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New car has it. I've never had it before.
I'm certain that the combo exterior and interior protection package (a several-times-a-year drive-in thing) that the dealership offered is a good product, but I thought it was probably something that was overpriced.
So now I'm on my own!
First rule - keep it clean. Leather is much easier to clean in a car than fabric because most spills can be wiped up easily since leather will not absorb it. Keep a rag in the car in the glove box if a spill (like coffee) happens when you are out.
Vacuum the seats periodically to remove accumulated dirt, grit, etc. Wipe the seats down with a damp cloth. Once or twice a year use a leather conditioner such as Meguiar's leather conditioner.
For paint:
1. keep it clean. Just don't let it go weeks and weeks with dirt on it.
2. NEVER go through a car wash that touches your car (no brushes). The brushes have dirt from previous cars and will scratch your paint.
3. wash it by hand if possible. Use two buckets, one with the soap, another with water so you can rinse your dirty sponge before you dip it back into the soap.
4. dry with a clean soft towel.
5. wax twice a year
A bit pricey but worth it. Friend of mine used the leather cleaner & conditioner on his '03 Infiniti G35 coupse since new about 3 times a year & 8 years later the seats still look almost perfect.
Every vehicle I have ever owned, has always looked like new, and that is without a trip to any car wash.
I NEVER, NEVER use soap under any circumstances.
All that does is eat the wax so that you are always washing the car to keep it looking clean.
There is a big difference between looking clean, and looking clean and shiny.
My secret to keeping my vehicles looking great is simple.
First off, no soap, second clean with clear water and a rag.
When dry, wax (not polish)
Once the vehicle has a good coat of wax, once or twice a week, take a damp rag, wipe an area about four feet, the follow with a dry terrycloth towel, and these pics show the results.
This only takes maybe ten or fifteen minutes to complete a couple of times a week.
I had people tell me they don't have ten minutes to devote to keeping their vehicle like mine, and that I must have a lot of free time.
If one can't take ten or fifteen minutes out of their day for this, they really do have some problems.
I think the last time I took a vehicle to the car wash was about fifty years ago.
A little time on your part, and not much effort, your vehicles should stay looking like these, and no expensive trips to the car wash.
The most important tip to preserving both exterior paint & interior leather is to keep your car garaged at home and at work. One of my neighbors has a 15yo Acura with original paint that's immaculate & gleams like brand new because he's never parked it outside.
The most important tip to preserving both exterior paint & interior leather is to keep your car garaged at home and at work. One of my neighbors has a 15yo Acura with original paint that's immaculate & gleams like brand new because he's never parked it outside.
My vehicles do not have the luxury of being garaged, only portable carport, and they always look new.
A garage would be great, but still one needs to devote time to keeping a vehicle looking like new.
The only thing a car wash is good for is a "quickie" cleansing, but the results are at best, temporary.
I stick with what I know works.
Bob.
Another way to keep the leather nice is to not eat or drink in the car. No matter how neat you may eat or drink, spilling in the car is going to happen. You can't spill what isn't there.
Plus you aren't distracted by food or drink when driving, which helps with keeping the paint nice!!!
Here are some other factors in the car's life:
I live in Virginia, so to get the road salt/chemicals off during winter, especially off the undercarriage, I will have to go to a car wash every now and then, unfortunately.
No garage where I live.
And now I have to deal with pollen on the car alternating with rain this week -- my beautiful deep blue car with yellow "accents": ICK! I went over most of the car with some microfiber cloths today, but I'll have to get the stepstool out to reach the top!
Well heres my tip if your not to cheap to do it.....
Because I live in the Pacific Northwest where it rains much of the time and crap gets thrown all over your vehicle by passing cars and trucks I have found the best way to hand wash is .....
First go to your local "Do It Yourself Hand Wand Pressure Washing Station" and blast all the surface dirt and junk off before you start to hand wash the vehicle. I never even use the Soap cycle. Just the water blast is good enough in most cases. Then I drive back home and go at it. Only takes 10 minutes at the most.
Now you take your nice clean wash mitt with proper soap in a bucket and wet your vehicle good first then hand wash what little is left and rinse carefully. Dry with a soft Cotton towel.
On road tar and grease I use a shot of WD-40 to disolve it, and then soap and water to remove the WD-40 and grease without damage to the paint.
My 2005 Chevy sits outside all the time and looks just like new. No waxing and no fine paint scratching anywhere I can detect.
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