agree with BIGS!!! I have never used a buffer on my car...it's black. I started the first few years with Meguiars products. Lately I've tried Zaino...it's a good product, espcially when combined with a good 3M product. I washed it at least twice a week in the sping/summer/fall, always did a quick polish job after that, then full detail once a month. Washing included vaccuming as needed, leather polish on the seats and cleaning the engine. Every spring I totally clean the ENTIRE car, underside included.
A couple of quick tips...
1. always use good quality towels to dry your car, only made is the USA 100% towels, never cheap china towels that say they are 100% cotton and aren't. When drying, dry everywhere...Door sills, under the hood, the trunk lid area...EVERYTIME YOU WASH THE CAR DO THIS!! This is crucial to maintaining good looks.
2. Never wash your car in the sun, if you really have to make sure you only do a section at a time and rinse the WHOLE car after each section. Once complete with washing and rinsing, take the nozzle off the and let the water run over the entire car starting with the top. This will leave less water on your car making it easier to dry.
3. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER wash/dry/polish/wax your car using the circular motion. This is the number 1 cause of swirls marks. Use long straight strokes. Up and down on the sides of the car & back and forth on the top surfaces. Yes it's a little more of a pain in the a** but the results are stunning. Basically the idea is to go with the lines of the car.
4. NEVER LET ANYONE touch your car...period. Don't let the dealer/mechanic touch your car, make sure you always tell them never touch the paint job. Park your car away from everybody. If dust in on your car and someone wipes thier hand on it or brushes up against it, they just scratched your paint.
If there are any doubts about the above statements, ask the people at Chicago CEG who have seen my car in person. It's not 5 years old and still looks new!
I could go on forever about washing/cleaning car tips. If anyone wants a more detailed version, just ask.
rainshdw
