GolfGTIforum.co.uk

General => Detailing => Topic started by: CraigW on 01 August 2017, 22:15

Title: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: CraigW on 01 August 2017, 22:15
Right guys here's a question for all of you

What is the best method to use to wash the car if you don't have several hours available to really do a thorough detailing job? I'd imagine that quite a few of us perhaps have kids or other things in life that take up a great deal of our time. So what are best tips if you only have an hour or two spare so you still can get great results without causing any undue problems. I.e. Swirls on the paintwork

Cheers

Craig

Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Booth11 on 02 August 2017, 03:52
Right guys here's a question for all of you

What is the best method to use to wash the car if you don't have several hours available to really do a thorough detailing job? I'd imagine that quite a few of us perhaps have kids or other things in life that take up a great deal of our time. So what are best tips if you only have an hour or two spare so you still can get great results without causing any undue problems. I.e. Swirls on the paintwork

Cheers

Craig



Hi Craig,

A normal wash sound only take between 1 - 2 hours max. It's only when you start adding sealing, waxing etc that time gets expanded, and I think most of us spend much of our time doing maintenance cleans, it's not always full details every week.

IMO, best method is as follows

- Pre wash such as snow foam or citrus pre wash, either applied with snow foam lance (Bilberry sprayed on wheels of desired)

- Pressure wash rinse

- Wash wheels with dedicated shampoo bucket and wheel mitt/wheel woolies

- Wash bodywork using lambswool or microfibre wash mitt.  Start top and work down - roof - upper panels - lower panels - lower front, lower rear etc.  Mitt action should be gentle (pre wash should have brought loose dirt off) and side to side action, NOT circular motion.  Use a decent shampoo with good lubricitywhich means the mitt will glide better over the paint and much less friction required between mitt and paint.

- Pressure wash rinse whole car

- Final open ended hose rinse. No spray or lance attachement for this, just a free flow of water, which massively reduces the amount of standing water left on the car to dry off.  Drying is often when swirls are inflicted.

- Dry car (top down again) with either a hot air blower, or microfibre drying towels.  Dab gently with towel, do not drag or pull over paintwork.  Dab, lift towel off, dab, lift towel off, dab, and so on. Start with towel very slightly moistened by laying it in damp front windscreen first as a very slightly dampened towel is more absorbent than fully dry one.  Once towel gets too wet, either wring out, or switch to fresh towel.  Use separate towels for wheels, can use cut down towels or dedicated wheel towels which are smaller towels so they don't drag on the floor.  Remember to do door shuts (open doors) and boot lid (open boot and allow water to run off then dry) and inside fuel flap.

That's the basic wash.  Then if desired:

- Dress tyres with tyre gel

- Polish tailpipes with metal polish

- Clean glass - glass cleaner

- Quick Detailer on bodywork to refresh Gloss in between proper sealing or waxing


There's some useful washing guides here.

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/car-care-advice.html

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27

http://www.autogeek.net/exterior.html

Hope this helps.


Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: CraigW on 02 August 2017, 13:17
Thanks for the great response Becs, very much appreciated. I just don't have the time nowadays due to my 2 year old taking up most of it. Whereas before washing the car was a labour of love and therapeutic its now become a luxury I can ill afford spending much time on. However, I don't want to rush it and end up destroying that lovely lapis paintwork. I'm good to go with most things except for a foam lance so that's next on the agenda  :smiley: :smiley: 
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Watts on 02 August 2017, 14:32
I sometimes split the job mainly as my wheels take up so much time. I'll spend an hour doing those plus the lower plastic parts and the tailpipes. Then do the bodywork the next day. Takes the pressure off me a bit especially on warm days when the body starts to dry whilst I'm busy with the wheels.
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: deltarikk on 02 August 2017, 19:19
Next time I wash mine I hope to remember which one my wash bucket is and which is the rinse one  :whistle: .....can I ask Rebecca what your dilution of the Bilberry is please, on CYC it says 10:1 general maintenance but also 5:1 for lightly soiled? They never get really really dirty, lightly soiled is normal.
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Booth11 on 02 August 2017, 19:35
Next time I wash mine I hope to remember which one my wash bucket is and which is the rinse one  :whistle: .....can I ask Rebecca what your dilution of the Bilberry is please, on CYC it says 10:1 general maintenance but also 5:1 for lightly soiled? They never get really really dirty, lightly soiled is normal.

