Colour choice

[2014GTi]

Autoglym doesn’t protect against tree sap or bird sh!te – doubt it’s doing much against tar either.

Really, I beg to differ, if you have a good coat on your car, cleaning things like bird boo, tar and general dirt are easier.
Depends on what products you use really, I used AutoGylm HD wax.

[dubber36]

I would say it helps a lot, I am getting LifeShine applied but don't go paying £399 for it, not worth it for that price. £200 perhaps 

£200 eh? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autoglym-Lifeshine-pdi-kit-new-sealed-box-/111193503022

[lew321]

I really wanted steel grey on my Mk7 GTI. It looks great on my Mk6 GTD Ended up with Carbon Grey in the end after looking at all the choices.

[Ginagee]

I would say it helps a lot, I am getting LifeShine applied but don't go paying £399 for it, not worth it for that price. £200 perhaps 

£200 eh? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autoglym-Lifeshine-pdi-kit-new-sealed-box-/111193503022

Oh my goodness… £8? And VW charge £399 to apply it. I'm taking that off my order pronto.

[JBirchy]

The problem with AutoGlym is not the product itself! (I'm assuming you're talking about dealer applied Lifeshine kit). The product is actually 'OK' (not the best but not as bad as some people make out).

The problem is that the dealer employed valeters either a) don't get the correct training in the application of the product or b) don't get an adequate time to apply it. I'd be inclined to say that it's a combination of the two!

With sealants systems like LifeShine, Supaguard, Gtechniq, CQuartz and many others, it's incredibly important to clean and prepare the surface to allow the sealant to bond properly. Once it's bonded, most need 8-10 hours dry curing time before they are fully effective. I'd hazard a guess that the dealer valeters don't spend more than 1 hour per car prepping it for collection, never mind the 6-8 (sometimes many more) hours it takes to apply the system correctly. That's not their fault, or the product's fault, its the fact that dealers don't have the time or budget to allow valeters to spend a full day prepping a car! (fully understandable from a financial point of view)

The issue of the price... £400 is ridiculous. You could get a professional detailer to spend a full day prepping the car with results 20 x better for £200-250 without doubt. The difference would be immeasurable!

I would be buying separate products which do a much better job and it would cost < £200

Hope this helps!
Jon

[monkeyhanger]

The fact that sap and sh!te needs to be removed "immediately" to avoid paint discolouration with the wipes they provide makes me think that Autoglym lifeshine doesn't provide much of a barrier to protect the paint.

[dubber36]

Jon has got it spot on. In fact in many cases, they may not even get applied at all, or one kit made to do two cars, so the valeter has the spare one to sell on ebay for £8.

I know a lad that is a valeter at a Vauxhall dealer. They are given 2 hours max to prepare a new car including, in their case, applying Supaguard. They are often not done until the day the car is due to go out.

[JBirchy]

Jon has got it spot on. In fact in many cases, they may not even get applied at all, or one kit made to do two cars, so the valeter has the spare one to sell on ebay for £8.

I know a lad that is a valeter at a Vauxhall dealer. They are given 2 hours max to prepare a new car including, in their case, applying Supaguard. They are often not done until the day the car is due to go out.

Exactly! So given that it takes me 2 hours just to give my car a 'quick wash' using proper techniques, I'd say it's not possible to prep a car properly in that time to acceptable standards and get the best out of the products used!

I'm only a hobby detailer but I now tell all my friends/family to refuse the treatment from the dealer and I spend a full day on the car for a few beer tokens. When the products are still going after 12 months (as in my Mother-In-Laws case) then it's a no brainer.

[Snoopy]

I really like the Silver - in fact this was the colour I was going to go for (with black leather) until the sales guy talked me out of it saying it doesn't look right and silver cars harder to sell...ended up with DPB with cloth seats - looks fabulous but in hindsight, should have stuck to my guns. 

I see someone on here has got the silver/leather, and it truly looks fantastic (in my eyes anyway)

Shouldnt listen to salesman. When I bought my mk6 I had exactly the same. One local dealer even refused to order it in my choice of colour. I stuck to my guns and glad I did. The colour is one of the things I get so many positive coments about all the time.
Silver was my second choice but owning two other silver cars I wanted a change. I do miss it not been silver as silver hides the dirt. If I buy a mk7 it will be silver no question about it and salesman again will be ignored.

Also not many people know but the original mk1 GTI was at release only available in two colours. Those colours were red and silver. So silver is the original metallic GTI colour 

[Ginagee]

Snoopy, I'm with you on the Silver. And your'e right, it got it's roots firmly planted back with the Mk1, so it's good to keep the tradition going.
On the AutoGlym Life Shine front, I'm defo gonna ask this not to be carried out by the dealer now. Anyone know a mighty fine detailer round West Yorkshire or Lancashire way?