Ok, so I just got a 2004 Acura TL and I love her! I am determined to take good care of her and keep her looking great, and while there is an abundance of information online available, it really is overload to some degree.

What do I need to buy to keep my car looking great without going insane here? What product list is essential?

 

This would be my essential product list for maintenance, upkeep & detailing (not brand specific & no particular order):

• Auto Shampoo/Carwash
• Claybar
• Polish
• Sealant/Wax
• MF Towels
• MF Waffle Weave
• Glass Cleaner
• Wash Mitt
• Quick Detailer/Spray Wax
• Wheel Cleaner
• Interior Protectant
• Leather Cleaner
• Leather Conditioner
• Tire Dressing
• Foam Applicators

I would also consider the following:

• PC 7424/7336
• 6" Backing Plate
• Polishing Pads

Hopefully, the other regulars will chime in and add on to the list.

 

What about brands?

I wish they sold this stuff in like a package deal haha.

 

Waxing the car once is a big task. If your time is valuable, you are better off getting it done at a local shop. Wash, clay bar, wash, polish, wash, wax = 40$ a a place near me!

 

Part of learning what works best for your car/environment/obsession level is learning about what each product can do.

This is often achieved through research and discussions in forums like this one.

if someone sold me an "all in one" box of stuff for upkeep of my car, I would have NO idea of the products were even any good, let alone "right" for me.

Do I want a wash shampoo that smells great or has high lubricity? Do I want a polish with a long work time but that stains trim, or one with a shorter work time that dusts but doesn't stain?

Then there is whole ball of wax (pun intended) of LSPs (last Stage/Step Products.)

You can trust someone to put something together for you, but how do you know it is right for you and your new car?

Do yourself the favor and learn a bit here from some of the very knowledgeable people like TOGWT, Patrick, Hawyhen51, etc.., then choose products that work for you, and adjust as you learn.

OK, I know, you asked what time it was and everyone will now proceed to tell you how a clock works. Sorry. Kind of.

 

Rambling over here...

You may find the education progresses faster by asking questions like:

"What are the pros/cons of different products for WASHING?"

"What are the pros/cons of different products for POLISHING?"

"What are the pros/cons of different products for PROTECTING?"

As you embark on a task, check in here and see what people have to say about the products available and the methods for using them.

GOOD LUCK and welcome to the obsession.

 

TSXNATION: Where the heck do you live? I live in the DC area and an exterior detail around here will run you 100+ bucks lol.

Stogie1020: I've done quite a bit of research, but I'm having a hard time on where to start. I mean when I add up a nice detail kit composed of klasse all in one, sealant, canuba wax, and some other items I read about and researched on auopia.org, I'm finding my cart price at over 200 bucks. That is a lot of money, so I'm just trying to make sure I get what I need more than everything that is out there.

 

Hey no problem, it can be daunting at first. I am still quite a noob, but I stepped up to mainly premium products, and made the hugely smart investment in a PC.

Pick a step like washing, do some quick searching, check online retailers (many have 10-15% discounts readily available for AZ members) and build slowly.

Then grab products for the next step. That way it won't overwhelm the wallet.

I would suggest starting with some quality MicroFiber towels for drying, and Quick Detailing. Additionally, get a good wash mit (or two) and a couple of buckets. Definitely use the two-bucket method for washing. If you have a Costco near you, they have a great deal on car wash shampoo, used to Megs Gold Class, now it's Turtle Wax Ice Wash. Huge container for same price as smaller bottle at other stores.

If you are looking to put off polishing for now due to costs, find a good wax that has some fillers so you can "hide" the swirls/scrathes untill a PC is on order. Megs NXT paste works OK for that, although after a couple of weeks the imperfections will resurface.

For inside stuff, you can pick up a bottle of 303 Aerospace for about $14, and some Lexol conditioner for around $6.

Don't skimp on the towels you use on the car. While a product may or may not help your finish, a bad towel WILL mar it.

 

There will always be somewhat of a small investment when purchasing products, tools and accessories. Accessories/equipment are probably the most overlooked items especially towels (drying & buffing) as stogie pointed out. There are a some sites that offer MF packages and worth looking into. Because of the number of products available on the market, picking one can be a PITA. Look at the DuraGloss product line, they've got some really good stuff and quite inexpensive compared to the boutique products. Check this thread to get an idea of what we prefer.

 

 

Yeah definately not around DC, and definately not of decent quality would be my guess...... you get what you pay for.

 

Ummmmmmm.................yeah. I agree.

 

How much steel wool does $40 buy?

 

The shop does all of that for a mere $40? Any pictures? I just wanna see a finished product.