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Old 07-18-2017, 12:09 PM   #1
HoneyChamp
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2002 WRX Wagon
Midnight Black Pearl

Default Paint Restoration

I have an 02 WRX so the whole car is covered in those very shallow spiral scratches and a few scuffs like you see on any older car. What are my best options to restore it? I know it will never be back to perfect without a full sanding/repainting but I would like to avoid doing that.
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Old 07-18-2017, 12:25 PM   #2
Twisty mountain road
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I highly suggest a picture. Without it, there are too many variables leading to assumptions and speculation as to what it could be.
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Old 07-18-2017, 11:10 PM   #3
terrainasaurus
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OBP/DGM

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If you use your fingernail and pass over the scratches, can you feel them?
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Old 07-18-2017, 11:16 PM   #4
91 RS RA
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Is it just a straight paint finish or does it have a clear coat over?
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Old 07-19-2017, 10:50 AM   #5
HoneyChamp
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Quote:
Originally Posted by terrainasaurus View Post
If you use your fingernail and pass over the scratches, can you feel them?
None are that deep. Just surface marks from road debris or people bumping into it in the parking lot.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 91 RS RA View Post
Is it just a straight paint finish or does it have a clear coat over?
It's the OEM paint for an 02 wrx so I'm assuming clear coat

Quote:
Originally Posted by Twisty mountain road View Post
I highly suggest a picture. Without it, there are too many variables leading to assumptions and speculation as to what it could be.
I couldn't get a good picture but they're just the usual swirl marks every older car gets.
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Old 07-19-2017, 11:41 AM   #6
terrainasaurus
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I would suggest doing a test spot with light cutting compound and a microfiber applicator.

Do you have any cutting and polishing supplies? What equipment do you have and are you planning on buying some?
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Old 07-19-2017, 02:46 PM   #7
HoneyChamp
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Quote:
Originally Posted by terrainasaurus View Post
I would suggest doing a test spot with light cutting compound and a microfiber applicator.

Do you have any cutting and polishing supplies? What equipment do you have and are you planning on buying some?


I figured I'd buy whatever I need. I have interior detailing products, some wax, and micro fiber cloths. I'll need to buy anything else
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Old 07-20-2017, 12:19 PM   #8
Twisty mountain road
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how much $ do you want to spend?

For little money but a whole lot of effort, Meguiars Ultimate Compound with a hand applicator. After the hood you will wish you had a machine but you can get good results with hand application. Your effort and speed while hand polishing is less aggressive then with a machine so you don't need to worry about the compound being too aggressive. It wont haze either so you can go straight to wax/sealant afterwards.

If you want to spend a little more money: buy an entry level DA like the porter cable 7424 (8mm throw). By the time you get pads, backing plates, products you are probably close to $200. I have a Meg G110v2 which I have now converted solely to an interior carpet brush as I upgraded to a Rupes Bigfoot 15mm throw
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Old 07-21-2017, 12:37 AM   #9
HoneyChamp
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Twisty mountain road View Post
how much $ do you want to spend?

For little money but a whole lot of effort, Meguiars Ultimate Compound with a hand applicator. After the hood you will wish you had a machine but you can get good results with hand application. Your effort and speed while hand polishing is less aggressive then with a machine so you don't need to worry about the compound being too aggressive. It wont haze either so you can go straight to wax/sealant afterwards.

If you want to spend a little more money: buy an entry level DA like the porter cable 7424 (8mm throw). By the time you get pads, backing plates, products you are probably close to $200. I have a Meg G110v2 which I have now converted solely to an interior carpet brush as I upgraded to a Rupes Bigfoot 15mm throw


I'll have to try that out soon. I recently waxed it so I'll have to wait a bit. I will look into the Porter Cable because doing things by hand is never too fun. Applying wax by hand in the summer humidity is already bad enough so doing twice the rubbing sounds undesirable. $200 definitely beats the $2500 for a decent paint job
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Old 07-22-2017, 08:34 AM   #10
HCAutoDetail
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Honey, or Champ, lol, to wet your appetite and encourage the move into real car care. Have a look at my Forester, purchased from the neighbor, this '03 maybe never saw any wax protection in its life! It sat under a tree for a year before I rescued it.



I used Meguiar's D300 Correction Compound which does an excellent job on Subaru's softer clearcoat.

So, if you turn the corner from wanting to clean up your car once in a while, to wanting to keep it looking great most of the time, a polisher like the Porter Cable is the way to go. Your regular application of sealant waxes will be a pleasure to apply going forward, even after all the extra effort it may take to revive it from the current state. But, as I warn all of my customers, I can make it look great and you can ruin it in 6 months if you don't follow correct car care in the future. Mainly washing it correctly. There is no magic coating that will prevent scratching and swirling if you have bad wash habits.

Now with that said, don't postpone your polishing just because you've waxed it. You can do one panel at a time to make it more manageable. Start with a door, practice with your new polisher, apply a sealant/wax after your done, come back another day for the next door.
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Old 07-23-2017, 05:00 PM   #11
HoneyChamp
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2002 WRX Wagon
Midnight Black Pearl

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by HCAutoDetail View Post
Honey, or Champ, lol, to wet your appetite and encourage the move into real car care. Have a look at my Forester, purchased from the neighbor, this '03 maybe never saw any wax protection in its life! It sat under a tree for a year before I rescued it.



I used Meguiar's D300 Correction Compound which does an excellent job on Subaru's softer clearcoat.

So, if you turn the corner from wanting to clean up your car once in a while, to wanting to keep it looking great most of the time, a polisher like the Porter Cable is the way to go. Your regular application of sealant waxes will be a pleasure to apply going forward, even after all the extra effort it may take to revive it from the current state. But, as I warn all of my customers, I can make it look great and you can ruin it in 6 months if you don't follow correct car care in the future. Mainly washing it correctly. There is no magic coating that will prevent scratching and swirling if you have bad wash habits.

Now with that said, don't postpone your polishing just because you've waxed it. You can do one panel at a time to make it more manageable. Start with a door, practice with your new polisher, apply a sealant/wax after your done, come back another day for the next door.
I will have to get one of those next time I get paid along with the polish. Doing it with a polisher seems like the best way to go. Doing it by hand gets tedious. I was under the impression you weren't supposed to wax too often so I wanted to wait as I just waxed it last weekend. I generally use pretty god wash habits. I have only owned the car for about a year and the previous owner (2002-2016) didn't have the best habits with washing. Thank you very much for the suggestion.
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Old 07-26-2017, 01:30 AM   #12
badAdjective
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I have had good success with the 3M 39071 Scratch Removal kit.
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Old 07-29-2017, 01:18 AM   #13
HoneyChamp
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badAdjective View Post
I have had good success with the 3M 39071 Scratch Removal kit.


I'll have to check that out for the few deeper scuffs
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