How to polish / wax a newish car?

[charri42]

Hi folks, I intend to sell my car fairly soon so want to give the old girl a good clean. I am too tight to pay a valeter for the priviledge so intend to do it myself.

My problem is this, whenever I wax cars, they never look that good. All those white bits (i know i can use colour wax to get over this) and more seriously 'hazing' on dark metallics - my car is black metallic. The last time i tried to polish a scratch out of a black car it went all hazy where i had been buffing. Since then I have only washed cars and not bothered with polish. I did have my previous car valeted once and it came back with a superb gloss, although it didn't last long.

Is there an easy way to make a car look all glossy and shiny? like a spray on treatment? What do they use for shows and showroom cars? Basically I want a shortcut to a lovely shiny car that may even disguise some of the faint scratches in the laquer.

Ideas?

[Stu-1.8T]

You need to make sure that you apply the wax in a clockwise circular motion with your right hand, and use a clean cloth to buff it off in an anti-clockwise motion with your left hand......Wax on,  Wax off...   the car will still look hazy,  but it's handy if you're ever in a fight apparently!

My mate bought a brand new Civic Type R, and he told me that it wont need waxing for years as they use a special laquer??

The outside temperature also has an effect on how well the wax goes on.

[charri42]

Yes, it still is quite shiny, so I don't think it needs a real polish. However, I know there must be a 'shortcut' product that makes it nice and shiny and showroom like with not much effort. This is what valeters seemed to use on my last black car, just don't know what it is!

Waxing is only remotely satisfying on an old faded car I think, on a newish car it seems to be lots of work for minimal reward - and I often make it worse!

[Hobnob]

Autoglym instant showshine (I think thats the name of it) not the cheapest but it sprays on and removes light dirt but leaves it looking really shiney just like it had been professionally waxed. Again the effect doesn't last too long but it is so easy you could just do it on days you know someone is going to look at the car

[>>Mart<<]

this is what i use and u cant beat it
 http://www.performancemotorcare.com/acatalog/Meguiars.html?gclid=CJvzpITus4ICFRT-Pgod9nnmBg

use the NXT car wash then the NXT polish its a bit expensive but worth every penny i used it on my car when i got it new and still do now and it dont leave them annoying little white marks lol
i have had the car wash for over 18months there is a bit left in it for probably about 5-6 washes and i wash my car every week 

[charri42]

Thanks for the info guys, will deff give one of them a try!

Martyn, is that stuff easy to apply? I am kind of drawn to the laziness factor of the Autoglym.

Will let you know how i get on!

Chris

[>>Mart<<]

even easier than the autoglym u get a little aplicator sponge in the box to put it on then all u need to get is a soft cotton towl or something like to take it off
you donteven need to rub it off as with most polishes as its just as easy to use when you have left it in the sun drying for a bit
and i think you can put it on when the car is wet but cant be shure will look at box if i get chance tomorow buddy 

[charri42]

even easier than the autoglym u get a little aplicator sponge in the box to put it on then all u need to get is a soft cotton towl or something like to take it off
you donteven need to rub it off as with most polishes as its just as easy to use when you have left it in the sun drying for a bit
and i think you can put it on when the car is wet but cant be shure will look at box if i get chance tomorow buddy 

That sounds excellent. Rubbing off the harder wax is where you can cause hazing to dark metallics.

[>>Mart<<]

this is how shiny i got my last car with it
http://www.xsarasportsclub.com/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=333
http://www.xsarasportsclub.com/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=334

[charri42]

Thats the 'better than new' that i was looking for - without the tacky sticky stuff you sometimes see on old tarted up cars.

1,8t for sale soon - will be very shiny!