Hi All,
I am bringing home a new Fit this afternoon (MR Sport manual). I've read a bunch of comments here about the paint not being all that great on Fits, and I want to make sure I protect my new car as much as possible. I was planning on washing it this coming weekend using Mother's Cal. Gold Car Wash, then following up with Mother's Carnauba Cleaner Wax. Do you all think this is adequate, or should I also use some sort of pre-prep following washing? The car will be garaged.

 

well unfortuneatley washing and waxing will not eliminate chips and such... which really suck... the only way to avoid that is a bra.... but i wash and wax my car obsessivley and the paint is still pretty great looking!

 

front to back, front to back, FRONT TO BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Invest in a 3M Clear bra for the front end and the rear tailgate Best $$ spent. That and a regular wash and a wax

 

I recommend getting a clear bra on the front, to prevent rock chips.

Tyler

 

I have two pieces of advice...

1. Do not use any product that is a cleaner wax. Brand new paint should not need a cleaner and all cleaner/wax formulas are inferior. Cleaners are meant to fix minor imperfections and prepare the surface for wax. Using the two together means that it is trying to both strip old wax and apply new. Bottom line...doesn't work. If the paint needs a pre-wax cleaner, use that first, remove, and then follow with a good polymer sealant or wax. Downside to wax is it doesn't last near as long so be prepared for bi-monthly waxing. For a decent polymer sealant that isn't overpriced and is easy to find I'd recommend the Meguires NXT.

2. Use microfiber wash mit, towels, and applicators. You can greatly cut down on the amount of scratches by using quality microfiber and keeping it completely free of contaminates. A fellow Fitfreaker offers the best deal in microfiber that I've seen anywhere. Here's the link...

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/gaug...tail-kits.html

Congrat's on the new car purchase!

 

My car came with Autobutler paint sealant and they told me not to wax it. Of course they also tried to sell me the extended warranty. When I turned them down, the sales lady handling my paperwork got kind of snotty and said "with that darker color (VBP), how are you going to protect against oxidation?"

I figure in six months or so I'll just get some new paint sealant and apply it myself? Can I do that?

-joshua

 

Yes, you can wait 6 months between sealants if you use a quality sealant. I recommend Duragloss or Ultima (from Autopia). I've heard good things about NXT (posted by another user). There are a lot of really good sealants out there so you will get lots of recommendations if you ask. Not all last 6 months, you may have to go to the 3-4 month point depending on what you like in terms of looks, ease of application etc.

FWIW, I have an old SAAB - 1993 with single stage (no clear coat) paint that suffered from horrible oxidation. Once I bought a Porter Cable polisher, a decent set of polishes, and a good sealant, my oxidation problems have disappeared. Since I started using Duragloss sealants (501 and 101 - they're numbered) along with Aquawax as a final treatment, my oxidation problems have not come back. Good finish care can bring back old finishes and keep new finishes looking new if you're willing to do a little homework and put in some time. Once you're over the learning curve, it's pretty easy to do and I find the manual labor to be a good break from playing desk/computer jockey.

 

i used mothers cleaner wax on mine, and she looks gorgeous.

end story.

 

pssh you dont need to tell him how to wipe is ass. haha



i start on the top, and then go front to back.


yeah....

 

lol. too many times people wonder where their swirl marks come from.

ummm... wipe in swirls and you get swirl marks

 

on a brand new car you don't need a cleaner wax. just stick to a regular wax

 

Hi GAFIT,

Thanks for the advice. I'll use up the cleaner wax on my old F-150 and will go with the Meguiar's NXT on the Fit. I also went ahead and ordered the base microfiber detailing kit.

I drove the Fit home yesterday on US 2. Stopped at a convenience store to get a sandwich, and as I was walking back to the car (admiring its looks all the way), a guy stopped and gave me a big grin. I'm thinking, Do I know you? Then I realize he's admiring the MR Fit Sport. Which looked incredible, being straight off the dealer's lot.

What a fun car to drive! Very nimble and responsive, almost felt like a sportscar. The gearshift is totally solid and positive. And I was pleased with the lack of road noise. Good sound system, too. I'm happy!

 

Glad to hear you're already enjoying it. I've owned a LOT of cars through the years, but the Fit is special. They are as fun to drive as they are to look at. It's amazing how often it becomes the topic of conversation.

You'll love the NXT. I gave up my expensive Zymol habit because the NXT is almost as good for a fraction of the price.