Scirocco Central

Hi all,

I've just ordered my Scirocco in Sumatra. I currently have a 10 year old Audi A3. It was 7 years old when I got it and the body work hadn't been well looked after before I got to it. As a result I only ever took it down to the local Arc car wash to run it through the machine wash.

Obviously my Scirocco will be one of the most expensive things I've ever bought (after my flat) so I want to look after it.

I would be really grateful if someone could run through the stages I should go through when washing my car and also recommend the best products for each stage. I.E. rinse first i presume, then wash, wax etc.?

Also would anyone recommend buying a small pressure washer for washing? I live in a 2nd floor flat but there is an outside tap i can access. If not is it buckets of cold or hot water?

Unfortunately i work offshore so am away for 4-5 weeks at a time. In that time my car is parked in an outdoor residential carpark so is at the mercy of Aberdeen Seagulls. If anyone could also recommend some sort of treatment i could apply to help limit the damage this might do.

Sorry if i'm sounding completely dumb here. As you can tell i didnt care about my Audi too much but this one i really want t keep in good condition.

Many thanks in advance.
S Bhoy

My two penny's worth is yes, get that pressure washer.

I always use one to foam detergent on to the car, let it loosen all the grit and then spray off. Another foam and then a soft brush. After this I'm sure you'll get plenty of replies from people better qualified than me in all the technical stuff about sealants and waxes but I've found that if you find a way of getting gently rid of the grit before it gets ground into the paintwork then you'll hace a car that car be brought back to showroom condition for years.

Thanks for the quick reply.

That's the general idea, just get some idea of stages to go through in keeping my car as pristine as possible.

I'd also like to know about sealants, waxes, polishes, tyre protectors, alloy cleaners etc etc.

As much info is possible then i can go about amassing a collection of products for when my car arrives.

I wasnt sure about the pressure washer. I have heard people suggest in the past that it is damaging to a car's paintwork. I was just looking at some relatively cheap ones from Halfords. I'd imagine they're a bit more effective than a regular garden hose and also shouldn't be damaging as long as pressure isn't too high.

Thanks again

Actually I hardly ever use the pressure nozzle. I just find it a great way to blow soapy foam onto the car withour using a sponge which will just grind all the debris into the paint before its softened.

Scirocco Bhoy wrote:go about amassing a collection of products for when my car arrives.

I've taken the same approach, i've got myself a jewultra diamonbrite kit off ebay after some recomendations and clay kit (meguiars kit from halfords) & plan on getting some wheel sealant (poor boys or chemical guys seem to be commonly recomended) & wax abit closer to the time.
my current theory after getting the car is clay it (to remove contaminants from delivery) diamondbrite to seal and protect then polish & wax on top...

most important thing seems to be two buckets & microfibre wash mitts (NO SPONGES)

S

Here is a washing guide from a detailing 'god' Dave K G.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27

No product will protect you from 'bird poo', especially if it has bee left in contact for weeks, I am afraid. A cover sounds like the best solution.

Cheers for that.

I'm actually just reading through the same guides now on "Detailing World" by Dave KG. I've pdf'd them so will have a proper read through when I go offshore. Seems to know what he's talking about when it comes to cleaning your car. I never realised it was such an intensive process.

As for the bird poo, i think a cover might be the way to go. Hopefully being offshore for so long and having a cover on my car won't attract little thieving b******s who fancy knicking my car. Either that or I need to find a mate who'll let me use his garage for a few weeks!

Scirocco Bhoy wrote:I'm actually just reading through the same guides now on "Detailing World" by Dave KG. I've pdf'd them so will have a proper read through when I go offshore.

I'm in the industry too (although onshore office based) can't imagine it being a topic that is read offshore regularly...

I'd go with the garage.

S

Hi Scirocco Bhoy,

If you’re just starting out with car care there are a couple of items that we would class as “must haves” and then of course your collection can be added to as and when necessary to build up a selection of products that will make maintenance of the car much easier and will of course achieve excellent results.

