kaos
6-Speeder
Well, after much ado, my new car is finally home. W00t! :howdy
For those that like the story behind the pictures, here it is: My '91 Lebaron finally suffered a fatal transmission breakdown in November with 193,000 miles. No biggie, I thought, I'd just stick with the truck for a while. The truck, however was killing me on gas, and was starting to show some early warning signs of impending maintenance cash outlays. So, I started looking around to replace it with something more fuel efficient. After much searching, evaluating, test-driving, and an occasional necessary reality-check ("No, you will NOT buy that 300ZX twin turbo, even if it is a great deal, what praytell will you drive in the wintertime?), I decided on the Accord coupe. I was initally looking around for a good used one until I discovered through the beauty of the internet what I could actually get a new one for. I was completely positive that I did NOT want the nav, right up till I started playing with it.
Anyway, shopped around a bit, got a couple dealers competing for my business, and ended up buying from the dealer that had given me my first and best internet quote.
The first snag was that nobody in the southeastern Wisconsin area had the ground effects in stock. Those had to be ordered, and I had it arranged that the dealership was going to deliver the car to the guy who I had lined up to do the paint protection film. When they went to deliver it to him, they discovered that the clutch was slipping. Rather than monkey around trying to 'fix' it, they elected to just replace the clutch and be done with it. Easier said than done. The '06 apparently has some change to the transmission that requires a special tool to replace the clutch (never did find out exactly what it was or what it was used for). So.... waited another few days for the tool, and they were finally able to change the clutch. Once they cracked it open, they discovered that the friction surface was actually sheared off the clutch disc. One helluva manufacturing defect there, I'd say! sheesh... Anyway, they changed the clutch disc, pressure plate, and flywheel. Got it all back together just in time for a different guy to come do the paint protection film, and I took delivery that night, and became the proud new owner of a 2006 Accord Coupe V6/6-speed/Nav. My first new car, ever.
I did all the prep myself for the film (I literally told them, in a light-hearted tone, "The kid in the service delivery bay with the California Water Blade and the dirty towel is not to come within six feet of my new black car."), wash and PPP. Did some minor cleanup on the rest of the car while the film was being done. Finally drove it home, and just had a few days off to get a good, full detail done. So, enough of the potatoes, here's the MEAT of this thread:
Paint protection film being applied (Avery film, 7-year warranty):
My "Pre-depreciation shot" (took a few pix right before I drove it off the lot):
The next morning, out in the sun, getting ready to drive home:
Now fully detailed:
Some pix at sunset:
The Nerve Center: :naughty
And it's a bright, sun-shiny day:
The required reflection shots...
Side:
Clouds in hood: (and no, that's not a scratch, it's the reflection of a contrail)
And, of course, how this all reflects upon the detailer:
I left this last one big, for the sake of detail, so I'll just thumbnail it. At the right angle, in the sun, this is what Nighthawk Black Pearl looks like. It's a really cool effect.
It's a blast to drive, too. I'm gonna get in SO much trouble with this thing....
For those that like the story behind the pictures, here it is: My '91 Lebaron finally suffered a fatal transmission breakdown in November with 193,000 miles. No biggie, I thought, I'd just stick with the truck for a while. The truck, however was killing me on gas, and was starting to show some early warning signs of impending maintenance cash outlays. So, I started looking around to replace it with something more fuel efficient. After much searching, evaluating, test-driving, and an occasional necessary reality-check ("No, you will NOT buy that 300ZX twin turbo, even if it is a great deal, what praytell will you drive in the wintertime?), I decided on the Accord coupe. I was initally looking around for a good used one until I discovered through the beauty of the internet what I could actually get a new one for. I was completely positive that I did NOT want the nav, right up till I started playing with it.
Anyway, shopped around a bit, got a couple dealers competing for my business, and ended up buying from the dealer that had given me my first and best internet quote.The first snag was that nobody in the southeastern Wisconsin area had the ground effects in stock. Those had to be ordered, and I had it arranged that the dealership was going to deliver the car to the guy who I had lined up to do the paint protection film. When they went to deliver it to him, they discovered that the clutch was slipping. Rather than monkey around trying to 'fix' it, they elected to just replace the clutch and be done with it. Easier said than done. The '06 apparently has some change to the transmission that requires a special tool to replace the clutch (never did find out exactly what it was or what it was used for). So.... waited another few days for the tool, and they were finally able to change the clutch. Once they cracked it open, they discovered that the friction surface was actually sheared off the clutch disc. One helluva manufacturing defect there, I'd say! sheesh... Anyway, they changed the clutch disc, pressure plate, and flywheel. Got it all back together just in time for a different guy to come do the paint protection film, and I took delivery that night, and became the proud new owner of a 2006 Accord Coupe V6/6-speed/Nav. My first new car, ever.
I did all the prep myself for the film (I literally told them, in a light-hearted tone, "The kid in the service delivery bay with the California Water Blade and the dirty towel is not to come within six feet of my new black car."), wash and PPP. Did some minor cleanup on the rest of the car while the film was being done. Finally drove it home, and just had a few days off to get a good, full detail done. So, enough of the potatoes, here's the MEAT of this thread:
Paint protection film being applied (Avery film, 7-year warranty):
My "Pre-depreciation shot" (took a few pix right before I drove it off the lot):
The next morning, out in the sun, getting ready to drive home:
Now fully detailed:
- Washed w/ Meg's NXT wash
- Clay (Wolfgang)
- Poorboy's SSR1 via PC, Edge 2k polishing pad
- Poorboys EX sealant, 2 coats, 24 hours apart, by hand
- Poorboys Natty's Blue wax by hand
- Poorboys Wheel Sealant on wheels, Meg's Endurance on tires
- Poorboys Natural Look dressing on interior, Wolfgang conditioner on leather
- Final shine with Poorboys Spray & Gloss
Some pix at sunset:
The Nerve Center: :naughty
And it's a bright, sun-shiny day:
The required reflection shots...
Side:
Clouds in hood: (and no, that's not a scratch, it's the reflection of a contrail)
And, of course, how this all reflects upon the detailer:
I left this last one big, for the sake of detail, so I'll just thumbnail it. At the right angle, in the sun, this is what Nighthawk Black Pearl looks like. It's a really cool effect.
It's a blast to drive, too. I'm gonna get in SO much trouble with this thing....
hehe
