Brand New Car - First steps?

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dbnm

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Hi All,
Happy New Year.

I just brought home a 2021 Acura RDX PMC in thermal orange pearl. Acura produced only 360 for North America and there are only 3 in New Mexico, where I live. I was given instructions not to do anything other than wash it in the first 60 days. I've not washed it yet either.

Back in the 90's when I lived in NY, I was very involved with VW car shows and loved detailing my car. I used Griot's back then and plan to now as well.

So I am here looking for some advice on how to care for the new car and it's special paint job. I've purchased a fair amount of Griot's already (went a little crazy) from Autogeek (a great place and resource) and Griot's directly.

What would be the first steps to detailing and protecting my new car? I do not plan on doing a ceramic coat at this point but do plan on using Griot's 3 in 1 Ceramic Wax.

If there are videos or other threads to read, please let me know.

Thanks in advance,
David

View attachment 72101
 
OMG I love that color

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Well a basic car wash, check the paint for embedded contaminants and clay if needed and a light polish is where I'd start. Applying the Griot's Garage 3 in 1 ceramic will give you protection and because it's so easy to use maybe apply every other month.

Are you familiar with rinseless washes?

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New cars get baked in the paint process, you should be able to detail right away. If someone else knows differently, please chime in.

I too love the color. Definitely not boring!
 
Klasse Act said:
Well a basic car wash, check the paint for embedded contaminants and clay if needed and a light polish is where I'd start. Applying the Griot's Garage 3 in 1 ceramic will give you protection and because it's so easy to use maybe apply every other month.

Are you familiar with rinseless washes?

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I am not familiar with the rinseless washes other than seeing them online.
 
This is just me talking and what I would do and have done with every new vehicle I ever bought...

First thing is a basic wash followed by a thorough visual inspection.

Find and assess all of the flaws. I can almost guarantee there will be some.

Make sure that any flaws you find are something you can accept and live with.

If not, you want to notify the dealer ASAP and before doing any work to the car. Also if not, now you have a real dilemma... Repairing and repainting any flaws in a brand new factory finish is dicey at best and should be avoided if at all possible.

Next up, baggie test and claying if necessary.

Then a light polishing, or whatever level of aggressiveness is required, to remove any slight abrasions, swirls, scratches, etc. It's possible, if you are really lucky, that this step may not be necessary. But I doubt it.

Finish it off with your protection of choice... Wax, Sealant, Coating.

Done! Enjoy!

As for waiting 60 days... I think whoever told you that is misinformed. That 60-day wait period only applies to "refinished" vehicles and not to any factory paint that I'm aware of.
 
dbnm said:
I am not familiar with the rinseless washes other than seeing them online.
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Griot's Garage has a great rinseless wash, makes washes really easy, although with an SUV you'll need a step ladder unless your pretty tall.

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I have a new car that’s arriving next week, and will be going through the same situation. I will inspect the paint and do the baggy test to see if I need to clay the car. It didn’t involve any rail transport so I’m not too worried about rail dust and having to do an iron Decon. So my regimen will be pretty simple:
1. Wipe down the car with car Pro eraser
2. Polish the car with a DA/gloss pad and car Pro essence, This is not so much to clear up defects, but to to give the next step a base on which to to attach.
3. Wipe on blackfire si02 spray or 303 graphene, haven’t decided on the step yet. Probably will be the blackfire , as that keeps everything a si02 product.
4. Wheels will get hit with Carpro Hydr02 or blackfire hydroseal.
4. Maintenance will be a touchless wash and/or carPro Ech02 rinseless
5. new coat of SIO2 every three months. I have no problem with climate or environment, it’s stored in a garage at 72°.
 
If there is evident marring on a brand new car I’d contact the dealer immediately especially if part of your agreement to buy the car stated it would come defect free. I personally would find having to polish a brand new car unacceptable and I’d be looking to the dealer to find me another car or give me a substantial discount This strategy worked well for me on my last two cars once the dealer knew I was dead serious.
 
There are no paint issues and I do not plan on polishing the paint at this point.
 
Bill D said:
If there is evident marring on a brand new car I’d contact the dealer immediately especially if part of your agreement to buy the car stated it would come defect free. I personally would find having to polish a brand new car unacceptable and I’d be looking to the dealer to find me another car or give me a substantial discount This strategy worked well for me on my last two cars once the dealer knew I was dead serious.
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I have never seen a "defect free" new car... They don't exist.

It really boils down to what level of defects an individual consumer finds acceptable vs. unacceptable.
 
I wouldn’t go as far as saying they don’t exist but yes everything depends on what level the person will accept
 
Bill D said:
If there is evident marring on a brand new car I’d contact the dealer immediately especially if part of your agreement to buy the car stated it would come defect free. I personally would find having to polish a brand new car unacceptable and I’d be looking to the dealer to find me another car or give me a substantial discount This strategy worked well for me on my last two cars once the dealer knew I was dead serious.
Click to expand...

But I’d be careful because defect free may mean after their detail minions polish it, which means it is now defect free but maybe more clear coat was removed than necessary. I’d rather have a pristine car that I know hasn’t been touched than a perfect car. Then again, as expensive as cars are, we’d expect them to be perfect but that really doesn’t exist.

So at the very least tell them not to clean or detail the car AT ALL and make sure you watch it like a hawk because the people in the back rarely get or process this message.
 
That’s exactly what I did. The result was me getting an unpolished car which had no paint defects when I got it home. Just a 3 step decontamination wash and it was LSP ready.
 
2nd message up, ALL OF THIS ^^^^^^^

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Agreed all paints gonna have a little something and also agree that i would rather have it new and un pristine than have someone elses hands on it. Car lots alot of time will not do details like that in house. They all have A pro they will use if need be.

Problem is they will try to get the lowest price possible so that guy is not focused on his best job... it’s his best job for the money.

Even in an enclosed car wind will find its way in or some other thing will cause the cover to shift.....

Even if perfect your going to drive it and the world happens.

Wash, ironX, baggy test, clay if needed, Eraser/IPA, protect.

I would polish after claying personally even if just with a paint cleanser no abrasives but will get your paint absolutely clean.

You’ll like the 3-1 and all the new things griots has to offer.

Beautiful color! Enjoy it!


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I got to say I like that color, light orange is my favorite. Very good I like it.


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Thanks guys. I appreciate the advice.
 
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