Pride In Your Ride
 

Something that really grinds my gears is when i see a car on the road so excessively dirty that 80% of the **** would come off by taking five minutes to pull out a hose, turn the spout counter-clockwise to full blast, and put a thumb over the other end to create enough pressure to rid the car of what looks like a disease. Personally, I like to take pride in my ride. Even when I was driving my parents 01 Camry I kept it clean inside and out. On top of that bought excessively loud amps speakers and a nice receiver to mount in the dash. Your car says a lot about you and you should take care of it like it takes care of you. Now that being said, when I bought my miata, she wasn't exactly clean so within the past three months I've washed and waxed countless times, pulled the center console apart and cleaned every inch of it, changed the trans fluid out because it wreaked inside my car after letting it sit without driving for a day (seemed like an excellent sign to change), wirebrushed and painted the windshield wipers, and of course regularly change oil and filter. Taking care of her.
Which brings me to today. When i got the car, the front bumper was faded (still is..but with multiple coats of wax it looks much better), and more importantly the rear bumper had cracks in the paint along with some black substance that still eludes me. It looked like spots of tar but solid and hardened. Wasn't sure what to do about it until today my dad hands me a container of this
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395023793
It's like using wet sandpaper but doesn't hurt the paint and you use microfibers. The results were rather impressive to me.
These are the only before pictures I have.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395023793
^This was actually from the advert i found on craigslist
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395023793
and ^this one was when i was hanging out with the guy that got me hooked on these things. Now for results
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395023793
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395023793
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...size=960%2C542
https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/...73072780_n.jpg
So if I can spend two or three hours just to clean a bumper, riddle me why there so many vehicles with the ever-pleasant "clean me" scrawled on the rear window by hardly literate children.

and the actual final
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395023938

This is why I don't like nice things.

Also: with 90s mazda red, you can use that rubbing compound maybe twice before you go through the paint. :P

I detail cars. I totally get it.

I had a heart attack seeing this:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395029181

So I did this:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395029181

Oof, having done that to my fathers Tundra engine bay, I know how much work you put into that.

A lot of people see their car as a machine to get from point A to point B. Most have no idea what happens to paint without proper car, or they just don't care at all.

Take my brother for example. His idea of washing cars is when it rains. How we share the same genes is beyond me.

Most people perk up to the idea of taking care of their car after I show them my Jetta with 75k miles and it looks brand new. Also when I tell them they can get close to 25% more money if not more in resale value just by detailing their car.

Yet I have come to the conclusion that I have too much time on my hands so I can care for my vehicles. Most have professions and when they come home, families, and so the last thing on their mind is washing the car.

During the winter I hardly ever wash my car besides a touchless car wash, it doesn't take much.

I used to be like you gayz when I was single. I literally washed my cars twice sometimes 3 times a week. They were cleaner than bran new dealership cars.
Then marriage and busy job I'm down to just keeping them super clean, not worshiping them religiously.
Now kid and I'm down to washing once 2-3 weeks and vacuuming/thorough cleaning same amount.

I guess priorities change, but even with no time on my hands I still find the time to do this crap, some people just don't care.

But really though Vlad, that is all it takes to take care of your car. 2-3 times a week is actually doing more damage than good at a certain point(depending on what products you are using).

I wash my Jetta maybe once a month. That is, a full wash, vacuum, and detail. Besides that I don't worry about it unless it rains or I take it offroad to go mountain biking.

People think I am going to constantly tear my Miata apart to keep it perfect but after I'm finished it will just get regular maintenance like any other car I've owned.

I havent washed my car in like 6 months. I got shit to do and I dont give a fuck.

Why I Like Living In A Converted Former Firehouse Reason #216:

Floor Drains


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1395058509

My daily does not get washed in the winter unless its going to be over freezing for long enough for it to completely dry. So it went most of this winter without getting washed. But its ok, because RALLYCAAAAAAAAAAR is supposed to be dirty. Of course the wax was still good when I did wash it last weekend, still beaded right up. I have some touch up paint to do after an unfortunate bumper scrape on a parking garage wall... I'll be ordering a WRB spray can for that one.

What I dont understand are wiper condoms. What the heck are people trying to accomplish there?

I'm closer to the OCD mentality than to the other side, but I have to admit there's something liberating about driving around in a dirty, smelly Miata that I paid $1200 for.

I wouldn't let a can of shitty rubbing compound come near any car. Let alone claim to use it and suggest I had pride in my ride.

what I would use is something like this: Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0 - All new formula fuses Menzerna and Wolfgang abrasive technology! Works on ceramic clear coat, nano abrasive

because it can turn this poor baby of scratchy, swirly, unwaxed, water spot, bird turd sadness:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395069988

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395069988

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395069988

into this:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395069988

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395069988

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395069988

If you want to see the true condition of your paint, look at the reflection of the sun in it. You'll see into the swirliest spider web city you've ever witnessed.

Because some of us rather spend our time doing things that we enjoy, rather then cleaning. That is 2 or 3 hours you spent cleaning a single bumper that I could have spent wrenching on the car, or driving it, or a million other things that I find more productive.

