Newbie from down under looking for advice!

[jdimitri]

Hi folks!

I just purchased a black 2002 mazda mx-5 (or Miata as it's called in the states) with a hard top
Here's a picture of it after a quick wash/wax:
http://imgur.com/ytpk0l.jpg (http://imgur.com/ytpk0.jpg)

It looks fine from the distance right? But being the perfectionist I am and it being a black car, it has a fair few noticable flaws
First, it has moderate swirling all around, as you can see in this picture:
http://imgur.com/Mnn4Fl.jpg (http://imgur.com/Mnn4F.jpg)

It also has a handful of deeper scratches like these:
http://imgur.com/HR2Zwl.jpg (http://imgur.com/HR2Zw.jpg)
http://imgur.com/X8UZPl.jpg (http://imgur.com/X8UZP.jpg)

These pictures were taken after a wash and a session of Autoglym's Super Resin Polish (basically a filler) so the scratches/swirls are a fair bit worse than they seem

I'm sure I'm the same as many of you, I started out by going to autobarn and buying the stuff they recommend before realizing there are much better things out there for the same money.

So far I have:
Autoglym wash, super resin polish, glass cleaner, alloy seal as well as vinyl and rubber car. I know it's not the greatest, but it's either that or meguiar's at the shops here.

I've found that a bike shop can order in S100 wax (only $25! which is a bargain considering everything else costs twice as much as the US in Australia) so that's coming tomorrow

Now, I'm looking for suggestions on what to do. Everything will be done by hand.
I'm thinking an abrasive polish, cleaner as well as a sealant that I do every 6 months or so that I top up with the S100 every month or so.

Is the S100 cleanser good enough for pre-wax? Or maybe klasse all-in-one for everything?
I have no idea which abrasive polish, meguiar's ultimate compound? SwirlX?

I have microfibre applicators and some MF towels that I use to polish but will need a waffle weave one for drying. Foam applicator too maybe?

I'm using one of these for washing:
http://www.motionperformance.co.uk/images/Microfibre%202%20in%201%20Car%20Cleaning%20Noodle% 20Pads.jpg


Good enough?

Any suggestion would be MUCH appreciated! I've done my research but it's the first time I actually cared about the look of my car

Oh, also I'm going to New York at the end of the year. Can I buy the good stuff over the counter? I'd love to buy from autogeek but shipping would kill me, and AFAIK there's no physical shop to go to when I get there.

[Dubbin1]

I would pony up the cash and pick up a DA, some pads and polish. You should be able to find it all for around $200.

[Mike Phillips]

Since this is your first post...

Welcome to Autogeek Online! :welcome:





Now, I'm looking for suggestions on what to do. Everything will be done by hand.

I'm thinking an abrasive polish, cleaner as well as a sealant that I do every 6 months or so that I top up with the S100 every month or so.

Is the S100 cleanser good enough for pre-wax? Or maybe klasse all-in-one for everything?

I have no idea which abrasive polish, meguiar's ultimate compound? SwirlX?



For removing scatches by hand get lots of soft foam and/or microfiber applicator pads and some Meguiar's Ultimate Compound, it is the best hand-applied compound on the market. You'll likely want and need to re-polish with something less aggressive, it depends upon your criteria for perfection and how the "specific" paint on this car reacts to hand polishing which is in part,


The product
The application material
Your skill and ability to work by hand


Somewhere on this forum I posted about working by hand recently to a similar question and the point was it actually requires more skill to remove swirls and scratches than it does by machine. By machine, you choose the right product and pad and basically turn the machine on and it will do the work.

By hand --> you <-- have to actually be "good" at this type of thing.

In my article list (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/23722-articles-mike-phillips.html) I have some articles on polishing by hand...


Polishing Paint by Hand

How to use a hand applied abrasive polish or paint cleaner by hand (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/26612-how-use-hand-applied-abrasive-polish-paint-cleaner-hand.html)

How To Remove Paint Transfer (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/28170-how-remove-paint-transfer.html)

How to remove water spots by hand (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/29134-how-remove-water-spots-hand.html)

How to clay, clean and wax paint by hand with Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion and Pinnacle Signature Series II Carnauba Paste Wax (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/25218-how-clay-clean-wax-paint-hand-pinnacle-signature-series-ii.html)

1-Step versus 3-Step Process by Hand (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/20573-1-step-vs-3-step-process-hand.html)

Man versus Machine (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/faq/20257-man-versus-machine.html)


It would be easier, faster and produce better results to do the work by machine...



:)

[Mike Phillips]

See the black pearl article...


Success Stories

Proof You Can Do It! - Joe The Detailer - Black Porsche Turned into Black Pearl! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/25226-proof-you-can-do-joe-detailer-black-porsche-turned-into-black-pearl.html)

Proof the Average Guy can get Professional Results their first time Machine Polishing (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/25198-proof-average-guy-can-get-professional-results-their-first-time-machine-polishing.html)



:buffing:

[jdimitri]

Wow, you are an absolute legend Mike!

Well it's a daily driver so it's not going to be perfect, much like the car in the Man vs. Machine article

My current strategy is UC (just once EVER hopefully) then probably Klasse AIO every few months (it's non-abrasive right?) and S100 wax when I can be bothered/when I want it to look nice.

Feel free to criticize or substitute products.

As much as I would like to buy a DA, I just don't have a spare $200 (+$50 for shipping?) to spend on it. Or did I miss a budget priced option?