[amitoj]

Sure. I have not yet gone the whole distance with detailing the car yet though.

Here is what i normally use:
1. Optimum No Rinse (ONR) I had ordered it online only since it was not available at the local Autozone or Advance Auto Parts.

2. Meguiar's Clay Bar: Clay Bar

3. Wax. Currently I am using this: Wax

4. Glass cleaner: Glass Cleaner

5. A lot of microfiber towels

Steps:

1. Using ONR and microfiber towels, clean the car to get rid of all surface dirt. If the car is too dirty, then i take it to a car wash since washing the car is not allowed here in the parking lot.

2. Using the Quick Detailer that came with the clay bar kit, i clay the car. This is really useful specially on the hood, roof and front of the car.

3. Apply a thin layer of wax and let it dry.

4. Using a microfiber towel, remove the dried wax. Stand back and admire

5. Clean the glass and the headlight using the glass cleaner.

I normally do the first 4 steps one section at a time.

But with the Zaino stuff, it will be slightly different. Following is what I have ordered from their website Zaino Store:
1. Z All In One
2. Z18 Clay Bar
3. Z5 Polish
4. ZFX Cure Accelerator (to be mixed with Z5)
4. Z8 Spray Seal.

So, between steps 2 and 3, there will be step 2a, which will involve polishing the car using Z5. And step 3 will be done using the Spray Seal. Also, these steps will be repeated at least twice, if not three times (probably over two days)

[josejoseph]

Originally Posted by amitoj

Here is what i normally use:

What about the wheels and interior? What do you use for those areas?

[chevelle]

Originally Posted by josejoseph

What about the wheels and interior? What do you use for those areas?

For interior with leather, i have a AIO solution.

http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-Leather-...kit+with+vinyl

Works awesome for everything. Vinylex takes care of dash and plastics. For leather seats cleaner followed by conditioner.

For wheels, i wash them. Have chrome on corvette, so use the following two:

http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-155700...ds=wheel+brush

http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-05824-...+wheel+cleaner

For G35, i use http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Shine...=tire+dressing

Works like magic all the time for all of above.

Originally Posted by amitoj

Sure. I have not yet gone the whole distance with detailing the car yet though.

Thanks Amit. That was helpful. I just do the wash and wax. No Clay bar or Polish or Seal. I thought to apply polish, one needs electric applicator for better results. Same for seal. Isn't it so? How will you do it?

I used clay bar in 2011 on G35 only once. Haven't done it yet again. Looks like i need to do it again.

I will follow your steps but first i will order Zaino stuff. Have heard a lot about it on corvette forum too with good results. Autogeek.net usually has lots of specials going on for Car Kits.

I have heard lots of good stuff about Carnauba wax. Any experience with that?

[VLOCT]

Hmmm. Remember those maniacal days when I spent hours detailing.

Then I found out that I can get the detailers to come to my home and do a complete detail, inside and out with carpets and everything, including the engine bay, all for $275. These are the same guys that get the cars ready for Mecum and other big name auctions here in Vegas. Seeing that you only need to do it once a year, the most elbow grease I burn detailing nowadays is, my hand moving from my side to my mouth chugging a few cold ones, and watch these guys go at it.

[amitoj]

Originally Posted by josejoseph

What about the wheels and interior? What do you use for those areas?

Right! I forgot about that. That's because usually i am so tired by the time i am done with exterior work that i normally do the interiors another day. This is what I have as of now:
Interior Detailer

Works ok.

Originally Posted by chevelle

For wheels, i wash them. Have chrome on corvette, so use the following two:

Thanks Amit. That was helpful. I just do the wash and wax. No Clay bar or Polish or Seal. I thought to apply polish, one needs electric applicator for better results. Same for seal. Isn't it so? How will you do it?

Ah my wheels dont have any chrome. So I just clean them using ONR.

