I used to wax the heck out of my vehicles in the past. Did it like twice a year (spring and fall), washed it, washed it again, dried it, then waxed, polished. Took a sh*t load of time.
Then, I bought my S-10 in '98 brand new. Did the same thing for 2 years. Washed it, waxed it, washed it .... you get the idea.
But in 2000, there were some higher priorities. I started building a house. So I really did not have the time anymore. Just let it be. And I live in the Northwest, lots of rain. Truck was always parked outside. In 2006, I traded it in for the Taco (needed a 4 door for the kids, would have otherwise kept the S-10). So before presenting it to the dealer, I washed it one more time and waxed it. The darn thing looked like brand new.
I highly doubt that I would have gotten even a single cent more out of the dealer if I would have waxed it every year twice since 2000. It would have just taken a lot of my time.
Now you can argue that you like the truck to look pretty. But that lasts maybe for a week, right?
Anybody convince me to go back and do what I used to do to my cars? It does not seem to be worth it nowadays to me.
I used to be the same way with my '94 325i, which just sits in the garage now that I'm having so much fun in the truck. For years I got out there with the orbital polisher and pushed wax around. But all that work really had about a 30 day payoff. And the car is black, a total pain to work on.
Since this is a truck, already has some scratches and is also black, I really don't think I'll be trying to keep it in show trim all the time. Maybe every few years, and then go all out, strip, clay, wax, all that.
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2007 Tacoma DC TRD Offroad, Tow Package, Weathertech Liners, c2c struts
Black needs it. Maguiars NXT Tech Wax and weekly washing.
Wow, you sure use a lot of fresh water in a state which needs every drop conserved. I have nothing against washing and waxing your vehicle, but WEEKLY!! What, aside from your ego, requires you to wash your truck that often? I wash mine about once a month because I drive on dirt roads and the winter road salt needs to be washed off.
Wax: looks GREAT, and as above, sure makes the crusty mud & bugs come off easily, also I use an orbital buffer and it can make some small nicks and scratches disappear with waxing.
agreed with it looking nice. i travel to vegas weekly and needless to say, my trucks covered in bugs and crap by the end of the weekend. i usually wash the truck once every 2 weeks unless theres something going on then 1 once a week. now without the wax im guessing itd be a pita to take all that crap off. or i guess i could use the bug n crap remover. oh well. i like waxing my truck. it looks really good when im done
Wow, you sure use a lot of fresh water in a state which needs every drop conserved. I have nothing against washing and waxing your vehicle, but WEEKLY!! What, aside from your ego, requires you to wash your truck that often? I wash mine about once a month because I drive on dirt roads and the winter road salt needs to be washed off.
Wax: looks GREAT, and as above, sure makes the crusty mud & bugs come off easily, also I use an orbital buffer and it can make some small nicks and scratches disappear with waxing.
i wash my truck pretty much weekly ...and if it gets dirty in between i wash it again....i dont pay 400 bucks a month to have a truck that im not going to take care of
i wash my truck pretty much weekly ...and if it gets dirty in between i wash it again....i dont pay 400 bucks a month to have a truck that im not going to take care of
I used to wax the heck out of my vehicles in the past. Did it like twice a year (spring and fall), washed it, washed it again, dried it, then waxed, polished. Took a sh*t load of time.
You waxed then polished? You should polish and then wax. Polishing after waxing would just remove the wax. Polish cleans & repairs. Wax protects and adds gloss. Most people never really polish their paint.
Taking care of my paint is totally worth the effort. Driving a clean black vehicle makes me happy.
I don't see waxing as an end in itself. It is just part of a vehicle care regime. I wash weekly because all the crap that gets on the paint can harm it if left on there. Bugs especially are bad because their digestive juices are acid and can eat through clearcoat in less than a week. Unfortunately, wax does not prevent this, but it does seem to make the bugs and everything else come off easier for several months after I do it. I wax again when the paint gets hard to clean or usually a month or two later because I really don't like waxing. I will say it is hard to tell exactly how much good anything we do to take care of our vehicles really does, but I can tell the difference when I wash of a fresh and an old wax job. 2-3 times a year and about an hour each time seems worth it to me.
I polish and wax about twice a year. But by the time those times roll around, my truck looks pretty bad. I drive through the woods at least twice a week going to my hunting and fishing spots. Small (and sometimes large) branches surface scratch the finish. After the polish and wax, my Taco looks brand new.
I also wash my truck once a week, but it's because I'm single and date a lot. Single women don't typically like getting into a dirty truck on a first or second date. I think they think that if I care for my 'baby' like that, they won't be treated much better.
Now when Brittney Spears realizes that I'm the one who's REALLY her soulmate, then maybe I won't wash my truck every week. I'll use her money to pay one of you guys to wash it!!!
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