How many just "wash"???

[pwd72s]

A few days ago, I decided to "wash" Cindy's Ford Ranger...a 1999 XLT. It's just a 2 wheel drive model, a 4 door. We've added spray-in bedliner, a soft tonneau, and (most importantly) edelbrock shocks. Otherwise, a stock 4.0 engine. Air, cruise, stereo, and power everything but windows. Might, just maybe, be worth 7K on the used market.

But, damn! This "wash" turned into a near concours prep detailing session! I mean, everthing but a bottom scrub. Under the hood as well, though nobody looks there but me.

I spent nearly 6 hours, washing, waxing, detailing. WHY?????

It HAS to be a sickness. But then, I can send Cindy out into the world of shopping...knowing she has the cleanest Ford Ranger in town.

I just like having a clean car.

Yep...a sickness!

[JoeyD911]

Oh, GOD now YOU'VE got it TOO! It's an epidemic1

[911 in SC]

I'm sure there's no one else here that has EVER done anything like that...

Before I got married, my girlfriend (now wife, of course) had one of the cleanest Grand Ams on the road - had Fiero wheels, etc. She only thought I was nuts back then. Now she knows I am...

[Oh Haha]

I keep all three of our vehicles as clean as possible, all of the time. It's kind of therapy for me.
Even my daily hack is kept clean inside and out. We don't drive on dirt roads so the undersides are usually pretty easy to clean. I use Simple Green on the wheel wells, let it sit whilst washing the rest of the vehicle and then just hose it off. Even our stupid minivan, as much as I hate even having it, is kept clean. Wifey drives it most with the kids. It is a serious test of my patience when I vacuum the interior. ARRRGGHH!!!!
I tried to lay down the "no eating in the cars" rule like my Dad did but apparently I have been overruled.

[Jack Olsen]

I'm the opposite. I tried waxing it once, and didn't enjoy it at all. It gets a hose, a quick soap, and a towel to dry it off.

To keep it looking nice, I take photographs from farther and farther away.

[old man neri]

Ya, I am more likely to just wash it. It's hard of me to justify washing, claying, waxing, and the whole nine yards when I am about to drive it 150mi on a highway a few days later and get it covered in dead bugs. I drive it a lot, I rather drive it then spend all my time cleaning it. That being said, I do like to pamper it once in a while.

[SandyI]

Not only do I just wash my 911E, I don't wax, and rarely vacuum. And I drive it nearly daily.

My F250, I wash that once every six months whether it needs it or not.

[rcecale]

If all you have time (or inclination) to complete is a simple wash, try using Liquid Claybar from Turtle Wax. Used this on my car just last night and it really works wonders.
Directions say to just spray loose debris from car (I actually did a full wash, not just a rinse) and then wash with Liquid Claybar. You squirt it onto a damp sponge, and you just have to rub it into the paint.

Results are stunning, both from a visual POV and from a feel perspective. You can the back of your hand on it and it feels like a new car/paintjob!

Randy

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Jack Olsen

I'm the opposite. I tried waxing it once, and didn't enjoy it at all. It gets a hose, a quick soap, and a towel to dry it off.

To keep it looking nice, I take photographs from farther and farther away.

Hate to say this Jack, but it shows. I love your cars, but....

[Scott98]

Hi, my name is Scott and I'm a washoholic....

I entered my 911 in a car show a few months ago. I started with a clean car and still spent 6 hours cleaning it! I must have used 20 Q-tips to get in all the little nooks and crannies in the interior. The car must be spotless or it bothers me to no end.

Scott

[BeyGon]

I drive my 55k mile 89 911 to work every day, it is ALWAYS clean. I clean it almost every evening. I just hate it when it has spots or dust. I clean my wifes T Bird every weekend, she isn't to big on a clean car but I hate to have her drive around in it when it is dirty. I know my nieghbors make fun of me but I don't care, I have never had a dirty car. I used to clean my Survey truck every evening when I brought it home. Just can't handle a dirty car.

[island911]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Hate to say this Jack, but it shows. I love your cars, but....

Oh, c'mon Paul...


Doncha think you're being a bit harsh.


Here, take another look at Jack's car...





couldn't resist.

[livi]

Originally Posted by Jack Olsen

I'm the opposite. I tried waxing it once, and didn't enjoy it at all. It gets a hose, a quick soap, and a towel to dry it off.

To keep it looking nice, I take photographs from farther and farther away.

Count me in. I hate it. Waxed the Porsche (nothing to do with auto stimulation!) once since I got it three years ago. Washed it once this summer..

Same cathegory as making the bed - what´s the point - the result from the labour only lasts twelve hours tops.

[Jack Olsen]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Hate to say this Jack, but it shows. I love your cars, but....

No need to feel badly about it.

I will say that when I see a beautifully detailed car, I kind of want to change and become someone who can (and will) do that. But 'I yam what I yam,' you know?

The car gets dirty. I keep the trophies clean.

[barney911rs]

That's a good one Island911. I hate to admit, I'm the same as Jack. My sickness is speed rather then clean. Now that I live in a rural area, dirt and gravel driveways are the norm, I keep the windshield clean, but that's about it on any of my cars. The race car gets a quickie exterior wash before going in the trailer, on a good day. 100 MPH it looks great.

[911teo]

Originally Posted by Jack Olsen

I'm the opposite. I tried waxing it once, and didn't enjoy it at all. It gets a hose, a quick soap, and a towel to dry it off.

To keep it looking nice, I take photographs from farther and farther away.

I am exactly the same... I must admit that sometimes I also take the cars to Auto Bell Flame suit on...

[JackMan]

Well. I must admit I have been through a 12 step program regarding the compulsive behavior surrounding 12 hour detail sessions. Now I just soap, bucket and towel dry. Run a wet towel across the interior and vacuum occassionally. Car looks great, but once a year I fall off the wagon and start with a simple wash and end up going gonzo on the car removing the wheels, and getting out the dental instruments, cotton pads and alcohol swaps. Yeah, I'm demented.

WJ

[many944s]

I guess I am a detail freak
About every-other month, I'll detail every car in the showroom. Since they only go out a couple of weekends each month, they stay fairly clean, but there's something about having them all waxed and detailed that just makes them look better. Plus, if one of them is dirtier than the others, it just looks kinda sad.

I know... I need help.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Guilty. Spent portion of Saturday AND Sunday cleaning up the M.B. Looks good now, but of course I'm paranoid and putting the car cover on it all the time now - including at work, which is getting me ribbings from my coworkers of course. They know I'm nuts.

I'm not done yet either!

Have you ever wiped down your spark plug wires with protectant? I have. It's an affliction.

Have to admit I cleaned the lugs with a toothbrush too.

Egads. Wait 'til the 911 shows up. I'm hoping I can hold my anal-retentiveness in check.

[widebody911]

Eh, I do the drive-through car wash at the gas station once every six months, whether it needs it or not.