I once tried to use a Meguiar's compound by hand to remove some very visible scratches. That was hard! That definitely needed a power tool. But with the Zaino polish, I doubt that will be the case. Their website says "Heavy rubbing is not necessary" And the seal is in a spray bottle. That is just a spray and wipe, so that surely does not need an electric tool. That's why I am hoping to do it all by hand.

[amitoj]

Originally Posted by VLOCT

Seeing that you only need to do it once a year, the most elbow grease I burn detailing nowadays is, my hand moving from my side to my mouth chugging a few cold ones, and watch these guys go at it.

LOL. Thats one way to do it of course.

[ariendj]

need a quick help.have to decide in few days.

my wife is looking for an AWD/4x4 to be used in snow.

budget is around $25k.
we have shortlisted the subaru forester.

what other good choices are there,either sedans or SUVs.

[aah78]

Originally Posted by ariendj

budget is around $25k.
we have shortlisted the subaru forester.

Try the Kia Sorento. Looks really nice!
I think the Mazda CX-5 should also be within budget.

[vineethvazhayil]

Originally Posted by ariendj

need a quick help.have to decide in few days.

my wife is looking for an AWD/4x4 to be used in snow.

budget is around $25k.
we have shortlisted the subaru forester.

what other good choices are there,either sedans or SUVs.

If you want worry free driving in the Snowy climes - nothing beats the Subaru AWDs. The other AWD systems are reactionary and offer much less traction when things turn sour. The new Forester has very thin inventories - you may not get much incentives or negotiation room because of that reason. Subaru has the lowest inventory levels of any manufacturer and their high volume models are running less than 2 weeks in stock.

[vineeth47]

Originally Posted by ariendj

need a quick help.have to decide in few days.

my wife is looking for an AWD/4x4 to be used in snow.

budget is around $25k.
we have shortlisted the subaru forester.

what other good choices are there,either sedans or SUVs.

I was in the market recently for a car in that price range and I picked up Subaru Forester 2014. Here's the short review I posted few weeks ago.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/intern...ml#post3134254

Forester has the best AWD and it performs best in snow. Mine has heated seats, heated wiper blades and heated mirrors as well (Limited model). CX-5 is a close 2nd, but Forester wins it for me for its all around performance. CX-5, because of its shape has visibility issues on back corners. But it handles exceptionally well and is indeed a drivers car. Then there's always the dependable Honda CRV.

I'm still to do a detailed ownership review which I will do in the coming weeks.

[amitoj]

Originally Posted by ariendj

need a quick help.have to decide in few days.

my wife is looking for an AWD/4x4 to be used in snow.

Where in snow is the car/suv going to be used? I mean, what part of the continent?

[ariendj]

Originally Posted by amitoj

Where in snow is the car/suv going to be used? I mean, what part of the continent?

Massachusetts.

looked at the impreza too but looks like the forester has more loading spaces especially for travelling full loaded when going between massachusetts and newyork during holidays.

[amitoj]

Originally Posted by ariendj

Massachusetts.

looked at the impreza too but looks like the forester has more loading spaces especially for travelling full loaded when going between massachusetts and newyork during holidays.

Cool! That's right next door to me (almost)

You could though make do with just about any AWD/4x4 though. The terrain and weather in this area is not that harsh to require only a fully capable SUV like Forester. But if a Forester is what you want, then a Forester is what you should get

[VIPER_SRT]

Originally Posted by ariendj

Massachusetts.

looked at the impreza too but looks like the forester has more loading spaces especially for travelling full loaded when going between massachusetts and newyork during holidays.

Subaru Hands down! I live in Iowa where harsh winters are normal with temperatures in single digits especially after the snowfall which becomes ice immediately. Every third car here is Subaru. But please remember to have a dedicated set of winter tires which are ice rated! You can find those in tirerack under winter sets (Tire and wheel combination), easy to swap. Everyone here has one dedicated winter set!

[aah78]

Originally Posted by VIPER_SRT

I live in Iowa where harsh winters are normal

How'd you like Iowa? I have a couple of friends who moved there a year or so ago around Cedar Rapids.