I use it at 10:1 or 8:1 for maintenance washes, which is perfectly adequate for lifting a week's or fortnight's dirt.  I think at 5:1 it will degrade any wheel protection significantly quicker, so would save that for more soiled wheels when you intend to top up the protection afterwards.  It's also superb on tailpipes too. Squirt on at same ratio as wheel at same time you do your wheels.
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: SRGTD on 02 August 2017, 19:55
Next time I wash mine I hope to remember which one my wash bucket is and which is the rinse one  :whistle:

Yes, it's easy to forget which is wash and which is rinse as the contents both look the same after a few rinses of your mitt!

If your buckets are a light coloured plastic, you can write 'wash' and 'rinse' on them with a permanent waterproof marker pen. My buckets are black, so I've stuck some red electrical insulating tape on my 'wash' bucket so I don't mix them up. It works for me.

Edit; Off topic, just noticed this was my 1,000th post on the forum :smiley:
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: deltarikk on 02 August 2017, 20:47
Thanks Rebecca I'll try 10:1 & see how it goes  :wink:

@ SRGTD they are light coloured from CYC and why didn't I think of that!!.....top tip, cheers & congrats on your milestone post  :cool:
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Watts on 02 August 2017, 21:50
Next time I wash mine I hope to remember which one my wash bucket is and which is the rinse one  :whistle:

Yes, it's easy to forget which is wash and which is rinse as the contents both look the same after a few rinses of your mitt!

If your buckets are a light coloured plastic, you can write 'wash' and 'rinse' on them with a permanent waterproof marker pen. My buckets are black, so I've stuck some red electrical insulating tape on my 'wash' bucket so I don't mix them up. It works for me.

Edit; Off topic, just noticed this was my 1,000th post on the forum :smiley:

Landmark post!
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: SRGTD on 02 August 2017, 22:48
@ SRGTD they are light coloured from CYC and why didn't I think of that!!.....top tip, cheers & congrats on your milestone post  :cool:
Landmark post!

Thanks guys!
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Mike J on 09 September 2017, 08:38
If you had it detailed from new why not take it back and let the professional do it?

I dont wash mine, it was detailed straight from the dealer and I take it back to him, Tim at Envy Detailing in Gosport.
Sometimes just the exterior, sometimes inside and out, a nice cup of proper coffee and a chat and its done and dusted, no mess on the drive, no buying snd storing expensive washers or cleaning stuff, just a glowingly clean motor that looks better than new :smiley:


I was suprised to learn that most owners who have their car detailed from new never return again!


.


Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Watts on 09 September 2017, 09:00
In my case I quite enjoy washing my car and derive much pleasure from the results of my efforts. It's not going to be as good as a professional of course but that's not the point.
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Booth11 on 09 September 2017, 09:16
no mess on the drive, no buying snd storing expensive washers or cleaning stuff, just a glowingly clean motor that looks better than new :smiley:


Haha, you're in the wrong section to be saying that kind of stuff.  :grin:

It's not for everyone, but some of us like all that - messy stuff on the drive, storing washers and cleaning stuff, and, especially having a glowingly clean motor that looks better than new - one that has come as a result of your loving efforts.   :kiss:

Pro detailing is one way to achieve it, learning and doing it yourself is another and one that can be hugely enoyable and enhances ownership of the car further  :smiley:
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: SRGTD on 09 September 2017, 10:09
I also enjoy washing and maintaining my car's appearance and as Rebecca has said, IMO it's all part of the car ownership experience. I also get a lot of satisfaction from giving it a (usually) once a year machine polish and 2-3 times a year sealing and waxing it and seeing the results of my efforts.