All my cars look horribly dirty. They get washed if I happen to have a $20 on me on Wednesdays when the car wash people come to work. Other then that it is a once in a blue moon event to get me to wash cars.

I have lots of pride in all of my cars, none of which are "clean". Seriously though, why wash your car 100x when the paint looks like this:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395071617

Yes, that is peeling clearcoat. Unfortunately the car was repainted horribly at some point in its life before I acquired it, and that peeling clearcoat cannot be "buffed out". The car needs a respray plain and simple, but I'm not doing that until I have a permenant garage or at least covered parking.. or it will just happen again.

Also, try living down a mile of dirt road. ONE trip down that road makes a clean car dirty.

This is why my love for cars goes into the performance aspect for now, although i do want to paint my car and make it pretty one day.

Some people spend an hour in front of the mirror every morning. I get out of the shower, comb my hair back, slip on a clean t-shirt, yesterday's jeans, and fuck you.

I'm the opposite. Cleaning it helps me forget I'm driving a cheap POS. When it looks dirty and nasty, I feel less inclined to spend money fixing it up.

Besides, washing the cars gives me an excuse to get outside for a few hours.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395075146

ROFL!

You get props.

Well, in your case you have quite a clean POS. I'd wash/detail mine all the time if the paint was any good. I ALWAYS wash my Buell before I ride it, because it looks so damn good clean.

Also, i don't need an excuse to go outside ;)

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't DARE put the stuff on something with any sort of clearcoat or any version of real paint. The rear bumper is...well I'm not positive how it's done but there are like solid 1/16 deep crack like things, but there's paint inside of those open cracks like a bad rattle can recoat. For waxing on the rest of the car (which honestly needs a paint job because of the chips here and there everywhere) and such I use Mothers. However I'll look in to getting a bottle of wolfgang if swirls start to get bad thanks for the suggestion.

...I've never been more jealous of a garage :jerkit:

Mind you I woke up this morning, took a five minute shower, halfway towel dried my mane and sorta parted it with my fingers, put on yesterdays jeans and a shirt i wore for half of yesterday, and then drove an hour to go weld in a small box at school.

I live in a low lying area that has a lot of dust in the air at all times and moisture in the air in the early morning. This means if I wash my car I wake up to it being dusty, this is especially notifiable on a dark green car. Can't wait to get my white NA out here.

Exactly the same here. Frost on everything in the morning, + afternoon winds roll in heavy = everything is dusty.

That doesn't matter much, try living in the desert 3 miles away from a mining operation...my car always has silt on it after I wash it.

The thing is though is that your car is clean under that fine layer of sand/silt. Your car is always going to be dirty is some way or another, the important thing to remember is that you car has protected paint under that silt/sand.

Washing a car isn't enough, that just means the paint is clean. If you take 20 minutes(seriously that is all it takes) to wax your car after you wash it, the paint stays protected for 3-6months. 20 minutes for 3-6months of protection is amazing. Then all you have to do is wash you car and dry it off.

But that is the OCD talking, so I may be weird like that.

If you really want to know how good your paint is, clay bar it. A rough sandpaperish paint can be restored to soapy slick smooth with clay barring your car twice a year. Takes all the shit that washing your car doesn't remove. Rail dust, iron deposits, overspray, bug guts, etc. etc.

Oh well, as I've stated before, different strokes for different folks, if YOU are happy with how you treat your car, that is all that matters. I just try to tell people how good their paint can be or is underneath all the crap that is built up on it.

If you have a random orbital buffer or rotary buffer it makes everything 5x quicker too.

Also say no to rubbing compound. Menzerna FG400 with a medium pad on it will make your paint gloss like never before.

I use Adam's Polishes (great results and be bought by the gallon) and a PC 7424xp. Thumbs up to both:https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395354786

True confession:

I've never, ever waxed a car. When I was about 15, I helped my (then) brother-in-law detail his truck and he showed me how to use the buffer (which basically meant fussing at my every 5 seconds about not burning through the paint).

Since then, I just use the Turtle Wax liquid car soap that has some kind of wax finish mixed in. I know it's not the same at all but it makes me feel better.

It's not for everyone. I was never happy with the results I got. So that led to buying and trying better products, then getting a cheapo orbital, to getting the Porter Cable, to people wanting to pay me to give them similar results. I turned my buddies pinkish grad prix back to red...

Since I didn't want to hurt my Jetta's paint so I practiced on my employees geo metro that looked grey due to oxidation(was black) and he sold it for 2k more than he bought it after I was done. Really does wonders.

Truth be told though, with this freakin drought thing going on out here in Cali, besides looking all PC, my (typically) dirty Miata looka downright fashionable for a change. :D

Rubbing compound is something I use a month after painting something if the paint didn't come out perfect.

Polish is something I use to clean up the paint on the Miata once every several years.

With that being said, I've let the exterior of the car go to crap in the last two years. I take pride in my car, but I take more pride in my home. If I've got an hour of spare time, I'm probably building/fixing/improving something on my home. If I'm spending time on the car, it's probably under the hood. I have slipped into the expectation that one day I'll simply buy a car from the salt-free half of the country, bring it home, and swap in the rollerskate. The car has experienced 20 years of salt, and there's only so much you can do with a turd body...but the mechanicals - they do good work.

