meguiars or new paint?

[Tom Claessens]

Hi

I recently bought a Ford Fiesta ('89). The engine runs nice etc. but the paint really shows signs of "no attention". I think that before I bought it, it had never been waxed and my best guess was that the car never got any attention (cleaning the interior required two days work)

Now I want to do something about the paint but I'm in doubt that even Meg. can help me here...

Ofcourse, if some products of Meg. can help me out, I'll give it a try first as a repaint will cost almost too much for what the car is worth.

paint doesn't look that bad from a distance..



closer inspection..


real close inspection..


So which products of Meg. can help me "clean" up the paint or is my only option a repaint?

[MDetail]

Meguiars Quick Clay System will probably take care of alot of those little brown dots. But for those deep scratches you will be needing a G100 Dual Action Polisher or a realy strong arm. Once you get your polisher, I think that you could start off trying some Dual Action Cleaner Polish to clean up some of those scratches. If that doesn't work you would work your way to something with a little more cutting power. But like everyone says, you will want to see how thick your paint/clear coat is before you start cutting away. I hope this helps, but I'm sure Mike Philips or some of the vets. can give you some better/ more clear advice. In all, im pretty sure you can save the car from needing a new paint job.

[Aurora40]

Those picts kind of look like the clearcoat is checking? But maybe not. If it is, though, and you don't want a repaint, I'd suggest going mild on the paint. Just use chemical type cleaners. And keep the car well waxed. I've had a few cars where regular waxing really kept a failing clearcoat from getting worse.

One had clear bubbles for about 5 years that I had the car, but they never got worse. Once I gave it to my brother, the clear was falling off all over the place within about 6 months... I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure if I'd kept it and kept waxing it, that wouldn't have happened.

[Murr1525]

Definately give it a good wash and go over it with Quick Clay, to clean up what you can. I also like the idea of using a gentle cleaner, like DC#1 if you are working by hand, to clean it gently until you can get a better idea of what is going on with the paint.

[Tom Claessens]

thanks for the answers so far.
I've ordered the DC#1, DC#2 and DC#3 as well as QD with CB. After processing the car, I'll indeed get a clear look on the paint and what other possibilities I have (if Meg. didn't solve the issue completely).

thanks again!

[del_badboy]

I believe you will do ok with g100 but i do believe i would consider clay, rotary with wool pad and 83 and then polishing pad with 2.0. but thats moa. by hand it will be very hard and much elbow grease.