View Poll Results: Should I get her cleaned? Or do it myself?
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Should I get her professionally detailed, or do her myself?
07-08-2004, 08:02 PM
#1
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Should I get her professionally detailed, or do her myself?
More like should I go out and spend $100-$150 easy on products (clay bar, micro-fibers, etc.) that I can use over and over, and about 6hrs cleaning and waxing. OR should I get her professionally detailed seeing how I've never gotten her done before, and let someone else do the work for roughly the same price.
Really need some feedback here.
Really need some feedback here.
07-08-2004, 09:27 PM
#2
If you buy the products yourself, theres no way you will spend $150 on them.
Just go to an Autozone or anywhere and you will probably spend a little over $50 on clay kit, wash, polish, wax, and towels. 150 detail job might be worth if they were going to do interior too, but with a 2001, im guessing your interior isnt that bad. I say do it yourself and save money.
Just go to an Autozone or anywhere and you will probably spend a little over $50 on clay kit, wash, polish, wax, and towels. 150 detail job might be worth if they were going to do interior too, but with a 2001, im guessing your interior isnt that bad. I say do it yourself and save money.
07-09-2004, 03:43 AM
#3
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If I go out and buy wax, polish, towels, glass cleaner, wheel dressing, rim cleaner, applicatiors, clay kit, leather cleaner, and carpet cleaner. You don't think that's going to cost me @ minimum $100???
07-09-2004, 04:51 AM
#4
Originally Posted by alicious
More like should I go out and spend $100-$150 easy on products (clay bar, micro-fibers, etc.) that I can use over and over, and about 6hrs cleaning and waxing. OR should I get her professionally detailed seeing how I've never gotten her done before, and let someone else do the work for roughly the same price.
Really need some feedback here.
Really need some feedback here.
just my thoughts
07-09-2004, 05:15 AM
#5
If your interior is cloth and really dirty, I'd have a detail shop clean it. (I hate doing that)
If it's leather at least the seats and doors will be easier to clean. I'd vote for doing the leather yourself.
I like detailing the exterior, so I'd vote for you doing that yourself, unless it's really in bad shape like Link said. Then take it somewhere.
If it's leather at least the seats and doors will be easier to clean. I'd vote for doing the leather yourself.
I like detailing the exterior, so I'd vote for you doing that yourself, unless it's really in bad shape like Link said. Then take it somewhere.
07-09-2004, 06:10 AM
#6
cleaner, polish, wax = at most $20
clay = less than $15
microfiber towels = $6/$7
applicators = $4
and 6 hours.
do it yourself. its worth it when you know that everyone's staring at YOUR hard work while cruising down the boulevard. plus, you'd take better care of your own car. when you take it to a detail shop, its not their own car so they dont put as much care and effort into the work.
clay = less than $15
microfiber towels = $6/$7
applicators = $4
and 6 hours.
do it yourself. its worth it when you know that everyone's staring at YOUR hard work while cruising down the boulevard. plus, you'd take better care of your own car. when you take it to a detail shop, its not their own car so they dont put as much care and effort into the work.
07-09-2004, 06:18 AM
#7
It depends.....look on Autopia and see if there are any REALLY good pro's in your area. Your car is black, and unless your paint is perfect, which I doubt since you don't have the supplies yet, you won't be able to do much by hand. Its better to learn on a clean slate because you will only frustrate yourself trying to get out swirls on a black car by hand. Plus, you may get the added benefit of watching them to the work so you will know how to do it yourself. Make sure that you look for someone who really knows what they are doing, because a car wash detail is just throwing your money away.
07-09-2004, 06:32 AM
#8
I personally enjoy spending a day polishing my Max. Like everyone has said, if your paint is not in too good a condition, a pro might worthwhile. Get a good base, then keep it up yourself. Supplies aren't that expensive and can be used many times (I use terry towels and Meguiar's Gold Class products). If you go with a pro, make sure they are good. Ask for references. I had pro do my 91 Max and it came back with lotsa swirl marks from the buffer he used (so be careful). Took awhile to get those out by hand. Good luck whichever way you decide.
07-09-2004, 08:00 AM
#9
Originally Posted by Sqard
It depends.....look on Autopia and see if there are any REALLY good pro's in your area. Your car is black, and unless your paint is perfect, which I doubt since you don't have the supplies yet, you won't be able to do much by hand. Its better to learn on a clean slate because you will only frustrate yourself trying to get out swirls on a black car by hand. Plus, you may get the added benefit of watching them to the work so you will know how to do it yourself. Make sure that you look for someone who really knows what they are doing, because a car wash detail is just throwing your money away.
07-09-2004, 09:58 AM
#10
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Originally Posted by Link112
I see your max is black. How does the paint look? Do you have a lot of fine scratches or swirl marks in your paint? Have you done any detailing in the past? If the paint is in good shape, get the stuff yourself and do it up. If the paint is hazed up and needs some help, it might be worth having a professional do it and then take keep it up. The first detail will take the longest, but is well worth it. Personally I say give it a go yourself. Unless you are buying a buffer it won't run you more than $60-80 bucks, unless of course you are going with high end polish/waxes. Detailing is not real hard, it's just more time and energy than anything.
just my thoughts
just my thoughts
07-09-2004, 01:21 PM
#11
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,941
It's not really a bad idea to get a pro to fix it up for you once.... it really depends on how much you want to put up with.
