OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

[JoseyWales]

I bought a new Yukon Denali yesterday and was wondering what I should do first in regards to the exterior. The dealer cleaned it up pretty well and I went over it with quick detailer today. Should I go ahead and wax it? I really want to get off on the right foot in taking care of the paint and finish.

Any info you could provide would be much appreciated

[MrCLRider]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

Sorry to say this but in most situation the dealer started you off wrong. It is good practice to never take a vehicle through an auto wash or use a brush on it(though expensive horse hair brushes are generally okay). If someone locally from the forum lives near you I would suggest getting together wit them and allowing them to inspect it and help you with starting it off right, which is hopefully not correcting what the dealer already did in damages.

[wifpd4]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

Here's some reading. You'll get some answers from folks soon. While your dealer may have done a good job, you can do better.

http://http://meguiarsonline.com/for...ead.php?t=7304

Although the color won't matter a great deal, we're interested so tell us more.

[JoseyWales]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

Thanks for the replies, I figured I couldn't go wrong by just using the quick detailer until I could get some more advice from you guys. I would love to have someone experienced to take a look at it so if there are any members around the Jackson Metro area please let me know.

It is a 2011 Yukon Denali, smoke gray(dark) exterior with ebony interior. It has the chrome package on the outside with 20" chrome rims. Looks real nice, I just want to make sure I take care of the finish.

[Murr1525]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

You can check out the products mentioned in your other thread, as far as a basic process to use.

[Tuck91]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

I wouldnt wipe it down with the QD anymore.

Maybe start looking into proper washing routines.

[JoseyWales]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

You can check out the products mentioned in your other thread, as far as a basic process to use.

I purchased All of those that I could find yesterday. Should I go ahead and polish then wax?

[cnfowler]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

You need to evaluate the paint first. Pretty good chances it needs to be clayed first. My new Subaru needed to be clayed really badly when I brought it home. Hopefully the dealer didn't do any damage when they 'detailed' it for you. I explicitly tell dealers DO NOT TOUCH THE CAR - I'll take it home filthy. They always look amazed. Kinda funny actually.


Colin

[Murr1525]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

I purchased All of those that I could find yesterday. Should I go ahead and polish then wax?

Which ones couldnt you find?

[JoseyWales]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

You need to evaluate the paint first. Pretty good chances it needs to be clayed first. My new Subaru needed to be clayed really badly when I brought it home. Hopefully the dealer didn't do any damage when they 'detailed' it for you. I explicitly tell dealers DO NOT TOUCH THE CAR - I'll take it home filthy. They always look amazed. Kinda funny actually.


Colin

The paint feels very smooth to the touch, I also put a bright light on it from various angles trying to find any imperfections. The only thing I saw were a couple of small places on the hood that look almost like dried water spots but I couldnt get them off.

[JoseyWales]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

Which ones couldnt you find?

I didn't see any ColorX, I wasn't sure what that was, is it a polisher? I picked up everything else that you recommended minus the grit guards, I ordered them on eBay today.

Should I do a polish on my truck before I wax it? I don't think it needs to be clayed I have checked it really well and I is incredibly smooth aside from the 2 areas that I mentioned in the above post. The spots cant be felt but can be seen if the light is shining on them right.

[Murr1525]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

Yeah, usually wont get Grit Guards in a store.

ColorX is a medium strength cleaner/wax. Bit stronger than the maroon bottle Cleaner/Wax which is nice I think.

Claying is up to you. I usually would if never done before, but not critical right away if all seems well.

As far as cleaning/polishing, and removing those spots, you could also look at SwirlX or Ultimate Polish. Nice general cleaners for the car, and work them in with a little more passion over those water spots.

Were you able to find any applicator pads, like the Hi-Tec Foam ones? Often hard to find in stores also.

So it would be like:

Wash
Clay if wanted
Clean -SwirlX / UP
Wax
Wax

[wifpd4]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

Josey, for me at least, claying is a very important step. If you don't do a good job washing, you pick up a fragment of dirt in your applicator pad when waxing you scratch your finish. You don't clay your car and there is this rough spot that affects your application of all the products that follow and ultimately the reflectivity of the final finish. Each step builds on the previous step. you say you "think" it's okay. I suggest you make sure and clay. Claying also makes you feel every square inch of your finish, a good thing for finding defects.

If you don't do it now, you can always do it the next time around.

[JoseyWales]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

Gotcha, thanks for all the tips, I bought the Meguiars Clay Kit today. I will do that tomorrow, then the ulitmate polish, then wax.

Murr, I just bought some of the terry cloth round applicator pads, are they sufficient?

[Murr1525]

Re: OK, just got new car home from dealer, now what?

Ehh... terry cloth is pretty agressive... wouldnt be my choice to be honest.