Thinking of getting a new detailing vehicle...

Dugdug

Dugdug

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Older Cadillac or Lincoln with lots of trunk space. Tear out the back seats to fit a water tank and maybe a small generator too.

I forget the name of the forum member who did something similar to this. But I always thought it was a good idea.

I have a nice ford escape. Fits everything just fine, but I like the idea of using a sweet classy car.

Thoughts?
 
I own a 98 deville and a 96 lincoln town car and the town car would probably be best. It has a trunk that literally is so big that it hurts my back to get something at the bottom! its like an optical illusion!
 
Get a truck or a van. Cars are unprofessional. I know I used one for 2 years and pulled a 4x6 enclosed trailer with it but its unprofessional. My first van was a passenger van and I thought that was very unprofessional too.

I pulled a trailer behind my profile pic!

Just my 2 cents
 
I understand the car can give it an unprofessional look. But... but I wanna lol Get some decals on the side, make it look sweet lol I could do it with my escape but the CAR man.... the CAR lol I think I could make it look professional
 
I had the decals on my back window. There is another guy in the stl area with a impala and he has decal on the side. You gotta think your showing up in a car. People that see you on the road look at it and think this guy is a joke(most likely) Its all about first impression. I think the Escape will look a million times better. I still have my decal on my car but I don't use it for work. I'll drive my car if I'm polishing a car that day or its a reg customer err clients car.
 
Even though you can make a car work for you, it will not be perceived as well as a truck or van. Presentation matters because it's usually what potential clients see first. It could easily turn some away.
 
I hear ya. you're right. I just hate driving a van or truck.
 
I like it! I have a big ass Ford E350 with a 7.3 Diesel! She's load and she's big!!
 
Customer calls:

Customer: yeah, I need my car detailed

Me: Be right there

20 minutes later show up in this,

BAM!!!
1991_Cadillac_Fleetwood-3.jpg


no? Lol dam..... In my mind it sounds sweet!! lol but I can see how it could come off as unprofessional.
 
I agree with everyone else. Van or truck all the way. Doesn't have to be a big truck. I am sure a Ranger or a Dakota would work great.
 
LOL Right before I bought my van I have now I was looking into getting a hearse. I thought it would be pretty sweet!
 
As I said in my earlier post the lincoln, NO JOKE, has a trunk so big that you probably wouldn't need a trailer. But I think you have to find a way around them noticing you work out of the car. Like if you make it look professional enough. With some decals and stuff from a professional decal shop, you could completely distract them lol
 
Dugdug said:
I hear ya. you're right. I just hate driving a van or truck.
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An old boat Cadillac or Lincoln isn't going to drive much different than a van or truck.

Plus with those older luxury sedans unless you stick to a pretty much stock outward appearance (meaning no aftermarket wheels/etc. either) they look like "boyz in da hood" which could definitely scare some folks away.

Just sayin'.
 
I seen a white lincoln limo on craigslist in my area going for 3000. I seriously considered it and it got me thinking lol
 
ShineTimeDetail said:
LOL Right before I bought my van I have now I was looking into getting a hearse. I thought it would be pretty sweet!
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I'd go with an old Ambulance.... call yourself the Detail Doctor :props:




I should also point out that there's one highly successful and well known detailer by the name of Scottwax that has been detailing out of a car (Honda Accord/Nissan Maxima) for many years. It CAN work, but I would venture he's more of an exception than the rule.
 
I have a 2000 Grand Marquis true the trunk is huge but I would spend prob 20-30 minutes per detail moving stuff around to get to other things because there isn't enough room. I was fed up. It was fine when I first started because I didn't have a whole tone of stuff but by year 3...yea I had way too much stuff to put in a trunk...regardless how big the trunk was.
 
ShineTimeDetail said:
I have a 2000 Grand Marquis true the trunk is huge but I would spend prob 20-30 minutes per detail moving stuff around to get to other things because there isn't enough room. I was fed up. It was fine when I first started because I didn't have a whole tone of stuff but by year 3...yea I had way too much stuff to put in a trunk...regardless how big the trunk was.
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That's why I thought of pulling the back seats out. Tinting the windows so you cant easily see all the equipment and other than tint, keeping it all stock in great condition.
 
Dugdug said:
That's why I thought of pulling the back seats out. Tinting the windows so you cant easily see all the equipment and other than tint, keeping it all stock in great condition.
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I had my pressure washer, tank, generator and compressor in the trailer...I had everything else in my trunk rear seat and front seat....maybe I have more equipment than you do? Hey I thought mine looked cool too. I always had 18 inch polished wheels, very clean car. I thought it was like my signature- show up in the gold merc with the black enclosed trailer every time but when I look back at it I prob looked like one of those guys that advertise on Craigslist for the 50 buck detail.

Here let me give you a scenario. I have been going out this company for 2 years now to detail a few cars couple times a year. I always showed up in my car and trailer. This is a company of prob a couple thousand people. An email was sent out a week before I would show up but no new people every got their car done. I showed up around the world series time and I have a pretty sweet set up now. Its the Ford E350 with a white 6x12 enclosed trailer. Guess what now every time I go out I actually have new people wanting their car done...I could only guess its because I look 'professional' now.

It's all about impressions man.
 
Sure, it has kind of a "cool" factor in some peoples eyes if it's done right. But, in reality, you are going to be cramped due to lack of space, and you'll almost guaranteed have suspension issues.

Also, say 50% of people that see you on the road think that what you've done is "cool". That means the other half don't think it's so cool, but rather unprofessional...or they assume you just couldn't afford a van, and used grandpas hand me down caddy.

Being that you're trying to grow with your business still...I would go with a van, or some sort of utility vehicle and keep 100% of people knowing you mean business, and you're not here to play around.

If you actually got more business, cause you're rollin in a caddy...I'd be very surprised.

Just my two cents. :dblthumb2:
 
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