[JamikeCal]

Hey guys, new owner here. Second VW.
First was an '05 GTI. New '11 Carbon Steel.

I was wondering what the best cleaning/care products would be to use on this new car.
I purchased the First Place Finish option at the dealership.

For interior as far as the dash goes I remember being told to avoid Armorall but can not remember the alternative mentioned. Is Armorall a safe choice or is there a better product?

Any recommendations of products that do an excellent job on the exterior, including wheels and tires, would be appreciated!

My family also has a large amount of time planned to be spent at the beach this summer and was wondering if there were any good tips for coastal care? I know the salt can be hard on the car.

Thank you in advance!

 

[xcrazydx]

http://myfastgti.com/volkswagen/forums/19-DETAILING

Read stuff

 

[knoXville]

Autogeek.net has everything you need

 

[xcrazydx]

Haha, nice

 

[JamikeCal]

Thank you much!

 

[mkvInyc]

Wolfgang!!!!!

 

[shaun07]

search "shaun07 picture page" it says what i use, and im the greatest ever

 

[csmith1957]

Wolfgang!!!!!

I like this stuff too, but it's a little expensive.

 

[GTIVI2011]

I bought some Armorall interior cleaning wipes and they sucked! don't use armorall because they leave behind a greasy feel/look. The dash looked all greasy for weeks and it looks ugly.

 

[csmith1957]

I use Meguiar's for the interior.

 

[mkvInyc]

it is but well worth it my car looks like a mirror 200 for a kit that will make your car look wooooo lol
i detail my car once a month not one swril bump paint is so smooth and clean it stays dry in the rain

 

[csmith1957]

it is but well worth it my car looks like a mirror 200 for a kit that will make your car look wooooo lol
i detail my car once a month not one swril bump paint is so smooth and clean it stays dry in the rain

Yeah, its good stuff. I'll keep using it.

 

[sgessler]

I ran a car and boat detailing business on Long Island through college and graduate school. I have cleaned pretty much every car out there during the 1990's. I used to own a 1993 Corrado SLC VR6 which was my favorite car ever. I'm currently waiting (on order) for a 2011 GTI DSG in Carbon Steel.

For a new vehicle wash it often with high quality auto soap. Pick yourself up an "absorber" which is a synthetic drying cloth. http://www.cleantools.net/WebSite/inner.aspx?pg=../productDesc.aspx?pid=3&desc=../website/htm/the_absorber.htm

You will love this thing trust me. Next get some high quality exterior detailing spray such as Automagic #49 body shine:
http://www.detailnet.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=49
or my new favorite is this one by Griots Garage: http://www.griotsgarage.com/product...eyword=spray+on+wax&sortby=newArrivals&page=1

For the interior use this: http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+care/interior+detailing/vinyl+&+rubber+dressing,+8+ounces.do

If you manage to keep the car scratch free you may never really need to machine polish the paint. You can instead use a high quality clay bar by automagic, mothers or griots. I found again Griots clay is a great product and you get more clay per dollar. If you never used clay it is similar to wet sanding, but without the risk of damage to the paint unless you really try to hurt the paint. You work on one panel at a time with a mist of quick detailer such as this one:http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+care/car+washing/car+cleaners/speed+shine.do

Mothers sells a ready to go clay bar and spray: http://www.mothers.com/02_products/07240.html

Just know that if you drop the clay bar it may pick up sand and then you have a disaster waiting if you continue to use that contaminated hunk of clay. So always use a chunk of the clay bar, not the whole bar at once. After prepping the paint with clay you should use a hand such as 3M Imperial hand glaze followed by a good caranuba wax. Mothers pure caranuba wax is fantastic:

It is extremely important to use 100% cotton towels preferably microfiber ones. Be wary of the yellow microfiber towels at Costco, they are made with polyester that scratches auto paint.
Spend a few bucks on good chemicals; you spent enough on the GTI make it look its best.

 

[Haze]

nice post sgessler. i was just about to suggest the clay barring. i love it.. used it on my titan and as soon as i have a free weekend the gti is up for it too!


also have heard great things about adam's products. again a little pricey but if you watch the youtube videos about it you'll see that they last forever..