What do you recommend to friends for car care?

Jaretr1

Jaretr1

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I often get asked by friends, especially ones that have new cars,what I recommend to them to care for their cars. Usually, these are people who are not like us per say, they arent crazy. They just want to keep their cars looking good with minimal fuss.

Here is sorta my go to easy peasy lemon squeezy car care recommendations. I go right to Hydro2. Its such a foreign concept for non enthusiasts and enthusiasts alike, but it truly is the easiest form of protection and I know the people who are asking me usually want easy! I then add to my recommendation Carpro Reset Car wash soap to compliment the Hydro2 (although any good soap will do). I throw in some wheel woolies, a good microfiber sponge / mitt, and good microfiber drying towel. For the inside, I recommend Ultima Interior Guard Plus. Done.

If they are a little more into their cars and ask for more specific products, of course I recommend whatever they are after...but for the basics for someone just wanting to do the basics..what do you recommend?
 
My recommendations are similar as far as tools.........except I recommend Meguiars stuff..Cleaner Wax, Natural Shine and gold Class Wash..it's economical, available and simple to use. For years, their standard Cleaner Wax was all I used.
 
For simplicity's sake...
I suggest that they use:
•car-wash shampoos
•microfiber products
•cleaner-waxes
(Note: product samples are available)


For those wanting to delve deeper:
•provide links to:
-Mike Phillips' books, articles, etc.
-AGO's online store

Anymore than that, and I
will point out the following:

watermark.php



Bob
 
I had a coworker get a new car, and he asked me advice, and I pointed out how he never washed his old car, and that he would quickly tire of whatever I suggested. He somehow found some guy close to him in some sort of detailing shop (I think a spare bay at a tire place or something) to hand wash the car for $15, so it all worked out in the end.

However, now that HydrO2 is available, and even better, HydrO2Foam, those are great suggestions for people who are actually (occasional) car washers.
 
I find most people that ask me how to maintain their cars want the look and protection of a corrected car with a coating installed but then back away when you tell them what needs to be done, whether you do it yourself or have a professional do it. I find too many people I know just basically insists that automatic brush car washes don't put in swirls cause it wouldn't make sense. For them, swirls just come in over time and that's it. Or they want something that's essentially impossible. I I had a guy I know ask me what wax can he out on so he never has to wash his car again or what wax will protect against scratches. When I tell him no wax does that, he just asked me are you sure? Cause nu finish can do that. I can't say I really bother most of the time, I just direct them to an otc automotive store here and tell them to wash the car and keep a wax on it. That's all most people I know want to hear. If I recommend something like hydrofoam or hydro2, now they balk at having to purchase something online. Or they think it's a less reliable product because you can't walk into a store and get it.
 
briarpatch said:
My recommendations are similar as far as tools.........except I recommend Meguiars stuff..Cleaner Wax, Natural Shine and gold Class Wash..it's economical, available and simple to use. For years, their standard Cleaner Wax was all I used.
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Same here.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
WillSports3 said:
If I recommend something like hydrofoam or hydro2, now they balk at having to purchase something online. Or they think it's a less reliable product because you can't walk into a store and get it.
Click to expand...

Well, I guess my friends respect my opinion enough, and know I know enough about these products to actually follow through with my recommendations. Most of my friends also have their own unique interests and understand the best products are usually not in stores and only online. I guess it also depends on the person, I suppose my recommendations are taylored to the audience.

Good responses.
 
On my Jeeps I only use Stoner Car Care products. Invisible Glass rocks! Trim shine is the best and their Speed Bead detailer is the easiest to wipe on/off in my experience.
 
I just stick to OTC products when asked, most that usually ask me want to do a quick wash and wax and that's about all. For a wash product I recommend Meg's Ultimate Wash and Wax, and for a wax product I tell them Meg's 26. Both are available at the local Autozone, so it's easily gotten. That said, I have had a couple people tell me that 26 was too expensive for them... until I give them a sample to use, then they don't mind paying.
 
I suggest they pay me biweekly to maintain it. Or pay for a coating
 
Jaretr1 said:
Well, I guess my friends respect my opinion enough, and know I know enough about these products to actually follow through with my recommendations. Most of my friends also have their own unique interests and understand the best products are usually not in stores and only online. I guess it also depends on the person, I suppose my recommendations are taylored to the audience.

Good responses.
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I completely agree with you. Unfortunately all of my friends feel the best way to detail your own car is to vacuum, wipe down the interior with some water and paper towels and run the car through a swirlomatic car wash. If they even bother doing that. Different interests I suppose. The only time I'll answer them or do it foe them is if they get a difficult stain on the interior.

