[spigot52]

Anybody have an opinion on Kelowna shops?
I have a few swirl marks I would like to lose.

[down_hill_dog]

I've heard good things about A&D car clean. I think Mike can chime in here?

Brian, funny story about swirls though. As you may know, my pops last year bought a Black Toyota Xrunner.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y140/down_hill_dog2/IMG_0515.jpg

The truck is Black, with lots of pearls and micro flakes of silver and gold in the paint. The color is actually called sandstone black pearl. It shows every swirl and scratch. He's never had a black vehicle before, and never has really properly washed a vehicle either. Last summer, I washed it once for him and saw the condition of that poor trucks paint. It looked like someone sprinkled sand into a wash brush and washed it with muddy water. It was bad. After flipping out, and having him show me how he washes it... I knew I had alot of work ahead of me. (He now knows how to wash it properly haha)

I did some research, and people were having excellent results with Turtle Wax ICE on badly swirled dark colored vehicles much like your RX-8.

http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,1

I bought the Carwash, Liquid Clay kit, and the Paste Polish. You have a choice of liquid or paste polish. But they don't actually make a ICE sealer. With one cycle of the ICE, it was back to beautiful with only deep scratches remaining visible. One more cycle, this time doubling up on the polish and it was absolutely Flawless. Afterwards we sealed the paint with Meguiars NXT generation Tech Wax, and it still looks awesome today.

In the spring, I'm going to repeat the process on his truck.. But this time i'm going to use a little better sealer, like Klasse or Zaino.

If you have a garage, and i'm sure you do.. This might be a good option for a retired gentleman such as yourself.

Now I just have to find out how to take care of the Diamond Kote thats on the speed3 in the spring.

[spigot52]

I have heard good things about it.
I have been using Zaino on both cars since new.
Char's car has a few rub marks on the sides and front (wonder where they came from?)that I believe will need to be polished out.

[spigot52]

If you have a garage, and i'm sure you do.. This might be a good option for a retired gentleman such as yourself.


Thats the plan...soon as the temp gets a little warmer. The garage aint bad,
but I still have to take them outside for washing and claybar.

[delSol97]

A&D buffed out a key scratch that multiple other shops said would require a respray. We're talking entire side of a car ... Even A&D thought the scratch might "reappear" but it never did. He was able to get it all but about 1" on the quarter panel. Front fender/door/rear-quarter panel... looked like new.

He knows his stuff.

[fourtirefire]

Any idea what kind of rates A&D charges for a whole vehicle detail?

My truck's got some scratches and scuffs that i'd like to have disappear.

[delSol97]

I think I paid $125 ... not exactly cheap but it came out looking like new. That was a few years ago.

[jeffh]

im not sure if A&D is open anymore, we started doing our used car details in house

[RRxtar]

A&D was $125 for a full small car. they said extra charges for black and definitly extra for a large vehicle.

[spigot52]

Where are/were they?

[delSol97]

behind Novus ... near Shaw, Chrysler dealer, Greyhound etc

[spigot52]

Looks like they are history.....some kind of custom shop there now.

[spigot52]

Ordered a Porter Cable , some pads and some Poorboys polish.
Anyone know how to use this stuff?

[Dmanm]

Wax on.... Wax off... Says Mr. Muyagi anyways.

[down_hill_dog]

Craigs routine:

Proper wash w/ grit guard pails, claybar, polish, wax.

I use a liquid wax and apply with my oribital. Cut down on time, as i'm impatient. I also remove with my orbital. I usually repeat the wax step twice, just to be sure :)

[fourtirefire]

This is a good watch, somewhat related to preventing those swirls and scratches.
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=7598756069207401372&ei=hZitScHXL5y4qAO31dyKCg&q=car+wash+tecnique&hl=en

[fourtirefire]

So after a detailed washing and cleanup last night, I couldn't stand looking at the scratches and scuffs anymore. I went to bubbles today and got the full exterior cut polish and wax package. It looks a hell of a lot better! I wasn't about to dare causing swirls on large panels of black paint by doing it myself. Plus it took them almost 4 hours to do. I'm sure I would've cursed and swore at it for a whole weekend. Hah

[down_hill_dog]

^ Now be sure to properly maintain it every couple months with a nice wax.

This is easily the best stuff i've ever owned, as soon as I have a place to clay it and wax it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-gzRDCyZYU&feature=related

[spigot52]

Craig...you are welcome to use our driveway.