I don't like having a dirty car, so at most, it's probably no more than two weeks between washes. To pay a professional detailer to carry our a maintenance wash every fortnight wouldn't be cheap - probably £25 or more a time, plus extra for the occasional enhancement detail. I can buy a lot of cleaning and detailing equipment for £650-plus a year. Also, by washing my own car, I can spot any stone chips pretty much as soon as they happen (and they do happen) and rectify them on the spot. If someone was washing my car for me, many of these would go undetected.
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: CraigW on 11 September 2017, 13:38
If you had it detailed from new why not take it back and let the professional do it?

I dont wash mine, it was detailed straight from the dealer and I take it back to him, Tim at Envy Detailing in Gosport.
Sometimes just the exterior, sometimes inside and out, a nice cup of proper coffee and a chat and its done and dusted, no mess on the drive, no buying snd storing expensive washers or cleaning stuff, just a glowingly clean motor that looks better than new :smiley:


I was suprised to learn that most owners who have their car detailed from new never return again!


.

What do you mean you don't wash your motor? How often are you taking it to the detailer? Surely if you were going every week it would cost a bloody fortune? I'm talking about one wash every weekend and then taking it to the detailer perhaps every 6 months to get it professionally worked on
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Gnasher on 29 September 2017, 13:37
Just pop it into the hand car wash and get it done for a fiver - it'll be fine...







































I'll get me coat  :wink:
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Mike J on 29 September 2017, 19:24
My detailer points out every speck and scratch from a blade of grass.
He sees things an electron microscope would find hard to find, its almost embarrassing!

Periods between cleans is - as and when I think it needs it (dirty) or curcumstances require eg; holidays, in-law transport, wedding/s, before services (they are forbiden to touch it with their bucket and gritty sponge)  etc etc.

I like my means of transport, but I dont love it.
To me a car is an assembly of well engineered parts and panels which anyone with sufficient money can afford, but I do want to maintain it in the best condition possible so to hell with the cost  :wink:

No offence meant to anyone.

Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: hepton on 29 September 2017, 22:16
My detailer points out every speck and scratch from a blade of grass.
He sees things an electron microscope would find hard to find, its almost embarrassing!

Periods between cleans is - as and when I think it needs it (dirty) or curcumstances require eg; holidays, in-law transport, wedding/s, before services (they are forbiden to touch it with their bucket and gritty sponge)  etc etc.

I like my means of transport, but I dont love it.
To me a car is an assembly of well engineered parts and panels which anyone with sufficient money can afford, but I do want to maintain it in the best condition possible so to hell with the cost  :wink:

No offence meant to anyone.
So why post on detailing section if you cant be botherd to do it yourself,if you did do it yourself you would be able to point the faults out yourself..... its not rocket science  :grin:
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Daz Auto on 14 October 2017, 12:09
I wash 2 cars most weekends so am always looking ways of speeding it up, while still doing a good job. This section of the website is great for finding ways of slowing me down. :rolleyes:

I spray the lower half of the car with Traffic Film Remover in a garden sprayer. While the car soaks, I set up the pressure washer and fill a bucket (+ grit guard) with car shampoo.

Pressure wash car. Put pressure washer away and attach garden hose gun, set to wide spay. I find this more effective for rinsing the shampoo off the car.

Using a white Megs microfiber mitt - start at the top of the car and wash down. Do the lower panels 1 at a time. Check the mitt for dirt. Reverse the mitt and use the clean side when necessary. When both sides of the mitt are dirty, put it against the outside of the bucket and use the garden hose gun to clean it. Ring out the water. I find this more effective than the 2 bucket method.

Leave the lowest 3 inches around the whole car to the very last. It is the dirtiest part and you don't want to be rubbing a dirty mitt over any of the panels.

Use wheel mitt to wash the wheels.

That takes me 40 minutes per car. I don't think I could do it properly any faster.

The key to good results is drying the car. (This may be controversial.) If I'm in a hurry I will use a rubber blade to squeegee the cars. (I may have to spend some time in the naughty corner for that :embarrassed:) Though I much prefer to use about 12 sprays of  aqua wax over the wet car. Then a microfiber towel to remove the water and a dry microfiber towel to buff the car. This does take a longer, but gives much better results.