The first thing you need to make sure you have is a good collection of “wash” products... this is because most of the damage such as swirl marks and random scratches can be inflicted during the wash stage if done incorrectly and using the incorrect products. We would recommend getting a good shampoo – our first choice has to be Lusso Auto Bathe. This shampoo is a pH neutral shampoo so is wax friendly and won’t strip any products that have already been applied. It adds depth to the paint and leaves a really glossy finish, and is also good value for money in terms of dilution ratios. You will also need to have a good wash mitt or pad – the choice for this really depends on your personal preference... I prefer the feel of a more traditional sponge so I tend to use a microfibre wash pad, however, some people prefer wearing a mitt in which case I would recommend either a microfibre wash mitt or a lamb’s wool wash mitt. You should try to avoid using a sponge if possible, as any dust or dirt particles sit on the surface and then get scraped across the surface of the paint which is what causes the swirl marks. By using a microfibre or lamb’s wool wash mitt the dust and dirt particles get trapped deep within the fibres and are held away from the paint surface, which eliminates the possibility of inflicting swirl marks. To complete the “wash” collection you should ideally look at using a microfibre drying towel rather than a chamois as the chamois works on the same principal as the sponge whereby it will allow any particles to sit on the surface, whereas the microfibre towel will trap the particles deep down within the fibres.

After you’ve washed the car depending on how far you want to go (and what your budget allows ) there are several different stages you can move onto. If you want to give the car a complete going over to get a solid foundation to maintain from, ideally you should look at claying the car. This will remove any contaminants on the paintwork such as bug splatter, tar spots and tree sap etc. You can also clay the windows to get the class as clean as possible if you wanted to. To clay the car you would need some clay – I would suggest an ultrafine clay as this should be enough to remove the contaminants but will massively reduce the possibility of inflicting any marring on the paint work, and you will also need a lube of some sort as both the clay and the paintwork need to be completely wet when using the clay. Being perfectly honest this stage is usually completely new to “newbies” and is sometimes a bit daunting. It can be left out and excellent results can be achieved without claying the car, however, this stage will add real clarity to the paint and will prepare the paint in the best possible way for the following stages.

Once the car has been clayed (or after the wash stage if you’re not claying the car) the paint will need to be cleansed in order to enable the wax to bond with the paint. Our recommendation for this would be Lusso Revitalising Creme, which is a pre-wax cleanser with no abrasives and no fillers, just lots and lots of natural cleansing oils that get the paint squeaky clean and also adds depth and gloss. Simply work this into the paint using an applicator and wipe off the residue using a clean microfibre.

Once the paint has been cleansed you’re ready to apply a carnauba wax, which will provide all-important protection for the paint and will also add depth and gloss. What wax to go for really comes down to personal preference again. There are so many to choose from and all of them have slightly different pros and cons, however, if you’re looking for an all-round excellent performing wax at an affordable price we would recommend Lusso Oro. This wax is extremely easy to use, it’s excellent value for money and the results are outstanding. In terms of durability, you will get between 1 – 3 months with this wax, depending on how it is maintained. If you use the Lusso shampoo and keep the car clean you will see about three months, however, if you use a cheap shampoo from Halfords you could end up stripping the wax off within the first week or so, so it really depends on how you look after the car. With Oro we recommend topping the wax up once a month, which will give the paint maximum protection and will keep the car looking stunning, however, simply topping it up when you're back at home will be fine.

If you are really interested in getting the best possible results and you’re unsure about any of the products or processes, you may be interested in having a tuition day. We have found these to be excellent for people who really want to look after the car themselves but don’t really know where to start in terms of what to use and how to use them etc. We can spend a day Detailing the car with you trying out different products, running through different processes and techniques and this would leave you with a solid foundation to start from as well as the knowledge of how to keep the car looking amazing. We are full time professional Detailers, we’re fully insured and fully mobile and we are authorised by Swissvax, Dodo Juice and RaceGlaze so you’d be in safe hands

Hope this helps

Taryn and Jim

autoperfection wrote:Hi Scirocco Bhoy,

If you’re just starting out with car care there are a couple of items that we would class as “must haves” and then of course your collection can be added to as and when necessary to build up a selection of products that will make maintenance of the car much easier and will of course achieve excellent results.

The first thing you need to make sure you have is a good collection of “wash” products... this is because most of the damage such as swirl marks and random scratches can be inflicted during the wash stage if done incorrectly and using the incorrect products. We would recommend getting a good shampoo – our first choice has to be Lusso Auto Bathe. This shampoo is a pH neutral shampoo so is wax friendly and won’t strip any products that have already been applied. It adds depth to the paint and leaves a really glossy finish, and is also good value for money in terms of dilution ratios. You will also need to have a good wash mitt or pad – the choice for this really depends on your personal preference... I prefer the feel of a more traditional sponge so I tend to use a microfibre wash pad, however, some people prefer wearing a mitt in which case I would recommend either a microfibre wash mitt or a lamb’s wool wash mitt. You should try to avoid using a sponge if possible, as any dust or dirt particles sit on the surface and then get scraped across the surface of the paint which is what causes the swirl marks. By using a microfibre or lamb’s wool wash mitt the dust and dirt particles get trapped deep within the fibres and are held away from the paint surface, which eliminates the possibility of inflicting swirl marks. To complete the “wash” collection you should ideally look at using a microfibre drying towel rather than a chamois as the chamois works on the same principal as the sponge whereby it will allow any particles to sit on the surface, whereas the microfibre towel will trap the particles deep down within the fibres.

