Best Wax/Technique for Dark Colors

[YarisOwnersDad]

Hi, Peeps. Just bought a new 2009 Flint Mica Yaris sedan yesterday, and I am anxious to get a good coat of wax on it to protect from the effects of bug guts on the paint finish and to make it easier to remove said bug guts when washing the car.

Are there waxes made especially for dark colors? Are there special techniques that should be used in applying the wax. I know they used to say that for black paint you should not swirl the wax as you apply it, but should go straight back and forth with the applicator. Flint Mica is almost black.

I did use the search feature, but I didn't find what I was looking for. I might have missed it, though, so please forgive me if this subject has been addressed previously.

Thanks.

Tom

[tomato]

:biggrin: Yes, you did, congratulations again!!! :biggrin:

Did you see this thread?

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9983

They don't exactly answer your question but the OP explains why he feels it's necessary to clay a new car BEFORE putting on any wax. He shows pictures.

My friends like Meguiar products. They seem to think it's the best $ can buy.

Check out their "how to" at

http://www.meguiars.com/howtocenter/

Good luck with your new car! :headbang:

[evil genius]

Best wax I've used has been Swissvax,Pinnacle Souveran, and Zymol.

Here is what I do.

1. Wash
2. clay
3. wash again
4. Polish
5. Sealant/glaze
6. Wax
7. Wax 2nd coat

Good luck with whatever wax you choose.

[YarisOwnersDad]

Best wax I've used has been Swissvax,Pinnacle Souveran, and Zymol.

Here is what I do.

1. Wash
2. clay
3. wash again
4. Polish
5. Sealant/glaze
6. Wax
7. Wax 2nd coat

Good luck with whatever wax you choose.


Lordy, by the time I got done with all of that I would be wanting to trade again. :eyebulge:

How long does that process take?

Tom

[PETERPOOP]

I would think all day. I am waiting to pay a pro detailer to claybar/wax/polish my truck one day. Just don't have the time for that!

[evil genius]

All day but I only do it every 6 months.

once a week I wash.
once a month 2 coats of wax.

Don't forget to have some old toothbrushes for around emblems and stuff.
And keep a good supply of Q-tips and rags.

You've never seen a car shine until you've used one of these waxes.
If you try one, you'll never go back to a retail outlex brand wax.

[Yaris Hilton]

That's way more than I want to get involved with, too.

The clay bar is something I'd never heard of. Interesting.

[firebob]

Give meguiars a call and talk to them. 1-800-347-5700 Hours: M-F 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Pacific) Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Pacific). I don’t think there on Saturdays any more.

I called them last week and they gave me lots of info. He says there sending me some trial stuff in the mail. He says I will see a big difference in the car if I stop using there classic line and use a newer line of there products.

[Altitude]

I was just in an AutoZone today and saw TurtleWax has a new product called "Black Box" specifically designed for black cars - though I guess it would work for all dark colors. It might just be marketing hype but may be worth checking out.

[Altitude]

That's way more than I want to get involved with, too.

The clay bar is something I'd never heard of. Interesting.

Clay bar is a definite win! You'd be surprised how much grime comes off of an otherwise clean looking car.

[YarisSedan]

First claybar it since there is going to be overspray since its new. Removes all the debri and road grime from shipping. Then you hit it with a cleaner wax to prep it for the final coat. Then i would suggest using meguires tech wax the one in the purple bottle. It is synthetic so will last longer than thier black bottle one.

Afterwards you will notice the color is richer and deeper. The gloss is a show room shine. Plus whenever your car is "dusty" after it rains it looks like your car was freshly detailed. And once every other week or so hit it with some spray detail wax. To keep the shine up.

Just make sure you use microfiber clothes to remove the wax. That way you wont scratch the paint. All the other fancy waxes in my opinion are a waste of money and require much more time. I can wax my entire car in under 30 minutes. if i claybar and cleaner in less than a hour. And produces the same results as a 3 hour detail.

[blktiger60]

I might consider that waxing process if it was going onto something I only drove during sunny days but otherwise was parked in a garage/showroom.

I spend about 3-4 hours washing/detailing my car a week (or every other week, depending on the weather) - for a daily driver that cost in the neighborhood of 15k I think thats fully sufficient and suitable.

I remind myself that this is a machine that gets used everyday.
Although I realize the value of maintenance, there are excesses.

[YarisOwnersDad]

Well, some folks actually enjoy detailing their cars; it's sort of like a hobby, I guess.

I don't mind putting in some time on mine, but I don't think I would go so far as to clay bar and all those other steps. A good wash job and an occasional wax job are about all I can see myself doing.

Tom

[evil genius]

Maybe a little OCD but I enjoy it. It keeps me out of trouble.

Everyone will have their opinions on what is the "best" wax or the "best"
process. As long as you are satisfied with the result, that is all that matters.

Enjoy your new car.

[blktiger60]

Well, some folks actually enjoy detailing their cars; it's sort of like a hobby, I guess.

I don't mind putting in some time on mine, but I don't think I would go so far as to clay bar and all those other steps. A good wash job and an occasional wax job are about all I can see myself doing.

Tom
My hobby is World of Warcraft.
Lil Shai is my fav: http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Malfurion&n=Shaindra

[tomato]

Lordy, by the time I got done with all of that I would be wanting to trade again. :eyebulge:



:bellyroll:

[YarisOwnersDad]

OK, Peeps, I bought some Meguiar's NXT paste. I assume that I should apply it in straight lines following the contour of the car and not swirl it as I apply it? I also bought some microfiber cloths.

Tom

[evil genius]

Correct. If I'm not mistaken, Front to back on horizontal planes and up/down on vertical planes.

[firebob]

Well, some folks actually enjoy detailing their cars; it's sort of like a hobby, I guess.
Maybe a little OCD but I enjoy it. It keeps me out of trouble.
I love to clean the out side of my ride. I know how you’ll think. When it comes to the inside of the car I let my wife deal with it.


Yep evil your right on the directions.

[tomato]

To the OP

Another poster came up with a great link you might like on a different thread:

When applying wax/sealant it wont matter what direction you move your hand as long as you use a soft clean applicator.

And i prefer to wax by hand (i dont have an OB :frown: )

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6442

Hope that helps. :thumbsup:

[Pitt Yaris]

I don't have a hose so it sucks actually trying to detail my car. I've never done a detail or wax.

[YarisOwnersDad]

I don't have a hose so it sucks actually trying to detail my car. I've never done a detail or wax.

I couldn't handle not being able to wash my car. Car washes just don't begin to do the job that you can do yourself at home.

Tom

[YarisOwnersDad]

To the OP

Another poster came up with a great link you might like on a different thread:



Hope that helps. :thumbsup:



Thanks, Mater. That DOES help.

So, unless someone gives me a compelling reason not to do so, I will plan on swirling the wax on the large areas. I think I can get it on more evenly and can do a better job of getting every spot covered by swirling.

I want to get some protection on that finish. I need some wax on the car, so that I can more easily remove the bug guts.

Tom

P.S.

Some people consider those bugs on the front bumper and windshield to have been pretty brave, but I don't think they have the guts to do it again.

[Yaris Hilton]

I enjoyed taking mine to an automatic wash yesterday evening, paying a few bucks for "The Works," later spraying foamy tire gloss on. Looks great to me!

[tomato]

I guess the key is to make sure the car is really, really clean, before applying the wax so you don't scratch the paint with left-over particles.

I am an occasional waxer, too. It's really hard to keep a clean car around here, but we have water rationing so I can't be seen washing my car too often.