SW03ES

This is why you need to read through the detailing forum on here. This is not always true. I for instance do not like Zaino.

My experience with Toyo tires, really quiet at first, get much louder as they age through half-life.

Look, I don't want to fight. Yes you're welcome to challenge me or anybody else, but you've got to have the experience to back that up, and you just don't. You can't challenge me saying that you can do with a PC what you can do with a Flex when you have never used a PC or a Flex, or any orbital buffer...ever. You can't tell someone the Flex is a better tool when you haven't used it, or *any* other comparable tool. You are welcome to post, but if you post an opinion or make a statement where you don't have any experience or first hand knowledge to back it up, I'm going to call you out. You have no basis for your opinions on this subject, and people reading them need to know that when they weigh whether to listen to you or to others. I don't think its unreasonable to ask that you only offer advice or make suggestions based on your own experience. If you post information and the goal of that information os truly to offer guidance. You've got to admit, actually participating in the process you are advising people on at least once within the last 20 years would be a good idea. At least it would be a good idea before arguing with people who have been partipating in that process on a professional level for years. I can have an opinion as to how steel should be welded...but it wouldn't be helpful to anyone if I expressed it because I've never done it. I'll leave it to the welders to help folks who have questions because I just might be wrong. I just re read your original response to the OP to make sure I wasn't off base, and I'm not. You made matter-of-fact statements, made a value judgement on one tool over the other, and never admitted that you have never even used either tool to say the least that you had never even used a similar tool. Thats not fair to the people who are looking for guidance from people who know what they're talking about. I posted a peice of information, information that is fact based on my many years of experience on the subject and you said I was wrong, when you've never even done what we're talking about once. That takes some major cojones. We want new ideas from people who know what they're talking about... You're posting in a way that makes you sound like you know what you're talking about, but you don't. Plenty of people here that do, let them do the helping please until such time that you have some personal experience to offer.

First of all the Flex us an orbital buffer, it does not have any RPMs. It has more OPMs than a PC, oscillations per minute. I would venture to guess that detailers being equal the Flex may be faster removing swirls than a PC. However, I have not used a flex and I don't post suggestions to people about tools or products I haven't used myself. Using less aggressive pads and polishes is a moot point, the Flex has the same abrasive level with less abrasive pads and polishes due to its higher speed. Its 6 of one, 1/2 a dozen of another. You can inform someone of the Flex but don't preport your opinion as fact and try and argue with people who have practical experience when you do not. Honestly, thats not experience that is comparable to mine or others here or on Autopia. Sorry. Sorry, but I know more about this than you. Thats simply a fact because I've been doing it so long. I will not allow the detailing forum here to become like the detailing forums at other car sites, full of people posting "opinions" about things they have no idea what they're talking about and regurgitating what they've read on other forums instead of offering suggestions from their practical experience because they don't have any. I and others work too hard here organizing all this information and spending our time helping people and answering questions to have to compete with someone who has no practical experience from which to base their opinions on. Theres an old saying "A man with experience is not at the mercy of a man with an opinion" and thats the case here. If thats too holier than thou for you, don't post here. You'd get the same reaction on ANY detailing forum for trying to pass off what you've read as a legitimate opinion based on fact. Your statement that the Flex is a better machine than the PC is worthless and pointless because you haven't used either machine. Don't post uninformed opinions on my detailing forum and not expect to get called on it.

Happy Birthday!

I've used the Garmins, nice but I don't want a big ugly GPS on my dash when I've got the built in unit.

Yep, the bumper was painted incorrectly. The dealer will repaint it...

In my experience, stay away if its connected to an automatic carwash. Automatic carwashes are the antithesis of detailing...

I don't want to sound snippy, but since you've never used a buffer or machine polished a car, I think those of us that have are in a little better position to give advice about what tools to purchase and how they fit into your detailing regimen whether theres a video or not. You're not helping anyone by posting advice when you have no practical experience on which to base that advice. I've been detailing cars with machine buffers for over a decade, and I've used many different buffers and let me tell you, you have to know how to use them in order to get good results REGARDLESS of the buffer you are using. I'm not knocking the Flex, I've heard good things and I'm sure its an excellent tool. However, I can detail circles around someone using a flex for the first time with my PC because of my experience and my knowledge about product, pad, and technique applications. For instance, I never would have used an LC polishing pad for that application, the swirls were too bad. A little bit more aggressive pad on the PC and you could have gotten the same results as you did with the Flex. The tool does not make the detailer. If I were buying a unit today, I might buy the Flex as a beginner over the PC. However today I wouldn't replace my PC with a Flex. I'd get a rotary.

Those aren't OEM tires. Replace em and you'll be a lot happier with the tire noise.

Its all opinions. Magazines have had a slant for German cars since they've been in print, no secret about that. I like the M a lot, I love the interior. Drivewise the GS is smoother I agree.

But then you have to drive a used car. I don't doubt the financial wisdom of your advice, but everyone who buys new cars doesn't do it out of stupidity. I enjoy driving a brand new car and a car that nobody has ever owned but me. If it costs me more, so be it.

Really the machine itself isn't as important as the technique and the products used along with the machine. The Machine is just a tool, its like saying a hammer is better at hitting nails. I have a porter cable, it removes swirls fine for me. I've not used the Flex, I've used a Cyclo and it is a little more aggressive than the PC, but its heavy and awkward. The moral of the story is, what you buy doesn't matter (as long as its a real tool) as much as your ability to use it.

Oh no not at all, my post was to support you I didn't take any insult or offense at all.

Thats the executive seating package, its pretty rare.

It sounds to me like an issue that the type of car is irrelevant. The mechanic has no idea what the problem is? What kind of symptoms is she having?

Why thank you ;)

Anybody whose concerned about the safety of the Prius: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-main-for...t-im-alive.html

I'd have to see a whole car shot... I'm sure they look good, its just a question as to whether its worth any ride degredation.

I'm sure it would look great...

Thats not an accurate statement. A rotary is a true professional's tool, and can achieve results that are just plain not achievable with any orbital polisher, including a Cyclo. the Cyclo is a great tool, but it does not rotate at 3k RPM or rotate at all. Its an ORBITAL polisher. To say it rotates at 3k RPM would make it a ROTARY polisher. Your statement doesn't make sense ;)

Not to worry, the paint will simply need to be machine polished. You can contact a detailer or look around the Detailing forum here and on Autopia.org and learn how to fix it yourself. Don't be mad at your Dad, he's just trying to help. You'll find all kinds of people will destroy your car's paint "trying to help" lol

They last for a real long time, not to worry.

Not on the windshield, only on the front side glass.

I share your frustration and have lost it at people myself before. No need to apologize.