When my Aqua Wax runs out I going to try some Gtechniq c2v3 as a drying aid.
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: SRGTD on 14 October 2017, 12:33
The key to good results is drying the car. (This may be controversial.) If I'm in a hurry I will use a rubber blade to squeegee the cars. (I may have to spend some time in the naughty corner for that :embarrassed:)

I think the key to good results is careful washing with minimal touching of the paintwork, and removing most of the dirt with an effective ‘touchless’ pre-wash stage before a two bucket wash, although like Rebecca (Booth11), I use 3 buckets - the third one for the wheels.

A rubber blade to dry the car  :shocked: :shocked:: that’s almost grounds for being banned from the Detailing section of the forum, using language like that :grin:; IMO, it’s a bit of a contradiction to say the key to good results is drying the car, and then using a rubber blade to dry it! I owned one of these rubber blades in the early 2000’s, long before I was into car detailing - at the time I had a DBP mk4 Golf. Used it a couple of times and saw the scratches in the paintwork and binned it.

I wouldn’t be able to clean my car in 40 minutes and be happy with the results. If there isn’t time for me to clean it properly, it’s left until I do have the time. It usually takes me 2 - 2.5 hours to do a standard maintenance wash.
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Watts on 14 October 2017, 13:01
The key to good results is drying the car. (This may be controversial.) If I'm in a hurry I will use a rubber blade to squeegee the cars. (I may have to spend some time in the naughty corner for that :embarrassed:)

I think the key to good results is careful washing with minimal touching of the paintwork, and removing most of the dirt with an effective ‘touchless’ pre-wash stage before a two bucket wash, although like Rebecca (Booth11), I use 3 buckets - the third one for the wheels.

A rubber blade to dry the car  :shocked: :shocked:: that’s almost grounds for being banned from the Detailing section of the forum, using language like that :grin:; IMO, it’s a bit of a contradiction to say the key to good results is drying the car, and then using a rubber blade to dry it! I owned one of these rubber blades in the early 2000’s, long before I was into car detailing - at the time I had a DBP mk4 Golf. Used it a couple of times and saw the scratches in the paintwork and binned it.

I wouldn’t be able to clean my car in 40 minutes and be happy with the results. If there isn’t time for me to clean it properly, it’s left until I do have the time. It usually takes me 2 - 2.5 hours to do a standard maintenance wash.

Very brave though to admit to using a rubber blade for drying :laugh: Must admit to having a few bad habits myself but I'm not made of enough of the tough stuff to say what they are :whistle:

Would add that a snowfoam stage would be very worthwhile particularly since a pressure washer is already there and a citrus prewash which I will add, won't add too much to the overall time taken.
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Booth11 on 14 October 2017, 13:43
I wash 2 cars most weekends so am always looking ways of speeding it up, while still doing a good job. This section of the website is great for finding ways of slowing me down. :rolleyes:

I spray the lower half of the car with Traffic Film Remover in a garden sprayer. While the car soaks, I set up the pressure washer and fill a bucket (+ grit guard) with car shampoo.

Pressure wash car. Put pressure washer away and attach garden hose gun, set to wide spay. I find this more effective for rinsing the shampoo off the car.

Using a white Megs microfiber mitt - start at the top of the car and wash down. Do the lower panels 1 at a time. Check the mitt for dirt. Reverse the mitt and use the clean side when necessary. When both sides of the mitt are dirty, put it against the outside of the bucket and use the garden hose gun to clean it. Ring out the water. I find this more effective than the 2 bucket method.

Leave the lowest 3 inches around the whole car to the very last. It is the dirtiest part and you don't want to be rubbing a dirty mitt over any of the panels.

Use wheel mitt to wash the wheels.

That takes me 40 minutes per car. I don't think I could do it properly any faster.

The key to good results is drying the car. (This may be controversial.) If I'm in a hurry I will use a rubber blade to squeegee the cars. (I may have to spend some time in the naughty corner for that :embarrassed:) Though I much prefer to use about 12 sprays of  aqua wax over the wet car. Then a microfiber towel to remove the water and a dry microfiber towel to buff the car. This does take a longer, but gives much better results.

When my Aqua Wax runs out I going to try some Gtechniq c2v3 as a drying aid.

