How are you going to clean your new ride?

Hand wash vs drive through automatic wash?

If hand wash, what soap and wax do you prefer?

Last few years I've been lazy and used the drive through on my 2003 S10 ZR2, but may switch back to hand with the new ride.

 

I run it through a car wash... drive it home dry it then throw some Zaino on it.

One of the reasons I bought white is so i don't have to worry about Automatic Car washes.I promise they will do less damage than I would hand washing anything more than the size of my MX 5. Plus It's a truck not a show car..now regarding the the Miata, I will take the buffer to and hand wash only. But it small and takes about an hour to detail.

 

No need to wash I am getting silver

 

Hand wash , 2 bucket method with grit guard ... Car wash without wax due to opticoat pro

 

Hand wash ,clay bar ,then wax soon after you get it and it will glow.

 

I just pull the pressure washer out. Spray then hand dry. Easy and doesn't waste that much water! #savecalifromthisdrought

 

Anyone use wax as you dry? I used it on my boat all the time, works great and easy to apply

 

Meguires Gold Class soap is great. Leaves the paint feeling conditioned and glossy. And if you're going for protection over appearance, I've been more than impressed with Megs Ultimate Liquid Wax (it's a 100% synthetic polymer paint sealer, not an actual "wax"). Super easy on/off and extremely durable. It'll last longer than any wax out there, although the Collinites will come close. If you're willing to sacrifice longevity and want a nice, deep color, go for Meg's Gold Class Carnauba Plus paste wax. It's got a synthetic component to it, as well as a little carnauba. Makes my pyrite mica look really nice, although I prefer the Ultimate Liquid for its longevity (it's also super shiny).

Between waxes (after every wash), I'd recommend Meg's Ultimate Spray Wax or Turtle Wax Ice Soray Wax. Both add great shine and will extend the life of whatever is underneath (albeit by a small margin). Great for maintaining water beading.

These are all over the counter and relatively inexpensive. Great for a daily driver. I just don't think you need to spend the money on the more expensive stuff, simply because these products work just fine. Of course, if it's a hobby and you like trying different products, no harm in that!

 

Wax? It's a truck. After the clear wears off, white is the hardest paint....

 

Clean?

 

Yeah clean. I'm paying $40k for a truck, I want that damn thing to shine.

 

Never owned a new vehicle before, is there a need to polish before waxing if performed within a week of bringing her home? Is the factory paint and clear coat in need of it?

 

I always clay bar my new vehicles before the 1st coat of wax.

 

What is clay bar?

 

I thought clay bar is for removing built up grime and contaminants? Seems a little aggressive for new paint.

 

I Have somebody else wash it.

 

Clay bar half your hood and then compare the two sides. Most often, the clayed side is much smoother.

 

I saw that too. Research I've done basically says treat it like any other detail job. If it needs it do it, depends how long after factory build from detail is. If it sat for a few months then bar it if not you should be ok. Plastic bag test.

 

Has anyone use Ammo Car care products? I have seen Ammo NYc use it on his youtube channel but was wondering if anyone had personal experience with the products?

 

For general cleaning I use 'Optimum No Rinse Wash and Shine', very fast to wash and looks great. Work small sections at a time and use a good microfiber mit to apply then a good microfiber cloth to wipe off. Uses very little water (one gallon at most) and takes about 30 minutes to do the entire truck exterior. Can also do it inside your garage without creating a mess. May need to take the power washer approach if you've been 4-wheeling and have dried caked on mud all over your truck.