2001 Nissan Sentra 200k mile Makeover (56K No way!)

[danponjican]

This is my wife's daily driver/used to be my dailer commuter for a 180 mile daily commute. I bought it new in November of 2000 and it has been a great car. Cheap payment, good on gas and reasonably comfortable. It has been good to us... on Friday to odometer flipped over to the whopping 200,000 mile mark. So I decided to give her a much needed makeover. This car hardly ever gets washed (literally) and is usually parked under a tree in our driveway that loves spitting crap on our cars! Needless to say, that paint had seen better days!

Process:

Wash with Turtle Wax soap (generic stuff from department store... almost empty now... any suggestions on a replacement?)
Mother's yellow claybar
Optimum Compound with yellow pad on a PC
SSR1 on black pad on a PC
Poorboy's EXHere's what I started with:
http://images111.fotki.com/v742/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060986-vi.jpg

http://images109.fotki.com/v784/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060979-vi.jpg

http://images21.fotki.com/v578/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060981-vi.jpg

http://images24.fotki.com/v830/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060982-vi.jpg

http://images7.fotki.com/v105/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060984-vi.jpg

Results with before & after shots next...

[danponjican]

Here is how much product I was using on the yellow pad. BTW, this was the first time I was using a PC. I've worked with a cheaper Ryobi DA and even worked a Chicago rotary. I have to say, the PC broke the compound down almost as fast as the rotary. I was very suprised that the PC handled like a rotary. I was expecting it to feel more like the very slow action of the Ryobi DA.

http://images112.fotki.com/v585/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060993-vi.jpg

This is the yellow pad after finishing 1/2 of the car (hood, roof, trunk and front fenders).

http://images24.fotki.com/v831/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060994-vi.jpg

http://images115.fotki.com/v683/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060995-vi.jpg

And now the before and afters...

Hood before:
http://images115.fotki.com/v676/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060988-vi.jpg

Hood after:
http://images21.fotki.com/v834/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5061012-vi.jpg

Trunk before:
http://images21.fotki.com/v578/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060981-vi.jpg

Trunk after:
http://images20.fotki.com/v366/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5061009-vi.jpg

Roof before:
http://images8.fotki.com/v128/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060984-vi.jpg

Roof after:
http://images115.fotki.com/v680/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5061006-vi.jpg

http://images22.fotki.com/v518/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5061011-vi.jpg

Some more reflective shots...
http://images112.fotki.com/v586/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5061007-vi.jpg

http://images112.fotki.com/v585/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5060996-vi.jpg

http://images24.fotki.com/v852/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5061015-vi.jpg

http://images21.fotki.com/v760/photos/5/559186/4906562/P5061013-vi.jpg

[Nica]

Really nice turn around. Congrats on the 200K, you should expect more from the vehicle.

[sparkie]

Nice turnaround. Love the reflections shots. Looks like a different car.

[Sa//|XP]

Awesome, man! I know that car was gonna make an awesome before/after! How did you get along with the PC later on? Did it still want to bog down and overheat?
That hood transformation is just incredible.

[scottgt]

wow great!!! looks awesome

[supercharged]

Great job! That's an awesome turnaround. Now just keep it in that condition.

[klumzypinoy]

Wow 200k with no love until now :p You made that thing bling!

[P1et]

That is some great work, nice depth for a white car!

It looks like you live in a nice, green wooded neighborhood too. Nice!

[alban61]

Wow!! Made that Sentra look great!! And on a white car too! Great work!! Very nice reflection pics!
And I know all about having to park under trees! Nothing but bird crap and sap!!

[RTexasF]

My My, You've given her a new car. Do the interior as well and there may be some, uh, favors in line for you.

All kidding aside the car looks great.....time well spent.

[Reddwarf]

The before and after shot of the hood is amazing! Hard to believe it is the same car. That must have given you a lot of satisfaction. Well done!

Now let's see you do the engine and interior!

On the soap question, try Poorboy's Super Slick & Suds (http://www.autogeek.net/pbss32.html), or the Duragloss Car Wash #901 (http://www.autogeek.net/duragloss-car-wash-concentrate.html). I have used the Poorboy's and it is excellent, many people have raved about the Duragloss (e.g. Lauren & Sparkie) so I want to give it a try. If you want something OTC I highly recommend Meguiar's Gold Class Shampoo (http://www.autogeek.net/meggolclassh.html).

[supercharged]

The before and after shot of the hood is amazing! Hard to believe it is the same car. That must have given you a lot of satisfaction. Well done!

Now let's see you do the engine and interior!

On the soap question, try Poorboy's Super Slick & Suds (http://www.autogeek.net/pbss32.html), or the Duragloss Car Wash #901 (http://www.autogeek.net/duragloss-car-wash-concentrate.html). I have used the Poorboy's and it is excellent, many people have raved about the Duragloss (e.g. Lauren & Sparkie) so I want to give it a try. If you want something OTC I highly recommend Meguiar's Gold Class Shampoo (http://www.autogeek.net/meggolclassh.html).
Duragloss #901 is pretty nice, but I still like Poorboy's SS&S better.

[klumzypinoy]

Duragloss #901 is pretty nice, but I still like Poorboy's SS&S better.

It's so hard to choose between the two! 901 when I'm in a money pinch, SS&S when I have the money :)