Bruce In Philly

Mark, you are hopeless!! Write the check!! To be totally honest, I really don't like doing it either and it tears up my back. It just costs too much to have someone else do it, and car washes use gravel to clean paint. So... I use loud classic rock music, fast-acting Ibuprofen, and Pilser Urquell in large quantities.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

LI911

I had a one step correction done last month ($200)....process and pics here

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...ng-island.html

pires

I have been burned many times with my black vehicles and local car washes. Seems like all I get in return for my money are swirl marks and marring.

I use a no rinse car wash and have my detailer perform a light polish and sealant every 6 months or so.

I have tried polishing my black vehicles on my own but feel I can only obtain moderate results at best. Being somewhat of a perfectionist, I'll let the pros do what they are pros at.

Palumbo

Same thoughts here, I have a black 997 and the swirls are truly awful. A mobile detailer recntly estimated 2 days to get to 95% correction ($800-$1k). A paint meter shows original paint except the hood (as expected, no rock chips). According to him Porsche paint is soft and swirls very easily. I've done a few cars myself in the past including my air cooled car in a light metallic blue using Wolfgang product, it is time consuming with taping etc... plan to take a couple days over a long weekend and if you get a partner, get someone who doesn't like to talk very much!

Decided to do polish the 997 myself... keep in mind, there's a high demand for used detailing equipment ie DA polishers etc... so if you do end up buying equipment and learn just how time consuming it is and determine you won't do it again, you can easily sell your polisher/products on ebay. I recently found a good deal on a griot's DA polisher/HD product on ebay that was snatched up immediately. When researching this product, ironically found this youtube video by Garry Dean who tested the same product on a black 997 - for the reason of testing it on a car with 'soft' paint. I'm sure there are endless choices of product out there, but thought this video was fun to watch. 3 passes and no dust could have you done in one weekend I'm sure.

Maintaining the shine and protection is a different story, just refrain from the automatic car wash and go with hand washing, your simply diy with lots of 'clean' microfiber. Impress your neighbors with a new found use of the leaf blower to dry the car, any reduction in physical contact with the paint will help.


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Mark Harris

CORSASCHNELL

I wash and detail the car myself and take extreme care and still get swirl marks on a guards red car. All it takes is a few particles stuck in your wash mitt or microfiber towel to lightly scratch the paint.

KNS

Years ago the owners manual that came with the 911 recommended not going through a car wash and suggested to only wash your car by hand.

USMC_DS1

I use a leaf blower to avoid this potential issue. Still have to be careful n use clean micro towels when I wax or polish her though.

pissedpuppy

WELL SAID!!!

My paint correction guy gets $400 (exterior) - in SF (not cheap) but my paint has never been that bad

david

+1 don't ask me how I know

As suggested, make sure that the mitt or microfiber towels are not hiding something nasty or your neighbors will be calling call the police when you scream bloody murder at your stupid self...UGH!

jsimon777

Many of you know him as he posts a lot...But Moe is the most experienced detailing a paint restoration person I have ever know. Truly in a different realm. He took my black '09 C2S that was a mess with swirls to a better than new condition.

I have before and after pics I can send. Here is a documentary video on him.

http://glisteningperfection.com/video.php

Jason

MUSSBERGER

Porsche paint is "soft" to begin with.

zirrah

Anyone paying 600-1200 for a detail is getting ripped. Visit autogeek.net or detail city and find a member there who has a detailing business. 600-1200 is luxury bull **** pricing using over-priced luxury products. Using the correct processes, a good detailer can get perfect results with stuff from autozone. And that's a fact.

LexVan

I don't agree.

I do agree about the AutoZone products. Yes, it's more about the process and technique, and less about the actual products used. To a degree.

But for a high qaulity 2-3 stage paint correction (like PCC's black car might need), you are going to need to:

Wash
Clay
Re-wash
Dry
Tape
Polish- stage 1
Polish- stage 2
Polish- maybe a 3rd stage
Wax/sealant (2 coast)

Not to even mention other areas like wheels, and dress trim and tires.

You've go to be looking at a minimum 20 hours. At $50/hour (I have no clue how much these guys make per hour) you're looking at $1,000 easy. Excluding supplies.

I pay about $600 to $800 for my 2 Porsches. But, they never require more then 1 stage of polish, or in a rare case some stage 2 in some areas.

I like to hear more about your experience and costing. Thanks.

PHX 911

You'll never see a good detailer with AutoZone stuff.
They'll use the best products they can get their hands on, and you can't get the best in AutoZone. Maybe Autogeek, but not AutoZone.

OTOH, a novice with very little instruction, but with the right tools and products, can get close to what a professional detailer can produce. Educate yourself on proper technique, make the time commitment (here is where most guys fail), and use the right products, in the right order.

As to the Porsche "soft" clear coat - the same characteristic that makes it easier to swirl also makes it easier to correct. It swirls easier and polishes easier.