New car, looking for paint maintenance tips

So the wife and I just bought a Modern Steel Honda

supposedly the dealer did a ceramic coating, BUT after about a week of light rain it is covered in water spots, is that typical with ceramic?

anyways to my real question

What would be the best way to maintain the paint for the long haul?

I am not super experienced, I have a DA with some Lake Country CCS pads, I have used Meguiars Ultimate Compound and their Crystal wax, but not really much outside of that. I am a little intimidated by the new Ceramic/NXT type stuff

I just ran out of my Quik Detailer and wax, so I am about to order, hence my asking haha

Thanks everybody!

a few more details I forgot to add

my main adversaries are birds, I have giant trees in front so they poop all over the car, I put the new car on the side of the driveway that doesnt get the poop haha but still

as I have trees I do get sap

and finally it rains quite a bit here in Central Texas

Thanks

I am no expert by any means....LOL my user name is Weekend Warrior...so that tells you something....I have a 2019 Toyota Camry that I ceramic coated about 3 weeks ago...and I have to say it came out great..I am 79 years old so if I can do it any one can...I did use sealant before I coated the car...the sealant came out great also....but like you I put on the coating..because its suppose to last 5 years...LOL time will tell...also I leave my car outside...and I live in Northern Florida...a lot of heat and rain...this is what did:

wash
clay
used compound on the hood because of water spots
polished
then use ceramic coating

lots of luck...Mike has lots of videos on putting on coating

Quote:

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Originally Posted by captainofiron

So the wife and I just bought a Modern Steel Honda

supposedly the dealer did a ceramic coating, BUT after about a week of light rain it is covered in water spots, is that typical with ceramic?

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It's typical if there's something corrosive in the water where you live. This PROBLEM comes up so often I wrote a brand new article for the topic and mostly to draw people's attention away from the wax, sealant or coating and put it where it needs to be,

What's in the water?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by captainofiron

anyways to my real question

What would be the best way to maintain the paint for the long haul?

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I know this will sound simple but it hold true over time,

Find something you like and use it often

Quote:

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Originally Posted by captainofiron

I am not super experienced, I have a DA with some Lake Country CCS pads, I have used Meguiars Ultimate Compound and their Crystal wax, but not really much outside of that.

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I know a little about UC

Meguiar's Ultimate Compound History


And I wrote the concept for NXT Tech Wax on page 31 of a report I wrote for Meguiar's called,

The Zaino Case Study,

Only 3 people at Meguiar's ever recognized and gave me credit for this,

Dick Koeth - Strategic Planner at Meguiar's - may he rest in peace

Atticus Firey - Former Vice President of Meguiar's

Gary Silvers - Head of R&D for Meguiar's


Good product. Went from ZERO SALES to the number one selling wax in 8 months back in 2004 - something the "wax industry" had NEVER seen before.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by captainofiron

I am a little intimidated by the new Ceramic/NXT type stuff

I just ran out of my Quik Detailer and wax, so I am about to order, hence my asking ha ha

Thanks everybody!

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If you want to "install" a ceramic coating, in my opinion, here's the most annoying thing - chemically stripping the paint using a panel wipe before you can apply the coating. Not a big deal, just a pain in the butt. Applying the coating must be done by only applying to small sections at a time - waiting about 30 seconds to a minute and then wiping that section before moving onto a new section.

Unlike a wax which you can apply to an entire car and then wipe off and you don't have to chemically strip the paint - it's a tick different.


Dr. Beasley's just introduced a new one-step cleaner/coating, easy enough to use and you can apply by machine. I'd give it a look.

Review: Dr. Beasley's NSP Z1 - One Step Primer & Nanocoating with Ti02 & Si02 + Composite Engineered Abrasives



You can always change things up later. But it is a one-and-done type product.

And you can apply a dedicated coating over it without the chemical stripping step.


Dr. Beasley's will be my guest here at Autogeek in about 3 weeks.


Training Cars - For the September 2020 Detailing Class



Jim Lafeber aka Dr. Beasley!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...Jim-Promoc.jpg


Good guy. A real chemist and straight-shooter.



:)

Dealership coatings are garbage, and applied wrong on top of that. It's insane what they charge to dilute it with water, mist it on, wipe off then call it coated and charge what they do for that hack ass job.

Even non diluted, applied correctly it's mediocre at best.

Like said above, Dr. Beasley NSP Z1 is a very good product. I can't speak to the longevity of it but the light correcting capabilities are good. Water beading and sheeting properties are very good and it gives a stunning glow for appearance's.
Easy product to use and imo a absolutley perfect all in one product.

Thanks for the tips everyone

I will be looking into those processes/products

In the meantime while I wait to order, threw some UC and deep crystal on it

Shared album - Javier L - Google Photos

Shared album - Javier L - Google Photos

Looks good,


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...=w1080-h810-no



I used the image location and wrapped it in [img] tags to make it show up.



:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike Phillips

Looks good,

I used the image location and wrapped it in [img] tags to make it show up.

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thanks!

I couldnt get the jpg to expose itself and the pictures kept failing when uploading, but glad it worked for you

of course this morning the accord was wet from rain, but dirty fiat right next to it was completely dry....

looks very good!!!