Recommendation for minimum effort paint care

[LegacyGTv2.0]

I've got a brand new Stinger 2.0L Premium in micro blue pearl.

I'd like to keep the paint in good condition, but that's EXTREMELY challenging in my area (Northern VA). There isn't a touchless car wash nearby, and I've got a family, so spending every weekend detailing the car isn't really an option.

Additionally, the way the house is setup, there isn't really a good way to get a hose to front (need a 100ft hose, bad design).

Here's what I'm looking at for options:
1) Detailing every 3-4 months: Good but $$$ (what about the interim?)
2) Plastic film
3) Ceramic coating (how long do they last?)
4) Use a spinning brush wash and pay for the extra wax.
5) Some form of rinseless wash?

Other suggestions?

 

[DaBears4Lyfe]

If you have the funds or would be interested in DIY, Ceramic coating is really the way to go.

 

[Billy M]

Ceramic coat hands down. Last 5+yrs with annual touch up from what I hear.

 

[StungnTn]

I would buy a longer hose and wash your car yourself. I've had 4 cars ceramic coating, and it is not the silver bullet. If you can't wax it frequently use a more durable wax like Collinite 845. I understand you have a family, but there's a lot of tasks like this that you have to do, and it's probably just a good idea to get everyone involved and make a family activity.

 

[robz32]

IMO you need to ceramic coat the whole car and then do the maintenance washes at home, easy and quick, make sure you use the correct chemicals so the coating and the its hydrophobic properties will last you a good while.

 

[eflyguy]

I've been doing a lot of research and plan to create a thread when I have "results" but in short, ceramic is a longer-lasting version of "waxing" and not difficult to apply. It will also make it a lot easier to keep the car looking good, although that's secondary to protecting the finish.

Where are you located? Please add that info to your user profile.

 

[Billy M]

I've been doing a lot of research and plan to create a thread when I have "results" but in short, ceramic is a longer-lasting version of "waxing" and not difficult to apply. It will also make it a lot easier to keep the car looking good, although that's secondary to protecting the finish.

Where are you located? Please add that info to your user profile.

I’m sure there’s a pro detailer lurking here somewhere....

 

[eflyguy]

I’m sure there’s a pro detailer lurking here somewhere....

We have some but I've been following several on YouTube for some time, and done a lot of digging over the past year or so. I had originally planned to wrap in a color-shift satin white pearl, but the snow white pearl is gorgeous and I've decided I'm going to stay with it.

 

[TwiceStung]

While ceramic is not a magic bullet, it is a large one. Do it now while surface prep will be at a minimum. If the chemistry and prep is done right, it essentially becomes another clear layer on top of the clear coat, and will protect against UV, bird and bug goo and the like. Refresh it annually or semi-annually with the reload formulas. Only wash with the ceramic branded car “shampoo”. Stay out of the sun when possible. Washing should be much easier. Apart from ceramic, Xpel film or other similar brand is the only way to truly protect and preserve the finish. But it can be a b**** to apply to any curves or contours. I used Gtechniq CSL on my 2.0 Premium and would highly recommend it. Best of luck.

I've got a brand new Stinger 2.0L Premium in micro blue pearl.

I'd like to keep the paint in good condition, but that's EXTREMELY challenging in my area (Northern VA). There isn't a touchless car wash nearby, and I've got a family, so spending every weekend detailing the car isn't really an option.

Additionally, the way the house is setup, there isn't really a good way to get a hose to front (need a 100ft hose, bad design).

Here's what I'm looking at for options:
1) Detailing every 3-4 months: Good but $$$ (what about the interim?)
2) Plastic film
3) Ceramic coating (how long do they last?)
4) Use a spinning brush wash and pay for the extra wax.
5) Some form of rinseless wash?

Other suggestions?[/QUOT

 

[Billy M]

We have some but I've been following several on YouTube for some time, and done a lot of digging over the past year or so. I had originally planned to wrap in a color-shift satin white pearl, but the snow white pearl is gorgeous and I've decided I'm going to stay with it.

That’s what I’m getting with the red interior. I waited out 2018 for it.... now I’ve just got to wait out our IVF expenses.

 

[eflyguy]

While ceramic is not a magic bullet, it is a large one. Do it now while surface prep will be at a minimum. If the chemistry and prep is done right, it essentially becomes another clear layer on top of the clear coat, and will protect against UV, bird and bug goo and the like.

Thoughts on prep?

At my request, the dealer didn't touch my car. It's seen a couple of touchless washes and another couple of visits to a self-wash place. The only thing that's touched the surface is a soft, clean sponge that I've used to loosen grime after a good pre-soak.

Now that I'm ready to apply a ceramic coating, one thing I'm wondering is what's on the surface from the factory? Driving (then parking) after heavy rain, the beading is amazing. Pretty sure nothing that came out of the touchless wash is responsible for it. I am planning to clay then wipe down with alcohol, but hope there's not something residual that would lessen then effectiveness of the ceramic coating.

btw I commented elsewhere that I've done a lot of research, watched a bunch of youtube and read many articles and the sheet that comes with the product. In no hurry so just looking for as much info as possible before I dive in.

