Need advice for 2011 Camaro, cloth-top convertible care

Don M

Don M

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I have a friend, who's in the medical field and inherited her dad's 2011 2SS Camaro convertible. She is too far away (over an hour) for me to detail her car for her, so she is looking at a local detailing shop and asked me what to ask them and the things to question them about.

I know enough about PAINT care to guide her on what is and isn't necessary and the 'warning signs' of a scam. But she said her convertible top is CLOTH, and while I DO know that cloth tops are treated very differently than vinyl tops, but beyond that, I don't know how to advise her.

In a 'professional' setting, what types of cleaners and protectants SHOULD be used for a cloth top & how should they be used? Are there any specific products to avoid?

Any help/advice will be GREATLY appreciated.
 
I used to have a fabric top [canvas] on my previous Cadillac Seville, and the way I would go about cleaning it was to 1st dry brush it/sweep it with a somewhat soft nylon brush.

bc4eaa8389d001cf1649facda43b7497.jpg


My next step was vacuuming it using a soft nylon brush attachment. Specifically the soft nylon brush attachment that comes in the Ridgid Auto Detailing Kit.

You’d be surprised how much of a difference just doing that can make.

3rd step is rinsing with the hose and using Meguiars Convertible Top Cleaner and scrubbing with the Raggtopp Convertible Top Brush [ basically another soft nylon brush] and then thoroughly rinsing till all the suds are gone.

Pat dry the majority of water with a large waffle weave drying towel.

I’d much rather have it done that way compared to what some “professional detailer” would probably do to it. They’re most likely going to go straight into high pressure rinse before dry extracting as much dirt as possible. IMO that’s about as ideal as cleaning your carpets before vacuuming 1st.
 
She's talking to both me (on FB Messenger) and the "detailer" on their website. They told her that they use a Ceramic SPRAY COATING - for PAINT on the cloth tops! I asked her to clarify that with them and if they really ARE doing that to run away, fast
 
The choice has been made - she has decided to run for the hills AWAY from this "detailer." He planned on using Adams ceramic coating (FOR PAINT) on her cloth convertible top!!!!! Plus charge $550 for a "Graphene/Ceramic Coating" using the same products, but did not mention ANY prep, except for a clay bar.

I'm glad I was able to steer her away from this "shop." I told her that I would try to locate a REPUTABLE shop / mobile detailer in her area (Bellville, near Mansfield), and if I couldn't find anyone, that *I* would buy the RaggTopp products and go out to her and do it myself (she's a member of my Camaro Club as well).
 
I’ve been using Raggtop for years on my soft tops (including my current 2008 MINI). I’ve been thinking about using ceramic fabric sealer (Gtecnic or maybe Gyeon) next time around.
 
Don M said:
The choice has been made - she has decided to run for the hills AWAY from this "detailer." He planned on using Adams ceramic coating (FOR PAINT) on her cloth convertible top!!!!! Plus charge $550 for a "Graphene/Ceramic Coating" using the same products, but did not mention ANY prep, except for a clay bar.

I'm glad I was able to steer her away from this "shop." I told her that I would try to locate a REPUTABLE shop / mobile detailer in her area (Bellville, near Mansfield), and if I couldn't find anyone, that *I* would buy the RaggTopp products and go out to her and do it myself (she's a member of my Camaro Club as well).
Click to expand...

Believe it or not Admas Ceramic does work on fabric tops like this.
 
The Guz said:
Believe it or not Admas Ceramic does work on fabric tops like this.
Click to expand...

I was not aware of that, but his FB page has almost NO information about what he DOES, he states his 'details' START at $140, but quoted her $550 for Graphene/Ceramic coating her Camaro (using Adams Graphene coating). Does not say WHAT, IF ANY prep work he does, except to mention claying. So how does he justify making his price $310 more than his "Starts At" price?
 
Don M said:
I was not aware of that, but his FB page has almost NO information about what he DOES, he states his 'details' START at $140, but quoted her $550 for Graphene/Ceramic coating her Camaro (using Adams Graphene coating). Does not say WHAT, IF ANY prep work he does, except to mention claying. So how does he justify making his price $310 more than his "Starts At" price?
Click to expand...

Yeah [mention]Sizzle Chest [/mention] had tested I believe and used Adam’s Graphene spray coating on at least one of his details he posted.

I would use A convertible top cleaner (used Griots and Meguiars myself) with the RaggTopp brush to clean.

I used Gtechniq fabric on my last convertible top and got a year including the NorthWest winter (a lot of rain)

I use that stuff on everything including my shoes now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Coatingsarecrack said:
Yeah [mention]Sizzle Chest [/mention] had tested I believe and used Adam’s Graphene spray coating on at least one of his details he posted.

I would use A convertible top cleaner (used Griots and Meguiars myself) with the RaggTopp brush to clean.

I used Gtechniq fabric on my last convertible top and got a year including the NorthWest winter (a lot of rain)

I use that stuff on everything including my shoes now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I plan on buying the RaggTopp kit (cleaner and protectant) IF she decides to have me do the car. She checked with the shop I was told about in my other thread, who is IDA rated, and they are booked until the end of August. But she would like to have the car gone over BEFORE then. So I told her that it was COMPLETELY UP TO HER, and to take a few days to think over her options, no stress or 'pushing' from me, and IF SHE wants, I will do the car for her myself, despite the hour or so drive and buy the PROPER products to correctly clean/protect her cloth top.

That was last night. Like I mentioned in the other post, this car belonged to her late father and she bought it from her mother and CHERISHES it and it is only driven on nice days. She is also a member of the same Camaro Club I belong to, so that in itself makes me want to help her out. Too she commented to me that she "needs to learn" how to take care of the car herself, so IF I detail the car, I will offer to let her watch and explain to her each step/the How's and Why's, so maybe she will decide that maintenance, once the car is fully detailed IS something she will be able to do herself.

I really hope she does think it over seriously and even if she decides to have someone else detail the car, I will still offer any advice I can. I just want her to be comfortable with her choice. After all to her, I am just a guy on FB, who's only "qualifications" are a few videos on YouTube. We'll just have to wait and see.
 
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