After you’ve washed the car depending on how far you want to go (and what your budget allows ) there are several different stages you can move onto. If you want to give the car a complete going over to get a solid foundation to maintain from, ideally you should look at claying the car. This will remove any contaminants on the paintwork such as bug splatter, tar spots and tree sap etc. You can also clay the windows to get the class as clean as possible if you wanted to. To clay the car you would need some clay – I would suggest an ultrafine clay as this should be enough to remove the contaminants but will massively reduce the possibility of inflicting any marring on the paint work, and you will also need a lube of some sort as both the clay and the paintwork need to be completely wet when using the clay. Being perfectly honest this stage is usually completely new to “newbies” and is sometimes a bit daunting. It can be left out and excellent results can be achieved without claying the car, however, this stage will add real clarity to the paint and will prepare the paint in the best possible way for the following stages.

Once the car has been clayed (or after the wash stage if you’re not claying the car) the paint will need to be cleansed in order to enable the wax to bond with the paint. Our recommendation for this would be Lusso Revitalising Creme, which is a pre-wax cleanser with no abrasives and no fillers, just lots and lots of natural cleansing oils that get the paint squeaky clean and also adds depth and gloss. Simply work this into the paint using an applicator and wipe off the residue using a clean microfibre.

Once the paint has been cleansed you’re ready to apply a carnauba wax, which will provide all-important protection for the paint and will also add depth and gloss. What wax to go for really comes down to personal preference again. There are so many to choose from and all of them have slightly different pros and cons, however, if you’re looking for an all-round excellent performing wax at an affordable price we would recommend Lusso Oro. This wax is extremely easy to use, it’s excellent value for money and the results are outstanding. In terms of durability, you will get between 1 – 3 months with this wax, depending on how it is maintained. If you use the Lusso shampoo and keep the car clean you will see about three months, however, if you use a cheap shampoo from Halfords you could end up stripping the wax off within the first week or so, so it really depends on how you look after the car. With Oro we recommend topping the wax up once a month, which will give the paint maximum protection and will keep the car looking stunning, however, simply topping it up when you're back at home will be fine.

If you are really interested in getting the best possible results and you’re unsure about any of the products or processes, you may be interested in having a tuition day. We have found these to be excellent for people who really want to look after the car themselves but don’t really know where to start in terms of what to use and how to use them etc. We can spend a day Detailing the car with you trying out different products, running through different processes and techniques and this would leave you with a solid foundation to start from as well as the knowledge of how to keep the car looking amazing. We are full time professional Detailers, we’re fully insured and fully mobile and we are authorised by Swissvax, Dodo Juice and RaceGlaze so you’d be in safe hands

Hope this helps

Taryn and Jim

Thank you for the reply, I only just noticed it.

The info you provided was exactly the sort of thing I wanted to know about. With my current car, cleaning usually involves going to an Arc drive-through car wash which isn't the best way to care for the paint work. Obviously with my Scirocco, when i get it, I want to look after it as best i can. I've read a few different things online now so could probably go about doing a half decent job cleaning it when it arrives.

By the sounds of it there isn't much i can do to completely ruin it...except maybe the claying. Part of my problem is living in a 3rd floor flat and having the car in a residents car park it's difficult getting space. I spotted an outside tap the other day so i will need to invest in a hose reel sometime.

With the products you mentioned, i take it all these are available online? I guess Halfords isn't the place to go for them?

Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to write a very useful reply!

cheers
pete

has any local garage/petrol station not got a jet wash you can use? might be worth it as you live in a flat just to get the dirt off then you can take the car back home for the finer cleaning and detailing - or do you think you'll enjoy the exercise of going up and down the stairs

ami-jane wrote:has any local garage/petrol station not got a jet wash you can use? might be worth it as you live in a flat just to get the dirt off then you can take the car back home for the finer cleaning and detailing - or do you think you'll enjoy the exercise of going up and down the stairs

Yeah that was my next plan. There are a few garages about so i shouldn't have any problems just going and giving it a quick blast with the jet washer to remove the worst of the dirt.....then a bit of elbow grease when i get it back to my flat!