Go directly to the naughty corner....or the 'detailing cooler' as it's called in here (it was good enough for Steve McQueen, lol).  You will be there for some time so take something to amuse yourself..... :whistle:  :grin:

SRGTD has it right.....the absolute key to good car washing is the touchless stages of pre-washing.  Valuable time invested at this point saves time later on. Snow foam followed by citrus pre wash stage gets rid of about 80% of the dirt, so the bucket wash is a quick easy affair.  This presupposes decent protection which aids cleaning no end.  Most importantly touchless washing gets the worst of the dirt off without mitt touching paint - equals less swirls. Drying is a very important bookending of the process as often the point at which swirls are inflicted.  I'm not even going to dwell on the damage you are potentially doing to your paintwork with a blade.  :laugh:  But a very good drying towel used after an open ended hose rinse (far less water left than with a spray rinse) will dry your car far quicker than a squeegee blade and without any of the damage.

Washing wheels is a job best done first imo, so you are not dirtying already cleaned paintwork with what is the dirtiest part of the car, the wheels.

40 mins is good going.  I can turn a car around in 45 if pushed but I'd rather take a bit more time. 

What is your priority?  A clean paintwork preserved car or just a clean car.  No right or wrong answer here as we all have our different priorities. 

All good debate.  :smiley:
 
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Daz Auto on 14 October 2017, 13:46
I wouldn’t be able to clean my car in 40 minutes and be happy with the results. If there isn’t time for me to clean it properly, it’s left until I do have the time. It usually takes me 2 - 2.5 hours to do a standard maintenance wash.
There is just no point in me spending that much time on 2 maintenance washes.

Fertilizer spreading season ends tomorrow. So the farmers are all out in force spreading. It has been wet and the roads around me are covered in muck from the tractors. I will be lucky if I can make it to the nearest town without my car looking like it has been in a stage of world rally championships. In just a few days both our cars can look like they have not been washed in a month! :angry: So both our cars need washed a lot!

I'm not aiming for perfection. I'm happy with the results.
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Daz Auto on 14 October 2017, 13:55
Go directly to the naughty corner....or the 'detailing cooler' as it's called in here (it was good enough for Steve McQueen, lol).  You will be there for some time so take something to amuse yourself..... :whistle:  :grin:

What is your priority?  A clean paintwork preserved car or just a clean car.  No right or wrong answer here as we all have our different priorities.

My wife tells me that the rules for the naught corner are 1 minute for every year of age. I'll be standing there for longer than it takes me to wash the car! :embarrassed:

I guess my priorities are 2 cars that look clean clean and shiny, most of the time, despite our dirty roads. :embarrassed:
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: SRGTD on 14 October 2017, 14:16
Daz Auto, you have my sympathies with the dirty, rural roads. I have relatives who live on a farm, and I know what a dirty state my car gets in when I visit them during the winter months. My car gets washed very soon after a visit!
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Booth11 on 14 October 2017, 14:54
Go directly to the naughty corner....or the 'detailing cooler' as it's called in here (it was good enough for Steve McQueen, lol).  You will be there for some time so take something to amuse yourself..... :whistle:  :grin:

What is your priority?  A clean paintwork preserved car or just a clean car.  No right or wrong answer here as we all have our different priorities.

My wife tells me that the rules for the naught corner are 1 minute for every year of age. I'll be standing there for longer than it takes me to wash the car! :embarrassed:

I guess my priorities are 2 cars that look clean clean and shiny, most of the time, despite our dirty roads. :embarrassed:

Lol, well I don't think we'll be quite so harsh. 5 minutes repentance is enough.  :laugh:

It is challenging living in rural areas, I have a farm opposite me and rural school run every day, but it just spurs me on to keeping it at bay.  2 cars is an added challenge and if you are keeping on top of them in those conditions you are doing well.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Jim_mk7.5 on 03 November 2017, 12:35

I spray the lower half of the car with Traffic Film Remover in a garden sprayer. While the car soaks, I set up the pressure washer and fill a bucket (+ grit guard) with car shampoo


TFR - be very careful which one you use as this could strip off any wax you may have sealed your car with. Better to use a citrus pre-wash as this won't remove wax.
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Daz Auto on 06 November 2017, 20:33
On Saturday I gave the car a pressure wash and told my wife to take it to the hairdressers while I washed her car. The car was driven 4 miles. The roads in both directions are brown. :angry:

