Niebelung
01-16-2012, 10:29 AM
Posted this over at Autopia Forums, so I thought I'd just post it here as well in the spirit of sharing =)
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A quick overview of the detailing scene in Singapore:
1. Cars here are really expensive because of luxury taxes and such; the average corolla runs about S$100,000 (approx. $77,000 USD). A Ferrari 458 is north of a million Singapore dollars (approx. $780,000 USD). Notwithstanding these obscene prices, there are more Lamborghini's per capita in Singapore than any other country on the planet. As a result, most drivers here have daily drivers only, but do take some pride in their appearance. There are no "beaters" in Singapore as regulations mean that most cars are scrapped/exported before they reach 10 years of age.
2. We have cheap immigrant labour by the bucket loads, so there are no "touchless" washes or brush-type car washes. Most service stations have a couple of guys who will hand wash a car for about USD$5, but the technique, wash media and soap is crap so expect lots of scratches.
3. There are detail shops and mobile detail operators that operate in the country, and the good ones charge about $30 per hour of work.
4. Product-wise, the main OTC brands are Megs, Armor All, Polyglaze and Sonax. Some larger stores carry japanese brands like Soft99, while Dodo Juice, Optimum, Duragloss and Zaino are available from specialist retailers. It's still cheaper to import some products from AG and ACC into Singapore though, even with air freight prices.
5. >90% of the population lives in apartment buildings, so access to water is generally through a shared washing bay. I have a Meg's DA, but to operate it I have to run it off a portable generator as the parking structures here have no power outlets.
6. Average temperatures here from 80 - 90F in the shade all year run, with heavy rainfall and humidity of 60%. Most products cure quickly, but I wouldn't drive around after laying a sealant on the car.
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A quick overview of the detailing scene in Singapore:
1. Cars here are really expensive because of luxury taxes and such; the average corolla runs about S$100,000 (approx. $77,000 USD). A Ferrari 458 is north of a million Singapore dollars (approx. $780,000 USD). Notwithstanding these obscene prices, there are more Lamborghini's per capita in Singapore than any other country on the planet. As a result, most drivers here have daily drivers only, but do take some pride in their appearance. There are no "beaters" in Singapore as regulations mean that most cars are scrapped/exported before they reach 10 years of age.
2. We have cheap immigrant labour by the bucket loads, so there are no "touchless" washes or brush-type car washes. Most service stations have a couple of guys who will hand wash a car for about USD$5, but the technique, wash media and soap is crap so expect lots of scratches.
3. There are detail shops and mobile detail operators that operate in the country, and the good ones charge about $30 per hour of work.
4. Product-wise, the main OTC brands are Megs, Armor All, Polyglaze and Sonax. Some larger stores carry japanese brands like Soft99, while Dodo Juice, Optimum, Duragloss and Zaino are available from specialist retailers. It's still cheaper to import some products from AG and ACC into Singapore though, even with air freight prices.
5. >90% of the population lives in apartment buildings, so access to water is generally through a shared washing bay. I have a Meg's DA, but to operate it I have to run it off a portable generator as the parking structures here have no power outlets.
6. Average temperatures here from 80 - 90F in the shade all year run, with heavy rainfall and humidity of 60%. Most products cure quickly, but I wouldn't drive around after laying a sealant on the car.