Help for a newcomer - first post

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sn0112

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Hello everyone,

I came across this forum by chance on the weekend when I googled “protect black car”.

I was planning to buy a black GMC Acadia but I soon changed my mind after reading a comment by Mike:

“Black isn’t a color, it’s a full time job”

Having convinced myself that if the experts avoid black then I should too, I opted for an Acadia in White Diamond Tricoat (Pearl).

I was amazed at the wealth of information on this site. It really is a treasure trove and it's clear how people on here truly care about their cars.

I am a total beginner, and my personal circumstances mean that I do not have a lot of free time.

Please can you advise me on some basic steps that I can perform to keep the car looking new for as long as possible. I have a few limitations in that I do not have access to a hose pipe in the car park, and do not have access to any machinery (nor the training to use it)…it will have to be buckets and elbow grease for me.

Questions I have include when should I first detail a brand new car, and if so which products are suitable. Also, I’m wondering whether I may do more damage than good (given my limitations) and should trust it to a professional detail company instead (there is a Zeibart nearby).

Any help would be much appreciated.
 
Thanks for the tip trekkeruss.

I will certainly tell them until I'm blue in the face, if only they'd listen! I can't avoid them peeling off the stickers even if they don't wash it.
 
Thanks for the links and quick replies. I guess that's why I'm glad to have found this forum.

I've read the links and was wondering if there was any way to narrow down the information into essential steps that a newb can follow and maintain. Given my limitations I need a programme that's easy to follow and sustainable.

At the moment the list of products and techniques is quite overwhelming for a beginner.
 
One of the forum's acronyms is DISO, or Dealer Installed Swirl Option. A bad wash can really scratch the heck outta paint. Thus it's better to not let them touch it. Fortunately for you, white is quite forgiving when it comes to swirls and scratches. They might be there, but they'll be very difficult to see.
 
Do the challenges with white paint (mentioned in the above link) also apply to pearl (white diamond tricoat)?
 
Hello,

Welcome to the AGO forum, a ton of knowledge is to be had. Unfortunately I am not in a rinseless or wash less predicament. Others will chime in that have more precise knowledge than I.
Good luck, take care and please share your experiences with the rest of us. It's all good. :xyxthumbs:

Peace,

Darrin
 
Souldetailer said:
Hello,

Welcome to the AGO forum, a ton of knowledge is to be had. Unfortunately I am not in a rinseless or wash less predicament. Others will chime in that have more precise knowledge than I.
Good luck, take care and please share your experiences with the rest of us. It's all good. :xyxthumbs:

Peace,

Darrin
Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome Darrin, will do :xyxthumbs:
 
sn0112 said:
Do the challenges with white paint (mentioned in the above link) also apply to pearl (white diamond tricoat)?
Click to expand...

No. Almost all of those challenges apply only to single stage pure white paint. My Honda Element has a light pearl finish; "Omni Blue Pearl." Even everyday road grime is hard to see unless I'm really looking for it:
 
trekkeruss said:
No. Almost all of those challenges apply only to single stage pure white paint. My Honda Element has a light pearl finish; "Omni Blue Pearl." Even everyday road grime is hard to see unless I'm really looking for it:
Click to expand...


That's a relief :xyxthumbs:

Your Honda looks great, just what I'm aiming for. I've seen a few older Acadia in pearl and they have looked to be yellowing. Is this common for pearl and can it be avoided?
 
sn0112 said:
Your Honda looks great, just what I'm aiming for. I've seen a few older Acadia in pearl and they have looked to be yellowing. Is this common for pearl and can it be avoided?
Click to expand...

Thank you. I can't say I know anything about Acadia's and any yellowing issue, other than looking at some examples/posts doing a Google search. I had a Lexus with pearl white paint, and my mother currently has a pearl white Lexus as well. Never had any yellowing issues. Any light color can look duller from road grime, and over time even regular washing won't remove everything. All cars need to be decontaminated from time to time using a clay bar or clay substitute.
 
If you want to keep it simple, get a good car wash (or rinseless wash or waterless product) and a good cleaner-wax some microfiber towels and use them often. The more frequent the upkeep, the easier it will be to keep the car in good condition.
 
Welcome sn0112! I won't dispel the myth of a "black" vehicle but i opted for one because of the challenge. I bought one so as to complete my doctoral program in detailing! I got my wife a white car and hate that one worse!
 
- Get yourself a couple of good microfiber towels which can be purchased on autogeek or your local auto store (ones with silk edging are nice)

- Buy a high quality car soap (good store soaps include Meguiars Gold Class, Zymol, and some others)

- Use the "two bucket method" when washing (you can look this up for clarification)

- Buy some longer lasting wax due to your schedule (sealants last longest - you can get Meguiars Ultimate paste wax in store for about $20 or Collinite 845 at auto stores and these can last upwards of 6 months or more)

Others can chip in the rest. This will do for now.

Sent from my SM-T320 using Tapatalk
 
Thanks to everyone for their advice. I'm waiting for the car now :xyxthumbs:
 
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