2006 Subaru Legacy GT - Re-born

[LegacyGT]

The following is a writeup of detailing a 2006 Subaru Legacy GT with 80K miles on the clock. This Subaru is a daily driver in one of the harshest weather states - Iowa. With over 100'' of snow last winter alone, and temperatures that swing from -20 to +100 with humidity that pushes the heat indexes near 117 during the summer no car no matter how loved can survive without showing wear.

The Legacy GT is a true sleeper of a car, with major performance under subtle styling. the 2.5 liter horizontal 4 boxer engine is turbo charged to 250 HP and 250 pounds-feet of torque all planted with a full time symmetrical all wheel drive system there is no where this car cant go, and not much it can't out run.

Admittedly the car was in pretty bad shape, the Iowa weather has been punishing with all of the salt and sand used in the winters. A full correction was not reasonable to expect, as the front of the car, hood, and a few side panels really need to be re-sprayed. Even the windshield is badly pitted from the elements. This car regularly sees triple digit speeds and encounters just about every bug and stone out there.

Wash:
Dawn to remove any oil / wax etc.
Two bucket method w/ Grit Guards
Lambs wool mitt
Cobra water guzzler towels

Clay:
Mothers Clay bar
Mothers Quick Detailer Spray

Polish:
Menzerna Super Intensive Polish
PC
Lake Country Orange 6.5'' CCS
IPA Wipe down

LSP:
Wolf Gang Deep Gloss paint sealant
Pinnacle Soveran Paste
Cobra ultra-plush purple towels <3

Before & Test Spot:
http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1683/1009389524_yfff5-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1684/1009389951_TJSqL-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1685/1009390732_jjP6k-L.jpg



http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1703/1009399301_iczYA-L.jpg
After a round with Menzena SIP - Very good results, no marring. I'll try the nano polish, but I don't see much room for improvement.

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1710/1009403617_NoX5a-L.jpg
50/50 after nano polish. Not much additional improvement. For a daily driver I think I can one-step this with SIP.

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1716/1009407260_CGS4R-L.jpg
The sun came out and you can see the middle tape line and the difference a bit of polishing made! Tests are done and I am ready to do the real-deal on Friday/Saturday.

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1726/1011934121_so5Jm-L.jpg
Clay time! Most of the car was pretty good, but the lower panels behind the front wheel and bumper were filthy! I would have gotten more pictures, but I was racing against the sun to get finished with another wash before putting into the garage for polishing.

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1739/1011935811_RjfVc-L.jpg
Oh man, washed and clayed what did I just get myself into.


http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1744/1011937305_PVYp8-L.jpg
Taped off and ready to get started.

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1757/1011939716_LYFVD-L.jpg
50/50 - the scratch below was from someone keying the car. Like Plup fiction said, you don't f*** with another mans ride.

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1759/1011941466_MnmYJ-L.jpg
50/50 under halogen

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1760/1011942494_SbEdR-L.jpg
50/50 on a different door panel.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Then, along comes WGDGPS -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1763/1011943286_bmKvM-L.jpg
After polishing and WGDGPS

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1764/1011943893_EK6BT-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1765/1011944550_kjw5x-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1766/1011945484_Rj5DP-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1770/1011946277_oNDhY-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1771/1011946818_znJvf-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1772/1011947587_J3JCL-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1774/1011948207_Lf6JR-L.jpg
Damage to front bumper, will need respraying

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1775/1011949088_S9Jjh-L.jpg
I still polished what I could ... now for a hard night sleep. Actually I fell asleep on the couch and my wife had to get me up to bed.

=-=-=-=-=-=- Day 2 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1776/1012645813_SFHjL-L-1.jpg
I had a new assistant that volunteered to help out.

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1779/1012656661_t98w2-L.jpg
There is a pretty metallic green/blue to the paint.

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1781/1012658141_TAwdY-L.jpg
You have to love Soveran! It smells great as well. I would almost stick to entirely WGDGPS, but I would miss the smell of carnuba.

