Weekend Detail-1st with PC

K

KiaDude

New member
I have been an "Autopian in the rough" since I started driving (I drove a school bus in the 80's and washed it every week!) but just found this site last fall. I've always believed that even a cheap car isn't really "cheap" so I'd better take care of whatever I'm driving. Anyway, I've been lurking here and building on my knowledge. I finally got a PC but haven't decided on what specialty products I am going to go with so all work so far has been with OTC stuff.



Well, I decided to try out my PC7424 this weekend. The car is my Kia Spectra, 3 years old with 45K and my daily driver. My car is garaged at night but catches a lot of fallout in the day (highway, rail, and airport). Overall in above average condition so no "before" shots as I only had some minor micromarring and a few minor scuffs to deal with. I am an apartment dweller so I typically either coin-op wash using my own supplies or QEW in the garage depending on my mood.



Process:

APC @ 3:1 wheelwells, undercarriage, engine compartment

A2Z wheel cleaner

Wash w/Dawn

Clay entire car w/Mother's Gold Class Claybar & Showtime QD

Scratch X as needed

1st Pass-HD Products Crystal Polish (local supplier, this is a mild cleaner/polish) on Sonus DAS green pad, remove w/ 100% cotton terry cloth

2nd Pass-NXT on Sonus blue pad, remove w/MF

RainX all glass

303 on trim

TW Tire-Wax on tires (duh!)



New at trying to get good photos and using a hand-me-down 2.0 megapixel Kodak, but here we go:



040206Detail-2.jpg




040206Detail-1.jpg




040206Detail-3.jpg




There's a decent amount of OP on this car, but here's what I could capture today with the lack of the sun cooperating and trying to catch the depth/reflection of white paint when I finished:

040206Trunk.jpg




040206Roof.jpg




I'm a fanatic about my interior being clean too so it was pointless to do before/after shots but here was my process:

Vacuum

Woolite 10:1 as needed

Meg's QID via MF

All glass with MF & hot water



Overall, I really enjoyed working with the PC and feel that it brought out a lot in the paint on this car. Now to start tweaking the products I use...
 
Sorry about the size on the later photos--they are all on photobucket.com and appear the same size on there. Any suggestions on how to correct this, please PM me.
 
I really respect someone who has a car that most people aren't immediately impressed by (like my Protege for instance), but they--as Bill D.'s sig says--"Treat it like it's the only one in the world".



Nice work :xyxthumbs
 
White95Max said:
I really respect someone who has a car that most people aren't immediately impressed by (like my Protege for instance), but they--as Bill D.'s sig says--"Treat it like it's the only one in the world".



Nice work :xyxthumbs
Click to expand...



I too feel that there is something to be said for that. I will never drive a Benz or something probably, but whatever I do drive is gonna be treated to looking better than 99% of the other cars just like it.
 
Truer words were never said. If you take care of what you own you have my respect. I look at your Spectra and see a car whose owner is proud of it and wants it to look first rate. I bet you get looks as your car looks like new, great job! :wavey
 
kiadude,



Nice job on a color that is hard to work with. Looks like you might have the same model camera I have, the Kodak 3400. POS now, but good camera in its day. Your car looks great.



Sludge
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top