[RideWithDanger]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

For what you would spend on a vinyl wrap of the whole car ($3k+), you can easily do PPF on the parts that matter (if not most/all of the car). In either case you're paying more for labor than materials, and PPF doesn't require disassembly like vinyl does.

IMO, investing $1k to PPF the front bumper is worth every cent. Then you can DIY a top-shelf durable hydrophobic coating like the 2 I mentioned above on the entire car for <$100.
An annual DIY polish + durable hydrophobic coating + a good washing discipline can really make a big difference in keeping the car looking good for a long time without breaking your budget.

I just can't justify spending that much to put something invisible over the car. I have a few mods planned and im saving money for those. Im fine with some cheaper products to help but my goal is to stay cheap for this. I expect it to get dirty and stuff, just trying to see what all I need to keep it looking good that doesnt break the bank.

I also have a 2000 mustang that looks extremely good for its age, and aside from all the rock chips which I dont care about, I think it looks fine. And that was just with regular washes with nothing fancy and no protection whatsoever. I also wash my families cars, again nothing fancy, some soap and water, with a single bucket method and while they get dirty again pretty quickly, they look very good. Im honestly fine with that on the new camaro.

And yes im switching to the 2 bucket method, using better drying techniques, and better soap. (Could use some recommendation on the best options for black cars) Im getting some CG citrus wash and gloss, will probably get some Meguiars Gold Class next.

[RideWithDanger]

Hey guys, I edited the main post to update what I have now. The only thing I think I need now is a good glass cleaner. Also need to check how good the Barrett Jackson liquid wax is, and if it's not great I'll grab some collinite 845.

[KirkH]

Originally Posted by RideWithDanger

Hey guys, I edited the main post to update what I gave. The only thing I think I need now is a good glass cleaner. Also need to check how good the Barrett Jackson liquid wax is, and if it's not great I'll grab some collinite 845.

Wheel and tire brushes?

Meguiar's Glass Cleaner Concentrate is the only truly non streak cleaner I have found.


Window cleaning tool
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Invisible...SABEgKuy_D_BwE

[RideWithDanger]

Originally Posted by KirkH

Wheel and tire brushes?

Meguiar's Glass Cleaner Concentrate is the only truly non streak cleaner I have found.


Window cleaning tool
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Invisible...SABEgKuy_D_BwE

I do have wheel and tire brushes. I have tons of mitts, rags, towels, brushes, sponges, and everything else that I have no issue cleaning wheels with. Just don't care to use that stuff on the paint or glass.

I did order some microfiber glass towels. I am thinking of Meguiar's Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner. Great reviews on that. I have plenty of Windex but don't want to use that on car glass. Also, I plan on tinting the windows almost immediately.

[Jersey devil]

Not to get off topic, but for those that have a foam Canon how does Carpro Reset work with it?

[Gunkk]

Originally Posted by Jersey devil

Not to get off topic, but for those that have a foam Canon how does Carpro Reset work with it?

Works just fine. 3000psi gas PW + $15 cheapo foam cannon + Reset = shaving cream.

[RideWithDanger]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

Works just fine. 3000psi gas PW + $15 cheapo foam cannon + Reset = shaving cream.

Neat. I got a little handheld foamer. Trying to find some good soaps for it later after I start to run out of what I have.

[fivewunoh]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

Works just fine. 3000psi gas PW + $15 cheapo foam cannon + Reset = shaving cream.

How much reset did you mix into your bottle to produce those suds? I'm mixing 500/1 and don't get anything like that. Lol

[KirkH]

Originally Posted by RideWithDanger

I do have wheel and tire brushes. I have tons of mitts, rags, towels, brushes, sponges, and everything else that I have no issue cleaning wheels with. Just don't care to use that stuff on the paint or glass.

I did order some microfiber glass towels. I am thinking of Meguiar's Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner. Great reviews on that. I have plenty of Windex but don't want to use that on car glass. Also, I plan on tinting the windows almost immediately.

