Caring for a new black car

[ihategherkins]

Hi Guys

Just got a new motor on order (Sportage XS 4x4 for the family trips). It's black cherry (metallic) and I obviously want to keep it scratch / swirl free.

Any tips please

Already going for a bucket with the grit catcher in the bottom

Thanks
Neil

 

[TeZ]

NEVER TAKE IT OUTSIDE....lol

 

[Leeshez]

Clean every week and polish a few times a month

 

[ROSS18]

Dont let the dealer wash it

 

[TeZ]

Good wash mitt's, Good drying towel's and bit of a polish and top up with a sealetn or wax,

All down to the technique if you scratch/swirl it tbh..

 

[Alan]

Good wash mitt's, Good drying towel's and bit of a polish and top up with a sealetn or wax,

All down to the technique if you scratch/swirl it tbh..

Couldn't have put it better myself Tezerio...

 

[rs250nut]

Polishing paint to a swirl free shine is art you have to have so much patience, hats off to you guys who do it all the time

 

[Rich]

Good lambswool mitt, two bucket wash method and a water filter so no drying is needed ( Drying imo is where most of the damage is done).

As others have said follow that up with a decent polish and sealant/wax.

 

[Brand86]

Yeah...although polishing "a few times a month" is crazy!!! I polish mine once or twice a year properly (e.g. with a PC and slightly abrasive polishes) but even pre-PC I was only SRPing about 3 or 4 times a year. Get a decent sealant and/or wax on there - all about creating a protective coating over the paint itself, to stop contaiminants getting between the paint particles as thats what mainly ruins the finish. UV rays included.

p.s. I don't have a water filter yet but I agree with Rich, the drying stage sucks. I only ever clean my car on a cool and shady day now, NEVER in the sun.

 

[ihategherkins]

Cheers all

Are there any suggested polishes/waxes that are better for black and should I wax it when I get it from the dealers first?

Currently use Megs NTX gen on the Titanuim 182 and that always looks 1st class.

Cheers

 

[Brand86]

Depends how much you have to spend.

I have a few, at the moment Chemical Guys XXX and 50/50, Collinites 476s and Swissvax Onyx. The Onyx is definitely the best, but all the others do diferent things, the 476s is very very durable for example.

Even the XXX which is about £11ish is extremely easy to use and looks great, definitely better than the NXT you currently use.

Not used them myself but the range of Dodo waxes new on the market are meant to be good for the price too.

 

[Diesel_Power]

Ill be the first to break it to you. No matter how much money you spend, cleaning your car will always inflict damage in terms of swirls etc, obvious i know but ive read too many times where people say they wash their car 10 times a month and it has swirl marks and they wonder why. Obviously its better to have clean paint with swirls then filthy new paint with no swirls and the products above will at least reduce the amount of damage inflicted. Look after it with the right products and treat it to a de swirling when your ready to sell and it will be perfect.