Spring has been here; Time to make my Civic look good... I need help!

[alfa147x]

My Baby: 2004 Honda Civic Coupe LX

I'm going to be home all next week before driving it down to school (~200 Miles) So my questions are:

1) Is this a bad idea? Doing all that work then driving 200 miles on it?
2) I like the look of the Meguiars NXT from Proprioceptive thread, how can I do this?
3) I normally do this: (probably wrong)

• Wash
• then Wax using Meguirs cleaner wax, using an orbital buffer
  • Let the car dry
  • then using an applicator pad put some wax down
  • Run the orbital buffer over it
  • Wipe using clean cloth

I want to clay bar the car, I'v never done this. Is this a good tutorial? Link
Is this a good kit? Link

Then I was planning on putting a layer of wax down (Meguirs cleaner wax)
After that would putting down Meguiar's NXT Generation Spray Wax be worth while?

Please remember I am a VERY wealthy college student (<- Sarcasm)

Thanks guys,
Alfa147x

 

[white]

I would wash the car as usual (doesn't need to be dish detergent), and while still wet, clay bar the car. Then dry. If you need to remove swirls or polish the surface, that would be next. Then finish with wax.

I wouldn't worry about the 200 miles on the car. It's a daily driver. You're going to drive it eventually, so you might as well enjoy the clean car for now. Plus there's not anything you can do about the miles.

 

[Howard]

Claying's fairly straightforward. After you wash and rinse, get your clay ready and have a non-scratching pad, towel or sponge ready with a clean bucket of soapy water (can be the same car wash product you use). Wet the panel and go at it with the clay with minimal pressure until the panel feels glass-smooth. Do NOT clay over paint defects because clay will be deposited in the cracks and will be extremely visible, especially if you use yellow clay on black paint (). If you feel any resistance because the panel is losing its fluid layer, immediately stop claying and re-wet with your pad.

 

[alfa147x]

I would wash the car as usual (doesn't need to be dish detergent), and while still wet, clay bar the car. Then dry. If you need to remove swirls or polish the surface, that would be next. Then finish with wax.

I wouldn't worry about the 200 miles on the car. It's a daily driver. You're going to drive it eventually, so you might as well enjoy the clean car for now. Plus there's not anything you can do about the miles.

Sounds good. I don't have any swirls, I did have some on my 1994 Altima, I don't know from what though... :\

Claying's fairly straightforward. After you wash and rinse, get your clay ready and have a non-scratching pad, towel or sponge ready with a clean bucket of soapy water (can be the same car wash product you use). Wet the panel and go at it with the clay with minimal pressure until the panel feels glass-smooth. Do NOT clay over paint defects because clay will be deposited in the cracks and will be extremely visible, especially if you use yellow clay on black paint (). If you feel any resistance because the panel is losing its fluid layer, immediately stop claying and re-wet with your pad.

Awesome, so I don't need to buy a kit. I have a micro-fiber cloth, so all i need is the clay. That's good the kit was expensive ($18)

What should I do about this chip that is a little shorter then a cm long on the passenger side door. It looks like it about to start rusting (Clear nail polish?) . If needed I'll post a picture when I go home.

Thanks guys

 

[AdamK47]

An entire chromed car is going to take some time to clean.

 

[alfa147x]

An entire chromed car is going to take some time to clean.

wut?

 

[alfa147x]

Also is their good clay vs crappy clay?

 

[ivan2]

the paint seems to be uneven

 

[Howard]

Sounds good. I don't have any swirls, I did have some on my 1994 Altima, I don't know from what though... :\



Awesome, so I don't need to buy a kit. I have a micro-fiber cloth, so all i need is the clay. That's good the kit was expensive ($18)

What should I do about this chip that is a little shorter then a cm long on the passenger side door. It looks like it about to start rusting (Clear nail polish?) . If needed I'll post a picture when I go home.

Thanks guys

Dr. Color Chip or Langka works for some people. Others use regular touchup paint and super-fine grit sanding.

 

[Viperoni]

Also is their good clay vs crappy clay?

I've heard the mothers stuff is better than meguairs. I used Mothers once last year and it worked well.

 

[TridenT]

Ugh, never liked the 7th gen coupes... The portion after the doors is wayyy too long looking... :\

Anyway, wash it at least once then do whatever. And, the 200 miles depends on the roads and stuff... You can always redo this stuff when you get to wherever you're going...

 

[white]

Also is their good clay vs crappy clay?

I've never used Meguiars clay but I've used Mothers and Clay Magic. I think they both work well, but the Clay Magic was a little less expensive at my local stores.

 

[alfa147x]

Ugh, never liked the 7th gen coupes... The portion after the doors is wayyy too long looking... :\

Anyway, wash it at least once then do whatever. And, the 200 miles depends on the roads and stuff... You can always redo this stuff when you get to wherever you're going...

I don't like the look of the Fifth generation... The car is too Fruit Loops looking...

 

[alfa147x]

I've heard the mothers stuff is better than meguairs. I used Mothers once last year and it worked well.

I'll keep that in mind, it seems like it's cheaper

 

[alfa147x]

Dr. Color Chip or Langka works for some people. Others use regular touchup paint and super-fine grit sanding.

Not too bad $30 ish including the clear coat paint

 

[TridenT]

I don't like the look of the Fifth generation... The car is too Fruit Loops looking...

That's fine with me. I have the latest sixth gen, so whooptiefuckin'do. wned:

 

[alfa147x]

I've never used Meguiars clay but I've used Mothers and Clay Magic. I think they both work well, but the Clay Magic was a little less expensive at my local stores.

Awesome, thanks guys

I'll take her some where nice and post some new pictures

 

[alfa147x]

That's fine with me. I have the latest sixth gen, so whooptiefuckin'do. wned:

You bought a shit car for a shit price. Also it looks like shit.

 

[TridenT]

You bought a shit car for a shit price. Also it looks like shit.

lololol, ok. Says the guy who has chips all over his car.

 

[alfa147x]

lololol, ok. Says the guy who has chips all over his car.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I'll keep that in mind, it seems like it's cheaper

I use Mothers, works pretty well on my car.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

lololol, ok. Says the guy who has chips all over his car.

It doesn't matter, he could be driving a 1987 yellow civic and he would still look cooler than you just because whatever you drive looks like shit because you are in it.

 

[alfa147x]

it doesn't matter, he could be driving a 1987 yellow civic and he would still look cooler than you just because whatever you drive looks like shit because you are in it.

:awe: :awe:

Are you hitting me

 

[alfa147x]

Which reminds me, I had a friend who drove a tan 3rd generation civic
He bought it in mint condition in 2005 for $1100 @ 25,000 miles!

 

[TridenT]

It doesn't matter, he could be driving a 1987 yellow civic and he would still look cooler than you just because whatever you drive looks like shit because you are in it.

Are you hating on 1987 yellow civics? They were awesome... You racist.

And, I highly doubt that sir.

Which reminds me, I had a friend who drove a yellow second generation civic
He bought it in mint condition in 2005 for $1100 @ 25,000 miles!

He got lucky obviously... Unless he had some kind of connection, in which case... irrelevant! That's like saying how you got a brand new BMW M3 for $1,000 because your uncle is the chairman of the board at BMW.