I've had my silver 06 ss/sc for a couple months now...but i always pictured the paint glimmering and being less dull. When i first got it...i did a half-ass wax job due to a lack of time...and it did help, but i was looking for that added luster and shine.

So tonight...i did something that turned out looking amazing. I used my dad's 6" dual action orbital buffer (like $20-30) at sears with some Maguiars Cleaner wax (about $8). After buffing the whole car and wiping it down with microfiber cloths, i applied by hand a thin layer of Maguiars NXT Tech Wax (about $15) after that dried, and was wiped off...the finish is fantastic. the tech wax does a decent job on its own, but buffing first with the cleaner wax and then following with the tech wax makes a world of difference.

Some tips on keeping the cobalt clean:

Use the tech wax on the stock painted wheels too. keeps the finish looking cleaner longer and helps keep brake dust from gunking as much...also makes cleaning the wheels much easier.

if you've never used Simple Green before....you're missing out. You can get a gallon for under $10 at target, walmart, home depot, etc. It's concentrated...so the gallon goes a long way. anyway, the stuff is biodegradable, so it doesn't hurt grass or the environment when you wash your car. it smells good, and it doesn't harm paint, clear coats, metal, glass, or plastic. Basically, you can dunk your car in the stuff and it won't hurt it. Mix a spray bottle of 50/50 water/simple green and use it with a soft brush to clean wheels and tires. follow up with a tire shine and you're good to go. Also, use the 50/50 mixture on the plastic wheel wells. it takes dust, dirt, and other grime off of the wells...and it doesn't dull the black plastic like Bleche White can. Another tip...open the hood when the engine is COLD...not cool, not warm, not hot. Do it like in the morning before you go anywhere. Pop the hood, spray the 50/50 mixture everywhere. loosen dirt with a long bristle soft car-care brush or something similar. Let the Green soak in a few minutes....then rinse clean with a hose. takes off smudges, dust, dirt, and pretty much everything else. Simple green is good ****...use it.

Also...pour a couple ounces of the concentrate into your wash bucket along with your soap. Makes your soap smell really good, and bugs and smudges come off a bit easier when you soap up/sponge the car. Gives your soap a little extra cleaning kick.

Instead of using amor all on the interior (especially if you don't like shine) try some 5:1 water/simple green mixture in a bottle and a microfiber cloth. it takes finger prints, dust, and smudges off of all interior surfaces...it's definitely worth trying

I hope anyone can benefit from any of these tips. My dad got me hooked on simple green. it cleans everything. I once had a white baseball cap that somehow got a black smudge on it. sprayed some 50/50 simple green...rubbed with a toothbrush, and rinse with water...good as new.

 

I too am a Simple Green FREAK!!!! I've been using Simple Green Automotive(now called MAX) for over 5 years!!! I use it to clean everything from my wheels/tires/engine to my quads and even my r/c cars. I also use it clean up lots of stuff around the house. It's the best product I've found to use on any type of plastic or rubber!! I put it in a spray bottle full strength. I always rinse/wet whatever I'm washing first, then spray it down with "the Green", hit it with a long bristle brush( ) <<< the key, and rinse it off VERY thouroghly.

I wouldn't use it on my paint(it is a degreaser and will remove waxes and strip the paint of oils)
It doesn't dis-color metals like the "purple" cleaners out there........

I can't say enough good things about this stuff.........IT ROCKS!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Banzai !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

wax on




wax off


repeat

 

i have the same problem with my amethyst paint, it is dull as well

 

You guys should have got red cars. Not too much you can do to mahe it NOT look good. But good write up man! I'll have to try the Green stuff on the engine bay. thats the only pary that sux. Also boog point on the rims, I forgot that they are painted. Waxing them should be a good helper to keep the Brake dust away.

GOOD JOB MAN!

 

Damn it! You stole my smartass joke!

 

no pictures? thats beat.

 

pictures?? it's a silver cobalt...use your imagination. silver cars don't look nearly as amazing waxed and polished as say, a black or deep blue. At the time of this posting...my car was retarded shiny...but it would have had **** on a freshly polished black one

 

plus...it was at night...in my garage...pictures wouldn't have done much anyway

 

the meguires nxt wax...does that dry like ordinary wax...or is it like a wax as you dry type? just curious...ive been wanting to get it but i didnt know if it would really work.

 

Sure they can...







Shine is nothing with out depth.

 

in regards to the nxt wax...there's 2 kinds...there's a liquid spray...which is more like a detailer...but they call it polish or something....but then there's a tin of nxt tech wax paste....which is what i use...that stuff is the ****. it goes on really smooth, dries and gets a little cloudy like regular wax...then it just comes right off with a microfiber cloth. it's easy to get off no matter what...but it's easiest when completely dry.

 

thanks for the input...ill be picking up some this weekend...one more hand wash before it gets colder ....thanks