About to make my first purchase! Advice Needed!

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Kyle_Elantra

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I am just about to make my very first purchase for my 2013 Hyundai Elantra Limited!
I just got it back from the body shop after I got hit with 300 miles on it.

This is my first brand new (well it was) car, and I want to do it right this time. I have leather seats and a 7" LCD screen, so I want to keep the interior clean too.

I plan on using the Meguiars APC for all interior cleaning, and the DP interior surface protectant on top.

I am very very excited to keep this car looking good, and I am looking for some insight.

I already have Meguiars Gold Class car wash (I will have to do rinseless though - no hose), glass cleaner, some microfiber towels, and a Harbor Freight DA that was given to me.

After doing a LOT of research, this is what is currently in my cart. I tried to group the list so it's easier to read and see what I was going for:

AG_Cart_2.png



I plan on pulling the trigger tomorrow but I would like a final thumbs up - or a suggestion on what to change.

The total currently comes out to almost exactly $300 with the new member discount - I am hoping to stay at that price point if possible.

Thanks for your feedback, plus all the help you have already given me before I even signed up!
 
Wow! 27$ for 6 pads, that is one heck of a deal! I paid 22$ for 1 pad the other day and was planning to buy some at 10$ each... I think I will have to check out AG's site again. Last time I tried to order it did not work, would not let me enter a Canadian address, hope it's fixed.
 
Calendyr said:
Wow! 27$ for 6 pads, that is one heck of a deal!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was really excited to see that deal too. I just fell into a neighbor giving me the HF DA so I was happy for the pad prices.
I hope I picked the right combination of pads!
 
Kyle_Elantra said:
I am just about to make my very first purchase for my 2013 Hyundai Elantra Limited!
I just got it back from the body shop after I got hit with 300 miles on it.

This is my first brand new (well it was) car, and I want to do it right this time. I have leather seats and a 7" LCD screen, so I want to keep the interior clean too.

I plan on using the Meguiars APC for all interior cleaning, and the DP interior surface protectant on top.

I am very very excited to keep this car looking good, and I am looking for some insight.

I already have Meguiars Gold Class car wash (I will have to do rinseless though - no hose), glass cleaner, some microfiber towels, and a Harbor Freight DA that was given to me.

After doing a LOT of research, this is what is currently in my cart. I tried to group the list so it's easier to read and see what I was going for:

AG_Cart_2.png



I plan on pulling the trigger tomorrow but I would like a final thumbs up - or a suggestion on what to change.

The total currently comes out to almost exactly $300 with the new member discount - I am hoping to stay at that price point if possible.

Thanks for your feedback, plus all the help you have already given me before I even signed up!
Click to expand...

If this is just for your car, then your Golden. You can always add or subtract but good job so far! IMO
 
I read some posts saying that the CCS texture allows product to build up. On a new car, I'm not really doing any correction work, so I'm just looking for something that will apply product smoothly without wasting any.
Also, I saw Mike Phillips say that MF ones can possibly cause micro marring. I think that was in his Wolfgang Twins topic.
 
So, doing some more research, I've decided to add the following:

3" Backing Plate:
3 Inch Dual Action Flexible Backing Plate, da backing plate, random orbital backing plate

I didn't know this existed, I am very excited for this as I don't believe that there is anywhere on my bumper that is 5.5" or smaller.

Griot's Garage 3 Inch Mini Red Wax Pad 3 Pack, red buffing pads, griots garage wax pads
I was going to apply the wax on the bumper just using an applicator, but if I've got the backing plate...

XMT Pad Care Combo <font size=2><i>by Pinnacle</i></font>
I didn't even think about cleaning the pads.

I'm going to need to get some terry cloth towels for hand cleaning the pads as I'm working.
 
Did the body shop do any paint work?
If so, you should ask them how long to wait before waxing.
 
They did, they had to paint 3 new panels plus touch up a spot on the front bumper. They advised to wait 30 days.

The reason I want to order soon is because I called AG and was told the new member discount code is only good for "at least a week". The guy I spoke with couldn't give me an exact time frame on when the code would expire and I don't want to take any chances. When I started researching this I told my wife I would spend around $200...now I'm pushing $400 lol. So every little discount helps!
 
I can tell already...I'm wanting to do real corrections too, so that means more pads and compounds....eventually an upgraded DA, it seems that everything I see is a "hmmm, I'd love to try that!" product!
 
Upon closer inspection, the paint appears to be in great shape.

After I clay, do I need to polish or use an AIO, or can I just skip straight to a sealant?
 
Kyle_Elantra said:
Upon closer inspection, the paint appears to be in great shape.

After I clay, do I need to polish or use an AIO, or can I just skip straight to a sealant?
Click to expand...

I would like to hear what other Detailer's have to say about this as well :)
 
Just got my HF DA from my neighbor (he ordered a GG6 - I'm assuming because of the clearance).
It's a little wobbly, as I've been told to expect, that's why I'm ordering a better backplate. Also, it is loud but apparently there is a way to re-pack the grease in the head.

I know it's not a "good" polisher, and it's going to cost me a lot more money here on AG to get everything for it, but I am happy I don't have to do this by hand!

I will be posting a (hopefully final) list here shortly. I think I will drop the polish and maybe go for something a little less abrasive. There are some marks, and what appears to be light scratching on one of the doors due to a shopping cart or something. Most of the paint is good though so I think I will do:

Wash
Clay
Light Polish/All in One
Sealant
Wax

The kit I'm ordering (sealant/wax) has Collinite 845 as the wax, can I put Megs #26 on top of that? Or is that too much? I used to use that on my Eclipse with NXT and I loved the shine it gave.

Does anybody have any experience with using the DP Interior Surface Protectant I have in the list above? I'm scared to trust something to protect leather and vinyl. I plan on using the Megs APC for all interior cleaning.
 
Looks like a great cart, and should handle you for a while. I'd opt for a bigger bottle of ONR, esp if you plan to start rinseless washing. You can also use ONR for the clay lube. Instead of the Mothers clay kit, pick up the Griot's clay bar on closeout now for $12.99 and use ONR as the lube. The Griot's clay bar is 8oz, the Mothers kit is 2 x 3 oz bars.

Consider a waffle weave drying towel too.

Another comment is that you are buying a complete arsenal now, so you miss out on the fun of ordering more often.
 
Good point.
The way I look at it is the "maintenance" purchases to round everything out and re-stock will cost less, so it will hurt me (and my wife) a lot now instead of a little for the next couple of months.

Plus this way it's only $50 to try a new wax, rather then buy the good stuff now and spend $600!
 
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