So I finally got the motivation to put in an order for a PC along w/ all the necessary goodies to play with. Here is what I used:
- Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash
- Clay Bar/Lub
- P21S Wax
- Klasse AIO
- SONUS DAS PADS
- 303 Products for Top
- Meguiar's Bug and Tar Remover
- Rain-X

This was my first time using a PC, I was too impatient to play with it on an older car so before I used it on the S2000, I turned the PC on and got comfortable with what to expect handling one.

In the end, I like the results, I think I can do a better job with the polishing stage. I wasn't to concerned about fixing up scratches/swirls, I just wanted it to really shine. I have ScratchX laying around so maybe in a few weeks I will attempt to fix any scratches I see.

 

wow, dont think i have seen a newbee-wacko job that nice in a very long time!!!

nice deep shine on that silver car... hard to get light color cars to shine like that-
congrats- badge really earned!!




if you want to try for even more shine, next time you do the car (wait a bit for the p21s to wear down... about a month will do it), put some klasse sg over it and then p21s on top of that- thats the "perfect shine" (according to our member "autopia" who has written several articles about this combo)-
here is one of his articles:
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-perfect.html

 

Thanks, I admit it was a little intimidating using the PC at first but after watching a couple videos, I was confident that the PC will not get out of control!

Regarding Klasse SG, what type of foam pad would I use to apply that product?

 

one with no cutting action...

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/sondas.html

with sonus, that probably means the blue pad

and to remove, i use a lambswool pad with a microfiber bonnet or two.

 

wowowowowowowowoowow. can i touch your car with my fingers ;] looks so WET!

 

Is your top all the way down in that picture 3rd from the bottom? Looks about like mine did when the top didn't fold right on the way down...

I'd be a bit hesitant to use Sractch-X as a first-step polish. I'd try something a little less abrasive like Poorboy's SSR1 over the entire car. That should be all you need to remove most swirls/hologramming.

wanabe's SG recommendation is spot-on though with the SG/P21S. It's the combination I love most on my black s2. You might have a hard time getting SG to bond properly over P21S though. Even after a month or so, P21S/S100 are some of the more durable carnauba waxes and might not evaporate/wear off enough.

Remember paint prep is so very key. After claying (which introduces minor marring), polishing the paint to remove defects before applying protection will make any wax/sealant look great. In any event, the carnauba wax over the acrylic sealant should add some extra shine and depth to your paint over just AIO/P21S.

Also I'd even say the wipe-on, wipe-off method of applying SG works better and is faster than applying by PC.

 

Actually in that picture I guess it wasn't. As soon as you mentioned it I went outside to check it out. It does go a little bit lower then that, at least lower then the trunk. I guess I was a little too impatient when I was ready to take pics of the car =]

So the next time I wash my car, I don't use the AIO, I use the glaze instead? or am I adding an extra step? clay bar > polish > glaze > p21s or clay bar > glaze > p21s

 

You can touch it, as long as it is with your fingers =]