Question about getting flawed finished detailed...

[mds1001]

Hey guys,



My wife's car hasn't held up too well in just the 2 years we've had it(2007 Civic). It has several dings in the back bumper, mostly due to the screw heads of other peoples front plates digging into it when they get too close. A few of them are through the paint to the plastic, some are just dents in the paint, etc. There are also a few scratches around the car, and a few spots with little dings where a rock or something chipped the paint. The finish doesn't seem too resilient to say the least.



The car was waxed once when we first got it at some car wash place and since then its been run through a touchless here and there. My wife neglects it a bit. I recently got a new car and have been taking really good care of mine, and thanks to this site, have learned a lot about what to do to keep a car's finish looking good. Her car needs a good going over, including some clay barring and probably a good healthy polish and wax/seal.



My question is: Is there any point in getting this car detailed when it has so many flaws? Will the detailing process just damage the paint more where its been comprimised? I'm considering having the bumper and other flaws fixed by a body shop at some point. Should I do that before having it detailed? And lastly, anybody know a good place near Hollywood/Glendale that could do the touchup work and detail the car for me?



Thanks!



Mike

 

[Accumulator]

My wife's car hasn't held up too well in just the 2 years we've had it(2007 Civic). It has...[*REALLY* awful, serious issues]...



My question is: Is there any point in getting this car detailed when it has so many flaws?

Yes, absolutely. The '93 Audi I just bought is in *TERRIBLE* condition (clearcoat failure on all panels, some *peeling* paint, rust...you name it and this car suffers from it) yet after a good detail it looks a zillion times better. And further decline will now be retarded if only because a well polished/waxed car sheds dirt and moisture better than a neglected one. Hey, as a "20/20" car (from twenty feet away when it's going 20 mph) it looks OK now.

Will the detailing process just damage the paint more where its been comprimised?

Not really as long as you don't *really* overdo it. Yeah, you might shed some compromised paint and expose more undercoat, but it shouldn't be a big deal. It's a three-steps-forward-one-step-back sort of thing.

I'm considering having the bumper and other flaws fixed by a body shop at some point. Should I do that before having it detailed?

I can go either way because if the bodyshop messes up something you'll have to redo it. I *think* I'd detail it while you consider having the work done, that's what I'd do. At least do *something* even if you don't make a huge reconditioning project out of it. Every time you see it I think you'll be glad you did And the shop will see that you *care*, when they see something in ratty shape they might get the wrong impression (namely, that they can do a hack job on it).

And lastly, anybody know a good place near Hollywood/Glendale that could do the touchup work and detail the car for me?

You might oughta detail it yourself.