 

[TwiceStung]

Thoughts on prep?

At my request, the dealer didn't touch my car. It's seen a couple of touchless washes and another couple of visits to a self-wash place. The only thing that's touched the surface is a soft, clean sponge that I've used to loosen grime after a good pre-soak.

Now that I'm ready to apply a ceramic coating, one thing I'm wondering is what's on the surface from the factory? Driving (then parking) after heavy rain, the beading is amazing. Pretty sure nothing that came out of the touchless wash is responsible for it. I am planning to clay then wipe down with alcohol, but hope there's not something residual that would lessen then effectiveness of the ceramic coating.

btw I commented elsewhere that I've done a lot of research, watched a bunch of youtube and read many articles and the sheet that comes with the product. In no hurry so just looking for as much info as possible before I dive in.

As has been said for ceramic, paint preparation is EVERYTHING. Even though my car was “new” it had been sitting on the lot for at least 8 months collecting who knows what on it. A lot of crap can be deposited and bond to the surface in that time, not to mention what acid rain can do. Here was my process......

Wash with Dawn (removes all oils, greases, waxes, etc) dishwashing detergent

Clay

Meguires ultimate compound light polish

Wash with Dawn again

Wipe down with rubbing alcohol - use multiple microfiber towels.

Obviously try to fix any fine scratches or worse marks in the surface. Once they are there and get ceramic coated, they are there to stay. I had to do some more intensive paint correction on the hood center where it may have been parked under a tree for a while. It was very hazy and I didn’t see it when I picked up the car. I’d rather fix it myself than have the dealer screw with it. Hope this helps.

 

[eflyguy]

TY

I'm fortunate to know that my car still had plastic wrap when it arrived at the dealer a couple of days before I picked it up, and had been on US soil for very little time before that.

 

[TwiceStung]

That is good. I wouldn’t worry about the clay process but a light polish is always good just to be safe.

TY

I'm fortunate to know that my car still had plastic wrap when it arrived at the dealer a couple of days before I picked it up, and had been on US soil for very little time before that.

 

[terrelltechsup]

Ceramic Coat. I used Feynlab which are the guys who invented it and make it for a lot of the other suppliers. Takes 20 minutes to wipe off a month of caliche and no buffing/waxing. Just rinse/wash/rinse/dry and go. Use the slickest wash you can find(Feynlab or Chemical Guys), wipe front to back and pat dry do not wipe and you will be good.

 

[LegacyGTv2.0]

So I've done a bunch of research and made a few decisions.

My wife vetoed professional ceramic or vinyl film due to cost (>$2.5k). I'm ok with that. One of my main challenges with ceramics is that I don't have a good way to hose the car off. Part of the challenge is prep, and this is ultimately a daily driver. I want to keep it looking nice, but I don't need show quality.

So that leaves some form of DIY ceramic or a more traditional sealant/wax route.

Initially, I'm planning to try Ammo Frothe as a rinseless wash solution. It's just much easier for me to work with than anything involving a hose would be. So there's that. I'm planning to post-treat with Ammo Hydrate to keep some protection on. I'm figuring that's something I can do roughly once a month, in the garage, in about an hour.

Current plan, in about a month, go get a nice exterior detail, and get some form of base sealant applied to get good coverage. Also, that should be after the last big winter storm, so get all the junk off the undercarriage (which I can't do at home).

For a protective layer, do you think I'd be better off with a basic ceramic coating like CeramicPro Sport (applied as part of the detail)?
I'm also considering using something like Meguir's Hybrid Ceramic, that looks like it should fit roughly what I'm looking for.
Any good sealants that would be worth looking into? My priority here is ease of maintenance and protection not necessarily show quality.

I could certainly do a DIY ceramic with a wash, and clay bar. But I definitely don't have any capability to do anything resembling polishing or paint correction. So is it even worth attempting a DIY ceramic given that I can't necessarily remove the factory sealant.

 

[terrelltechsup]

My professional ceramic coating cost me $500. Have you tried shopping around? My recommendation is feynlab.

 

[LegacyGTv2.0]

My professional ceramic coating cost me $500. Have you tried shopping around? My recommendation is feynlab.

What was the estimated length of protection for that? I can get something like a CeramicPro Sport coating for around $350.
For any of the >1yr stuff, the shops all want to do a paint correction first, and the cost just skyrockets.

 

[terrelltechsup]

What was the estimated length of protection for that? I can get something like a CeramicPro Sport coating for around $350.
For any of the >1yr stuff, the shops all want to do a paint correction first, and the cost just skyrockets.

3 Year warranty. Mine had 200 miles on it when I had it done so no paint correction required. Once you ceramic coat it you cannot do paint correction without removing the coating which is why they want to fix it first. If you are ok with the way your paint looks then just tell them to coat it.

 

[terrelltechsup]

Here is mine right after it was finished.