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1782/1012659680_ugjY9-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1784/1012661372_Tztij-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1785/1012663085_zxvU4-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1790/1012664425_8Yr6v-L.jpg

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1602/1001494361_zLPZU-L-1.jpg
The engine deserves some love too. It got hit with Meg's APC+ 4:1 and a brush, then Aerospace 303 on pretty much everything.

http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1603/1001497454_JZeUX-L-1.jpg

All in all I would consider it a 90&#37; correction, there was only so much that could be done with out some serious wet sanding and re-spraying. Unfortunately it decided to rain buckets today so I don't have any direct sun after shots yet.

It was a heck of a lot of work, but it breathed some much needed life into the vehicle. Hopefully it will run at least another 80k looking good. I fear the whole car may need to be resprayed within the near future.
.
.
.
.
.
.
And only now that it has been restored, am I able to admit that this is actually my own ride. I really do love this car.

[DjbuddyPL]

simply WOW, i cant wait to get my pc kit, great job!!!

[Shane731]

Great job! :props:

[mchess1]

Great job on reviving that 'Ru!

Okay, I see a Quintana Roo and the MB might be a Trek? What are the yellow bikes?

I have a Roo also, love to get going fast on it. Too bad I swim like a rock!

[LegacyGT]

Great job on reviving that 'Ru!

Okay, I see a Quintana Roo and the MB might be a Trek? What are the yellow bikes?

I have a Roo also, love to get going fast on it. Too bad I swim like a rock!

That's a QR Seduza, my wife's Tri-bike, the Trek is a 69'er top fuel, my MTB, there should be a blue Cervelo P2 in one of those (my tri-bike) and the yellow is a Raleigh MTB for my wife.

[fancyfootwork]

Excellent job man. How did you like the Mothers clay?

[Type[R]+]

Excellent job man. How did you like the Mothers clay?The Meg's clay kit is much better value with 2x the clay in the kit. the mothers clay is tiny!

[snowking724]

what a great shot! great job!
http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1784/1012661372_Tztij-L.jpg

[fancyfootwork]

+;357787']The Meg's clay kit is much better value with 2x the clay in the kit. the mothers clay is tiny!

I have the Megs clay kit clay but it isn't aggressive enough. It's just to light. I do however like it for glass though.

[sportscarhiatus]

beautiful turn around. I am still surprised however, that you didn't leave any light marring after using an orange pad. Usually, some light marring is left, hence finishing it with nano with a gray pad or equivalent.

How did you manage to not have any marring after an orange pad? I was going to suggest an IPA, but it looks like you already did that as well.

[evilwrx]

Great turnaround! Seeing another subie makies me miss my Stage IV WRX...oh well times change!

[LegacyGT]

beautiful turn around. I am still surprised however, that you didn't leave any light marring after using an orange pad. Usually, some light marring is left, hence finishing it with nano with a gray pad or equivalent.

How did you manage to not have any marring after an orange pad? I was going to suggest an IPA, but it looks like you already did that as well.

I am not entirely sure, and if you saw my other posts I was having some trouble with the SIP dusting. I ran about 4 passes under heavy pressure (pad still spinning) then re-primed with pad conditioner (dusting problem) and ran another 4 passes under machine weight only. I did a few test spots with nano w/ white pad but could not tell a difference. I feel like the clear coat on this car is pretty soft due to how easily it scratches, not sure if that factored in. I had every intention of two stepping with SIP/Nano but I just could not see any difference after an IPA wipedown. Next week I am going to use power finish on my wife's car, so I'll post back how that goes.

[LegacyGT]

Excellent job man. How did you like the Mothers clay?

I don't have anything to compare it to yet, I started out with all mothers products before finding AutoGeek, and I am now starting to branch out. I feel like the dirty areas take a lot of passes to get out contamination, so I will be eager to try out some different clays. Once I have something else to compare to, I'll post back.

[LegacyGT]

what a great shot! great job!
http://billmorton.smugmug.com/Cars/Subau-Polish-Scratch-Removal/IMG1784/1012661372_Tztij-L.jpg

Thanks!

[Munich77]

Awesome turn-around indeed :). That car looks pretty great for the (ab)use it sees.