Shame its going back.....

[pmanson]

Over the last couple of months i've had the use of a 900 Convertible which unfortunately is going back to its owner tommorrow (she spends 6 months out of the country each so she asked me to give it a run once a week or so).

It's on a K plate, on about 140k and was great fun! The only issue i had with it was that it was an auto so drank like a fish!

I thought i'd treat it to a wash and wax before I gave it back:

Before:





Then after a clay bar, then 3 stage Meguirs polish (and about 4 hours of my time):











It could do with a new hood (and I didn't have anything to clean the old one up) but i'm going to miss this car... So much so that i'm now on the look out for an old MX5 for some soft top fun!

Regards,

Phill

[nicecupoftea]

Very nice

My dad recently sold his ruby red K reg 900 LPT convertible with just 90k on it. Lovely car but he found it a bit agricultural (but then it was basically designed in the 60s!)

the c900 conv is definitely a cruiser rather than a serious drive, but you can't beat roof down fun

[k321]

where do you buy this clay bar from and the polish??????

[pmanson]

k321 said:

where do you buy this clay bar from and the polish??????

Halfords.

It's all made my Meguires.

The Clay bar comes with a spray bottle to keep the paintwork wet while you clean it.

The 3 stages are:

Stage 1 - Paint Cleaner
Stage 2 - Polish
Stage 3 - Wax

Once you've used the clay bar on the car the paint will feel very smooth like glass. Then you simply apply each stage and buff off before applying the next.

[k321]

pmanson thanks for that. i am going to spend the whole day tomorrow cleaning my Saab cab, once i get it back from the effing dealership

also your situation sounds like mine- debt and uni, i am going to try and be a plumber to get out of debt!

so let me get this straight, i first wash the car, then use this clay bar on it, keep paintwork wet with this spray..then polish it off?

[pmanson]

k321 said:

pmanson thanks for that. i am going to spend the whole day tomorrow cleaning my Saab cab, once i get it back from the effing dealership

also your situation sounds like mine- debt and uni, i am going to try and be a plumber to get out of debt!

so let me get this straight, i first wash the car, then use this clay bar on it, keep paintwork wet with this spray..then polish it off?

Wash the car, then use the spray and clay bar. Read the instuctions first but you'll feel the clay bar get easier to move across the paint work the cleaner it gets.

Keep rolling the clay bar to get a clean side though!

I didn't bother polishing off the residue the spray leaves (its quick detailing spray IIRC) as I knew I was going to use the Stage 1 (Paintwork Cleaner).

It's very easier but your arm will ache.

With the polish (stage 2) and wax (stage 3) do small areas at a time (eg. divide the bonnet into 4) otherwise it becomes very hard work.

Oh yeah and get some half decent polishing clothes - it'll make it easier for you!

[k321]

thanks, i now just got to get my saab back, its the same colour i think as the one you borrowed, and cant wait to have the shiniest car in the west midlands, until the day it rains that is which knowing my luck will be the next day

[NiceCupOfTea]

Quick word of advice - if you drop the clay bar BIN IT!!!!

[k321]

how come nicecupoftea?

so i shouldnt drop it..and roll it all the time to get a clean side?
still havent got my car back..will get it back tomorrow so will clean it wednesday

thanks

[NiceCupOfTea]

It'll have grit in it - it'll end up working its way to the surface when you knead it, and will do nasty things to your paintwork

[GerrardSpear]

Do yourself a huge favour and use a micro-fibre cloth for your polishing and buffing. It takes all the elbow work out of it after you have applied your polish/wax and you dont have to worry about it drying before buffing it off.

Meguires do one as do many others.

Top Tip.

[k321]

thanks, luckily i didnt clean the car as now its snowing, but by accident, i went to 3 halfrauds stores and couldnt find this meguires stuff, nor even a clay stick

so apart from the internet where could i locate meguires clay stick?

thanks

[NiceCupOfTea]

www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/Store/Product/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=258

That's the stuff, no idea what that company is like though - shop around.

Picked mine up at a car show 18 months ago.

[Prof Beard]

I've been using the Meguiar's stuff (Kwik-Clay, Detailer and Wax) and really liked it but have just got some of this:

www.bilthamber.com/autoclay.html

and this:

www.bilthamber.com/autobalm.html

The clay bar is much bigger than the Meg one and seems better value. It CAN be used with water, but I've been using it with Meg's detailer, because I really rate that. It's (Meg detailer) really good on it's own for removing bird poo and the like.

The Bilt-Hamber Autobalm is bloody marvellous, easy to apply, and the water really "beads" on it. Nice finish too.