2001 Nissan Sentra 200k mile Makeover (56K No way!)

[danponjican]

This is my wife's daily driver/used to be my dailer commuter for a 180 mile daily commute. I bought it new in November of 2000 and it has been a great car. Cheap payment, good on gas and reasonably comfortable. It has been good to us... on Friday to odometer flipped over to the whopping 200,000 mile mark. So I decided to give her a much needed makeover. This car hardly ever gets washed (literally) and is usually parked under a tree in our driveway that loves spitting crap on our cars! Needless to say, that paint had seen better days!

Process:

1. Wash with Turtle Wax soap (generic stuff from department store... almost empty now... any suggestions on a replacement?)
2. Mother's yellow claybar
3. Optimum Compound with yellow pad on a PC
4. SSR1 on black pad on a PC
5. Poorboy's EX

Here's what I started with:

Results with before & after shots next...

 

[danponjican]

Here is how much product I was using on the yellow pad. BTW, this was the first time I was using a PC. I've worked with a cheaper Ryobi DA and even worked a Chicago rotary. I have to say, the PC broke the compound down almost as fast as the rotary. I was very suprised that the PC handled like a rotary. I was expecting it to feel more like the very slow action of the Ryobi DA.

This is the yellow pad after finishing 1/2 of the car (hood, roof, trunk and front fenders).

And now the before and afters...

Hood before:

Hood after:

Trunk before:

Trunk after:

Roof before:

Roof after:

Some more reflective shots...

 

[Nica]

Really nice turn around. Congrats on the 200K, you should expect more from the vehicle.

 

[sparkie]

Nice turnaround. Love the reflections shots. Looks like a different car.

 

[Sa//|XP]

Awesome, man! I know that car was gonna make an awesome before/after! How did you get along with the PC later on? Did it still want to bog down and overheat?
That hood transformation is just incredible.

 

[scottgt]

wow great!!! looks awesome

 

[supercharged]

Great job! That's an awesome turnaround. Now just keep it in that condition.

 

[klumzypinoy]

Wow 200k with no love until now You made that thing bling!

 

[P1et]

That is some great work, nice depth for a white car!

It looks like you live in a nice, green wooded neighborhood too. Nice!

 

[alban61]

Wow!! Made that Sentra look great!! And on a white car too! Great work!! Very nice reflection pics!
And I know all about having to park under trees! Nothing but bird crap and sap!!

 

[RTexasF]

My My, You've given her a new car. Do the interior as well and there may be some, uh, favors in line for you.

All kidding aside the car looks great.....time well spent.

 

[Reddwarf]

The before and after shot of the hood is amazing! Hard to believe it is the same car. That must have given you a lot of satisfaction. Well done!

Now let's see you do the engine and interior!

On the soap question, try Poorboy's Super Slick & Suds, or the Duragloss Car Wash #901. I have used the Poorboy's and it is excellent, many people have raved about the Duragloss (e.g. Lauren & Sparkie) so I want to give it a try. If you want something OTC I highly recommend Meguiar's Gold Class Shampoo.

 

[supercharged]

The before and after shot of the hood is amazing! Hard to believe it is the same car. That must have given you a lot of satisfaction. Well done!

Now let's see you do the engine and interior!

On the soap question, try Poorboy's Super Slick & Suds, or the Duragloss Car Wash #901. I have used the Poorboy's and it is excellent, many people have raved about the Duragloss (e.g. Lauren & Sparkie) so I want to give it a try. If you want something OTC I highly recommend Meguiar's Gold Class Shampoo.

Duragloss #901 is pretty nice, but I still like Poorboy's SS&S better.

 

[klumzypinoy]

Duragloss #901 is pretty nice, but I still like Poorboy's SS&S better.

It's so hard to choose between the two! 901 when I'm in a money pinch, SS&S when I have the money