New to Meguiars products

[ViperSRT]

Hi all,

I have a Black 2005 Mustang and want to keep her looking showroom new. Tommorow I plan to wash(with Gold Class wash), use scratchX to remove a ton of scratches I've had since I brought it home from the dealer, and wax with Gold Class wax.

I've watched Barry Meguiar's auto clinic video a few times and he mentions polish as optional, but ideal for dark color cars. Now being the car is black and a year old(but only having 1300 miles on it) do you think it's worth polishing? I've never polished it before. If so, what is the best polish? The deep crystal polish in the video?

So the steps are:

Wash
ScratchX
Polish?
Wax

Correct or am I missing something?

I'm sure this has been posted a million times and I'm sorry, but I really wanna do this right.

Thank You in advance,

Viper

[Murr1525]

Not a bad start.. just to round out your ideas:

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Step 1 Wash

Step 2 Clean

Step 3 Polish

Step 4 Protect

Step 5 Maintain

Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

1. Wash - Gold Class is great. Be sure to use the 2-bucket system (1 for soapy water and 1 for sponge rinse water), and good quality towels, sponges, etc.

2. Clay - If you have never clayed before, it is highly worth it. The Smooth Surface Clay System is a good way to go.

3. Clean - ScratchX for scratches is good. If you ScratchX the whole car good luck, cause it *****. You might want to plan on more than one day.

Deep Crystal #1 is a milder cleaner, and you can use it on places that dont need ScratchX'd, or in the future when ScratchX isnt needed.

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

How To Remove Swirls By Hand

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

4. Polish - Polish is optional, but never a bad idea. Even a cleaner/wax has some polish in it, so obviously Meguiars thinks it is handy to have.

Deep Crystal #2 is a really easy to use polish. #7 Show Car Glaze probably gives the best looks, you just have to get used to letting it skin over and then buff off.

5. Wax - Gold Class is a good wax.

6. Wax - Remember 2 thin coats is best.

7. Maintain - A spray detailer or spray wax are good to use after future washes to keep that fresh look.

How to Get Great Results Using Meguiar's Spray Waxes

[ViperSRT]

Wow. Thanks man. Now a couple more quick questions. With waxing, do you just rub it on and keep going or do you have to work it into the paint? I always just put it on and kept going.

You also beleive claying and polishing are good ideas then correct?

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by ViperSRT
Wow. Thanks man. Now a couple more quick questions. With waxing, do you just rub it on and keep going or do you have to work it into the paint? I always just put it on and kept going.

A cleaner wax needs to be worked into and against the paint, because part of the cleaning action of a cleaner wax comes from the passion you put behind the pad.

If you car's paint is in excellent shape, as in you have washed it, clayed, used either a paint cleaner or a polish to bring the finish up to a very high level of gloss and clarity, then you can use a polish/wax or a pure wax and the way you apply one of these is to apply a thin, even coating over the paint, the goal is to both push the wax into the microscopic hills and valleys as well as to create a thin, uniform coating over the entire surface. Thus you don't have to work a polish/wax or a pure wax as much as you would a cleaner/wax but you do want to be sure to thoroughly apply a thin, even coating.

Then you let it dry completely before wiping it off. Remember you don't want a thick coating, but a thin uniform coating.

You also believe claying and polishing are good ideas then correct?

Meguiar's teaches that after you wash your car you evaluate the condition of the paint, feeling the paint with the palm of you clean hand will tell you if you need to clay the paint or not. If the paint feels like it has a texture to it then you need to clay it. If if feels smooth like a brand new piece of glass then you probably don't have to clay it.

Polishing is an optional step but a step that serious enthusiasts often perform because they want to do everything they can to make their car's paint look it's best and Meguiar's pure polishes tend to create gloss, clarity, reflection, etc.

After polishing, you apply your choice of wax.

Hope this helps...