Looks like I have found a new money pit

S

ShaggonWaggon

New member
As the topic states, looks like I have fully enveloped myself into a new money pit. Ordered my PC and pad kit today, also ordered some Poorboy's products. Can't wait now till it arrives and I can begin to have fun with my Black and Blue Antriceite painted cars. :woohoo:
 
I hear ya. I got a PC a couple weeks ago and just dropped $100 on pads and accesories, and another $75 on polishes and wax. Add in the $50 on Micro fibers in November and my $75 Chemical Guys bill and things really start to add up!



Oh well, the right tools and products make the job so much easier and better. maybe I can fnd a neighbor or two that need a detail so I can make my money back.
 
chpsk8 said:
Oh well, the right tools and products make the job so much easier and better. maybe I can fnd a neighbor or two that need a detail so I can make my money back.
Click to expand...



That is what I am hoping for as well.
 
I've posted this before, so if you've read it please feel free to skip ahead.



I think you guys are looking at this all wrong. Take chpsk8 for instance: He just dropped $300 on detailing supplies. I've done the same and had to put up with a friend of mine giving me all sorts of grief about doing so. So I analyzed the situation for him and came up with this:



The $300 I spent will keep all three of my cars looking great for at least a year, maybe two. He spends $12~$15 on his black BMW 540i at, gasp, the local automatic car wash. At the end of six months he's spent right around that same $300 and his car is just loaded with swirls, the engine bay is a mess, and the trim has never been dressed.



He stopped ragging on me and has asked me at least consider detailing his car for him!
 
I'm about to take the leap myself. What do you think of the PC? Is this your first machine polisher? I'd like to know what I'm getting into.
 
Mike-in-Orange said:
I've posted this before, so if you've read it please feel free to skip ahead.



I think you guys are looking at this all wrong. Take chpsk8 for instance: He just dropped $300 on detailing supplies. I've done the same and had to put up with a friend of mine giving me all sorts of grief about doing so. So I analyzed the situation for him and came up with this:



The $300 I spent will keep all three of my cars looking great for at least a year, maybe two. He spends $12~$15 on his black BMW 540i at, gasp, the local automatic car wash. At the end of six months he's spent right around that same $300 and his car is just loaded with swirls, the engine bay is a mess, and the trim has never been dressed.



He stopped ragging on me and has asked me at least consider detailing his car for him!
Click to expand...



Don't get me wrong. I have no regrets, and your analysis is spot on. Take the QEW I bought. I paid $25 for it. Around here a touchless wash is $9. I spend 30 minutes and four capfulls of QEW and I get a better wash and a little "me" time in the garage. I have two vehicles, so I would normally spend $18 a week on car washes. I'll get an easy 16-18 weeks of washes in the garage. I'll hit the touchless once a month for each vehicle to get the salt off the undercarraige...

so lets do the math...



I'll do 4 regular touchless washes x two vehicles for a total of $72

I have enough QEW to wash both vehicles all winter, cost = $25.

Total wash cost? $97



If I didn't have QEW I would pay $324 for both vehicles. (18 weeks)



Savings? $227.



Now thats a great deal! I've never paid anyone to wax or detail my cars, so I can't gain any savings there.

What I can say is that my new toys are helping me fix the paint defects I got when I bought my wife a used Black Onyx Lexus GS300. I've already fixed the hood removing all the scratches and scuffs. That alone was worth the price of the PC.



I think that all these Autopian supplies are just another pice to the automotive puzzle. I would think that most of us have modded cars, pay track time, autocross time, engine mods, etc...



My screen-name may need to be retired soon. I was once a true chpsk8, but over the past few years I've grown to understand the value of proper tools and "you get what you paid for". :D
 
Mike-in-Orange said:
I've posted this before, so if you've read it please feel free to skip ahead.



I think you guys are looking at this all wrong. Take chpsk8 for instance: He just dropped $300 on detailing supplies. I've done the same and had to put up with a friend of mine giving me all sorts of grief about doing so. So I analyzed the situation for him and came up with this:



The $300 I spent will keep all three of my cars looking great for at least a year, maybe two. He spends $12~$15 on his black BMW 540i at, gasp, the local automatic car wash. At the end of six months he's spent right around that same $300 and his car is just loaded with swirls, the engine bay is a mess, and the trim has never been dressed.



He stopped ragging on me and has asked me at least consider detailing his car for him!
Click to expand...



a black 540i ???



Hmm, sounds familiar -- I'm working on mine right now. The LA rain has me sidetracked for a couple of days, but I've got some good Menzerna polishes that will make my jet black 540 look new again.
 
I added up all my online orders when I received my latest order in early december... Just over $700, and then when you add in store bought stuff, light stand, hose accessories, etc etc it adds up even higher :(



But hey, it's all worth it when I get compliments randomly... Like last night when I was getting gas. An on-break worked said "hey, nice car, it's really shiny!" as i walked into pay.
 
wickedwrx02 said:
I'm about to take the leap myself. What do you think of the PC? Is this your first machine polisher? I'd like to know what I'm getting into.
Click to expand...

It took me a few tries, and a visit to a Meguiar's clinic, to get my technique down to where it was actually doing what I want (swirl removal), but at least in the interim I didn't do any damage. And from a novice standpoint that's one of the great things about the PC - if you don't know what you're doing you may get a bit frustrated with the results, but at least you won't damage your car. Not knowing what you're doing with a high speed buffer can easily result in burned, or burned through, paint.



Overall I find the PC really speeds up the whole detailing process. When I bought it I wasn't even thinking about using it to apply wax/sealant, but I use it for this regularly as well.
 
ceiol said:
a black 540i ???



Hmm, sounds familiar -- I'm working on mine right now. The LA rain has me sidetracked for a couple of days, but I've got some good Menzerna polishes that will make my jet black 540 look new again.
Click to expand...
Yeah, this rain sucks....but, uh, shhhhhh!!!! Don't complain too loudy about a few days of rain because all the New England/Midwest/Northerners will think we're wimps! Oh, and you'd be appalled at the condition of my friend's 540.



Look at all the money you spend on routing mechanical maintenance over the life of a car. Why wouldn't you spend a several hundred dollars over that same lifespan to keep the paint and interior looking as new as the mechanicals are performing? I'm constantly amazed at people who will spend $30,000 - $50,000 - $90,000 or more on a car but cheap out on taking care of the paint.
 
I've seen people spend $5000 for paint jobs on vehicles due to neglect. A couple hundred dollars here and there and enjoyment during the entire life of the vehicle more than justify regular paint maintenance.
 
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