Spiney
05-21-2012, 12:23 AM
I know many of you are into the detailing dollars for much more than me. But tonight the topic of my current AG order came up. My wife wasn't raging, but she wasn't pleased. Back story we bought our 96 SVT Cobra last July. Besides a Sears Wax pusher I had no equipment and few products. So on the advice of the previous owner who maintained the car very well for 15 years we went out and excitedly bought a long list of Maguiar's OTC mostly Gold Class products. Then some assorted MF items, California Duster, silicone squeegee, etc. then we join the local Mustang club and I start watching every car related show on Speed and Velocity. So we are in $10,500 for the car, $300+ for a cover, then we realize covers not good enough we need to clean out rotting 63 Pontiac, brother in laws not ours from garage, and get Cobra in garage because it's never seen rain and we are getting monsoons. Get car in garage and realize that with my 4 back surgeries opening garage door is causing pain. So we buy a Sears garage door opener on sale for $200 plus $149 install. They come out to install and say door is very heavy, springs, cables, and pulleys are shot, and I need a $80 extension kit because I have a 8 foot door. So $200 garage door opener turns into about $550.
Through shows and car guy friends we find out our paint is pretty damn good for now 16 years old but it needs detailed. We have several other cars so rather than pay to have Cobra detailed, I want to buy buffer and do it myself. The old give a man a fish or teach him how to fish story. So my Christmas gift is a GG 6" DA and a Meg's DA MF kit. Forgot to mention through Two guys garage and My Classic Car I discover AG and become addicted. So even with the New Years sale I spend about $200 there. Through reading the forums and help from TuscaroraDave, Bobby, Cee Dog, and Mr Phillips I realize I need more than I have. So after a month of reading and agonizing over pad selection and product selection, and buying spare pads because locally all I can buy are 6". Plus polish and LSP, grit guards, you name it I just dropped even with sale another $228. So we are parked at the absolute farest end of a Walmart parking lot to avoid door dings and I make the mistake of saying I want to look at the auto section. This is after we just put in our cart about $40 worth of clear plastic tubs to sort and protect my detailing supplies. She says what could you possibly need. I sheepishly say I forgot to get leather cleaner and conditioner. Then she asks how much was my order and I half lied and said $128. Because it was $228 and I had a $100 gift certificate. But I lied and said $128 and she started to get mad. So I added but I had a $100 gift certificate. Then we check out and are heading to the car. I never lie to her, or her to me and I always get hit with instant karma. So I figure I better fess up or there will be a big scratch in the car when we get there. So I tell her my real out of pocket was $128. And that's the minimum I needed to spend to do it right. She gets upset but I tell her not to worry, we have it, besides I have some squirrelled away to pay for it.
So just in detailing supplies I'm in for about $578. And I'm not in this for even a sideline business. When we bought our used 98 Volvo V70 wagon 5 years ago it was in nice shape but I still took it to a local detailer. We paid $150 and were not impressed. So I figure I can improve and maintain our Volvo, my 90 Ranger with 2 year old paint, the Cobra, and my mother in laws 2002 Camry. I guess my wife's question is when does it end? Does your spouse get upset when you bring more detailing supplies home? I know eventually she will be cool with it because the Cobra was supposed to be my 50th birthday gift, but as soon as she drove it it has become more hers, than mine. She's now really into the whole scene including cruises and shows. Well I've spouted long enough. Once my box o goodies arrives, I best make some magic happen. Cheers, thanks for all of the advice and support. Spiney-Dave
Through shows and car guy friends we find out our paint is pretty damn good for now 16 years old but it needs detailed. We have several other cars so rather than pay to have Cobra detailed, I want to buy buffer and do it myself. The old give a man a fish or teach him how to fish story. So my Christmas gift is a GG 6" DA and a Meg's DA MF kit. Forgot to mention through Two guys garage and My Classic Car I discover AG and become addicted. So even with the New Years sale I spend about $200 there. Through reading the forums and help from TuscaroraDave, Bobby, Cee Dog, and Mr Phillips I realize I need more than I have. So after a month of reading and agonizing over pad selection and product selection, and buying spare pads because locally all I can buy are 6". Plus polish and LSP, grit guards, you name it I just dropped even with sale another $228. So we are parked at the absolute farest end of a Walmart parking lot to avoid door dings and I make the mistake of saying I want to look at the auto section. This is after we just put in our cart about $40 worth of clear plastic tubs to sort and protect my detailing supplies. She says what could you possibly need. I sheepishly say I forgot to get leather cleaner and conditioner. Then she asks how much was my order and I half lied and said $128. Because it was $228 and I had a $100 gift certificate. But I lied and said $128 and she started to get mad. So I added but I had a $100 gift certificate. Then we check out and are heading to the car. I never lie to her, or her to me and I always get hit with instant karma. So I figure I better fess up or there will be a big scratch in the car when we get there. So I tell her my real out of pocket was $128. And that's the minimum I needed to spend to do it right. She gets upset but I tell her not to worry, we have it, besides I have some squirrelled away to pay for it.
So just in detailing supplies I'm in for about $578. And I'm not in this for even a sideline business. When we bought our used 98 Volvo V70 wagon 5 years ago it was in nice shape but I still took it to a local detailer. We paid $150 and were not impressed. So I figure I can improve and maintain our Volvo, my 90 Ranger with 2 year old paint, the Cobra, and my mother in laws 2002 Camry. I guess my wife's question is when does it end? Does your spouse get upset when you bring more detailing supplies home? I know eventually she will be cool with it because the Cobra was supposed to be my 50th birthday gift, but as soon as she drove it it has become more hers, than mine. She's now really into the whole scene including cruises and shows. Well I've spouted long enough. Once my box o goodies arrives, I best make some magic happen. Cheers, thanks for all of the advice and support. Spiney-Dave