Any Tricks to Washing these Cars?

[PHM]

Washed my car for the fist time the other day. Wholly Crapolla! I'm sure you know what I mean. Any tricks to keep the water out? I dont think there is but i thought i would ask anyways.

[flipscobra]

To rinse the soap off the back I stand by the door an rinse downhill keeps most of the water out. You just have to wipe the seats from the mist.

[Ron61]

When I had mine I never used water on it. Most of us around here use a product called wet paint which doesn't scratch if you have some fine dust on it and leaves it slick and it gets a deeper shine every time you use it. And big clumps of dirt or mud, I just wiped off with a damp cloth. The wet paint also works great on the chrome.

Ron

[jay bentley]

I wash mine just like I wash my truck. So what if some water gets on the seats or carpet. The water wipes right off with a towel.

After 40 years I'm sure there has been water in the cockpit well before I bought the car.

I wouldn't stress over it.

Jay

[Bill Bess]

Something that really works great for me is this: First Step....Small general purpose spray bottle with dish soap and water. I use this to remove bugs, road grime and dirt.

Second step: I use a good detailer with wax to remove everything that the soap doesn't get while leaving a perfect "car show" finish. I was using soft bath towels to wipe off soap/water and detailer, but now I've been using those micro towels with great success.

My car is over two years old and it's only been wet one time...got trapped in a rain storm.

Bill

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by Ron61

When I had mine I never used water on it. Most of us around here use a product called wet paint which doesn't scratch if you have some fine dust on it and leaves it slick and it gets a deeper shine every time you use it. And big clumps of dirt or mud, I just wiped off with a damp cloth. The wet paint also works great on the chrome.

Ron

I use the same routine that Ron described. I switch back and forth between Meguiar's detailer spray and Wet Paint. I also recently clay barred my car, then used the Wet Paint....turned out great.

[RedBarchetta]

My car never sees water, but I do know of another SPF owner that fills up bicycle innertubes with lead shot or sand or something, ties off the ends, and then lays them across the parts of the car where water will flow toward. Acts as a dam and channels the water off the car. You might want to think about that.

-Dean

[Yetiman]

I use Maguires quick detail and that's about it. I have never used a hose.

[ack fia]

I'm with Jay, just wash it, a little water won't hurt it. Ever get caught in the rain???
Pat

[xlr8or]

Park it on an incline and wash one end at a time.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by xlr8or

Park it on an incline and wash one end at a time.

But the world is flat.

[noblec5]

What works for me is I snap on my toneau cover, make sure you point the hose away from the cockpit. In other words, make sure the water is going to the rear, front, or sides. soap it up, rinse the same way. What little water that gets in the cockpit is easily dotted up with a towel. Or if you are really nervous about water getting inside, fill up your cockpit with a bunch of "Shamwow's" That will surely take care of the problem. "It's made in Germany so you know it's good"

Washing and waxing the cobra is part of the fun. Enjoy

Chris

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

But the world is flat.

Rodney - What is the routine for maintaining a polished car? Can you just use some Windex or Invisible Glass on the surface?

[AC Cobra]

Toneau cover...... why didn't I think of that.

I only wash mine when the sun is out to help dry what water gets inside.

[noblec5]

Actually...after washing it a couple of times and cussing to my wife what a pain in the butt it is to keep the water out of the cockpit, she suggested that i open the boot and take out that "cover thingy" and snap it on. But, the shamwow idea is all mine.

Chris

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Rodney - What is the routine for maintaining a polished car? Can you just use some Windex or Invisible Glass on the surface?

Leave it in the garage with a car cover on it.

Actually, the polished finish has held up really well, since I acquired the roller in 2007, so I haven't done anything...yet. However, when the time comes (when soccer season takes a break ), I plan to use the "Swift Method" of maintaining the surface, which is as follows:

1. Wash the polished surface with plain water (no detergents),
2. Rinse the surface with clean water and then mop with a clean cotton cloth soaked in water to remove any surface contaminants.
3. Flush the polished surface with fresh water to wash away any remaining particles. Dry the surface with a synthetic chamois (Swift recommends the “Absorber”).
4. Follow with a clean polishing cloth to be sure the surface is completely dry.
5. If needed, a quick touch up with the Nuvite S, which is supposedly all that is necessary to periodically restore the mirror-like finish.

[REAL 1]

I mist down the car with a spray bottle.

I take a wet terry towel. and matt it gently over the surface of the car. This losens all the dirt etc.

I take a damp micro fiber towel and gently dry the car allowing the towel to do the work and apply very little pressure. I ring the micro out over and over until the car is basically dry and detail with a lightly damp micro towel with water or detail Meguiars Final Inspection.

BTW my car is Raven Black with no clear coat and is almost 10 years old. My paint still looks great.

Do not run the towels in circles/swirls. Go back and forth along the length of the car. A Zaino trick. Fine scratches (impossible to avoid completely are harder to see if they run north and south then if they are circular.

[HI Cobra]

Since my Kirkham has the sanded finish I just use Windex and paper towels
to clean any bug hits or finger prints as needed. Love that car!

[tool time George]

I'm using a great new product now called "liquid dry water"
stain free and controls any wettness cause it's completely dry.
if anyone else wants some i'll work on a group buy!
who's in

[franklin]

I just use Glass Plus or Windex with no amonia. Amonia etches the alluminum.
When I do ever wash it I'll probably just be careful like when I used to wash my FFR. They are a bit different however since the rear of this car doesn't have the perky butt the FFR had.