Protecting paint?

[red99gt]

I just got a red 99 Grand AM GT and the car has been stored in a garage it's whole life and the paint looks like it just came off the showroom floor. I'm going to college in a week here and the car is going to be sitting outside. I would like to know what product you'd all recommend in order to keep the paint the way it is eventhough it's going to be spending a lot of time outside. Thanks

[red99gt]

Protecting paint?

I've used Meguiar's a long time and I love the stuff. I just got a red 99 Grand Am GT that spent it's entire life in a garage and the paint looks like it just came off the showroom floor. I'm going to college next week and the car is going to be sitting outside Will any of these products protect against ultraviolet rays and all the elements that dull the paint?
Thanks.

[scrub]

The wax/sealant will help protect the paint from the elements. One thing I'd recommend is to keep a good coat of wax on the paint. Now that the car will remain outside the wax will be removed by the weather, so you will have to wax more often. Good luck in school!!

[jfelbab]

Best protection that comes to mind is a car cover.

If you have car washing facilities at college you should be in good shape. I'd apply NXT Tech Wax and after each wash I'd apply NXT Booster Spray Wax.

If you have no car washing facilities, I'd apply two coats of NXT Tech Wax, 12 - 24 hours apart, then follow up with a coat of #16. This should see you through 3-6 months even in the cold snowy winter weather you get.

[jfelbab]

Best protection that comes to mind is a car cover.

If you have car washing facilities at college you should be in good shape. I'd apply NXT Tech Wax and after each wash I'd apply NXT Booster Spray Wax.

If you have no car washing facilities, I'd apply two coats of NXT Tech Wax, 12 - 24 hours apart, then follow up with a coat of #16. This should see you through 3-6 months.

[Tim Lingor]

Hey red99gt

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Since you have asked this question already in another forum, I will merge the threads together to avoid double posting.

As to what to use, my best advice would be 2 coats of NXT Tech Wax or 2 coats of #20 Polymer Sealant or Medallion Premium Pant Protection. Either of these will give you long lasting protection.


Tim

[red99gt]

I thought of the car cover idea...but I have a strange feeling that people may decide that because I have a car cover on my car...they should key it, or paint the cover, or whatever.
We do have a quarter car wash by our campus, so I'll be able to wash it. With the car sitting outside, how much time can I go with the NXT Tech wax before I spray the recharge wax? Or do you think it would be better to just simply do the two coats of NXT and the #16 for the maximum mileage. Also, if I put the coat of #16 on, does the NXT recharge spray still have the desired effect?

[red99gt]

Tim,
What do you think better...the NXT Tech wax, or the #20?

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

I have used #20 for years and LOVE it!!! Trust me, I have used it in some of the worst weather you could imagine! But, I also had great success with NXT last winter. Overall, I would have to give the nod to NXT.

Tim

[jfelbab]

Originally posted by red99gt
I thought of the car cover idea...but I have a strange feeling that people may decide that because I have a car cover on my car...they should key it, or paint the cover, or whatever.
We do have a quarter car wash by our campus, so I'll be able to wash it. With the car sitting outside, how much time can I go with the NXT Tech wax before I spray the recharge wax? Or do you think it would be better to just simply do the two coats of NXT and the #16 for the maximum mileage. Also, if I put the coat of #16 on, does the NXT recharge spray still have the desired effect?

If you have access to a heated area somewhere you can continue to boost the NXT but not if the temp is cold. I don't think NXT will cure at temps below around 45°F. Applying the NXT Booster takes about 30 minutes.

If this is your situation I'd go with the NXT (x2) and #16. This should give you some durability, possibly long enough to get you to an early spring thaw.

NXT booster was made to rejunivate NXT Tech Wax, a synthetic polymer, and would not likely work as a booster for #16, a carnauba wax. I don't know this for a fact so you might want to get Mike Phillips take on this.

As to a car cover, I'd think a cover would make it more difficult for someone to key a car. Or do you think it would make it stand out and therefore become a bigger target?

[red99gt]

yes, I do feel that the car cover would make my car stand out, making it a bigger target...and someone coudl steal it as well...it's not that hard to cut around locks. Is the #16 necessary? or can I just use the NXT Tech (x2) and continue recharging it until mid-october? I ask this because Tim is suggesting just the NXT.

[mopar]

yes that would be fine. A very well prepped surface will allow the wax to bond to it better and in turn it will last alot longer.scratch x is a very good and user freindly surface prep.

[jfelbab]

Originally posted by red99gt
yes, I do feel that the car cover would make my car stand out, making it a bigger target...and someone coudl steal it as well...it's not that hard to cut around locks. Is the #16 necessary? or can I just use the NXT Tech (x2) and continue recharging it until mid-october? I ask this because Tim is suggesting just the NXT.

The difficult period will be from November through March. Cold, snow and salty roads coupled with industrial pollution will eat away at any protective coating. Washing will also remove some of this protection and unless you have a way to get the car into a heated garage to renew the protection it will slowly wear away. The addition of #16 over NXT will definitely extend the life of the protection.

If it were me and I knew I couldn't get the car rewaxed during the duration, I'd top the NXT with #16 in November.

Another option is to take the car to a detailer in January and have it cleaned and waxed. This is probably an expensive option and as I remember my college days I sure didn't have a lot of spare cash. I could hardly afford to maintain a car much less worry about it's upkeep. I had a 1956 Pontiac Starfire when I was in college. Luckily it required nothing but gas and oil during those 4 years. Had it broke I'd have been walking.

You also might find a fellow student who has access to a heated garage who might let you use it for a day occasionally. Make friends with the groundskeeper at the university. He'll most likely have a heated garage.

Time to get creative. There are no more creative people than young, underfunded college students.

[Rick]

Been there done that... well kinda, lived at home and commuted to school and parked in the sea of thousands and thousands of cars on acres and acres of black top. Trust me, get a car cover. It will deter theft more than it would attract it. Covercraft makes the best ones and since it sounds like you'll be dealing with winter weather I'd get one that can stand up to some weather. A cover would require any potential thief or vandal to remove the cover first which adds time that they are exposed so it's not going to attract any bad attention. Every day I would park my car, crack the windows, get out remove the antenna, get the duster out and dust the car so I don't trap any dust between the cover and the car (worst thing that can happen) and then put the cover on. You'll also have the added benefit that the cover will help decrease the severity of any door dings.