Professional detailing vs. Self detailing

[TurboDurbo]

Spring is rapidly approaching and I can't wait to take the G out of hibernation. I would obvioulsy like the car to look good but I am trying to decide if I want to take it to a pro detailer for $139 or jsut do it myself. Anyone had experience with detailers, good or bad?

This is the place I was thinking of taking it.

http://www.pro1mobiledetailing.com/se.htm

[SVTCOBRA]

I wash/polish my own cars. Always have and hopefully always will. I find it to be good exercise (last Saturday I washed all four and polished two). Then, hit the heavy bag for 30 minutes and lifted weights. Sure, I couldn't move very fast Sunday, but I felt good about it!!

If somebody complimented me on how good my car looked and I knew I had paid somebody else to detail it, don't know how I would feel about that.

[rn79870]

I might be the only one here who doesn't like (anymore) working on my car. I have it washed at a special car wash that uses air to dry it. I have my cars detailed about 2 times a year (hasn't happened to the G yet). And I take it to the dealer for the oil changes. I do check the oil, put gas in it, and add air to the tires when necessary. And I'd pass on that if it was possible.

The detailers typically wash the car, clay the car, then wash it again, then wax and buff it. They have special things they do to the windows inside and out that makes them cleaner than I can ever get them. I don't use, or want any treatments to the dash/interior because they all seem to cause glare and put a unnatural shine on the material.

My opinion; have it detailed once or twice a year. I'll bet that 90% of the people on this forum would choke at the thought of allowing another person to touch their car. I've had no problems. Just ask around and find a place with a good rep, go there and watch them work for a while. You'll know it you can trust them.

And SVT, ...Then, hit the heavy bag for 30 minutes ... Ya know what we call that in California?

[TurboDurbo]

I know it's a great workout, I always wash my own car and do the work on it. It just seems like I don't have time to spend an entire day detailing my car, as much as I love it, I have other priorities that prevent me from spending too much time with it. Not to mention the fact that they have all of the right equipment and products to get the job done properly, I would hope. I am just worried about someone other than myself messing the car up. I will just have to put some more thought into it and like rn79870 said go check the place out first.

[phil4watching]

i usually wash my car every week. but since the drought here in ga. its killing me. i feel like my car is in bad shape cause i cant wash it by hand or wax it.. it sucks so bad.

[SVTCOBRA]

i usually wash my car every week. but since the drought here in ga. its killing me. i feel like my car is in bad shape cause i cant wash it by hand or wax it.. it sucks so bad.

We have restrictions here too. I take a bucket of Zaino to the diy carwash. Hose it down, scrub it, and rinse it off. With 4 cars in the drive, I'm not able to give them a great detail job. It's more of a maintenance wash & polish.

Every once in a while I'll really scrub one of them good and do a decent detail, but still not as good as I've seen done at one of the local dealerships. They have one guy that comes in and does a great job.

[joe603]

i usually wash my car every week. but since the drought here in ga. its killing me. i feel like my car is in bad shape cause i cant wash it by hand or wax it.. it sucks so bad.

I feel ya brother!!! Do what SVT recommended and take a bucket and a towel to the car wash and go to town!

[ZeroDfx]

For me it's not a question of who does the detailing, but whether it's being done right & completely.

I suggest you take a stroll through the forums at http://www.autopia.org for a snese of what's possible in detailing. It may be far more than you ever wanted to know from these OCD-plagued car nuts, but isn't that the kind of person you want detailing your car?

I'm sure you can locate a professional in your geographic area who will use the right products and make sure your paint is well cared for and looks spectacular.

For those who prefer to do it yourself, you will learn what detailing truely entails. I have applied the products and techniques I learned there to my wife's 2003 Caribean Blue G35 coupe and she just commented last Sunday how the car looks like it just came off the lot. So I know what I'm learning there is working.

Good luck either way: DIY or have it done.Nick

[W661335PF]

I have indentured servants--- my children whose very existence depends on their contribution to the family. One of many contributions: detail both cars, which includes wax (with Collinate 845 wax-- no other wax touches my car), vacuum, detail the inside with microfiber cloth and lukewarm water, wash the underbelly, clean and recondition the leather with Lexol, etc., etc.

Would you like to rent them???

[rn79870]

For me it's not a question of who does the detailing, but whether it's being done right & completely.

I suggest you take a stroll through the forums at http://www.autopia.org for a snese of what's possible in detailing. It may be far more than you ever wanted to know from these OCD-plagued car nuts, but isn't that the kind of person you want detailing your car?

I'm sure you can locate a professional in your geographic area who will use the right products and make sure your paint is well cared for and looks spectacular.

For those who prefer to do it yourself, you will learn what detailing truely entails. I have applied the products and techniques I learned there to my wife's 2003 Caribean Blue G35 coupe and she just commented last Sunday how the car looks like it just came off the lot. So I know what I'm learning there is working.

Good luck either way: DIY or have it done.Nick

Welcome to the forum ZeroDfx. I think you'll like it here. Why not post some pics of the G?

[ZeroDfx]

Thanks for the welcome. I'll see what I can find in the way of pictures and popst a couple; perhaps I can figure out how to use one in an avatar too.Thnx, Nick