New Car Care

[the_dog]

Hi all. First post, but I've been lurking for a while!

I'm taking delivery of my new black Kia Sportage this week. This is my first ever black car, so I want to start off right.

In the past I've been lazy when it comes to car care, waxing once a year and doing pretty much everything else at the self-serve wash.

So, for my first wash I was thinking of doing:

Wash with Gold Class Wash and Conditioner
Clay Bar (is this necessary for a new car?)
Polish (which one?)
Wax (with NXT 2.0)

Is there a polish you could recommend? I was thinking either the swirl x (as most cars from this dealer seem to have light swirls) or the deep crystal.

And is clay barring a new car necessary? I'm willing to do it, but if I don't need to I would rather wait.

Thanks!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: New Car Care

First off, welcome to MOL - or should we say "it's nice to see you come out of lurkerdom!"

Even though you're taking delivery of a new car, a lot can happen between the factory gates and your garage door. If the vehicle was transported by rail it's likely got some rail dust that needs removal - that's a clay step. If it sat outside at the dealer for any length of time it most likely never saw any wax so various types of fallout may well have bonded to the paint - that's a clay step. So there's a very good chance it will benefit from claying.

Swirls are another thing. They could be quite minor if the car was never wiped down or poorly washed before being delivered to you. But it's also quite likely that it has some swirls in it and a paint cleaner of some level is needed to remove them. How aggressive you'll need to go will depend on the workability of the paint, the level of swirls and other defects, and your desires and expectations.

When you get it home, wash and dry properly and then inspect the finish closely. Feeling the paint with your hands will tell you if bonded contaminants are present - if they are, clay; if not, don't bother. Visually check in good direct light (sunlight is great for this) for the presence of swirls and other below surface defects and then use a paint cleaner as needed to remove them. Ultimate Polish maybe sufficient for fine swirls, but it's pretty mild stuff and you may need to step up to either ScratchX or Ultimate Compound. Don't worry about using either of these on a new car - if the paint needs it, it needs it.

Read through Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle for the full process on getting your new ride looking the way it should.

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car Care

In addition to what Mike said,

DO NOT LET THEM WASH IT.

Just say you want the plastic removed and that is all. No other prep work.

[the_dog]

Re: New Car Care

The cars I have seen have had light swirl marks, nothing serious. Assuming they do wash it, did ask them not to, which polish do you think would be best to try first. What's the difference between SwirlX and ScratchX?

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car Care

Just different strengths of cleaners.

Ult Polish is mildest, then SwirlX, ScratchX 2.0, and UC.

Personally, I would want Ult. Compound and either SwirlX or Ult Polish on my shelf, can cover most anything then.

Might have to order the applicator pads online though, hard to find in stores.

[the_dog]

Re: New Car Care

Would this work?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car Care

Yeah, though these are more popular, and what I prefer.

http://www.amazon.com/HIGH-TECH-APPLICATOR-PAD-PK/dp/B0009IQZPW/ref=pd_sim_auto_37

Might check around fora good price, looks a little expensive in that link.

[the_dog]

Re: New Car Care

A couple more questions: I don't need to wash after the clay bar or SwirlX right? And I've read that some people follow up the ScratchX with Deep Crystal Polish, then a wax. Is that a good idea?

[the_dog]

Re: New Car Care

Having trouble finding Deep Crystal. If you recommend a polish after SwirlX and before NXT 2.0, would Ultimate Polish do?

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car Care

A couple more questions: I don't need to wash after the clay bar or SwirlX right?

No, can just wash once, assuming the car stays clean.

And I've read that some people follow up the ScratchX with Deep Crystal Polish, then a wax. Is that a good idea?

Using a pure polish like Deep Crystal Polish will be an optional step, esp on a new car. It can add a bit to the looks, but adding the polishing oils from a pure polish, or cleaner/polish would be more important as the paint gets older.

Having trouble finding Deep Crystal. If you recommend a polish after SwirlX and before NXT 2.0, would Ultimate Polish do?

SwirlX and Ult Polish are similar, so you would pick one or the other. Wouldn't really need a pure polish after these products.