Getting a car back in shape

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bojans

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My wife has a 2011 Sienna AWD that has been a bit neglected due to life getting in the way. We make several trips per year from Northern Illinois to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in summer and winter so everything from bugs to iron particles (from the sand they put on the road) hit the car regularly. Vehicle has never been through an automatic car wash - always hand washed, dual bucket, just infrequently.

I probably should have asked first but I just ordered the following:
1 LC-46-205 - Paintwork Clay Pad Applicator pending
1 DP-7200 - Detailer's Detailing Clay & Lube Special pending
1 BF-506 - 20 oz. BLACKFIRE Clay Cleaner & Extender pending
1 CP-15LS - 500 ml. CarPro Iron X LEMON SCENT pending
1 DSM-1000 - Daytona Speed Master Wheel Brush pending
1 BONNET-KIT - Dual Action Microfiber Bonnet Kit pending
2 LX-10-72 - 16 oz. Lexol Premium 3-in-1 Leather Car pending
1 WG-2000 - 16 oz. Wolfgang Paintwork Polish Enhance pending
1 BFPK-250 - Lake Country - Porter Cable 5.5 Inch CC pending
1 PIN-400 - 16 oz. Pinnacle Clear Coat Safe Wheel Cl pending
1 B-54223-C - Recessed Wheel Lug Nut Brush Combo pending

The vehicle does not have any real scratches or swirls so I am ahead of the game there. I bought the polisher and clay pad to try and speed this process up - hope it helps...
My plan is to wash, iron X, clay, polish using some fine Menzerna polish I still have around and then seal with Klasse SG. A couple questions:
1)Should I do Klasse AIO prior to SG or just go with 2 coats of SG? I assume 2 coats of SG since the paint will be very clean at that point.
2)I can't dedicate a lot of time to vehicle care, 2 homes, 2 kids, and a demanding job takes its toll. My goal is to get the van back in shape, hand wash every 2-3 weeks and seal it 2-3x per year knowing that once every 12-18 months I will need to clay etc. The van should look good but is a kid hauler, not a show piece so I am more concerned with protecting the finish than a shining beacon in the parking lot. Is Klasse the right sealant to be using with this goal in mind?

Any other tips are appreciated.
 
Not a bad plan, but for super long term protection look into a coating. Some are 2+ years of protection. I don't use them, but they have fantastic reviews on here. I believe an opticoat dealer can do a "perminant" coating. I'll let someone else chime in if that's a consumer available product.


I always use klasse red bottle as a base for the glaze, not 100% sure that's needed but it's so easy to use I don't see why not.


Also, I would swap the wheel cleaner for sonax. It's a beast of a cleaner.
 
[/QUOTE] 1)Should I do Klasse AIO prior to SG or just go with 2 coats of SG? I assume 2 coats of SG since the paint will be very clean at that point. [/QUOTE]

If your paint is not too bad the Menz might be enough, though it's always better to be more thorough than less thorough, so the AIO probably wouldn't hurt...keep in mind sealants usually lock the pre-coating finish/contamination in.

That being said I've neither used Menzerna nor Klasse so I'll let someone else chime in...just speaking generally here.

[/QUOTE]2)I can't dedicate a lot of time to vehicle care, 2 homes, 2 kids, and a demanding job takes its toll. My goal is to get the van back in shape, hand wash every 2-3 weeks and seal it 2-3x per year knowing that once every 12-18 months I will need to clay etc. The van should look good but is a kid hauler, not a show piece so I am more concerned with protecting the finish than a shining beacon in the parking lot. Is Klasse the right sealant to be using with this goal in mind?

Any other tips are appreciated.[/QUOTE]

+1 on a different sealant... opticoat is probably the longest-lasting, though the application process on that is more demanding... you could also look into the pinnacle black label surface cleansing polish/ diamond coating combo.... (again, unfortunately, I've never used them either. I usually use collinite 845 which is not a sealant, but a wax, though it is relatively long-lasting (usually at least a month if not 2-3, only $17 and lasts a few months...or opti-seal, which lasts a few months too).
 
1)Should I do Klasse AIO prior to SG or just go with 2 coats of SG? I assume 2 coats of SG since the paint will be very clean at that point.
2)I can't dedicate a lot of time to vehicle care, 2 homes, 2 kids, and a demanding job takes its toll. My goal is to get the van back in shape, hand wash every 2-3 weeks and seal it 2-3x per year knowing that once every 12-18 months I will need to clay etc. The van should look good but is a kid hauler, not a show piece so I am more concerned with protecting the finish than a shining beacon in the parking lot. Is Klasse the right sealant to be using with this goal in mind?
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I would do a coat of Klasse AIO after the Menz. This would ensure that any oils or other product left over after the polishing is removed and leaves a clean surface for the Klasse SG to bond. The two are really designed to work hand in hand. The better the bond, the longer the stuff will last. AIO doesn't offer any protection, so don't factor it in as an LSP layer.

