mickeymoss
New member
Hi Mike,
I’m a weekend warrior and an enthusiast, not a professional by any means. I drive a white Toyota SUV that’s parked outside 24/7, ungaraged, and exposed to the elements. Living in a tropical country with a rainy season that lasts half the year, I constantly battle black stains and road film that simple washing just can’t remove. It’s been driving me nuts!
I used to believe multi-year ceramic coatings were the ultimate solution, but after reading your articles, my perspective has completely shifted. You've opened my eyes to a whole new approach. Now, my mantra is: polish every six months and apply protection (skip the multi-year ceramic coatings) All thanks to your insights.
I recently read some of your articles, including:
Now I’m trying to decide which route makes more sense for my situation. Here are the two options I’m considering:
Im going to wash, mechanical decon, chemical decon and then polish.
Option 1:
Use an AIO (All-in-One) product or cleaner/wax like Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic Polish & Wax or 3D Speed. Then, top it off with a Turtle Wax ceramic spray sealant every month or two. Repeat this process every 6 months. This is an easier approach as it's just one and done. but less protection compared to the 2nd option.
Option 2:
Use a dedicated fine-cut polish like Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish or Menzerna SF 3500 for one step paint enhancement, followed by an IPA wipe-down and application of CanCoat Evo. Repeat this process every six months.
From what I understand, Option 2 is more time-consuming due to the added steps, but it offers better protection and hydrophobic properties since CanCoat Evo is a true coating. Is that correct? Or the better protection wouldnt matter as much because with Option 1 I'm constantly topping off the protection with the ceramic spray sealant anyway.
Given that I’m not a professional detailer and time isn’t a major concern for me, I don’t mind putting in the extra effort. My main goal is to remove those stubborn black stains and make the white paint pop again. I’m not chasing perfection or trying to correct every scratch, just want the car to look clean and fresh.
Would love to hear your thoughts on which route suits my situation best.
Also, apologies if my English isn’t perfect, it’s not my first language.
I’m a weekend warrior and an enthusiast, not a professional by any means. I drive a white Toyota SUV that’s parked outside 24/7, ungaraged, and exposed to the elements. Living in a tropical country with a rainy season that lasts half the year, I constantly battle black stains and road film that simple washing just can’t remove. It’s been driving me nuts!
I used to believe multi-year ceramic coatings were the ultimate solution, but after reading your articles, my perspective has completely shifted. You've opened my eyes to a whole new approach. Now, my mantra is: polish every six months and apply protection (skip the multi-year ceramic coatings) All thanks to your insights.
I recently read some of your articles, including:
- Lesson white paint teaches us,
- The case against multi-year ceramic paint coatings,
- Road Grime = Surface Staining Daily Drivers by Mike Phillips
Now I’m trying to decide which route makes more sense for my situation. Here are the two options I’m considering:
Im going to wash, mechanical decon, chemical decon and then polish.
Option 1:
Use an AIO (All-in-One) product or cleaner/wax like Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic Polish & Wax or 3D Speed. Then, top it off with a Turtle Wax ceramic spray sealant every month or two. Repeat this process every 6 months. This is an easier approach as it's just one and done. but less protection compared to the 2nd option.
Option 2:
Use a dedicated fine-cut polish like Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish or Menzerna SF 3500 for one step paint enhancement, followed by an IPA wipe-down and application of CanCoat Evo. Repeat this process every six months.
From what I understand, Option 2 is more time-consuming due to the added steps, but it offers better protection and hydrophobic properties since CanCoat Evo is a true coating. Is that correct? Or the better protection wouldnt matter as much because with Option 1 I'm constantly topping off the protection with the ceramic spray sealant anyway.
Given that I’m not a professional detailer and time isn’t a major concern for me, I don’t mind putting in the extra effort. My main goal is to remove those stubborn black stains and make the white paint pop again. I’m not chasing perfection or trying to correct every scratch, just want the car to look clean and fresh.
Would love to hear your thoughts on which route suits my situation best.
Also, apologies if my English isn’t perfect, it’s not my first language.
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