT in the SL package. I've already ordered Meguiar's clay kit, show car glaze and the nxt generation tech wax and I'm just waiting on the car to come in. This will be the first new car I've had, so I really want to protect it from day one. I was hoping Meguiar's tech wax wouldn't leave a white residue along any leading edges..ie;leading edge on the hood where the bra adheres.

I've never used a clay bar before and I had reservations on using it on a new car, but do you feel it would be o.k. to use it on a new car? I do plan on protecting the car (polish & waxing....even claying if necessary) the minute I get it home from the dealership.
Thanks for your input!

Be sure to tell the dealership that you do not want them to wash your new car!

Dealership car prep people are notorius for custom installing the "swirl" option.. if you get a chance, watch them in action. :eek: :wall:

[buda]

BlackisBest:

You do not need to clay your vehicle unless there is Industrial Fallout (IFO) on the surface.

You can determine this by simply taking the cellophane wrapper off a package of cigarettes and putting it over the first three fingers on your hand. Rub the various horizontal surfaces of the vehicle and if it feels like "sandpaper" then you should use the clay to remove.

You cannot remove this with wax or even with a buffer and compound, it seems to just "stay there" through the process. Claying is the only way to remove.

When finished claying you can try the cellophane trick again and see if you removed it all.

Regards

Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS

[WrightDetail]

Just a way for dealerships to make money these days since they dont make on the selling of the autos....which is part of the reason they push servicing at the dealer as well....:D

[RaskyR1]

I've worked at shops where I have applied either AutoArmor or Auto Butler on new cars for the local dealers. We also did under coating, rust proofing, tint, clear bra, spray bed liners, fabric protectants, and full detailing.

$500+ Paint sealant = waste of money!

[dcfox01]

I have a 2006 Vista Blue Mustang GT that I show in the "Driven Class" I keep the car as clean as possible for a car that has to stay outside all the time and is driven daily. Of course every once in a while I'll get a scratch or chip and I freak out. I've read so many different brands of scratch remover polish I think that's made. Can anyone out there please tell me what really work?
Thanks for any and all help,
David

[dcfox01]

I have a 2006 Vista Blue Mustang GT that I show in the "Driven Class" I keep the car as clean as possible for a car that has to stay outside all the time and is driven daily. Of course every once in a while I'll get a scratch or chip and I freak out. I've read so many different brands of scratch remover polish I think that's made. Can anyone out there please tell me what really work?
Thanks for any and all help,
David

[G Force]

I have a 2006 Vista Blue Mustang GT that I show in the "Driven Class" I keep the car as clean as possible for a car that has to stay outside all the time and is driven daily. Of course every once in a while I'll get a scratch or chip and I freak out. I've read so many different brands of scratch remover polish I think that's made. Can anyone out there please tell me what really work?
Thanks for any and all help,
David
Hi David,if you could address this question to detailing 101 (new thread) i think you could receive better help.i am also new here.:wavey

[buda]

I have a 2006 Vista Blue Mustang GT that I show in the "Driven Class" I keep the car as clean as p[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]ossible for a car that has to stay outside all the time and is driven daily. Of course every once in a while I'll get a scratch or chip and I freak out. I've read so many different brands of scratch remover polish I think that's made. Can anyone out there please tell me what really work?


If you have a chip or true scratch in the paint you are not going to get them out with polish, colored waxes, etc. They will have to be professionally touched up or at the least, with the paint you can buy from the dealer with a small brush.

If you are talking about "scuffs" in the paint they can be removed with a buffer and some light or micro-fine compound. Or, maybe by hand.

As for the colored polishes on the market, I would not recommend them.

Regards
Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS

[Andy M.]

I know about all of the confusion here personally. My Mom has a 2003 Malibu that she refuses to let me touch due to this so-called paint protection that the dealership sells as a paint protection plan. I keep telling her that I can make it look like new again, but she won't budge. I have brought this up before. She will even tell me I have a scratch here or there, and I tell her I can take care of it. She says that will void my paint warranty. PAINT WARRANTY I SAY! UGH!!!!!

Andy
101impala:rolleyes:

[AeroCleanse]

Paint protection from the dealer just means they used a polymer paint sealant and not a carnuba wax.