This is why there is little point in being too fussy when I clean the cars. :cry:

WARNING: dirty pictures -

(https://s1.postimg.org/1erb3t8ndb/IMG_2989.jpg)

(https://s1.postimg.org/2zsjjmvdtr/IMG_2992.jpg)
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Jim_mk7.5 on 06 November 2017, 20:53
WARNING: dirty pictures -

(https://postimg.org/image/42usq57dt7/)

(https://s1.postimg.org/2zsjjmvdtr/IMG_2992.jpg)

Nice!  :cool:

Did you change the std Bridgestones for the Michelins rather than wear them out?! I know lots of discussions on other threads but assuming they've made a big difference?
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Daz Auto on 07 November 2017, 14:51
TFR - be very careful which one you use as this could strip off any wax you may have sealed your car with. Better to use a citrus pre-wash as this won't remove wax.
The TFR website says - Will not strip wax or sealant (completely LSP safe - Minimum dilution rate of 9:1)

I pressure washed the car 3 times on Saturday, once on Monday and this morning. We might as well be driving it through a field :angry:

I have even asked my wife to slow down for the muddy bits and to pull over and stop for other vehicles. At least until reaching main road. Though parts of it are muddy too. :rolleyes:

Did you change the std Bridgestones for the Michelins rather than wear them out?! I know lots of discussions on other threads but assuming they've made a big difference?

I find the Michelin tyres have the same noise level as the Bridgestones tyres. Though the car feels more comfortable. It's only just turned cold enough to see if the grip is similar in most conditions.

Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: kalimon on 07 November 2017, 14:56
On Saturday I gave the car a pressure wash and told my wife to take it to the hairdressers while I washed her car. The car was driven 4 miles. The roads in both directions are brown. :angry:

This is why there is little point in being too fussy when I clean the cars. :cry:

WARNING: dirty pictures -

(https://s1.postimg.org/1erb3t8ndb/IMG_2989.jpg)

(https://s1.postimg.org/2zsjjmvdtr/IMG_2992.jpg)
Sounds like it's a tractor that you need, not a GTI :whistle:
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Booth11 on 07 November 2017, 16:32
Ah a bit (lot) of dirt looks sexy on a GTI, as long as it comes off at some point.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Daz Auto on 25 November 2017, 11:08
Ah a bit (lot) of dirt looks sexy on a GTI, as long as it comes off at some point.  :laugh:
:huh:

I think it just looks neglected. Hate seeing my car like that. :sad: Don't even like seeing other cars like that. I have even been known to wash visitors cars if I am already out washing mine. Sad, I know! :embarrassed:

Having said that... We recently had a Audi Q2 SUV as a loan car while the A3 was in the garage. I thought it looked cool covered in mud. I guess in my mind, mud on a off-road style car looks ok. :rolleyes: And it's the first Sline that I have driven that was actually comfortable. So when I'm not fit to wash my cars anymore I'll get an SUV. :laugh:
Title: Re: Question on Washing rather than full on detailing
Post by: Booth11 on 25 November 2017, 12:44
Ah a bit (lot) of dirt looks sexy on a GTI, as long as it comes off at some point.  :laugh:
:huh:

I think it just looks neglected. Hate seeing my car like that. :sad: Don't even like seeing other cars like that. I have even been known to wash visitors cars if I am already out washing mine. Sad, I know! :embarrassed:

Having said that... We recently had a Audi Q2 SUV as a loan car while the A3 was in the garage. I thought it looked cool covered in mud. I guess in my mind, mud on a off-road style car looks ok. :rolleyes: And it's the first Sline that I have driven that was actually comfortable. So when I'm not fit to wash my cars anymore I'll get an SUV. :laugh:

I know where you are coming from about it looking neglected, but, its not neglected is it which makes it bearable. You know you won’t leave it in that state for long.  What is painful to look at is a car that clearly has months and months, longer even, of dirt on that you know is not coming off anytime soon. You can tell the difference between a car that’s looked after and just got very dirty and a car that’s never gets touched and is properly neglected.