While washing my car this evening, I was apalled by the unbridled carnage wreaked upon my clearcoat from errant rocks and other assorted flying $hite. :(

Besides waxing, what are you folks out there doing to protect your investments from the rigors of daily driving? Are there any off-the-shelf products that will strengthen your clearcoat against road-borne beat-downs?

I admit - I'm using Turtle Zip wash to wash my car. And that's it. No separate waxing stage. Yet. It's so easy - I wash and wax in one step and it looks alright. What do the forum "detailers" think? I just read the whole wax survey thread so I'm prepared for the incoming barage of criticism. ;) Is waxing truly the only way to buff scratches out?

Dave.

Go to a shop like Ziebart and they can install that clear 3M plastic film at the front of your hood. I also got my head lights and fog light covers done in case of stones and rocks.

You could try a paint cleaner/polish for the scratches. I use Zymol HD Cleanse, it works well for little scratches and swirls. Also, if your gonna wax (which you should do), don't wash your car w/ turtle wax car wash, it strips the wax right off.

Oooh. It strips the wax, eh? That makes sense.

I suppose a real wax job would look that much better than this instant wash stuff? I've never properly waxed my new WRX but I suppose that, like anything in life, the extra work pays off.

Dave

As long as you like how the car looks, who cares what you're using?

That being said, waxing your car is pretty satisfying and if you use the right stuff it'll protect your finish as well.

blink blink... wax?
I don't worry about it. I ran through a stage at a local club rally and picked up a rock that sat in my front suspension for 150-230 miles... before it came out. 4 wheel drifts through these things and I don't have a scratch yet (from the rocks no, from other stupid things yes)


http://www.nwlink.com/~nsnow/rock.jpg

Nick, quit bragging about the size of your rocks :rolleyes:

Jordan

I am thinking about having a friend wet sand the car and spary on a few coats of high gloss clear. that should help the car alot.

If it makes you feel any better, my wifes 2001 Toyota seems to be just as prone to chipping and scratching as the WRX. Blame the environmentalists.

hehe. that rock is pretty big.

i wax my car every now and then but it doesn't seem to be working. i'm looking into putting a coat of stone guard or something like that over the front of my car a body shop suggested it to me.

Wow! A fossilized mouse! :D

Ed