[OPA1]

Since this thread started a llllloooooonnnnggggg while back it's been said over and over.a paint protection plan looks good when you pick up your car but like every thing at the dealers it's HOW TO MAKE MORE off the customer. Nothing ever lasts forever. I stick with the only paint plan that works, The Meguiar's Plan.:xyxthumbs

[buda]

No need to be critical of the dealer's paint protection plans. They use a good quality paint sealant and give insurance to the customer. The customer buys it because they want it, the dealer is not ripping them off. The plan is carefully explained and the custome buys it.

Detailers should be focusing on how to sell a similiar program to their customers. We used to have a New Car Protection Plan for $199.95 which included 1 year guaranteed paint sealant and the fabric protectant. Both had to be renewed for FREE in 6 months to keep guarantee. We only guaranteed the water to bead and paint to shine and the carpets & upholstery to not stain from spilled liquids. If the customer came back we renewed the sealant and cleaned up the stain and reapplied. A much better deal than $500 to $700 at the dealership.

Suggest you all consider this rather than criticizing a very successful program.

Use it to your advantage rather than complaining.

Just some well intentioned thoughts on the subject.

Bud Abraham

[Sprzout]

My dealership that sold me my Mustang GT kept trying to push the paint protectant to me...I told them it wasn't necessary. The finance guy who was working with me kept trying to push me on it, until I told him, "Look. Go out and look at the car I'm trading in. It's 5 years old, and it looks as good as the day I bought it, with the exception of a few rock chips in the hood. That's because I know how to detail cars. I don't need the paint protection; I'll take care of the car myself."

The finance manager stopped pushing it when I told him I used to spend 6-8 hours on the weekends claying the car, polishing, and then waxing it.

I think that these plans are good for the average joe who wants their car to look good for a while; most people will go, "Oh, I just need to wash the car off every once in a while so that it doesn't look dirty anymore." No wax, just run it through an automatic car wash, and be ready to go when it comes out of the air dryer at the end. I don't think these paint protection/sealants are all that great, but there are the people who want to have it rolled into the cost of the car, because they think it's going to be added protection, and then they never think about it again.

[Larry A]

Car dealers have to have something to sell.In the 50s and 60s it was Blue Coral , Porcelinize, and Luster Seal. In the 40s it was Simonize, Dupont Spray Glaze, and seat covers.

[bulldog shine]

Car dealers will always look for ways to make omney off of somebody. It is the nature of the beast look at the overhead they have. I mean they (car dealers) have a hundred cars sitting around. They have to pay for them some how and this is just another way. Here in the east that paint protection will not last with all the salt they dump on the roads.

[Don]

Car dealers have to have something to sell.In the 50s and 60s it was Blue Coral , Porcelinize, and Luster Seal. In the 40s it was Simonize, Dupont Spray Glaze, and seat covers.

In the shop where I worked (and contracted full-blown OCD), the speciality there was the Porcelinizing. I don't think I'm giving away any industrial secrets, but the process was basically a 5-step - ALMOST what is recommended here with the exception of the heavy-duty compounding the boss insisted on for every car that came in:

After washing:

1) 1,000 grit compound (leave on)
2) Meguiars Cleaner Wax (A12) over compound residue, remove
3) Meguiars Cleaner Wax, remove
4) Meguiars #7 (or #3) allow to sit for an hour
5) Meguiars #16 over #7 residue, 15 minute (minimum) dwell time, remove.

We would use the old cast-aluminum bodied buffers with the 12" terry bonnets...those things were HEAVY!

His process was sound, but his insistance on using compound started to make my hair stand on end after I started doing it more and it hit me...why SCOUR (hard on the finish-risks damage, creates work, etc), when all you need to do is buff?

[eric_son]

Our local Honda dealer has been trying to push their "Hydrophilic (water loving)" paint protection program to their customers since 2005. Interesting concept, but I love working on my car every weekend so I always refuse the offer.

More details here: Honda's Hydrophilic Paint Protection (http://www.hondamakati.com.ph/Ver2/News&Events/Default.asp?IDs=28&Submit=Features)

[redhotchevy2000]

im sorry but from what i have seen honda paint stinks if you dont take care of it... i dont think the hydrophillic plan will go over very well...



EDITED FOR NON-FAMILY FRIENDLY CONTENT-Andy M.

[eric_son]

im sorry but from what i have seen honda paint stinks if you dont take care of it... i dont think the hydrophillic plan will go over very well...

I agree!

The paint on my Honda is so soft and fragile. I swear I can cause swirls to appear if I stare at my car long enough. Hehehehe.

Anyway, nothing beats regular washing, polishing and waxing/sealing.

[Andy M.]

Lets please make sure this thread stays going in the right direction.

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