ok, so you go outside and your S is covered in snow. What is the best way to remove the snow from the vehicle without scratching the paint (not letting it melt)? I've heard that "Snow Brooms" are pretty good (what local dealerships use here, looks like big block of foam on a pole), anything else for us snow covered states that we should consider?

 

I just use my snow brush after leaving my car outside at work and getting a ton of snow. I just be sure not to go all the way down to the paint, and leave an inch on the car. It'll blow away pretty quick when you drive it anyway...

 

good question and one i do not have personal experience with!
the only thing that i can add to koala's advice is to make sure you have good protection on the paint-
i would use a high quality synthetic (as many coats as you can stand to put on) covered by carnuba- the synthetic will make it through the winter and the carnuba will help for the first month or so.
my current products of choice would be zaino topped by p21s.

if you have a warm garage to detail the car in, reapplying the carnuba over the base every month or so wouldnt hurt (or even putting more of the synthetic on if you can).

 

I haven't unsed Zaino, but I make sure there is a good coat of wax on my car. I wax about once a month. I've been using meguire's, but I'm going to try Griot's.

 

have tried them both... as well as just about any other carnuba out there-
make sure you try p21s at some point!
the easiest app and best all around carnuba i have ever seen

 

sounds good, will do

 

a tad off topic but i was wondering about the snow issue. does having a car outside in the snow all winter long have a potential for top damage? was wondering. i saw at the local dealership that they have a few of their cars sitting outside through all of winter. and was curious.

 

When I had my '01, I didn't have a garage. The only time that thing was indoors was at the car wash. Top looked great the day I traded it in. And that top was pretty abused... had a snow brush to it tons of times, and the snow scraper on the plastic window quite a bit, too.

 

The Griots wax lasts pretty well for a carnauba but an be a bitch to remove.

Mark

 

cool. thanks for the advice. my '01 was outside for a while too and when i turned it in march '04, it still looked pretty ok.
just weary about buying a car that's been outside at the dealership for a whole winter. just a thought