I recently sprung for a Cyclo buffer, after years of using a rotary, and it's great. While they claim that it's "impossible" to burn your paint with it, I still take the usual precautions (tape your edges, stay off creases). I can get better results with the Cyclo in a few hours than I got in twice the time before. I little pricey, but built like a tank and a dream to use.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1395413663

Lies, an entire Geo Metro isn't worth 2k...

I drive through mud on purpose.

Are you kidding me? They get 40 mpg. With the price of fuel the market has gone up a ton on them. Especially when they are in good shape.

Same with older diesel Jetta wagons, even more for manual versions. I can sell my 2010 Jetta for only 3k less than what I paid for it. People want cars that get 45+ MPG highway.

That's why I'd really like to build my own house. Bit more troublesome and expensive, but personal opinion I'd say it's worth it if the funding is available. More time to do other things instead and no listening to a significant other ask about when you're gonna fix the back door...

I went full crazy on the ST back in January. 3 full afternoons. Wash, buff, and wax. Got a DA and then chemicals from ChemicalGuys. Couldn't be happier. Forgot to take other pics after. The little tapes on the hood are from where I need to touch up chips already. Fuck that car has more chips in 6 months than 10yr old cars. They've been doing road construction on the highway the wife takes to class/work for over a year. Every time I wash it I find new ones and want to murder the road crew. One another note I hand washed my daily for the first time in as long as I can remember
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395461864

Torque that looks great! I generally hate working on white since the results aren't as dramatic as on a black car.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395466963

So much pride.

Just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
I shudder at the thought of what your house must look like, and possibly even your own personal hygiene

My dinner is coming back up.

^^^ this.

You must live or frequently drive on a gravel road. Surprised you didn't hose it out before installing the TSE radiator. There is nothing worse than having shit fall in your eyes while wrenching. My car is anything but clean, but fuck man. Working on a filthy car sucks.

I hope you sealed the radiator gaps after taking that picture. What's the point of a fancy radiator if all the air bypasses it.

civic got new tires. I spent some time cleaning the wheels and treating the tires.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395596151

This stuff will last me probably 6 months without a re-application. ohhhhhhhhh yeah.

Such pride.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395687011
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395687011

That's one nasty engine, GM 2.9l V6 I'm guessing?

Close, it's a 3.4.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395701518

Hand washed and waxed my MSM yesterday didn't take that long, I will admit I almost never waxed it before I had it painted last year.

Shave these. No more white waxy build up.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395711626
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1395711626

Shaved is the way to go. Build up+summer=permanent whiteness. Unless you are nuts and pick it out with a dentist pick.

There is nothing more glorious than getting underneath my Miata and not having to wear eye protection. I keep flinching when I adjust/remove/install things waiting for the deluge of debris into my face....and it never happens, a phenomenon I have never experienced before.

Is it wrong that it drives me nuts that I can't smooth out the inside of the lens? I can see the equivalent of casting numbers on the inside of my tails and it's irritating.

What bugs me is the fact that the circles inside the lights aren't on the INSIDE of the lights. I want to fill the void of the plastic with epoxy so nothing gets in it.

What's the best way to go about sanding them? Fine sand then polish?

Use a sanding block not your hand. Your fingers will make odd grooves with the sandpaper. I used 1000 and 2000 grit and then my DA buffer with compounds to make them shiny. 3M makes a headlight restore kit with a drill buffer that would work great and I've used it before with compounds no problem. One of thesehttp://www.amazon.com/3M-39008-Headlight-Restoration-System/dp/B001AIZ5HY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395731596&sr=8-1&keywords=3m+headlight+restoration+kit or similar. I've become a fan of chemical guys compounds. V34 would be enough, or a auto store equivalent.

Meh. Damn links. . Oh and wax after or seal it somehow.

Also don't sand only the lettering area. Sand the whole light uniformly otherwise you'll see a pretty glaring high/low spot difference.

white wax build up... another sign you dont take pride in your ride. good wax doesn't get white and chalky.

REAL good wax doesn't even require buffing.

*jizz*

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/autogeek_2269_36649343

I don't think I've used wax for years now. Menzerna power lock sealant lasts 4-6 months.

I use a sealant as well, but it doesn't seem to offer the slickness and crap protection a nice coat of wax does.

collinite 476 in winter under snow is amazeballs.

Blackfire Wet Diamond.

Always make time to wash your car man! Definitely worth it

Price of fuel doesn't change the fact that they are very old, ugly, and most are in horrible shape. There are a few near my area for $800 or less. One lady told me I could have hers, long as I could get it off her driveway. All it needed was a battery... I guess our perspectives are different due to where we live, Utah is a whole different world from Florida.

clearcoated tires still rocking the curb sauce after almost a month. rain, snow, salt, sitting outside 24/7. I haven't touched them except to show Brainy they don't turn your finger black when you touch them.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1397222927

I feel like I made this thread just for y8s to show off his car care expertise (much appreciated btw)