Hey guys,

I did a search and got a lot of online stuff that I don't want to buy. Is there any detailing stuff that I can walk into some local store and start working on my car? I'd also like to get some more up to date opinions, maybe there are newer products or something.

Thanks.

 

UPDATE: I just looked at the Meguiar 3 step program. Do I still need the clay if I get that? Also I bought my car used so there are already numerous paint chips on the hood and front bumper. Should I even bother detailing. =\

 

Well, it would help if I knew the condition of your paint, besides the chips as stated above. Got oxidation? Swirls? Water spots? I have used the 3 step stuff before and the results were great, but it's a bit tedious and there are far better products out there. Will you be doing the detail by hand or with a DA polisher? Answer these questions and I can make some reccommendations to you. But to answer your questions above, yes, I would still get the clay as it will remove alot of the contaminants from your paint and leave it smooth as a baby's bottom to the touch. I would still detail the car, regardless of the chips up front, that's almost inevitable. Not to mention that that's just a small portion of your car.

 

Def use clay...... It will take off all the stuff you can't see.

 

There really is no replacement for clay.

You may think "oh it has a cleaner in the system, that's the same" but it doesn't work the same. Cleaners generally work on the basis of chemicals doing the work, as opposed to clay pulling or shearing off to give a smooth surface, or polish which uses an abrassive.

They all have different uses, neither one is interchangable.

But I will tell you that if your car ain't oxidized, then the cleaner isn't really necessary. And meguiars bodyscrub stuff is like glue, so unless you want to do more work then you have to, you don't need it.

A good two step would be Meguiars ColorX and then #26 paste or #16 if you can find it. There isn't much out there in terms of polishes on the Pep Boys shelf. You have your one step cleaner waxes, you have #26 liquid, you have mother's powerpolish which wasn't meant to be used by hand, but not much in terms of a good hand use polish. Why? Because nobody shopping at pep boys goes "I want to polish out stuff" they say "I want wax" so that's why people have to order.

So my advice would be to look in your phone book to see if there are any autobody supply stores, since they may carry something. Meguiars professional lineup with their hand polish, something like that.

But if you just want a good two step, ColorX and a good wax on top would be perfectly fine. And I've even heard TurtleWax Platinum Ultra Gloss isn't too shabby now.

 

i always recomend meguirs nxt generation tech wax. definatly clay your car first to get rid of anything you cant see and then wash/wax and it will look a million times better as long as you do a good job.