Two coats of SG should last you at least six months. I've used the Klasse products for a long time for the simple reason it saved me time by not having to do frequent full detailing on my cars. Twice a year I'll wash, clay, polish (if needed), and then re-seal. Other than that, I simply wash the cars as needed when dirty. If you want to extend the life of the SG you can hit the vehicle with Sonus Glanz after every 2nd or 3rd wash. Other spray waxes/sealants may work too, but the Sonus specifically mentions using their product with SG.
 
Desertnate said:
AIO doesn't offer any protection, so don't factor it in as an LSP layer.
Click to expand...
All-In-One is not a wax, silicone or polymer but an acrylic formula. All-In-One bonds to the surface like wax but doesn’t penetrate or change the paint in any way. It matches the depth and clarity of a high quality carnauba wax but lasts much longer. One or two applications a year will keep your car looking great!

Straight from the AIO page on AG. I've used it bare and rinsed purple power off over it (plastic trim that needed some extra cleaning in the center of the door) and it was sheeting water incredibly. The glaze is harder and more shiny, but the AIO makes a great sealant by itself. I don't see it lasting 6 months in my climate on an ungaraged car, but 4-5 is defiantly capable I believe.
 
Thanks guys. Will be ordering some of the Sonus Glanz and will investigate a different sealer when I have to replenish my supply (already spent almost $400). I will not get around to doing the van until after Thanksgiving so it will be a bit before pictures.

I am really looking forward to the polisher, I hate claying, my arm always gets tired.
 
There are lots of "Clay Alternatives" that can save a lot of time and effort.

I use the Speedy Prep Towel (Fine) and have enjoyed it.
 
bojans said:
will investigate a different sealer when I have to replenish my supply
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Klasse is a fantastic product. Don't get my first post wrong, it's a top notch sealant. I just know that you don't want to put the love into the kid hauler we all do our garage queen cars. In that case a coating might better fit your needs. I enjoy getting out there and sealing and waxing and all the other jazz (not sure I'd love it so much on something the size of a minivan) so I don't use a coating, but for the longest protection you can get it is the way to go.
 
Understood David, our vacation home is in an area most people consider more remote than rural Canada, the deer out number the people (and the bugs outnumber us 1,000,000 to one in the summer). I am always amazed how easily the bugs come off after a fresh coat of Klasse. That is what has sold me on the product. My cars are better maintained (and look better) than probably 97.258% of daily drivers. I used to like to spend a full day cleaning up a vehicle and would religiously wash every week. I would love to have the time to continue that type of care but Our vehicles have gotten much bigger and I just don't have the time, now I am searching for bang for the minute... Excited to see what the Sonus Glqnz does to help maintain the finish and ease of cleaning that goes along with it.
 
Taurus731 said:
I never had much success with Klasse SG personally (too difficult to work with, IMO). Maybe you could give Collinite 845 or 476s a try. You won't go wrong with either one.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...e-845-definitive-how-guide-legendary-wax.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/32323-collinite-845-rocky-balboa-waxes.html
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I've used Klasse AIO/SG for nearly 10 years now, but I have to admit I'm being seduced by 845.

Right now, I've got two of the family cars prepped up with SG and one with 845. If the performance of the 845 is the same or better than SG this winter, I'll probably make the switch with at least two of my cars.

While I've never found the Klasse products that hard to work with, I have found 845 to be easier. I've also found I prefer the look of 845 on my dark colored cars, but that is subjective and only my humble opinion.
 
Desertnate said:
I would do a coat of Klasse AIO after the Menz. This would ensure that any oils or other product left over after the polishing is removed and leaves a clean surface for the Klasse SG to bond. The two are really designed to work hand in hand. The better the bond, the longer the stuff will last. AIO doesn't offer any protection, so don't factor it in as an LSP layer.

Two coats of SG should last you at least six months. I've used the Klasse products for a long time for the simple reason it saved me time by not having to do frequent full detailing on my cars. Twice a year I'll wash, clay, polish (if needed), and then re-seal. Other than that, I simply wash the cars as needed when dirty. If you want to extend the life of the SG you can hit the vehicle with Sonus Glanz after every 2nd or 3rd wash. Other spray waxes/sealants may work too, but the Sonus specifically mentions using their product with SG.
Click to expand...

Ageee
 
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