new car+all NXT products+what else?

[ritual]

i'm about to purchase a new car (2005 subaru legacy gt, atlantic blue) and i was hoping you all could help me figure out what i need to make it look, and keep it looking pristine! i don't have a PC, and i probably won't get one for awhile, so everything will be done by hand.

the products i have in my closet right now are:
NXT lineup - wash, wax, spray, protectant
colorX (my current car and gf's car needed some major help)
foam applicator pad (came with nxt wax)
old terry cloth pads (probably will get rid of these)
5 pack of microfiber towels (walmart kind) for drying/buffing
california water blade (should i be using this at all?)

now, once i get the car, i'm immediately going to wash it, and i know i'm going to get some sort of clay bar set so it will also be clayed. but i know that i need some sort of polish to get it to look as good as possible.

so, what polish do you recommend to use? can/should i use the colorX as a pre NXT treatment? or is it too harsh? if colorX isn't a good way to go, what should i get? Klasse AIO? #7? #9? i'd like to keep it in the meguiar family. are there any other steps i should take?

thanks for any help you could give me.

[Mosca]

Skip the CX for now, IMO.

An Absorber would be good for drying. I have a CWB, and it's never scratched my car, ever, but I don't use it anymore, either. I use the water-sheeting method and either a mf drying towel (the big blue one from WalMart is fine) or an absorber.

Do either #5 or #81. #5 is New Car Glaze, and is also for high humidity conditions. #81 is Hand Polish (but it's a glaze), for clearcoats.

MAYBE #9. It's always nice to have around, y'know.

Clay, glaze, NXT. Or, if there are dealerswirls, clay, #9, glaze, NXT.

That's a really beautiful car you're getting, btw. We just got two truckloads of them, and they are breathtaking.


Tom

[Mike Phillips]

Hi ritual

Welcome to Mequiar's Online!

I agree with Tom.

Being a brand new car, you should only have to clay and then apply a quality paint protectant like NXT Tech Wax.

If your car came with the dealer instilled swirl option, then you will have to look at removing these with a paint cleaner.

Enjoy!

Mike

[gman39120]

Even new cars could benefit from some thorough detailing. I haven't seen a new vehicle yet that didn't have minor wash inflicted swirls compliments of the dealership. I believe that if the paint is in excellent condition, NXT alone should bring out that extra shine you are looking for. If the paint has some minor swirls or blemishes from sitting on the lot, then you can't go wrong with Meq's Scratch-X. This product is intended to be used by hand and will move most MINOR swirls. Products like #9 and #82 acheive their greatest benefit by use of a PC Dual Action Polisher. That's not to suggest that they cannot be used by hand, but better results can be achieved by machine. I have found that topping NXT with a good carnuba will yeild slightly more gloss, but it all boils down to personal opinion. What works good for you is what you need to do. Don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations outside the Meg's lineup. I use a lot of Meg products and will continue to do so, but there are other products out there that work as well. Do some reading on sites like www.detailcity.com and www.autopia.org/forums/index.php and see what others have experienced and what they have to say about the ultimate shine.

[gb387]

I think that blue would really look good with a coat of NXT, now for a polish I have had some good results with Deep Crystal Polish #2 easy to use, inexpensive and easy to find.

I have also used #9 2.0 and it too gives good results as well as helping with swirls and very fine scratches. I don't feel that it polishes up as well as a dedicated polish but it still gave me good results.

I am going to be using #81 for the first time tomorrow and I am told it will give very good results on a clear coated car. As for #7 some say it will give better results on a Single Stage paint.

So I guess you just have to decide what you want. I feel a dedicated polish like DC#2, #7 or #81 will do a better job than a cleaner/polish/wax all in one as colorX is. I am sure ColorX is a great product but on a new car I would go with clay then polish then wax with NXT.