best one step product to the clean / wax 1988 Targa

[jfig]

Put my first few hundred miles on the new (to me) 911 and I can't stop grinning. BEST PURCHASE DECISION EVER.

So, I am not one obsess over the car. My favorite position is driving it not looking at it but I don't want to be an idiot either. What would you guys recommend to clean the car, get the bugs off etc. Is there a one step process easy process/product?

Thank you!
Jonas

[Bill Douglas]

I'm pleased you are enjoying the new car.


Not a one step, but look into clay bar cleaning. It's really weird how good the results are. Then do a wax afterwards.

I've just bought some Meguiar's NXT to try out https://www.meguiars.com/automotive/products/meguiars-nxt-generation-tech-wax-20-g12718-18-oz-liquid

[sugarwood]

This is the de facto standard
https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-NRWW2012Q-Rinse-Wash-Wax/dp/B00GG9FB8U

[walt]

The best way to bond with your car is to give it the full treatment. Clay, polish and then wax.

[HarryD]

For a daily. Wash and then wax with any cleaner wax. I like the Griots Garage products but any major brand will do the job. If you want Best Of Show at Pebble Beach then much longer discussion.

Another approach is to get your car detailed at one of the Shops in your area and then wash/wax your car as needed to maintain finish. The detailer can provide recommendations for ingoing care for you. Most of them know that most clients are not trying to win Pebble Beach but want their car to look nice.

[HarryD]

For bugs etc. a bit of cleaner wax will do the trick.

[andrew1980911SC]

Welcome Jonas,

I'd be a little wary of products marketed as 1-step etc... anything that can do everything can't do anything well. Remember that cleaning (obvious), polishing (making the paint smooth and swirl free), and waxing (adding a protective coat to all of your hard work) are 3 very different steps with different goals in mind, and even each of those steps can be broken down even further (clay bar). There also seems to be some conflicting opinions about cleaner wax. It's definitely an appealing idea and since I no longer the time (aka shoulder strength lol) to spend a full day detailing I'll probably give it a shot. But my point is, the amount of work you put in will reflect the quality of the results... There really isn't any "miracle" product, but if you find it let me know!

I should also add... detailing products are like motor oil, tires, etc... everyone has their favorite brands and swears but them. It's just a matter of preference but if you stick to the higher end stuff you won't go wrong. Also lots of auto detailing forums that are not Porsche-specific has great info.

~ Andrew

[Bert87]

Just break it up into 2 steps. Spray sealants take 5min to apply on a 911.

As far as retail products Turtle Wax ICE Spray Wax or Seal N Shine are the best. As far as washing the car I would recommend Optimum No Rinse (the blue one, this is designed to be a rinseless wash product may want to read up on it), Optimum Car Wash, Adams Car Shampoo, P&S Pearl, Meguiars Hyper Wash.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by Bert87

Just break it up into 2 steps. Spray sealants take 5min to apply on a 911.

As far as retail products Turtle Wax ICE Spray Wax or Seal N Shine are the best. As far as washing the car I would recommend Optimum No Rinse (the blue one, this is designed to be a rinseless wash product may want to read up on it), Optimum Car Wash, Adams Car Shampoo, P&S Pearl, Meguiars Hyper Wash.

Since I am lazy and am very sure my car will never be at Pebble Beach, I mostly just wash my car with a good shampoo (when the weather is nice and I can use a hose/bucket) or spray on wash when the weather is not so nice (cold). For quick cleaning touchups I use detailing spray.

When the water stops beading nicely, I consider waxing. If I am lazy, I use spray on wax which will delay the real waxing for a few weeks. If I want to go the waxing route, I use cleaner wax on my single stage paint cars and one step sealer on my basecoat/clear coat cars.

Every few years, I will go whole hog and do the wash, clay bar, compound, wax/sealer route.

For me, I have a local fellow that sells the Griots Garage (www.griotsgarage.com) products. He lets me try them before I buy them and has lots of good advice on their use.

