Why expensive cars = careless owners?
- Thread starter KenSilver
- Start date
autoweenie
New member
Actually I think I exaggerate a bit. They were more like
twigs and bushes that stick out into the roads.
Unfortunately, these were during my ignorant days.
I did not realize how much work it would involve to
undo "simple" scratches even with trusty PC.
(I don't think some of these scratches can be remedied
with SSR 2.5.) Oh well, live and learn.
I agree, in my business I get about 90% mid-level income cars and about 10% high end cars. In this area people with money and cars don't shell out $ to take care of their cars, they much prefer the $10 drive through. It is frustrating b/c I have tried to tap the market several times with no luck.
One thing that has recently helped is I was able to become a vendor for a fleet company and now I do alot of company cars for State Farm, drug reps, etc. It was easy to set up and they pay up to $150 with no questions.
One thing that has recently helped is I was able to become a vendor for a fleet company and now I do alot of company cars for State Farm, drug reps, etc. It was easy to set up and they pay up to $150 with no questions.
Carl Anderson
New member
I think a lot of people just are not very focused on the paint on their cars. Before I developed my car hobby and became interested (obsessed) with auto detailing, I don't think I ever really thought about my vehicle's paint. Every once in a while I would wash the cars with dishwashing detergent. I can't remember ever waxing one before I turned 50 years of age. Now I start getting withdrawal symptoms if I don't detail something every week or two. And I'm every bit as attached to the paint on our Mazda as I am the BMW so I'm not sure it has anything to do with the investment per se.
andriver
Detailing Hobbyist
Carl Anderson said:
I think this is a very astute observation.
GoodnClean
New member
My dad always taught me that it was the little things that make up the whole image you present to the world. He always says he would no sooner drive a dirty beat up car than he would go to work in a torn and dirty suit. A filthy mercedes doesn't impress anyone, niether does a torn brioni suit. A clean oldsmobile and a freshly pressed lower cost suit is much more impressive and conveys a better message about you, that you have attention to detail and that your money and belongings hold value to you.
That said, he still has his car washed at a volume hand wash place and used to use carwashes until I showed him what they were doing to the chrome wheels on a Cadillac he used to have. He faithfully gets the car washed every week though and I detail it for him 2-3 times a year (its an 04 LS430 in flint mica so it does show dirt and swirls). They do an acceptable job though and swirls are at a minimum when I detail it.
What I don't understand about the people that drive 100k cars that don't get washed for months, if ever, is why don't they just drive them through a car wash once a week? At least it would be clean.
That said, he still has his car washed at a volume hand wash place and used to use carwashes until I showed him what they were doing to the chrome wheels on a Cadillac he used to have. He faithfully gets the car washed every week though and I detail it for him 2-3 times a year (its an 04 LS430 in flint mica so it does show dirt and swirls). They do an acceptable job though and swirls are at a minimum when I detail it.
What I don't understand about the people that drive 100k cars that don't get washed for months, if ever, is why don't they just drive them through a car wash once a week? At least it would be clean.
imported_garyo
New member
People buy cars for different reasons. Some buy to preserve and detail. Some buy to drive as transportation. Some buy for fun. The reasons go on forever and none of them are wrong. Just because someone doesnâ€â„¢t obsess over every little swirl or mark doesnâ€â„¢t degrade from their ownership or necessarily reflect on them and it is arrogant for any of us to think otherwise. It all comes down to priorities.
I have taken every Porsche I have owned to the track and to autocrosses. I thoroughly enjoy these activities. But both activities subject a carâ€â„¢s finish to some things that most of you would just cringe with the thought of (i.e. flying rocks at excessive speeds from cars inches in front of you, rubber pieces from tires, stick on magnets that go on sometimes less than perfectly clean surfaces, shoe polish on windows and/or finishes, brake dust from higher performance pads that when wet can eat the finish or stain the finish, orange cones, etc.). But for me I bought the car to drive, not to perserve for the next owner. I care for my cars the best I can within the time peroid I am willing to spend but they are not pristine. They have some battle scars, as I like to call them. For example, my former Boxster had couple of places where I took out some cones in a spin at an autocross. I took the PC to it and made it look as good as I could but it wasnâ€â„¢t perfect.
I also drive my cars everyday. My wifeâ€â„¢s black car has swirls, but then it is a daily driver and I donâ€â„¢t want to spend the time to polish it to perfection just to see it get marred quickly. I do use some type of protection frequently (right now Glanz with Lackfinish after most washes) but I donâ€â„¢t clay and polish as frequently as many of you. I do a complete detail a couple times a year and I try to minimize the damage done to the car on a daily basis by using better techniques and products than the average Joe, but based on most comments here most of you would still look my wifeâ€â„¢s car and say âہ“I canâ€â„¢t believe such a nice car has swirlsâ€Â�.
My cars look better than 90% of the cars on the road but they are by no means perfect or swirl free. I am just now willing to spend the time or money to get them any better. I applaud those that do keep their cars in such pristine condition and I know it is a source of great satisfaction for those individuals. But I think it is unfair to criticize those who donâ€â„¢t, not to mention sometimes the level of perfection expected is just too high a bar for most to reach.
