I just washed my '99 today, and since it's black, it's a bit of a PITA.


Anyway, I had just ordered $50 worth of merchandise from Griot's Garage - I got a vinyl-glove lined sheepskin washmitt (very nice) and a synthetic chamois that is supposed to wash out better and be more gentle on the paint - it's got a suede-like finish to it, so I can see how it would. Very happy with both of those.


However, every time I wash the car, there's always SOMETHING that really pisses me off. This time, I found that what I had earlier though to be bird poo, which hit the front of my car on the freeway and splattered all down the passenger side, is actually something sticky and it's not coming off. I tried bug-and-tar remover, light pressure with my fingernail, and all it seems to do is smear around.

I don't know what the hell to do about it since it's not going anywhere with what I've got. Of course, it's been on there for probably 3 weeks, and baking in the sun, since I never have time to wash my car, so that probably didn't help...

But yeah, does anyone else get really frustrated when washing their car?


I want to trade the black civic in for a white truck. SOooooo much easier.


Alex

 

funny you should mention this. i bought $40 worth of car care products (meguiar's car wash, 3 stage wax and "diaper soft" towels) and washed my gf's car. it frustrated me because i realized how flawed the body of her car is. the roof and trunk have lost their gloss and is now rough and flat.

the three stages for the meguiar's is: clean wax to clean off left over residue, polish wax for that "wet and mirrored look," and the carnauba wax for protection.

well, i'm on the second stage and it sure doesn't look any different from the first stage.

 

I stopped caring about my car a while ago. It has so many dings and flaws that I just don't think about, because everytime I do think about it, i just see money going bye bye when I try and sell this beast.

About the goo... try rubbing alcahol. Let it sit on the goo for a couple minutes.

 

Yeah, i noticed all the imperfections in my daily driver as well after it was given a good wash, clay bar and waxing. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

Hard to keep a car in good condition living in the city...

 

Yeah, see now with my CRX it doesn't bother me for several reasons...

1) The car is 14 years old. Of course it has dings, scratches, whatever. I don't expect as much.

2) The CRX is more fun to drive than the Civic

3) It's red, so it doesn't show as much.

4) I'm supposed to spend that much time on the CRX - it's my little project car!

I'm just hoping that I can get some sort of a white vehicle soon, so it's not so hot in the summer and not such a frickin' pain to wash.


Alex

 

this will be the last black car i ever buy.
i knew before i bought it, it was going to be terrible to keep clean... but i had the front end painted last fall and the hood and fenders have so many little scratches it pisses me off.

in direct sunlight, my car looks like hell.
it looks best and sunrise and sunset, or on days with overcast.

next car will be white or silver.

 

EXACTLY....when I look at my car in the sun, I get pissed off! But at dawn and dusk, that's the time to go take some pics when you can't see the crappy bits . BUt, similar to quik89, my car is old (17 years) and there's no way it's going to be perfect.

Alex

 

yea black car sucks....I kinda ignore my car too cause too many damn dings, paint chips, etc..but just wash my car to keep the psuedo clean look.

 

newsflash! white isn't anymore fun to wash than black.

you may not notice swirls and scratches as easy, but damn it gets so dirty so fast and it show sooo easy! POO

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by j.fuggi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">newsflash! white isn't anymore fun to wash than black.

you may not notice swirls and scratches as easy, but damn it gets so dirty so fast and it show sooo easy! POO</TD></TR></TABLE>

Okay, so how about silver?

And you can't honestly tell me that you'd rather detail a black car than a white car? After you're done washing a white car, with half the effort you'll have it looking just as sparkly as a black car. And who cares about showing dirt? Black does it just as bad! That's fine, as long as it's easier to wash.

Alex

 

get grey, it hides dirt very nicely

 

i would hire some girls in white t-shirts to wash my car. its worth the investment :D

 

i hate washin black cars, it's so ******' hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love my silver car, it's so easy to wash

 

My car used to be black, I always hated because everything showed up, but it's a light green now so it stays nice... but the thing that really pisses me off is the fact that i spent over 3 grand on new wheels, and everytime i wash them there's more little flaws on them...

 

For the goo use OOPS.It is in a small can and you can get it in the paint department of your local Wal-Mart.That **** works wonders.I use it all the time and love it.

 

Olive oil and a terrytowel gets alot of baked on **** off.

 

Silver cars are really easy to wash, but show wet spots really prominently.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by j.fuggi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">newsflash! white isn't anymore fun to wash than black.

you may not notice swirls and scratches as easy, but damn it gets so dirty so fast and it show sooo easy! POO</TD></TR></TABLE>

white is easier to keep clean.

i'll wash my car, park it in the driveway and let it sit for an hour... come back out side and it will have noticable coat of dust on it.
and i have a paved driveway and live in the country, so it's by no means a dusty area.

my dad has a white '02 Ranger for a daily driver and that thing will stay clean for days before it shows any signs of dirt on the paint. the same thing goes for my parents silver '00 Galant.

so i have no idea what you're talking about.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Blazin Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

white is easier to keep clean.

i'll wash my car, park it in the driveway and let it sit for an hour... come back out side and it will have noticable coat of dust on it.
and i have a paved driveway and live in the country, so it's by no means a dusty area.

my dad has a white '02 Ranger for a daily driver and that thing will stay clean for days before it shows any signs of dirt on the paint. the same thing goes for my parents silver '00 Galant.

so i have no idea what you're talking about. </TD></TR></TABLE>

AMEN, its a bitch keeping a black car looking nice and clean.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ef ***** &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Olive oil and a terrytowel gets alot of baked on **** off.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Olive oil? Have you tried that? I might give that a shot if you've got a testimonial story to tell at all...

If that doesn't work, I'll try the "Oops"...I've seen that stuff around.

Maybe that 3m adhesive remover stuff?

Alex

 

Silver is the easiest color EVER to keep clean. It hardly ever looks dirty, even if you go without washing it for a while. Even waxing hardly makes it look more shiny than a wash, cos it looks waxed already with the car washing soap. Sometimes I don't even dry my car....can't tell the difference.

Too bad I'm sick of silver though

 

I am definately always gettin pissed about something wrong with my car when I wash it. Seems like when you wash your car thats when you notice all its damn imperfections. My biggest problem is the damn front bumper and lip chipping from all the damn rocks and ****. I have a 2001 and already I want to repaint my damn car. But I doubt it'll do me any good because in a few short months it'll prolly be back to the way it is right now. I guess thats what happens to your daily driver, its impossible to keep that **** flawless.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hatchback &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

AMEN, its a bitch keeping a black car looking nice and clean. </TD></TR></TABLE>
yup, black only looks good when it's freshly washed and waxed. That clean look only lasts about 2 minutes as soon as you drive it out though, haha...

 

Maybe we should just start riding bikes? Throw some 45 inch rims on there, maybe carbon fiber seats? The possibilities are endless. And when you're not riding it, you don't have to worry about someone stealing it, because you can keep it within arms reach of you at all times. I'm sure they have "racing" pedals too!

 

i hate that too lol.. everytime i wash my car i see all my inperfections, and it makes me cry .. but then i take my face a couple inches back, wax it, and am happy i have a silver car.. mmm