I HATE BLACK PAINT. BUT THE WIFE HAD TO HAVE IT.

OK before you ride me too much about "Past Threads" I did research a few threads and didn't quite come up with a good answer.
My wife bought a new SUV, not a Tacoma and it's Black. She really didn't want Black but it was the only one she could find equipped the the way she wanted it East of the Mississippi as only about 1 maybe 2 were allotted per Dealer for 2018.
I love cars/trucks of all colors but I've always avoided Black for the obvious reasons.
Shows dirt / dust easily and swirl marks. I love a clean ride and Black was just too hard to keep clean. Her car maybe has 400 mile on it now and I want to protect the paint at all costs.
So I bought an electric pressure washer and a foam cannon. Duel buckets for washing, microfiber towels and mit for washing and drying. Even bought the WORX electric blower to help dry the car without touching it. I've used Mequiar's Products for years and love them. My 2012 DCSB looks like the day I bought it. So my question is.
What would any of you guys recommend (Wax-Sealant-Coating) To help repel dirt reduce swirl marks and protect the paint with proper washing? I'd rather not pay $1-2K for a Pro Ceramic.
And I wax all my cars (Meguiar's Ultimate) Spring/Fall of each year so doing this car twice a year is not a problem.

 

If I just shelled out that kind of coin, I would take and get professional coating applied. At a minimum I would get a consumer coating. I have used Optimum Glosscoat on several vehicles. Super easy to apply. For longevity, I would look at Crystal Serum Light topped with Exo (I have some waiting to put on the wife's 4Runner). Definitely go with a coating to minimize the amount of touch needed.

 

I have been thinking of using CarPro CQuartz. Do you have any experience with that?

 

There's a learning curve with CQuartz. I've not applied it myself. But I do have experience with McKee's Paint Coating. It's inexpensive and very user friendly.

It's like $45 and super easy to apply. You apply it very "wet", spread it in a cross-hatched pattern, and immediately wipe it off. Work one panel at a time. It also looks great. And you can "top" it with one of several other McKees paint sealants if you desire. But I'd recommend the Blackfire SiO2 Spray Sealant as a maintenance product.

 

I've been hearing a lot of good things about Blackfire products. Are they mainly for Black Paint?

 

No, Blackfire is just the brand name, like Meguiars. They're for all paint colors.

 

I have Cquartz purchased to apply on my truck. Planning to top with Gliss.

 

If you can afford that thing you can afford the ceramic coating. Dont start cheaping out now. Just saying.

 

I use ammo reflex then throw a layer of jescar powerlock on top of it. It works very well, and I especially like that most lf the dirt comes right off the paint with the hose. I’ve never been a fan of the ceramics if I’m being honest.

 

Theres some really good paint sealants out there that will easily last a year and look amazing. Sonax polymer shield is a good one to use and it's a German product just like your car . I personally feel coatings are a little overrated, the same guy that tells you they last 2 years and no scratches is the same guy that doesn't tell you theres up keep to maintain the coating.

 

I can afford the money that's not the problem. Is a Coating that cost $1000 worth 10 times the cost of a DIY coating? or worth 100 times what a bottle of Fast Finish Mequire's top paint sealant costs? If it truly lasts 4-5 years the I would say yes. But 1-2 years no. I think the jury is still out on that one.
I can afford to have my grass cut, my cars detailed weekly and eat $100 steaks. But I choose not to coming from a Blue collar background working full time since I was 16. Like I said I enjoy detailing my on rides so re-coating once a year would not be a problem. Just trying to figure out the best route go take.

 

When are you planning on coating your ride?

 

Many people think you put on ceramic and don't touch the paint. That's not how it works. Still have to maintain the coating but its far less effort than a sealant or wax. After my experience with ceramics I will never use a sealant again as my primary final protection. Ceramics work better and keep a vehicle cleaner longer.

I initially didn't like the thought of a ceramic because I thought it would take away from my detailing. Once I tried Glosscoat my whole perspective changed. Coatings make life so much easier. My truck looks like crap right now cause I haven't put the coating back on it. Its being protected by a sealant but it doesn't stay as clean as it did before with the coating.

 

Which is easier to clean? The Sealant or the coating?

 

Pro versions do last. Yes, you have to maintain but they do last. Most come with a warranty of some sorts.

Waiting on the weather to cool down. I don't have a shop/garage so I usually wait for cooler weather and then park it on the carport. Been mid-90s with heat index of hell the last few weeks.

 

Whatever happened to ordering the vehicle the way you want it?

 

My experience coating is easier to clean. Vehicle will stay cleaner longer limiting the amount of times you need to touch it. Again this is my experience and my vehicles live outside 24/7. Ceramics will also prevent etching from bird bombs too.

 

FYI When people talk about "coating maintenance", this simply means washing your vehicle and then applying a "booster" product. The booster acts as a sacrificial barrier, thus prolonging the life of the coating. You don't have to use a booster. But it's as easy as applying a spray wax, so why not. And it will add shine, slickness, and often increase water shedding.

Most coatings have a brand-specific "booster" to go with them. Think of it as "refreshing" the coating once a month.

 

2 year guaranteed coating no scratches, bird bombs etc guaranteed 2 years" coating must be reboosted monthly with our special reboosting serum." No thanks I'll just seal my truck once in the spring and once in the fall for pennies on the dollar and itll look just as good as any coating and I dont have to reboost it constantly.

 

This is a new car for Mercedes and they only released a few AMG GLC63's for 2018. They were actually a mid model year and started arriving in the US around the first of July. 1 per AMG dealership possibly 2 for the larger dealerships. As for now you can order one but it will be a 2019. My local dealer said if we ordered one it would be a December build at the earliest with a delivery most likely in February / March.