I like Perfect Clarity, it smells great. I use it on my own car when I get a bottle in a box kit.

But the Megs Glass Cleaner Concentrate makes 20 gallons of glass cleaner for $20.

[RideWithDanger]

Originally Posted by KirkH

I like Perfect Clarity, it smells great. I use it on my own car when I get a bottle in a box kit.

But the Megs Glass Cleaner Concentrate makes 20 gallons of glass cleaner for $20.

I'll see how long it takes me to go through the perfect clarity (or Stoner's invisible glass) and then go from there.

Also this is kinda off topic but its my post so whatever, but theres some places around me that do Ceamic Pro coating, but the lifetime warranty package starts at $1500 and that just doesnt seem good for me. I like my car but I don't mind washing it with care every now and then.

Maybe I can leverage my instagram/youtube accounts and review their work for a discount! lol. ANYWAY, does that seem like it may be worth investing in? $1500 is a lot to throw at an invisible coat. But it is a lifetime.... hmmm...

[KirkH]

Originally Posted by RideWithDanger

I'll see how long it takes me to go through the perfect clarity (or Stoner's invisible glass) and then go from there.

Also this is kinda off topic but its my post so whatever, but theres some places around me that do Ceamic Pro coating, but the lifetime warranty package starts at $1500 and that just doesnt seem good for me. I like my car but I don't mind washing it with care every now and then.

Maybe I can leverage my instagram/youtube accounts and review their work for a discount! lol. ANYWAY, does that seem like it may be worth investing in? $1500 is a lot to throw at an invisible coat. But it is a lifetime.... hmmm...

Ceramic coatings will still get swirl scratches. They only make the surface more slick, the don't offer "hardness."

I do ceramic coatings for $450. It requires a wash, claybar, polish, surface oils removed and coating applied. For $1500 you could buy yourself awesome tools and do it yourself. A bottle of coating is about $75.

I'd be interested in what the "lifetime warranty" includes.

[RideWithDanger]

Originally Posted by KirkH

Ceramic coatings will still get swirl scratches. They only make the surface more slick, the don't offer "hardness."

I do ceramic coatings for $450. It requires a wash, claybar, polish, surface oils removed and coating applied. For $1500 you could buy yourself awesome tools and do it yourself. A bottle of coating is about $75.

I'd be interested in what the "lifetime warranty" includes.

Its the "ceramic pro" coating. They seem to have 3 levels, on the main website it says "starts at 300" but at my local shop the bottom one starts at 500, then 1000, then 1500 for the lifetime.

Here is the link, just scroll down some to the packages: https://ceramicpro.com/ceramic-coati...s-ceramic-pro/

Also reading about it, it does add a hardness and protect the paint.

[Gunkk]

Originally Posted by fivewunoh

How much reset did you mix into your bottle to produce those suds? I'm mixing 500/1 and don't get anything like that. Lol

Foam cannons need a couple oz. of soap w/ the balance of water in the bottle to make thick suds. So yeah you’ll need more like 10:1 or 20:1 to do shaving cream. But of course you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

I’ve used both Adams car shampoo and Carpro reset with the cannon and both work the same. Might just be me but Adams seems to leave less residue on the paint but it’s not really noticeable by anyone but me when I’m drying it.

As mentioned above foam cannons are not the most product-cost effective way to wash your car... but it’s fun to do every so often and a decent way to mostly-clean a very dirty car with zero or low contact to the paint.

Another downside is that when you do lay a lot of soap onto the fabric top of a vert it takes quite a lot of rinsing to get it back out if the fabric.

Truth be told, I use my $3 lint roller far more often than my foam cannon.

[KirkH]

Originally Posted by RideWithDanger

Also reading about it, it does add a hardness and protect the paint.

Then I would run from that place because ceramic coating does not add any protection other than slickness. Any place that says otherwise is scamming.

Only PPF can add scratch protection.