New car detailing - is it worth it?

duffthebluff

duffthebluff

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Hello guys!

I have a friend who just recently bought a new Red Honda Fit and we were thinking of polishing it. However besides removing swirls, should we expect a very significant change in its color? (i.e. deeper red, wet looking finish, etc.) Paint is from the factory and I'm inclining that the highest "glow" of its color is already what we have since it's a fresh paint. Any thoughts on this one?

As always, thank you!
 
You would be amazed at how much better you can make a new car look by giving it a detail.

When I picked my new car and brought it home it frankly looked nice but after I did a full detail it looked incredible.

Wash
Clay
Finishing polish or AIO
Sealant or wax.
 
Hello!

A significant change in color should not be the #1 goal here nor will it be readily apparent.

New cars and trucks sit for days and even weeks outdoors waiting for orders and shipments. The same airborne contamination and hot sun that plagues our daily drivers subjects these new finishes to the harsh reality they will endure for years to come.

I detailed a brand new (2 to 3 months old) car a year ago and was shocked at how much embedded dirt and other contaminates I was able to remove from 1/2 the hood.

Clay-01.jpg


The goal should be to clean and lightly polish the finish then add a protective sacrificial barrier to preserve the finish against the elements. This can be as simple as a wash & wax or as complex as a full polish and an application of a permanent coating such as Optimum Opti-Coat or CarPro CQuartz.
 
I would think it would be an improvement. Plus, the interior is pretty much already done except for some protectant. It's always easier to maintain a clean car rather than bringing back a neglected one.
 
+100000

All the responses above are right, dealers suck at preparing cars after a sale. No color change will occur either. Good luck!
 
The problem is if the dealer has had it, it's never really "brand new", unless you get the car with the transit wrap still on it. The dealer will have washed it perhaps many times with their...um...methods, which may have included installation of a no-extra-cost option we like to call the Dealer-Installed-Swirl-Option, or DISO.
 
I bought my car brand new in November of last year.
When I clayed it, I could not believe how much stuff the clay picked up. When I applied SwirlX via DA, the paint got darker and it wasn't as if I had to really look at it at different angles or what not. It was pretty much in your face type of difference. But then again, my car is black.

So my answer, YES definitely worth it to detail a new car. If you are not going to do anything else, at least clay it.
 
Merck said:
It's always easier to maintain a clean car rather than bringing back a neglected one.
Click to expand...

Ain't that the truth!!! I think every detailer on here would agree with that statement. I'm learning this lesson the hard way cleaning, polishing and protecting my paint that hasn't received much care in the last couple years. If you take care of the car as it should be from the start, life will be much easier and you will a great looking car.
 
The sad truth of the matter is that most damage done to our cars (after we have corrected all the stuff we had no control over)...is often self inflicted.
 
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silverfox said:
The sad truth of the matter is that most damage done to our cars (after we have corrected all the stuff we had no control over)...is often self inflicted.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. I actually corrected my paint even before knowing how to properly maintain it. Needless to say, I had to correct it again.

Prior, I couldn't imagine paying $20-30 on a MF towel. It's still a little expensive for a single towel but I am in a different world now and it's worth it if it means I do not have to do another round of paint correction.
 
Wow thanks a lot for all your replies! Bobby, I didn't know that a new car would be that filthy! I'm now eager to start this project. Thanks a lot guys!
 
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