Is the red of your car looking more Nantucket than Guards? Perhaps some parts have a tinge of Marmaduke? Can't see yourself in that slick black finish anymore? Buff that sucker! Everyone's breaking out the nice weather cars, and my daily driver was looking pretty shabby, so I set aside a couple of days in the garage...

I just got done polishing and waxing my entire car. It was a total pain in the ***, but oh man--what a difference. It looks brand new. I'm not sure of the condition of your car, but even if it's really dull/orange/pink, you can bring it back. My car has never looked better. The only thing about it are the nicks. Polishing won't help spots that have no paint on them (but I have a can of red paint which is a better match than the Porsche touch-up paint, it seems...I can find out the exact brand, if anyone wants). This car was dull. Road grime, weird spots that appeared to be fused to the surface...Elbow grease, elbow grease, elbow grease. If you have kids, they'll earn their allowance.

Even the door that was orange compared to the newly-painted rear quarter panel matches pretty damn well. It took me two full days (morning until night) of rigorous, pain-in-the-***, I-don't-think-I-care-anymore, do-I-really-have-to-get-this-weird-nook-nobody-will-see-it buffing by hand, but the car looks really good. Worth the effort. I'm happy. I look back when I park. I check my hair in the hood (kidding). Now all I have to do is completely refinish the wheels...

For the first polishing coat, to bring back the color and get rid of the fused road grime stuff, I used Body Magic Medium Compound. It takes work, but it'll bring back the red. After that I used 3M Imperial Hand Glaze. Excellent stuff. Makes rags slide off the hood. After that I used Meguire's Professional Paste Wax (I think--it's in a shiny blue can) to seal it all in. This stuff also worked great. Kept everything smooth. I used about 6 old 100% cotton shirts (cut up--easier to hold) and just rubbed rubbed rubbed, did another section while the other one dried, then buffed the stuff off, then did the next coat, etc...All by hand.

Make sure your compounds aren't separated (happens if they freeze, with time, etc.) Total cost was about $50 and a weekend. If you're smart (not like me), you'll set aside 3-4 days with the thing in the garage, work until you get annoyed, eat lunch, do a few hours in the afternoon, then start again the next morning. Make sure you actually get it done, though...Do sections, all three steps, then move on.

If you're skeptical, buy the stuff, do the hood really well, all three coats, then gauge if it can help the rest of the car. If there's any paint anywhere, it can. It's a hard to justify a $1000+ paint job on these cars keeping any kind of investment money in mind, but TLC seems to go a long way...and at least with a Porsche, there's a solid return.

Good luck.

 

I did the same yesterday about 6-7 hours and a couple of beers <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" /> I first washed,then clay the whole car,next I used 3m swirl remover,I was very pleased,them 3M glaze,finally 3M show wax.My arms were killing me <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> but the effort was well worth it!
How do you add a photo? Ill show my results.

 

You'll buff it out about 5 times before you eat through part of the paint. Then you'll need a re-spray.

However, totally agree with doing this BY HAND when the paint is some 10+ years old. Go after it with a buffer and you will be waxing primer.

Well done guys. I did the same right after I bought mine. It looked horrid until I spent a full weekend and a lot of elbow grease on it. Paint looked new when I was done, and stayed that way for about a year. Did it again every spring until the fire forced me to have to paint it.

 

A photo of my efforts


<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/944frontveiw" target="_blank">http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/944frontveiw</a> <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

 

I'm taking 3 days off work this week to do my car inside and out. The winter here takes it's toll on mine, being a daily driver. I just hope the weather holds up as I'm looking forward to having a shiny 944 again.

I guess this will be me in action. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

Where's the Karate Kid when you need him?

 

I've not worked too hard, just a good wash and wax and this is what I end up with (sunny pictures are new)

<a href="http://nick.type944.com/" target="_blank">http://nick.type944.com/</a>