It really depends on your friends interests. Most of them see professional detailers as glorified car wash jockeys or they think even 150 dollars is too much for a full interior and exterior decontamination and detailing.
 
WillSports3 said:
I completely agree with you. Unfortunately all of my friends feel the best way to detail your own car is to vacuum, wipe down the interior with some water and paper towels and run the car through a swirlomatic car wash. If they even bother doing that. Different interests I suppose. The only time I'll answer them or do it foe them is if they get a difficult stain on the interior.

It really depends on your friends interests. Most of them see professional detailers as glorified car wash jockeys or they think even 150 dollars is too much for a full interior and exterior decontamination and detailing.
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That makes sense. Well the friends that ask me know I am not a car wash jockey and pretty into car care, and appreciate my level of expertise (by no means am I a total expert) and my use of so many varied products. I suppose I only get asked by the people genuinely want my honest opinion and will take my advice. I guess I am lucky :)
 
You're the luckier one out of the two of us haha. The funny thing is the only people who really take notes and listen are some of the older guys at a coin wash I use sometimes where they come in with two buckets and wash their extremely well kept older vehicles or the occasional classic muscle car.
 
After I fully detailed and protected my brothers new Jeep Grand Cherokee..

View attachment 50744

I sold him the remainder of my Megs D115, told him to go buy some microfiber towels at Costco [cut the tags off and wash properly], gave him a pre diluted gallon of Megs D101 APC to wipe down his interior, and recommended Megs Endurance Gel for his tires [because they're Michelins] So far he's doing good.

After I detailed this car for my friend and fellow co worker, I recommended D115.

View attachment 50747

He went from bucket washing his car every 5-7 days, to never having to drag out a hose & bucket ever again. It's been a year and half and he seriously hasn't washed his car with a hose in that long and his car looks great everyday!
 
I find many that get a new car very quickly loose the honey moon period feeling and within 3 months or so...

So I congratulate them on the nice new car and recommend them nothing.. no point as they won't bother to maintain it..

Some ask for some help a year or 3 later.. then its a full day or two correction... then they get the new car feleing again for a few months and the cycle returns or them sell the car and move on..

I only care about the cars I work on and my own.. cos you go blue in the face trying to convinve people cars ought be looked after..
Then sometimes you see their homes and you realise.. they just have differnet levels...

Its all good.. but i don't stress on it.
 
SRConcepts said:
That said, I have had a couple people tell me that 26 was too expensive for them... until I give them a sample to use, then they don't mind paying.
Click to expand...

Nuts isn't it.. folks'll pay 5 bucks for a coffee.. but not $30 for some product to protect their $20-100k cars...

I rationalise a lot of purchases by how many coffess i'd have to give up.. then buy it and go get a coffee ;)
 
shadwell said:
Nuts isn't it.. folks'll pay 5 bucks for a coffee.. but not $30 for some product to protect their $20-100k cars...

I rationalise a lot of purchases by how many coffess i'd have to give up.. then buy it and go get a coffee ;)
Click to expand...

It's kind of funny but that's how a lot of people are. They'll think it's great to pay over 800 dollars for an iPhone but they'll also buy a car that's 25k but won't bother keeping the car clean. Everyone wants their car to look like it came first place at a Concours show but noone wants to do the work or pay to have it done.
 
In terms of products used:I do the work with my stuff and they usually pay me a discounted or full rate.

In terms of education: I educate and tell them what to do and what not to do. I feel like once you educate a customer or friend they are more or less likely to do something because they know rather than just making quick decisions. They usually like hearing my advice but its hard for them to take it sometimes as they are not as interested in this of a hobby as I am.
 
So I have a question....So I just took delivery of a 2017 Explorer sport and like any dealer "detail" (cough) it is horrible. I need to clean the hell out of this thing. The color is called smoke quartz which is a smokey black almost gun metal color with a flake.

I have been using zaino for years and think it does well. And I plan to dawn, clay, and wash to get to paint as I have done on my past 3 vehicles. But I need some advice

I want to start fresh and get some:

Brushes - thinking of the woolies
Towels - not sure what to get but want MF WW for drying and detailing
Wheel cleaner - Sonax wheel cleaner full effect
Wheel polish/protectant - ????????
Something to take the swirls out of the A and B-Pillars - ??????
Maybe even a good window polish/protectant - ????????

Can anyone give some advice for what I`m looking for... not looking to break the bank but want to make the truck stand out.

Thanks, and by the way, i admire the work you fellas do and don't think your glorified car washers. Those people don't realize or understand that the work you do can take a flawed paint job and make it almost perfect. I wish I had the courage to try my hand at working a machine on my paint
Vinnie
 
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