The Audi in my Footer is arriving 22/10/10 and I want to know what is the best way I can go about keeping it in a decent condition for an extended period.
My previous (Total Loss) Audi was Phantom Black and though I liked it, I am one of the few it seems who was always a little disappointed in way it could look dull and greyish in certain light and that was from new and nothing to do with my polishing skills so I have gone this time for Brilliant Black.
I can however see the issues with this, and hence my request.
There are some conditions though that will separate me from the professionals here, so this is where advice might differ for me than what I have read, which was a bemusing amounts of products for one!
1. I am no detailer, a strict amateur
2. The car will be very much in use and on dirty winter roads regularly
3. The Clean will be once a month only, and maybe a mornings attention.
4. Cost of products to be reasonable and easily accessible and hopefully small in terms of how many use.
5. Its a company lease so I am not going to be to obsessive in its resale, though having said that there is an option to buy (was considering that for my last one, as I LOVED that car, but a boy racer idiot ended that idea)
The only products I have ever used are Autoglym, which I must say did an amazing job on our now recently sold 13 year old MGF.
The Audi below is arriving as is, no products on it at all as extra, so what preparation does it arrive in with regards paintwork?
From there, what is the initial best practice? Do you drive it as existing and do the clean/wax at next opportunity? Or do you on first day protect it somehow?
What I am after is starting out in the best way, so that I can monthly wash with good protection inbetween, and then understand what protection I should use at these monthly washes.
Apologies if this is away from true detailers who I admire lots, some of the cars I have seen are amazing, but mine will never remain that way for long and I am looking for the best balance to keep the balance between the 'in use' look and the 'it looks great' for its first few days from a good clean...
My previous (Total Loss) Audi was Phantom Black and though I liked it, I am one of the few it seems who was always a little disappointed in way it could look dull and greyish in certain light and that was from new and nothing to do with my polishing skills so I have gone this time for Brilliant Black.
I can however see the issues with this, and hence my request.
There are some conditions though that will separate me from the professionals here, so this is where advice might differ for me than what I have read, which was a bemusing amounts of products for one!
1. I am no detailer, a strict amateur
2. The car will be very much in use and on dirty winter roads regularly
3. The Clean will be once a month only, and maybe a mornings attention.
4. Cost of products to be reasonable and easily accessible and hopefully small in terms of how many use.
5. Its a company lease so I am not going to be to obsessive in its resale, though having said that there is an option to buy (was considering that for my last one, as I LOVED that car, but a boy racer idiot ended that idea)
The only products I have ever used are Autoglym, which I must say did an amazing job on our now recently sold 13 year old MGF.
The Audi below is arriving as is, no products on it at all as extra, so what preparation does it arrive in with regards paintwork?
From there, what is the initial best practice? Do you drive it as existing and do the clean/wax at next opportunity? Or do you on first day protect it somehow?
What I am after is starting out in the best way, so that I can monthly wash with good protection inbetween, and then understand what protection I should use at these monthly washes.
Apologies if this is away from true detailers who I admire lots, some of the cars I have seen are amazing, but mine will never remain that way for long and I am looking for the best balance to keep the balance between the 'in use' look and the 'it looks great' for its first few days from a good clean...