If you want to go whole hog, the Car Care Specialties web site has all kinds of articles on how to go about caring for your car. They are too serious for me. https://store.carcareonline.com/howto_articles.aspx

[Transcon]

I use a number of different products with varying results. Single stage paint can take some massaging to learn how to best work with it. My fallback for the past 20 years is an old favorite that has never let me down. Klass All-in-one

https://www.autogeek.net/klasseallinone.html

Can be followed with their sealant glaze. Just heed the warning and use a micro thin application or it can be a bear to remove

Congrats on the 911, enjoy in good health

[chuckr]

To directly answer your question... Mother’s Cleaner Wax
Any FLAP or WalMart. Cleans, protects, easy to use and low cost.
Works really well on Porsche single stage paint.
Good luck

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by chuckr

To directly answer your question... Mother’s Cleaner Wax
Any FLAP or WalMart. Cleans, protects, easy to use and low cost.
Works really well on Porsche single stage paint.
Good luck

Yep, Griots and Meguiars also has great products.

[JRamsay]

I am a huge fan of AMMONYC product line and educational youtube videos. Larry is a true pro and has an amazing product line.
ammonyc.com
Jim

[Locker537]

Like most things in life, this is an effort in equals results out task. Fortunately, a proper detail doesn't need to take a lot of time or money.

In general, you can't go wrong with the popular brands - Meguiar's, Griot's, Adam's, P&S, etc. Most can be bought at your local auto parts store, Amazon, or other online retailers. Lately, I've been following this rough process:

1) Adam's deep wheel cleaner applied to the wheels, agitate and let sit for a few minutes, rinse
2) Rinse car
3) Two bucket method with Griot's car wash using The Rag Company's microfiber mitts. One for the top 3/4 of the car, another for the rockers, lower valence, rear bumper, and anywhere else that gets more contaminated
4) Rinse car
5) Optional as needed: Clay the car using Griot's clay and your soapy washmitt as lubricant. Proper technical should allow you to clay the car quickly; think 15-20 minutes.
6) Rinse the car
7) Blow dry with a leaf blower - this helps push most the water out of every crack and crevise
8) Finish drying with microfiber cloth and Griot's speed shine. I intend to try P&S beadmaker after experimenting on the daily driver first.
9) Optional as needed: Wax using preferred wax; lately I've been using Griot's car wax

If I clay AND wax, it takes ~3 hours for a small pickup, less for smaller cars.

Without claying and waxing, which I would call more of a maintenance wash, I can do in under an hour.

Happy to answer any questions!

[sugarwood]

IS anyone reading the OP's request?
ONE STEP product.

Not 9 steps.
Not wax. That means washing. 2 steps.


If he wants ONE step, it's what I posted in #3
Wash and wax and entire car in ONE step, in 20 minutes.

End thread.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

IS anyone reading the OP's request?
ONE STEP product.

Not 9 steps.
Not wax. That means washing. 2 steps.


If he wants ONE step, it's what I posted in #3
Wash and wax and entire car in ONE step, in 20 minutes.

End thread.

One step is wash.

Two steps is wash and wax with a cleaner wax.

Anything else is icing.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

This is the de facto standard
https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-NRWW2012Q-Rinse-Wash-Wax/dp/B00GG9FB8U

Simpler is to wax once a year with whatever and wash as needed in between.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

IS anyone reading the OP's request?
ONE STEP product.

Not 9 steps.
Not wax. That means washing. 2 steps.


If he wants ONE step, it's what I posted in #3
Wash and wax and entire car in ONE step, in 20 minutes.

End thread.

+1 However....

I did the nine step once or twice.

Before I left the "hood" peeps were yelling at me how nice my whip looked.

You ain't getting that with one step. Never ever unless the week after the nine step.

[Locker537]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

IS anyone reading the OP's request?
ONE STEP product.

Not 9 steps.
Not wax. That means washing. 2 steps.


If he wants ONE step, it's what I posted in #3
Wash and wax and entire car in ONE step, in 20 minutes.

End thread.

Rinseless and waterless washes, like Optimum No Rinse (ONR), are in my opinion best for a quick "maintenance" wash. Best suited when the car is dusty, slightly dirty, or otherwise not very contaminated.

I've done it. Lately I've been leaving a bucket with ONR solution and microfibers at the ready in the garage for when you need a quick wipe or two after working on something. It's nice, but I haven't adopted it as a replaced for a multistep "proper" process. ;-)

[sugarwood]

For these garage queens, a "maintenance wash" is all that is ever needed.
No one is off-roading in their 911, or even driving in the rain.
ONR is perfect, and there is absolutely no reason to take a hose to your 911 anymore.
I have never gotten mud caked onto my car, just dirt and grime, which ONR is perfect for.


OP, does this appeal to you?