Anybody feel like helping a complete noob save some money?

[Bldgengineer]

I need to completely start from scratch and created a shopping cart for myself but at over $600 its making me pucker a little bit. I don't plan on starting a business but I do want my personal vehicles looking pretty decent for a long time. My vehicles are a 2010 Ram 2500, 2004 Escalade esv, and 2013 Hyundai Elantra.

So far this is what I've come up with:

• Porter Cable 5.5 x 7/8 Inch CCS Foam Pad Kit - $240 Only reason why I like this kit is the amount of pads you get with it
• Home Depot Buckets - $7(x2)
• The Grit Guard Insert - 2 Pack - $18
  
• CarPro Wool Wash Mitt - $18
  
• Supreme Micro-Chenille Wash Mitt - $10
  
• The Guzzler Triple Kit - $60
  
• Super Soft Deluxe Microfiber Towels with Rolled Edges, 6 Pack - $18
  
• Mothers Tire, Wheel & Well Brush Kit - $15
• Flex Foam Tire Dressing Applicators 3 Pack - $13
• Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Bar Replacement 3 Pack -G1001 - $19
  
• Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine 32 oz - $16
  
• Duragloss Car Wash Concentrate #901 - $6
• Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax #845 - $16
  
• Meguiars Mirror Glaze #105 Ultra-Cut Compound 32 oz. - $26
  
• Meguiars Mirror Glaze #205 Ultra Finishing Polish 32 oz. - $28
  
• Four Star Ultimate Paint Protection - $30
• Meguiars D103 All Purpose Cleaner Plus - $28
• Detailer's Gloss Tire Gel - $20
• 303 Aerospace Protectant 16 oz - $13
  
• Meguiars Gold Class Rich Leather Spray - $9
  

Does anybody see somewhere where I'm wasting money or I don't need it right now or am I missing anything?

In the past it would take me at least 4 hours just to do a wash and wax on just one of my trucks. I've never done a compound or used a machine for this type of work before. I'm hoping to speed the process up some as well as come out with a better result.

[Setec Astronomy]

Kind of the price of admission. If you're trying to shave a little off of there, you might want to cut the 105/205 to the small bottles, should be enough to get your vehicles done. If you buy the quarts, the unit price is cheaper but you will have a lifetime supply that you will probably never use.

Also, I see you have wax and sealant LSP's, which is fine, you could pick one or the other. A lot of people like Powerlock, which is on sale for $5 less than the UPP.

Those Guzzlers are really nice towels, they are a bit pricey, when I buy something like that I look for a sale or BOGO.

The bad news is that if this is bothering your wallet, you might want to turn back now, it only gets worse. Other than that, I think you made good choices, looks like you thought it out well, just what I would expect from a building engineer

[Eandras]

I would go with a griots unit. More power and better warranty. The microfibers are just average that comes with the kit. Most of the time you can get just as much not using a kit.

You can also use a discount code that will allow additional money off but they usually are not offered on kits that are discounted.

Just some thoughts

Ed

[Setec Astronomy]

Originally Posted by Eandras

You can also use a discount code that will allow additional money off but they usually are not offered on kits that are discounted.

Good point, make sure to use a discount code or wait for a sale.

[killrwheels@autogeek]

The first order is often the most expensive as it covers every area. I would use reviews and search the BOGO and sample areas to try things first and find the greatest value too.

[dougaross]

Originally Posted by Bldgengineer

I need to completely start from scratch and created a shopping cart for myself but at over $600 its making me pucker a little bit. I don't plan on starting a business but I do want my personal vehicles looking pretty decent for a long time. My vehicles are a 2010 Ram 2500, 2004 Escalade esv, and 2013 Hyundai Elantra.

So far this is what I've come up with:

• Porter Cable 5.5 x 7/8 Inch CCS Foam Pad Kit - $240 Only reason why I like this kit is the amount of pads you get with it
• Home Depot Buckets - $7(x2)
• The Grit Guard Insert - 2 Pack - $18
  
• CarPro Wool Wash Mitt - $18
  
• Supreme Micro-Chenille Wash Mitt - $10
  
• The Guzzler Triple Kit - $60
  
• Super Soft Deluxe Microfiber Towels with Rolled Edges, 6 Pack - $18
  
• Mothers Tire, Wheel & Well Brush Kit - $15
• Flex Foam Tire Dressing Applicators 3 Pack - $13
• Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Bar Replacement 3 Pack -G1001 - $19
  
• Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine 32 oz - $16
  
• Duragloss Car Wash Concentrate #901 - $6
• Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax #845 - $16
  
• Meguiars Mirror Glaze #105 Ultra-Cut Compound 32 oz. - $26
  
• Meguiars Mirror Glaze #205 Ultra Finishing Polish 32 oz. - $28
  
• Four Star Ultimate Paint Protection - $30
• Meguiars D103 All Purpose Cleaner Plus - $28
• Detailer's Gloss Tire Gel - $20
• 303 Aerospace Protectant 16 oz - $13
  
• Meguiars Gold Class Rich Leather Spray - $9
  

You have made a great list.
I would suggest the following changes. Some of these are personal preferences.