I think you can look at it this way:
a) Pay a pro to correct the major damage. Faster, no work on your part, but it costs you money and you have to hope they do it properly.
b) Do it yourself. Takes a LOT longer and is a lot more sweat (assuming you're doing this by hand), and there is a learning curve, but it costs you less even after buying some supplies, it's good experience, and you know what's been done to the car.
Regardless of which way you go, make sure you maintain the car as well as possible after that, and make sure your processes are making as few future swirls as possible.
I think you can look at it this way:
a) Pay a pro to correct the major damage. Faster, no work on your part, but it costs you money and you have to hope they do it properly.
b) Do it yourself. Takes a LOT longer and is a lot more sweat (assuming you're doing this by hand), and there is a learning curve, but it costs you less even after buying some supplies, it's good experience, and you know what's been done to the car.
Regardless of which way you go, make sure you maintain the car as well as possible after that, and make sure your processes are making as few future swirls as possible.
07-10-2004, 07:18 AM
#12
I am going to do it like this:
Do it yourself and the costs:
Meguiar's Gold Class Shampoo - $9.99 (128 oz)
Waffle Weave Towels - ~$30.00 (for 2)
Eagle One A2Z - ~$4.00
Menzerna Intensive Polish - $13.95
Menzerna Final Polish - $14.95
Klasse All In One - $19.00
Clay Magic Clay Kit - $9.95
Stoners Invisible Glass - $4.00
Microfiber Towels - Price varies with quantity and vendor
S100 Wax - $14.95
Plus brushes, mitts, and foam pads
All together you would be out around $70-100 easily
A pro might charge between $125 and $150 for a full detail but the price might vary because of the services involved (e.g. interior cleaning, engine cleaning).
Do it yourself and the costs:
Meguiar's Gold Class Shampoo - $9.99 (128 oz)
Waffle Weave Towels - ~$30.00 (for 2)
Eagle One A2Z - ~$4.00
Menzerna Intensive Polish - $13.95
Menzerna Final Polish - $14.95
Klasse All In One - $19.00
Clay Magic Clay Kit - $9.95
Stoners Invisible Glass - $4.00
Microfiber Towels - Price varies with quantity and vendor
S100 Wax - $14.95
Plus brushes, mitts, and foam pads
All together you would be out around $70-100 easily
A pro might charge between $125 and $150 for a full detail but the price might vary because of the services involved (e.g. interior cleaning, engine cleaning).
07-21-2004, 12:22 AM
#14
my dads friend owns a car dealership and he gets all his car detailed, he charged my dad $100 for his truck, its a 91 and it has a fiberglass canopy and it use to be black but it was a ugly grey color being a truck it had some scrathes but for a 91 it was in pretty good condition, when he got it back he didnt want to sell it, they even fixed the scratches in the paint......if you have time to detail it do it yourself, or if your lazy, dont feel like it, dont want tennis elbow or dont have time take it to a detailer but use a detailing place that is established or just use nissan they detailed our maxima once when it got rebuilt cuz of a BHG it looked good
07-21-2004, 10:58 AM
#16
the org...not what it was
Thread Starter
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Join Date: May 2004
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Thanks for everyone reply, i think i'm going to get her professionally detailed and start from there. Probably blow $150, and then after I get it done go out and get some goodies to keep her up from that point on.
Now I just have to figure out what to buy
09-10-2004, 10:41 PM
#20
I use all of the BlackFire products for my finish. Its a great polymer. I was using Griots Best of Show Wax at one time, which is good as well, however its carnauba based, so its protection is gone in less than a month.
Originally Posted by PrinzII
I'd check out a polymer like Klasse, Zaino, or Blackfire to protect that newly detailed finish.
11-14-2004, 10:30 AM
#29
the org...not what it was
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Got her done yesterday, even though i drove her all last night she looks gorgeous. Cost me $120, and was worth every penny. Will post pics later today/tonight
: 
04-12-2005, 11:14 PM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,108
For what it costs to have it professionaly detailed once, you can have some high end products to use more than once. And, theres a certain pride in spending 7 hours on Sunday pampering your car 
Just start with quality products and cover all the steps and youll be set.
Just start with quality products and cover all the steps and youll be set.
05-08-2005, 06:04 PM
#35
Originally Posted by Maxima-Ness
For what it costs to have it professionaly detailed once, you can have some high end products to use more than once. And, theres a certain pride in spending 7 hours on Sunday pampering your car
Just start with quality products and cover all the steps and youll be set.
Just start with quality products and cover all the steps and youll be set.
05-10-2005, 07:06 PM
#36
Where are you guys at that your spending $120 on a full detail?..i work at a detail shop and for a max it would be about $95 for a complete detail..It is definatly worth the money for the interior because especially if u have really messy door panels and dash its a real pita to get in all the cracks of the dash and in all the vents and everything..and with the exterior if u have small scratches all around then an exterior wouldnt hurt either cause the shop should put some kind of levelers on there to lessen the appearence of the scratches
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