Does a new car need to be clayed?

[Ron Atchison]

There's been some discussion on whether or not a new car needs to be clayed. I've always felt that it should. New cars roll off the assembly line stored in holding lots, sit in railroad yards transported by semi's with rusty trailers all the while the new virgin/naked unprotected paint is being subjected to all kinds of environmental fallout and contaminates.

A few days ago I gave my brother inlaws 2013 Ford Flex Platinum a new car clean up that actually took as long as a used car. The new Flex is in very short supply right now they've just been released and this one had to be dealer traded for, it was the only one within 300 miles of the Chicago area, so it hasn't been sitting anywhere very long. New cars are anyhing but clean.

Being a Ford employee for 28 years he was amazed at just how dirty new cars are when they leave his plant. He kept saying we don't need to do that it's new! After about two hours his tune sooned changed. To prove a point to him I used brand new Meguirs white clay so anything found would be easy to see. This is what was just on 1/4 of the roof. The hood and all the rest of the horizonal surfaces wsere all the same. Some areas needed a more aggressive clay to remove. The end results were well worth it. I used Fixer on a few blemishes and then sealed it with WGPS and topped it with Fuzion. I'll get a write up on it when time allows but these pictures close the case on claying new cars for me.

[sparkie]

[dad07]

for me if it needs any kinda of polish work it NEEDS clay! This is my opinion and the rule of thumb that I follow.

[Rsurfer]

You should have sprayed some Iron X and watched it bleed.

[dwlinc23]

Always!

[Kristopher1129]

I'd be surprised to find even a new car with no surface contaminants. If you plan on polishing at all...always clay.

[Agfan]

Sometimes new cars need paint corrections let alone a clay.

[Detail-Impressions]

Every time have I used Iron X and I found blood red coming from out of the paint. Amazing product!

You should have sprayed some Iron X and watched it bleed.

[SR99]

It's easy enough to do a small area and see if you pick up visible contaminants in the clay or feel any resistance with the clay. If not, then just feel for "unsmooth spots" when you dry the car with a microfiber towel after the first wash and do a spot claying as needed (unless you really like claying, in which case...have at it!)

[david79z28]

I have yet to take a clay bar to a new car that didn't come up with contaminants on it.

I clayed my garage queen over the weekend. After just 3000 miles and 12 months since I last clayed it, I was shocked at the amount of stuff that came off the paint.