You probably don't need 3 guzzlers, pick a large size

I would get Optimum Power Clean instead M103. More versatile and safe on most surfaces. BTW the OCW that comes free is a great product for after wash

PERL can replace 303 Protectant and maybe Gloss Tire Gel. Use on External plastics, Engine, Tires, Interior rubber / dashboard / leather / vinyl

Is your plan to seal and top with wax? If not, you could eliminate either 845 or FSUPP

[Bldgengineer]

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

Kind of the price of admission. If you're trying to shave a little off of there, you might want to cut the 105/205 to the small bottles, should be enough to get your vehicles done. If you buy the quarts, the unit price is cheaper but you will have a lifetime supply that you will probably never use.

Also, I see you have wax and sealant LSP's, which is fine, you could pick one or the other. A lot of people like Powerlock, which is on sale for $5 less than the UPP.

Those Guzzlers are really nice towels, they are a bit pricey, when I buy something like that I look for a sale or BOGO.

The bad news is that if this is bothering your wallet, you might want to turn back now, it only gets worse. Other than that, I think you made good choices, looks like you thought it out well, just what I would expect from a building engineer

Lol Thanks! I've actually been racking my brain with this since I got the Hyundai last Friday.

Do you mind suggesting a couple of towels? Also, do you think the 8oz bottles of the 105/205 will be enough do all three vehicles? I don't plan on compounding the new car but would like to clay and polish it.

Originally Posted by Eandras

I would go with a griots unit. More power and better warranty. The microfibers are just average that comes with the kit. Most of the time you can get just as much not using a kit.

You can also use a discount code that will allow additional money off but they usually are not offered on kits that are discounted.

Just some thoughts

Ed

Got any suggestions on the MF? I wasn't even paying attention to the ones in the kit and didn't even know they came with it.

Originally Posted by dougaross

You have made a great list.
I would suggest the following changes. Some of these are personal preferences.

You probably don't need 3 guzzlers, pick a large size

I would get Optimum Power Clean instead M103. More versatile and safe on most surfaces. BTW the OCW that comes free is a great product for after wash

PERL can replace 303 Protectant and maybe Gloss Tire Gel. Use on External plastics, Engine, Tires, Interior rubber / dashboard / leather / vinyl

Is your plan to seal and top with wax? If not, you could eliminate either 845 or FSUPP

What size bottle of PERL would you suggest? There's a lot of leather in the Caddy. Also, I do plan on sealing and coating with a top wax. Is one bottle of sealer enough for these size of vehicles?

Thanks again for the responses guys! I really wasn't expecting so many so quick!

[Setec Astronomy]

Normally I would say about 1oz of polish/compound per vehicle, maybe more on the Escalade. Depends how often you change pads, etc. The sealant and 845 more like 1/2-1 oz per vehicle.

Those rolled edge towels are a good price, better than some of the other Cobra towels. If you can get them on sale or BOGO, do it. AG isn't the cheapest place for towels, so I usually don't buy towels here unless they are sale or BOGO, but the regular price for the rolled edge is a fair price.

A couple of other options for your interiors are Duragloss Leather Conditioner (LC) #221 and Optimum Protectant Plus offers complete protection for interior leather, vinyl, plastic & rubber dressing. vinyl and rubber dressing, vinyl

PS Those Elantras are really nice, I want to go look at one of the new GT's. And just to confuse you on the pads and polishes you might want to try this: Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System 5 Inch Starter Kit, paint correction kit, dual action polishing kit It's really easy and works well.

[Wheelzntoys]

After your initial order and you want to save money....stop reading the forums...lol

Then you'll wonder about a rotary, a Flex, Gtechniq products, AIOs, water based polishes .etc....

[dougaross]

Originally Posted by Bldgengineer

Lol Thanks! I've actually been racking my brain with this since I got the Hyundai last Friday.

What size bottle of PERL would you suggest? There's a lot of leather in the Caddy. Also, I do plan on sealing and coating with a top wax. Is one bottle of sealer enough for these size of vehicles?

Thanks again for the responses guys! I really wasn't expecting so many so quick!

For leather PERL is diluted 5:1 so 500ml is fine. As far as sealant, I haven't used UPP but 16oz is a lot of sealant. Sealant are applied very thin. See CEE DOG's review for more insiight