What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

Has anyone ever tried covering the sides of their trucks with 3M clear bra film to protect from pin stripes?

 

I don't have the JBL audio in mine :/ That's an add on package.

 

Yup I don't have the JBL system. You can always do better than the JBL too like you said. I know a dude who got a $3800 sound system in his car. It's ridiculous but the point is that you can still do better than the JBL! Well said my friend!

 

CartoTaco where in Alaska are you? I'm assuming that since you went to an actual shop that you're around Anchorage.

 

I bought a Silver Tacoma specifically for brush scratches

 

I'll take the KN air filter is you still have it

 

I've been using clay for a long time and the only residue I get is from the clay lube. That is easily gone when I polish. What residue do you get from clay? What brand of clay do you use?

 

I have a 2002 Taco that's silver and it is awesome for hiding dirt and scratches. Kinda wish I'd gone the same route with this one, but I do like the MGM!

 

My last SUV was dark grey metallic and it didnt hide the scratches well, my detailer told me they didnt have much paint left after they fixed it. I bought a 99 Jeep to offroad with to save my Subaru haha.

I don't plan to go crazy with this Taco, but I want to be able to go through some brush without stressing.

 

I would bet he's talking about when you get the clay caught up on the edge of a body panel or clear bra. Otherwise, yeah... I've never had clear leave behind any detectable residue.

 

Same residue; worse when it's warm.
I've tried Mother's, Meguiars and Zaino clay
This requires a mere wipe to remove all residue.

I don't like the ideal of leaving a slurry of contaminated residue left to dry on the paint.
Clay requires buffing off or a separate wash
To me, more time spent rubbing things across the paint=more potential to damage the paint.

 

Well, from the videos I watched of using the mitt, it required a good bit of lubricant too and I would very likely need to do a wash after using it too, so not sure if I consider that a "con" for the clay bar. But given the convenience of using the mitt versus clay, if it does as good a job, I would still say it's the better product.

 

You need more lube for all that surface area.
I used about 1/3 a bottle of lube; on par with clay.

If it's not everything I say it is, I'll send you an unopened box of Meguiars clay and detailer. I have no use for it anymore.

 

I appreciate all your input and I'm going to try the mitt, for sure. But the amount of lubricant needed for each and the need to wash after using either is not a factor in my decision. Given the surface area of the Tacoma versus the MINI Coopers I've been claying the pat 10 years, I'm all for *easier* and *faster* as long as it doesn't come at the price of effectiveness. So yeah... I'm sold.

 

Mine didn't require an extra wash step; it was streak free and ready to go. But, ymmv.
Results/effectiveness are important to me too. Why bother, if it doesn't do the job?
I expected to pick up the clay after the first panel...
It's one of those things you laugh to yourself about after trying it.

 

Another plus; you can drop a mitt and wash it off.

 

And you're about 100 times more likely to drop clay than you are the mitt.

 

No, they're still sitting in the garage.
I was going to ask for $400/5 at the next garage sale.
My Toyota mechanic/neighbor, who installed the tires, passed at $500/5.