Well, a few weeks after I got my car from the dealer in Fort Worth (RLB auto group) I found that whatever they used to hide the excessive marring and scratches had worn off.
Up to that point I hadn't even washed or dried the car by hand and so I know it wasn't from me. So I just spent a couple hundred bucks getting the scratching and marring out with a detailer here locally. He spent 25 total hours working the paint in steps to get it out without having to use heavy compounds or wetsanding.
One thing that the detailer had mentioned though was that my car had a veeeery soft clear coat, and that he said if I'm not extremely careful my car will be all marred again after the first wash.
So that got me thinking...do all the S197 GT500's have this paint "issue"? If so...how are you guys taking care of your paint?
Just for kicks...here are some before and after pics of the work:
Before:
and after:
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Black and red is the fastest color.
Without full-sun shots your "afters" aren't an equal comparison; but it does look nice.
Did he tell you his steps? If he used a Glaze; be careful as some marring may come back, but it won't necessarily be your fault, it will just be the oils from the glaze washing off.
Considering his total time involved, it sounds as if he did things properly.
And there is NO way your car needed wetsanding (and glad he didn't). A 2 (or 3) step polishing with the proper pad/polishes would take care of that without a doubt.
I've got an '09 Vista and my Dad has a Perf. White; both have pretty hard paint and are def. not "soft" by any means (and that's with me using a rotary). Black is always a harder color to work on since it shows micromarring if you don't absolutely have patience and the proper polish. Each car can vary of course as well.
Now, the vinyl stripes are STUPID soft. Everything mars them pretty much. Have to be super careful when washing/drying over them.
Read here for washing tips/process...
READ the process more than the product suggestions.
That happened to my stupid ass in my 05 cobra a week after I bought it by running it through a chevron car wash for 8 bucs. Looked the exact same as the pics. Needless to say I have never done that again.
I live in fort worth where is that dealer located? Do they have another red n black. I got a red n white and I always wanted the red package.
Get some menzerna nano polish and a dual action polisher.
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Black 01 cobra **SOLD**
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Prochamber/Magnaflow, Kenny Brown springs, steeda c/c plates, LFP 3/8in spacers, Afs 17x9-10.5 wheels, 315's, JLT RAI, Billetflow 2.93 and 4 pc idler.
Weird that very few of those that have responded have had problems with their paint. I would have thought this would be more of a widespread issue considering that ALL of the GT500's that I looked at prior to buying this one all had marred and scratched up paint--regardless of color. I saw it on a red one, a white one, and blue one. When I saw this black one, I was pretty amazed that it wasn't scratched. But now I know that the dealer simply used oils and fillers to hide the scratches.
I am very particular about the washing / drying / polishing materials that go onto my car, my cars never see any mechanical car wash. So I'm confident I can keep the car for the most part in its present state. I'll probably use some spray sealant of the same brand after each wash for the next few months and then recondition the car with Zaino.
I also realize that the photos were taken at different points in the day thus making it "not a good comparison" -- but that's because he finished at the end of the day and not at 12 noon. So regardless of whether you feel its a good comparison...the car looks 99% better than it did prior to the detail, and that's not because of oils and fillers, that's because of hard work to get the paint right before putting any sealant on it.
There are a couple of minute scratches that were very deep that required wetsanding. Not pictured...one was able to come out completely and the other was diminished but not completely removed in an effort to play it safe and not remove too much clear.
But getting back to the main point of the original post, how many of you have scratches in your paint and how do you normally do about taking care of your gt500?
Without full-sun shots your "afters" aren't an equal comparison; but it does look nice.
Thank you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mblgjr
Did he tell you his steps? If he used a Glaze; be careful as some marring may come back, but it won't necessarily be your fault, it will just be the oils from the glaze washing off.
I was out there off and on for most of it. He worked on it using several steps, various cutting pads I think, and once done he'd take a towel to it to buff off the remainder of the powder. That's where we saw that the towels being used -- even though MF -- still slightly marred. It didn't happen until I let him use my zaino towels that it wasn't a problem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mblgjr
Considering his total time involved, it sounds as if he did things properly.
I hope so. I know he used Optimum products which contain no oils or fillers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mblgjr
And there is NO way your car needed wetsanding (and glad he didn't). A 2 (or 3) step polishing with the proper pad/polishes would take care of that without a doubt.
There were two distinct scratches that required wetsanding. One was done by a body shop before him and the other was done by him, but in an effort to save the clear we only went so far. That scratch will have to be filled unfortuately.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mblgjr
Now, the vinyl stripes are STUPID soft. Everything mars them pretty much. Have to be super careful when washing/drying over them.
I noticed that as well...but those are already messed up from the previous owner. I may end up just removing them one day and blacking the car out completely.
I've done it using Menz. IP on a PC, 4" orange pad, speed 5. Came out really really well, but it takes *light* pressure...and patience.
Mixxer on here likes to use 3M Ultrafina, but I'm not sure what exact process he uses.
Opt. products are nice all around, you shouldn't have any issue then and hopefully you can keep her looking new.
