New Prius!

[Emma]

Hi all...

I just got a new car on February 8, 2006...a beautiful Prius.

I'm researching the best products to keep the Red Bully looking like new for a long time to come.

Any comments/suggestions/advice will be much appreciated.

[sneek]

to MOL
these links should help
Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car
The 5-Step Paint Care Cycle.

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Step 1 Wash

Step 2 Clean

Step 3 Polish

Step 4 Protect

Step 5 Maintain

[Godiva]

You've come to the right place.

I got my 2005 Prius last April. I attended a meguiar's SAturday class with Mike and learned how to maintain the lovely finish.

Read up on the five steps.

This is what I do:

1) Wash with NXT due to local hard water.

2) Clay the car using NXT detailer.

3 if necessary: Use Scratch-X if needed. Clean with NXT detailer again.

4) Apply Deep Crystal Polish with W8006 Yellow soft buff foam polishing pad at speeds 3-5. Small sections. Remove while still wet with microfiber towel. Small sections.

5) Apply NXT tech Wax using either another W8006 or a W9006 Tan softbuff finishing pad at speeds 2-4. Try at 3 - 3.5. Do entire car and let dry. Remove with W7006 cutting pad and microfiber bonnet at speeds 2.5.

I also use the NXT glass cleaner. It smells fabulous!

I bought a G100 DA after I attended the detailing class. It was a good investment.

[Emma]

Thanks for the replies. It's overcast and rainy here today, but I think tomorrow is supposed to be nice. I'll be heading to the auto place either this afternoon or tomorrow to get my supplies. I've already used the Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner (bought a big jug of it!)

I don't have an electric buffer. For the time being, I will be using elbow grease.

I would love to attend a class, but I'm way over on the other side of the country.

And Godiva...if I'm not mistaken, I recognize your avatar from PriusChat...

[Godiva]

Yep. That's me.

Priusclubsd.com has some links to Meguiar's online on the info page for how to detail your car.

http://www.priusclubsd.com

I think there's the five step plan, how to remove swirls etc.

There is some other useful info for the new prius owner.

Congrats on the car. I think using Meguiar's and the five step plan is the best way to take care of your new Prius.

BTW mine is black.

[Emma]

Thanks for the link. I checked it out, but didn't see anything about Meguiars...just a lot about Zaino and a couple of other brands.

I came close to ordering the Zaino stuff after reading all the posts on Priuschat, but opted for something I could get locally.

I used BF's 12 year old truck as my guinea pig yesterday...washed it, clayed it, and used ColorX. The hood was badly oxidized...looked pink instead of red, like the rest of the truck. It worked pretty well, although I think it might need one more coat to even it up.

I also bought the NXT Tech Liquid Wax to use on the Prius, but it's raining today and there's rain the forecast for the next three days, so I guess I'll have to wait.

[Godiva]

It's there.

But it's on the day we went to a Meguiar's Saturday class.

http://www.priusclubsd.com/meetings/051112.html

I guess I should put some links on the info page as well.