i think we are somewhat in the same boat. my last car (95GT), i would carry with me a arsenal of cleaning products. if i stopped at burger king for a bite, i had to quick detail the front bumper, dust the car and make sure i had a even coat of tire dressing on all fours. the car was very clean for the year, but was not a show car IMO. i also noticed by using quick detailer (ive tried 15 different brands) and dusting techniques, the car still had a not-so-clean look after a few days. i also sorta felt as if i was swirling the paint by doing this. to me, the car was at its cleanest after a full wash job.
i havent really even got to enjoy my 2000 GT yet due to the shotty weather but i think im not going to try and kill myself to keep it "perfect". while the car is fairly slick, its had some previous paint work and noticeable reminents of where a "MUSTANG" sticker once was under the door. the front bumper is permanently bug splattered and i have cloth seats making it impossible to keep my dash dust free. i think on this car, im just going to wash it once a week, try to enjoy it and worry less about keeping it spotless. if it were nicer, probably would be a different story.
i got a quote to have the front bumper resprayed from a well known painter here in town. he does excellent work and the quote was for $200. WAY cheaper than anywhere else but i hate to make the front of the car perfect and the rest of the car still have its imperfections. i also want to put a chin spoiler on it but hate to do that also with a bugged up bumper. dont want to spend the cash for a bumper repaint and a spoiler.
ughhhh. where does it end
also should note, im fortunate enough to have a explorer as a DD so my mustang ( and neither my old 95 ) doesnt have to get driven in the crappy weather.
i havent really even got to enjoy my 2000 GT yet due to the shotty weather but i think im not going to try and kill myself to keep it "perfect". while the car is fairly slick, its had some previous paint work and noticeable reminents of where a "MUSTANG" sticker once was under the door. the front bumper is permanently bug splattered and i have cloth seats making it impossible to keep my dash dust free. i think on this car, im just going to wash it once a week, try to enjoy it and worry less about keeping it spotless. if it were nicer, probably would be a different story.
i got a quote to have the front bumper resprayed from a well known painter here in town. he does excellent work and the quote was for $200. WAY cheaper than anywhere else but i hate to make the front of the car perfect and the rest of the car still have its imperfections. i also want to put a chin spoiler on it but hate to do that also with a bugged up bumper. dont want to spend the cash for a bumper repaint and a spoiler.
ughhhh. where does it end
also should note, im fortunate enough to have a explorer as a DD so my mustang ( and neither my old 95 ) doesnt have to get driven in the crappy weather.
Clean it? That takes away from driving it. I am not a clean freak, I'll wash her once a month if it is warm out. She'll get vacuumed every other week when warm also. If it is cold (for FL.) I'll clean her if the garage is cleaned out and there is room, gotta move my boys mustang power wheels out of the way. Otherwise, it isn't a show car, I drive her everyday and that is where I get joy from the car. They are nice looking but I am a spirited driver.
everyone would be ashamed of me..... I live out in the country on a dirt road & can't keep mine clean no matter how hard I try. I can give it a good wash on Sun afternoon, not drive it, & get home from work on Mon & it will be filthy from all the dust from cars going down the road.....I hate living where I live! it is black so that makes it that much harder to keep it looking great.
I try my best to keep it clean. I really do. I found myself over the winter working 12+ hour days then pulling it around to the detail bays to wash it outside in 30* weather. My hands would be numb, but the car would be clean lol.
Right now, she's dirty. It's my DD, and if it rains she gets dirty. There is nothing I can do about it. I'll clean it up when the sun comes back out. I honestly have no problem washing my car a couple times a week or more to keep the dirt off.
Right now, she's dirty. It's my DD, and if it rains she gets dirty. There is nothing I can do about it. I'll clean it up when the sun comes back out. I honestly have no problem washing my car a couple times a week or more to keep the dirt off.
+1
Now waiting for 04sleeper (or sleeper04, whichever it is) to chime in. His car (along with Handz and many other of you guys)....
I try and keep mine washed once every couple of weeks. Depends on the weather. I really only get chance on weekends, and if it's raining, then it won't get done. I normally detail it (clean inside and out, clay bar, couple of coats of wax, small stuff like door jams, trunk lid, Rain-X, engine bay) once every 2 or 3 months. Depends on when I get time.
This thread makes me laugh -
When it's out (Apr-Nov), it's washed at least weekly. Even in the garage it gets dusty and even dusting it off doesn't get it as clean as I'd like it. If I drive it at night, the front bumper gets bugs get on it, so those need cleaned off ASAP. Then you're looking at a once a month Zaino polish and at least a bi-weekly gloss. Add a bi-weekly interior detail and I'm probably spending a couple of hours a week cleaning it, which is much less time than I drive it (2002 - 50k miles). BTW, it's only accidently seen rain three times.
I'm sure some of you that haven't washed the car in a year or more is a lot a function of climate.
When it's out (Apr-Nov), it's washed at least weekly. Even in the garage it gets dusty and even dusting it off doesn't get it as clean as I'd like it. If I drive it at night, the front bumper gets bugs get on it, so those need cleaned off ASAP. Then you're looking at a once a month Zaino polish and at least a bi-weekly gloss. Add a bi-weekly interior detail and I'm probably spending a couple of hours a week cleaning it, which is much less time than I drive it (2002 - 50k miles). BTW, it's only accidently seen rain three times.
I'm sure some of you that haven't washed the car in a year or more is a lot a function of climate.