Sorry to post this but I have been unable find anything in the whole forum doing a search. What is the best product to preserve the factory paint and finish. Taking delivery in the am of my Ralliart and I want to do it right.

Any suggestions for appearance upkeep would be most appreciated.

Regards all
EJM

 

Not to be facisous or anything but HONESTLY, the best way to keep the factory paint is to not drive ANYWHERE in the winter. No salt, sand, snow, slush etc. That stuff, no matter what people say about washing your car, just KILLS the cheap japanese paint. Domestics you can get away with it for a few years but eventually it catches up with you.

Prime example: My 1999 Z24 has been driven every winter since I got it in '01 and only now is the paint a little bit less shiny as it originally was.

My Lancer has been under a car cover for months, I took it off on a warm day this past month, and washed it for the hell of it and it *bling bling'd* just like new. A few streets over some guy is having his house built and one of the construction workers has a Yellow OZ. (How do I know this stuff? I know the location of every lancer near by, call me God) Anyways I asked him how long he hd had his and he said he got it around Nov/Dec 2002. So that's almost 2 Toronto winters.......

Lancer owners be forewarned. Your paint is going to fade and won't shine if washed. In the words of the guy when I asked him "whats up with your paint?" He said "it just doesn't shine any more, no reflection or nothing." I swear the thing looked like ****.

Moral of the story: If you can't keep it out of the snow, salt, sand and slush. Which is the BEST option but not viable for everyone, then you should wash it whenever you get that "white" salty look around your car, pay particular attention to the hood, roof and trunk as those are the flattest parts of the car that people see the most. Use Meguirs products, don't be cheap and buy that crap that Crappy Tire pettles. Yes, Meguirs is expensive but that shouldn't matter if you want to keep the look of your paint new.

Take your pick $250 over the winter in Meguirs stuff, or a bunk-*** paint job in 2 yrs.

Yellow OZ's take note. Our paint is the toughest to keep clean even in the summer, you should be EXTRA attentive to it in the winter. Unless you want your "Lightening Yellow" looking more like Big Bird Yellow.

 

Thanks for the reply. I hate to bring this up, but I can't resist. I live on Vancouver Island so it only snows about once a year and is gone right away. I notice that my location doesn't show and will have to rectify this.

Thanks for the advice on Meguirs and the great news about yellow My wife and i got up a way to early this morning as we are on our way to pick up our new yellow Ralliart.

Regards
EJM

 

w00t, Congrats bro on the soon 2 be pruchase, good luck with it, and enjoy tha new ride!


And visit here often!

-l8z!-

 

If it only snows once a year and goes away quick your laughing. Try not to drive it that day or the days the snows on the ground.

Yellow, unfortunately is the worst colour for an OZ in terms of taking care of it. I used to think it was white, but then I saw what Crash's car looked like after a winter and it still looked good. The key is keeping it clean. If your not washing it, then wipe it around the fenders with a non-scratch cotton cloth or some meguirs final detail. That stuff works like magic.

If you go out and get a cat-back exhaust make sure to keep an eye on the top part of the bumper aka the *** of the car. It tends to collect black stuff, such as ashphalt, exhaust particles and rubber. Nothing BAD, just looks like black dust. It happens VERY often.

Other place to pay attention to is the hood.....

 

Thanks again. We picked up the car and I am very happy with the purchase. I sure would like to keep this beauty looking as good as it is right now. It's incredible what the little addition like the exhaust stainless steel tip can do for this car as well.

Regards
EJM

 

like Jeff said, use Meguir's or Mother's product on your car to keep it looking the best. as for protecting it, you can get the 3m clear chip resistant put on your leading edge surfaces to stop chips and such. though i found that you still get chips even with the 3m stuff

 

yeah...like Dr. Crash says, Mother's products are really good. I wouldn't buff your car though.....

 

I work at a detailing shop on the weekends.. we are the gods of paint protection.

We're in Brampton, I can give you hook-ups on some deals.

 

Thanks for the replies. I live on Vancouver Island so a long way from Brampton. I tried out the Meguiars Liquid Gold Class on the weekend and am quite happy with the result. I had to move the car into the garage due to rain and than add some heat as it was getting within sight of freezing.

I am going to use this product until I have to go over to Vancouver for various reasons. I am then going to pickup a Zaino kit and see what I can do. There is a place I can pick up the Zaino in Vancouver and it is handy to where I will be staying.

Regards all
EJM

Great forum!

 

What store in Vancouver carries Zaino? I wanna get some but dont want to have to get it shipped to me.

 

Snapz, I emailed Zaino in Ontario and this was their reply

"You can pick it up in Vancouver From Mike Rak 604 872 7272 or talk to John Rak same number"

I have contacted them and they are located on 7th around Cambie. This is a hobby for them and they sound like great people to deal with. They believe in the product, their business is photography if I am not mistaken.

Let me know how you make out, I won't be able to make it over for a while.

Regards
EJM

 

Why wouldnt you buff it? Im new to this stuff..

I went down to Can tire and saw the 3 stage mothers car wax. I was just wondering is Carnuba wax really that helpful? or should I just get the 10 dollar 1 step car wax with teflon?

 

Just a followup to the thread. I have put on my second coat of Meguiars Gold Class since I got my car in January. I put a can of coke on the roof of the car while I unlocked the door. I had to catch the can as it just slid right off. This would have made a great commercial.

Regards
EJM

 

Wow, snows only ONCE a year!!! I live in newfoundland, and bought a black RA in January, I'll let you know how it survives the winter(unfortunately I have to drive my car to work 25 km highway each way!!!) I never had a problem with my Corolla's "crappy japanese paint" over five REAL, very salty winters and minimal waxing with cheap Turtle Wax. It still shines up nicely in the summer. Meanwhile a friend's F-150 is torn to pieces by the winter grind. I only hope toyota and mits get their crappy paint from the same supplier!!