Hi all,

Happy owner of a new-to-me 2010 Fit Sport red (pictured below). Really wanted a TDI wagon but got practical and went with a much more affordable to own vehicle.

So far, things are great and I'm averaging 41 MPG in the mountains (round-trip from Crested Butte, CO to Denver etc).

Currently, I'm not using the vehicle much and it's sitting in our driveway taking a sever solar beating for the entire day.

I really want to protect the car's paint from both solar induced fading and from the dust and pebble-chips that the vehicle will often be exposed to. Vehicle has a clear-bra but that's it.

I got some great waxing/detailing instructions on this thread: https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/gene...g-new-fit.html

My underlying question is - If not driving the vehicle frequently at present, does it make more sense to get a car cover or to wax/get it clearcoated?

AND

For driving dirt roads, what is my best/most affordable way to protect the vehicle's body and paint?

I currently have a difficulty with washing, which is that its a 60 mile rt drive to the nearest carwash (and douing the drive to then wax at home will result in waxing a car with some insects/pollens/dust). But yes, I do have a hose in the front yard.

 

I've heard from folks that live up further north than me that have to deal with insects like love bugs, using rain-x diluted in water, the rain-x used on windshield wiper fluid. Helps get pesky critters off. I can't think of the brand name but there is a clear film that's used to help against rock chipping but it's fairly expensive

 

It's always good to use a car cover, they can be bought fairly Cheap

 

Vinyl wrapping your entire car is an option. A full 3M Auto Vinyl Wrap would cost you ~$2000-3000. Imagine a large sticker over your car that you will just have to wash (no need to wax and if i'm not mistaken waxing vinyl may damage it.) The wrap would prevent your fade-prone clearcoat-less Milano Red from turning pink in the sun. The wrap will also double as protection from rocks/debris.

Car covers are nice but I personally would find it annoying constantly covering/uncovering as the Fit is my daily driver. If you have the space for it you may consider a temporary garage or an ez-up style tent to give you some shade.

As for washing/waxing, you may want to consider a waterless washing system. Meguiar's Quik Detailer comes in a spray bottle giving you the option of just basically spraying and wiping to clean the car off. You can go further with some Meguiar's Ultimate Detailer and Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Wax and you've got yourself a complete waterless wash/wax system. You will have to accept the fact that this method is an alternative to the PREFERRED conventional method. If I had to, I'd use a waterless method between a good pampering when you get an opportunity to show your Fit some much needed love. To repeat something I mentioned in the waxing thread you linked, try not to wax over a dirty/dusty/polleny/buggy car. You run the risk of marring your paint and the finish will appear dull.

You will have to decide affordability for yourself. However, I must say, even though I am into detailing and maintaining my car's appearance, I have accepted the fact that my Fit is prone to rock chips on the hood with its high angled front end and things won't remain perfect for long. If I ever have to replace my front end [bumper/hood] (knock on wood) I'd wrap them before installation.

 

3M paint protection film. This will protect the front of your car, not sure if it protects against the sun...

I use a waterless carwash product for light cleaning:

Freedom Waterless Car Wash – Cleans, Polishes and Protects without water

At first I was very skeptical, but after using it for quite a while, I really do like it. I would rinse any parts of the car that have alot of sand and dirt, then use this to finish up. Works on a wet or dry car, it recommends in the shade for best results, but can be used in the sun.

Your car already has a clearcoat, I guess you could get more coats, but I'm not sure if that will help against the sun.

I try to park in the shade when possible, but usually not under trees as you run the risk of sap or leaves getting into awkward spots.

Covers are good, I have a garage so I don't have that issue. I always worry that if you aren't careful you can eventually scratch something...

If you are looking for affordable, I would probably try a portable shelter, they can range from $150 - $2500, it just depends what you want.

 

The clear bra was an excellent idea. You can get the whole car done in that material but it gets expensive. That will give you some protection against chips and scratches.

Even the best fitting car covers tend to flap or ripple in the breeze to some extent and even the smallest amount of sand and dust caught in the fabric can abrade the paint. Even the fabric itself can do it in some cases. You could get a canopy/awning which should keep the sun off but wouldn't help with blowing dust.

If you can use a good sealant and wash frequently it will help but it isn't a perfect answer. Optimum, Ultima, P21S, Lusso and Dodo Juice all make great car shampoos. Optimum and Ultima have excellent low water consumption/rinse-less shampoos. Optimum, Blackfire, Mezerna, Ultima and Werkstat all make very easy to apply and quite durable paint sealants. Finish Kare 1000P is also very good but more work - it goes on like a paste wax. You should get four to maybe six months protection* from the above if you keep the car washed with one of the suggested shampoos at the correct dilution. Stay away from commercial car washes. Do NOT use a quick detailer unless the car is basically quite clean to begin with. Quick detailers are intended for light dust and to restore the shine NOT pollen or gritty dust. If you use them on a really dirty car you will scratch the paint.

There is also a new generation of coatings that claim lifespans of up to a few years. G|Techniq C1 and Optimum Opti-Guard are examples that require professional application. Optimum Opti-Coat v.2, AQuartz, G|Techniq C2 and Wolf's Body Wrap are versions you can apply yourself although they may not be quite as durable. These are relatively new products and the jury is still out as to whether or not they live up to the hype. They also have very limited distribution in the USA.

*None of these will offer significant protection from sand and gravel. They give you some protection from UV, water-spotting and bugs and bird poo provided you don't let them sit on the paint for weeks. All extra coats of clear coat paint will do for you is make a thicker layer that permits more professional compounding correction. It will scratch just as easily as the factory paint, perhaps more so if you don't use a great paint shop and it will be expensive.

 

hand-wax your car, buy a shade for your driveway, and wash your car.. don't dust off the dust if you want to keep your paint finish... to avoid chips during drives: drive slow and a clear bra is a good idea... there are no race car in the world without chips and dents in their bodywork... it comes in the territory of driving fast... so.. drive slow...