As far as your comment about other owners and all the 'new' cars you looked at being this way...yeah; mine came with the Dealer-installed swirl package as well. We were just lucky that Dad's car (white) had only sat on the showroom floor off in a corner, so it hadn't been washed but maybe twice. Then the Vista had been inside as well, then out for about 2-3 weeks, but not long enough for them to mess it up.
"But getting back to the main point of the original post, how many of you have scratches in your paint and how do you normally do about taking care of your gt500?"
Continue looking around the links I posted and you'll find plenty of good info and other products you may be interested in.
I have a PC random orbital and pad assortment, along with a rotary, so doing the job you just paid the detailer to do is something I do myself (I'm also a small fleet manager, so it's something I do on occasion anyway). It takes time and effort, but it's like anything else you do yourself.
Proper washing is of utmost importance on black. IF you're not washing with the 2-bucket method...start doing it. Also look into getting a Foam Gun. They're pricey; but I feel like it's worth it and I was the world's biggest skeptic about it when folks started talking about them.
This is the link I couldn't find last night. The guy has a Black Yukon/Tahoe and is super great about keeping it up and has videos/etc. on how to polish with the PC on black, etc.
I've done it using Menz. IP on a PC, 4" orange pad, speed 5. Came out really really well, but it takes *light* pressure...and patience.
Mixxer on here likes to use 3M Ultrafina, but I'm not sure what exact process he uses.
Opt. products are nice all around, you shouldn't have any issue then and hopefully you can keep her looking new.
As far as your comment about other owners and all the 'new' cars you looked at being this way...yeah; mine came with the Dealer-installed swirl package as well. We were just lucky that Dad's car (white) had only sat on the showroom floor off in a corner, so it hadn't been washed but maybe twice. Then the Vista had been inside as well, then out for about 2-3 weeks, but not long enough for them to mess it up.
"But getting back to the main point of the original post, how many of you have scratches in your paint and how do you normally do about taking care of your gt500?"
Continue looking around the links I posted and you'll find plenty of good info and other products you may be interested in.
I have a PC random orbital and pad assortment, along with a rotary, so doing the job you just paid the detailer to do is something I do myself (I'm also a small fleet manager, so it's something I do on occasion anyway). It takes time and effort, but it's like anything else you do yourself.
Proper washing is of utmost importance on black. IF you're not washing with the 2-bucket method...start doing it. Also look into getting a Foam Gun. They're pricey; but I feel like it's worth it and I was the world's biggest skeptic about it when folks started talking about them.
This is the link I couldn't find last night. The guy has a Black Yukon/Tahoe and is super great about keeping it up and has videos/etc. on how to polish with the PC on black, etc.
Hey thanks for the info! Have any leads on where to get a good orbital?
I do in fact use the two bucket methods and I have the dirt tray inside the wash bucket. I'm unsure as to what's best to use now for the washing tool...because things have changed so much since I owned a black car. I have a hard time trying to find a mitt here locally that doesn't scratch.
my car came from the dealer with swirls all over the place. it really pissed me off that a new car had all those swirl marks. I dont even know where to begin
I'm the second owner of my red GT500, so I don't know how the previous owner cared for the finish, but I bought it w/1500mi and the paint looked a lot like yours. I've already been over the car twice in less than a year, again just recently when I removed the stripes. I'll post pics tomorrow. The first time I used a white pad but this time I used an orange pad and got better results using my Flex (which I think is a lot better r/o than the PC, which I've since given to my father). Polishing afterward with a blue pad made a big difference, too. This was also the first time I applied wax using the orbital and I liked the outcome. Since I never drive the car in the rain, I only wash it like once or twice a year.
Oh yeah, like mblgjr mentioned, I use a foam gun for washing any of my vehicles. No bucket.
no paint issues at all. I was also lucky that I told the dealer "no prepping prior to shipment. Car was dusty when she was delivered, but, no marring.
I use 3 buckets+ hardness filter on hose
no towel drying/air compressor only
I used Menzerna then finished it with Black Fire Carnauba
I always maintain coats of protection
not the best angle, but she stays this way
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592/589
13 PSI
FRPP-3:73-Kooks 1-7/8 L/T's
Steeda-LCA/UCA-Steeda-Adj Panhard-Steeda-CAI
Steeda-Springs-DSpecs-Shelby-Short Throw Shifter
Pro Sport Gauges-True Forged- 20 x 9.5- 20 x 11.0
Well, a few weeks after I got my car from the dealer in Fort Worth (RLB auto group) I found that whatever they used to hide the excessive marring and scratches had worn off.
Up to that point I hadn't even washed or dried the car by hand and so I know it wasn't from me. So I just spent a couple hundred bucks getting the scratching and marring out with a detailer here locally. He spent 25 total hours working the paint in steps to get it out without having to use heavy compounds or wetsanding.
One thing that the detailer had mentioned though was that my car had a veeeery soft clear coat, and that he said if I'm not extremely careful my car will be all marred again after the first wash.
So that got me thinking...do all the S197 GT500's have this paint "issue"? If so...how are you guys taking care of your paint?
Yes mine has had nothing but TLC, and it has scratches all over the place. I have decided to just do "normal" washing and drive it like hell. I'm too tired of trying to get the paint to look good and have it turn out like crap.
I have a red GT Mustang and it looks great after 4 1/2 years and has won over a half-dozen car show first or second places.
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