Hi to All

I am waiting my new Fabia vRS (in red) and would like to keep it looking good once I have it. I am wondering what products would help keep the cars paintwork looking good. I will be using the car for driving instruction, covering maybe 700 miles a week in all weathers. The car will be predominantly bunged through a car wash a coulpe of times a week.

I have read on here and in other places that the VAG group paint can be a bit soft, so are there any treatments that anyone would recommend that will help preserve the paint if I apply them when the car is brand new? Swissol seems to be the brand of choice here, however, how does it cope with carwashes?

Is the Silver Shield any good? How about Meguiars liquid caranuba waxes or zymols finishes? I really do not have time to spare polishing the car every other week, so anything I use must survive regular automatic car wash exposure. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Chris

I wouldnt put it through a car wash, can't you buy a jetwash or do you have one of those near you when you can jetwash at a garage?

yeah, as above, never use the car wash... jet was only if you can

Hi

Avoiding the automatic car wash is the obvoius solution, but when you need to get the car cleaned quick, and often in between appointments, the automatic car wash is the only answer. A jetwash without using the brush (at best a shaggy implement as least as harmful as a sponge full of sand) leaves bird cack and well stuck grit in place, so when you squeegee or leather, the net effect is swirls / scratches.

I currently have a Fiesta in very dark (almost black) blue. The paintwork on this has stayed excellent through the last 14 months, it going through the carwash at least twice a week. There are no swirls or any other signs of damge from the carwash, you just need to go around the door and bonnet shuts occasionally to keep them looking clean. Water still beads up (I never use the auto wax facility in car washes, just the basic wash). I am wondering if the car was diamondbrite coated or similar before I got it (school car not mine).

Any comments on Silver seal?

Chris

Modern car paints are very soft and I think you will damage the paint by using a car wash.

I always wet/rinse the car with a Jetwash first then wash using a microfibre cloth. Keep it wet and rinse often, starting at the top and working down to the door bump strips. Wash the whole car first then go back round and do the lower section as this is where you'll likely pick up the grit in your cloth.

I use a Carnuba wax, I did have some from Mark Underwood AKA Wax Wizard which I believe was Zymol. Gives a fantastic finish.

I have just bought some P21S from http://www.carsparkle.com/index.aspx?prodview=17 based on a recomendation from the SCN guys and some yankee anarak site they pointed me to http://www.autopia.org/reviews/censura.php?tsid=1&csid=c499a7fdf7d1a96ba2122b808e6880cc&cmd=browse&category_id=1&x=10&y=11&sortby=total_reviews&direction=desc

Here is my car with the Zymol - http://www.fabia-vrs.com/surreyrollingroadday/srr40.jpg

http://www.fabia-vrs.com/surreyrollingroadday/srr36.jpg

The wax helps to release the dirt when you wash.

Found the Flash Car Wash System keeps mine looking spot on

U could try a paint sealant such as autoglym gloss protection. Seems to work as dirt sticks less and don't seem to get as many stone chips!

Swissol. FULL STOP....... The best by far

Found the Flash Car Wash System keeps mine looking spot on

It strips off the wax. Only the de ioniser is any good so you dont need the hand dry it

Diamondbrite or Supaguard has allways been used on my cars.

But dont pay dealer prices, hunt on e-bay or ask about.

I'm sure I saw your car in Leeds this week. It was a bright yellow pick up like yours

Hi to All

If I use a paint sealant like Diamondbrite or Supagard, will jet washing the car without using a cleaning mitt / sponge get it clean enough to squeegee dry? I am wondering if these coatings make the dirt adhere so loosely that just a jet wash will clean the car? Equally, will they provide protection against automatic car wash brushes?

I appreciate the advice on car cleaning, and I have a gleaming white 1959 Cadillac with a deep coat of caranuba wax for when I want to play the OCD cleaning sufferer. However, I need a solution that enables me to clean a car in ten minutes (including getting the stuff out and putting it away) so auto car wash, or just maybe jetwash with rinse agent to prevent drying marks will have to do.

Chris

PS anyone tried Permagard?

I'm sure I saw your car in Leeds this week. It was a bright yellow pick up like yours

There is more than one Fun, Skoda made 350 of them in RHD.