EDITED for typo
I have taken every Porsche I have owned to the track and to autocrosses. I thoroughly enjoy these activities. But both activities subject a carâ€â„¢s finish to some things that most of you would just cringe with the thought of (i.e. flying rocks at excessive speeds from cars inches in front of you, rubber pieces from tires, stick on magnets that go on sometimes less than perfectly clean surfaces, shoe polish on windows and/or finishes, brake dust from higher performance pads that when wet can eat the finish or stain the finish, orange cones, etc.). But for me I bought the car to drive, not to perserve for the next owner. I care for my cars the best I can within the time peroid I am willing to spend but they are not pristine. They have some battle scars, as I like to call them. For example, my former Boxster had couple of places where I took out some cones in a spin at an autocross. I took the PC to it and made it look as good as I could but it wasnâ€â„¢t perfect.
I also drive my cars everyday. My wifeâ€â„¢s black car has swirls, but then it is a daily driver and I donâ€â„¢t want to spend the time to polish it to perfection just to see it get marred quickly. I do use some type of protection frequently (right now Glanz with Lackfinish after most washes) but I donâ€â„¢t clay and polish as frequently as many of you. I do a complete detail a couple times a year and I try to minimize the damage done to the car on a daily basis by using better techniques and products than the average Joe, but based on most comments here most of you would still look my wifeâ€â„¢s car and say âہ“I canâ€â„¢t believe such a nice car has swirlsâ€Â�.
My cars look better than 90% of the cars on the road but they are by no means perfect or swirl free. I am just now willing to spend the time or money to get them any better. I applaud those that do keep their cars in such pristine condition and I know it is a source of great satisfaction for those individuals. But I think it is unfair to criticize those who donâ€â„¢t, not to mention sometimes the level of perfection expected is just too high a bar for most to reach.
EDITED for typo
the other pc
New member
Because they can.GreyFixer said:
PC.
Accumulator
Well-known member
bet993 said:
I truly enjoy reading stuff like that and I agree completely :xyxthumbs
imported_memnuts
New member
Brian, well stated. :bow
When I autocrossed back in the 70's I use to leave the shoe polish class indicator on until is worn-off or the rain washed it off.:shocked: This indictated I drove these vehicles (TR-6, Z28 & RX7). Unfortunately, the cancellation of the "Blue Laws"(Prohibiting Sunday store opening) nearly killed autocrossing in Massachusetts.
When I autocrossed back in the 70's I use to leave the shoe polish class indicator on until is worn-off or the rain washed it off.:shocked: This indictated I drove these vehicles (TR-6, Z28 & RX7). Unfortunately, the cancellation of the "Blue Laws"(Prohibiting Sunday store opening) nearly killed autocrossing in Massachusetts.
Brian-I agree about daily drivers. My own car shines like crazy, but there are some light spider swirls, scuffs, etc because I just don't have the time to keep on top of them like I wish I could. Winter days are much too short right now and I make my living detailing other people's cars so that is my priority right now. I still manage to wash and QD my car weekly though. I will still never understand someone who lays out $100k for a car and then never washes it.
I never thought I was different to others with expensive cars... I thought being this fussy was normal and there were plenty more people out there like me.
Now I know there are not (with the exception of this forum), and that the majority of people do not care about their cars. It's not only in my own country that this occurs, but in many others where I've traveled over the years.
Since starting this thread, I made a note of looking for the perfect car - that is, one just like my own... clean, shiny, well looked after, maybe showroom condition.
I found FOUR after a few days of getting round our city and noticing thousands of cars. One was barely a year old, so could have been garaged for the winter. I saw others like a nice shiny Jag, but as it drew closer I saw the front wheels had that familiar black look round the spokes which told me that owner probably puts it through a car wash.
There were some clean BMW's, but generally not one showed the care and attention I lavish on mine. And not one person I know has expertise in detailing, or uses their knowledge on their own car. Even my paint shop guy, who puts out immaculate high-end vehicles each week, uses an old terry towel that has seen better days.
We Autopians are - to put it simply - most ususual in this day and age.
Ken Silver
--------------
1999 Mercedes SLK, 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas). Finish detailing, then start all over again...
Now I know there are not (with the exception of this forum), and that the majority of people do not care about their cars. It's not only in my own country that this occurs, but in many others where I've traveled over the years.
Since starting this thread, I made a note of looking for the perfect car - that is, one just like my own... clean, shiny, well looked after, maybe showroom condition.
I found FOUR after a few days of getting round our city and noticing thousands of cars. One was barely a year old, so could have been garaged for the winter. I saw others like a nice shiny Jag, but as it drew closer I saw the front wheels had that familiar black look round the spokes which told me that owner probably puts it through a car wash.
There were some clean BMW's, but generally not one showed the care and attention I lavish on mine. And not one person I know has expertise in detailing, or uses their knowledge on their own car. Even my paint shop guy, who puts out immaculate high-end vehicles each week, uses an old terry towel that has seen better days.
We Autopians are - to put it simply - most ususual in this day and age.
Ken Silver
--------------
1999 Mercedes SLK, 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas). Finish detailing, then start all over again...
GoodnClean
New member
I'm not talking about people who'se cars aren't Autopian, I'm talking about $100k cars that have never been washed. Thats like buying a million dollar house and letting the grass get waist high. I mean, drive it through the car wash on your way wherever, even once a month would be an improvement.
the other pc
New member
If the guy in the cube next to me buys a $25k car and treats it like crap nobody thinks anything of it. If the guy upstairs on mahogany row (who makes four times as much money as the guy next door) buys a $100k car and treats it like crap what's the diff?
Now the kid down on the shop floor (who doesn't even make half of what the guy next door makes) buys a used car for $10k and it becomes his pride and joy. That's the guy I respect.
PC.
Now the kid down on the shop floor (who doesn't even make half of what the guy next door makes) buys a used car for $10k and it becomes his pride and joy. That's the guy I respect.
PC.