However there is only one Fun that looks like mine

Hi to All

I am waiting my new Fabia vRS (in red) and would like to keep it looking good once I have it. I am wondering what products would help keep the cars paintwork looking good. I will be using the car for driving instruction' date=' covering maybe 700 miles a week in all weathers. The car will be predominantly bunged through a car wash a coulpe of times a week.

I have read on here and in other places that the VAG group paint can be a bit soft, so are there any treatments that anyone would recommend that will help preserve the paint if I apply them when the car is brand new? Swissol seems to be the brand of choice here, however, how does it cope with carwashes?

Is the Silver Shield any good? How about Meguiars liquid caranuba waxes or zymols finishes? I really do not have time to spare polishing the car every other week, so anything I use must survive regular automatic car wash exposure. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Chris[/quote']

Watch out for the Fabia vRS "Bee sting" roof top aerial in car washes, I read not an easy job to replace if it gets tangled and damaged. Saw something on another thread about it IIRC.

Watch out for the Fabia vRS "Bee sting" roof top aerial in car washes, I read not an easy job to replace if it gets tangled and damaged. Saw something on another thread about it IIRC.

Does the aerial not unscrew for washes? P*ss poor design if it does not. Any other car I have owned with these does unscrew.

Chris

Unscrew the aerial and fold it down, thats the idea of it.

Watch out for the Fabia vRS "Bee sting" roof top aerial in car washes, I read not an easy job to replace if it gets tangled and damaged. Saw something on another thread about it IIRC.

Sorry guys, badly worded - will try harder next time. :thumbdwn:

Watch out for the Fabia vRS "Bee sting" roof top aerial in car washes, I read not an easy job to replace if it gets tangled and damaged. Saw something on another thread about it IIRC.

SWISSOL !!!

I'm with Robbo on this. Get some decent wax like swissol. When you get the car, give it a really good clean - use a clay bar to remove all grit and get down to the lacquer, then wax it properly.

IMHO, it's really worth spending a good few hours at first. An initial good coat of wax will help protect against the elements and the more consienciously you do it at the beginning, the easier it will be to clean quickly in the future.

I spent 5 hours applying some wax a few months ago. Washed the car for the first time a few weeks ago for Trax and was amazed at just how easily the crud and grease came off. A little buff and it looked really shiny.

I too agree with Xav. I clay bar'd and Swissol'd mine and the results were stunning. I took all day about it - and it was worth it. Now it just gets a quick wash and a top up of wax on the leading edges of the bonnet and a pillars about once a fortnight. Keeps it looking tip-top. In 6 months I'll do it properly again...

I still have a few light swirl marks though, probably from using a sponge and AutoGlym when I first got the car. When it goes to the bodyshop for colour coding the door handles, grille surround and rubbing strips, sorting stone chips and associated dents, perhaps I'll get them to give the whole car a pukka polish ready for Swissoling again...

Swissol or similar good wax will be good and help protect the paint from chemical attack etc, however, if I understand correctly, the sealant coats also protect from abrasion more effectively because they are hard and have an effective thickness, much like a sacrificial layer of laquer.

Also, a good waxing twice a year will cost me perhaps

Swissol or similar good wax will be good and help protect the paint from chemical attack etc, however, if I understand correctly, the sealant coats also protect from abrasion more effectively because they are hard and have an effective thickness, much like a sacrificial layer of laquer.

Also, a good waxing twice a year will cost me perhaps

Diamondbrite or Supaguard has allways been used on my cars.

But dont pay dealer prices' date=' hunt on e-bay or ask about.[/quote']

Would have to agree, just used Diamondbrite on ebay, excellent finish and all done in 1 day.

If you want to waste your money, carry on. You asked for advise. IMHO a good wax WILL protect it. You decide !!!

Hi

I assume you have tried a sealant coating or two and have found them wanting? I would be interested to know what one you tried and how it worked out. I know a good waxing works wonders, but I have two jobs and no time, so car washing and waxing need to waste as little of my time as possible. (eg. I am working tonight on a documentation set required for 8am tomorrow and will be lucky to see my bed before 2am).

If I can find a good sealant type prep that works, I will be happy, however, if they are really no good, I would like to know who has tried what and with what results.

Chris

I've tried the sealant and don't rate it.

Wax doesn't take long to put on. I washed mine this afternoon and the dirt just rolls off. Waxed SWMBOS, took about 20 mins for a quick no frills wipe over.