mburnickas

I would use clay, polish or compound(s) and LSP. You, I feel do not need glazes since there are just fillers. You need clay as I am sure you know to get a glass/smooth finish. You need compounds to clean oxidations and day-to-day scratches. You need LSP to protect the surface (either Carnauba, Polymer, acrylic, etc) I like these product for a detail: 1. Wash with Poorboys super suds or Optimum No rise or S&W 2. Clay with Magic clay or alternate with lube 3. Use Optimum Compound or SSR 2.5 (SSR is dusty). OC has long work time. 4. Follow up with SSR 1.0 or Jeff Werkstatt (JW) Prime 5. Now use something like Poorboys EX or EXP or JW AJT 6. After that for some gloss, depth etc, I like JW AG or Natty Blue from Poorboys. I use Poorboys S&G weekly or S&W if more then light dirt. They really is no one product the best. You need to try a lot and see what you like. What I like you might not. I have been out on autopia.com for some time (from 2003). Good info to learn on, big time. Also make sure you have plenty of MF towels. I also like LC foam buffer pads for my rotary.

I have waxed it, but the stain seems to have actually gotten down into the finish. I just can't believe that the paint on the car cannot stand a bird! Do you recommend a specific wax. I was considering taking it to a detail shop that puts acrylic / teflon wax. Thanks - I am so, cercerned! I was going to say try some vinagear and/or Optimum Compound.

Do not push on the MF towel. Let the weight of the towel clean. So far I have only used Poorboys S&G and S&W to clean. For light dirt etc S&G works mint. I am also going to try (yet more items) clearkote quickspray, FK425, JW Quick wash and Chemical Guys detailer. Oh, if you look online you can get MF towel pretty low cost.

I would really go on Autopia and ask/search. I do not think you will get a winner "hands down". It is like waxes/ sealants some like Poorboys, some Car-lack, meguiars, pinnacle, clearkote, P21, NXT, Klasse etc. It is all in what you like. i know some that love that love the duster and some think it is poor. Nermind compounds or QD items, then it gets worse. :D

Problem I see is the duster is just that. It does not remove water spots, oxidation and road stuff. Nor does it add gloss or slickness to paint....which I want. I will take Poorboys or QW (from JW) over a duster dayday.....

All of the California blades have some sort of silicone blade which I personally feel is junk. I didn't care for the performance at all. As for your other suggestion, I'm not longer using anything other than a genuine microfiber drying towel. I tried one of those synthetic drying towels from Black Magic.... also pure junk! yup, you can do that (a MF towel). I would use a plush one if you can (picks up more H20).

Why not use this, for example: http://www.danase.com/vistfrdr.html or a cheaper Calif Water Blade

Yes, let the towel clean;aka to not push on towel to marr surface. Did mine yesterday after 1 week and about 300 miles. Rained 3 days. Sad part is, it came out great using SW and SG then the stupid pollen! Car looks yellow again! I have some pix if you want to see? I detailed 3 cars yesterday...Soar as Hell...started at 10 am and finished at 5 pm. Had my old man helping too. I DID find a GREAT site for LC pads and MF towel. Selection is small but the prices are great AND they have a 15% off with a coupon code. http://www.danase.com/

I did my yesterday after sitting outoside all day. I either use Poor Boys Spray and Wipe.or Gloass ir BLue mintfinal wipe. Again this is LIGHT stuff on car. I would use Spray nad Gloass or wipe first.

maybe stuck ring(s)?

ROFLMAO: the only other item(s) I might try are: Klasse All In One Polish (like JW item though), Optimum polish or ClearKote Carnaube Mosse Wax. Outside of that, I am done!

I do not know if this helps you but you can buy the 7424 PC from amazon (w/coupon) for like $104 with free shipping. thank you, how do I get the coupon? "SAVMAY23" should work

I paid $120 from Mr. Tint in our state. Has been here for like 15 + years. Life warranty if legal tint. I had an issue when I had my truck when it was stratched, replaced for free! So far, stuff is great.

Well thanks to SW03ES and Autopia, I have spent over $300 in 2 weeks on detailing. Wife is going to FLIP!!! $150 for Poor boys items (all but MF towels) $100 for LC pads (7.5" blue, white etc) and Poorboys MF Megaplush $90+ on Jeff's Werkstatt items.. (PS, AJ, AJT, CJ, CG and AG) . I need to STOP

that is where I got all my Iridium plugs for all my engines I take care off. Good prices. What I like is no people to deal with. I like to think Toyota parts people are correct; however, last time I wanted a part, they screwed up. for the life of me, I can't find a rad cap for my 98. I tried online and local and they are always the inncorrect cap (too small).

I do not know if this helps you but you can buy the 7424 PC from amazon (w/coupon) for like $104 with free shipping.

well they do offer a 10 year/100k warranty, so they're confident that their vehicles are well built. Welll since I rock the boat at times, the study is only "Initial Quality Study" not a "down the road study" Looks like Ford, opps Jag is getting up there.

bingo

Bought some LC pads yesterday. $9.95 each or $54 for 6.

I put about 10% faith in Consumer Reports data. I love there latest wax review; talk about sad. Or there lawn mower review (more like toys). Or there Treadmill review (cheap ones at that). I love my Toyo and would buy another but I have again owned Ford, Chevy’s etc. What puts a bad taste in my mouth about Toyos was (1) thing. It was there “no design” issues with sludge but everyone states there is a problem. Then they (Lexus-aka Toyota) sends out letters. Why when they stated there is no issue? As I stated before with the advent of SPC in the engineering field, sometimes you get a good one and sometimes not. Cars I think (for today) there are many goods ones and Toyo’s are up there (top 2 if not 1). For trucks, overseas is out (and has been) since they do not build trucks that will even compete with Ford Powerstroke, Dodge Cummins or Chevy’s Duramax. If they did, they would have the market all over. Build a 1-ton pickup with a nice strong diesel and BAM.

98 uses normal DexIII

Just going to say that. Maybe Poorboys SSR 2.5, 2.0? Or maybe SW#9 (Meguiar’s #9)

Since I'm 53, I've been hearing and reading about "turn around" predictions for decades that never materialized. Like in the late 1980's Tom & Ray Magliozzi - the auto repair shop owners who host the "Car Talk" radio talk show - predicted GM would return to its former glory in the 1990's. Bottom line is I think the only way I think the Japanese car makers could ever lose market share is to start giving us much less reliable and durable cars with ultra cheap interiors, paint, etc that would hurt the customer appeal and resale value of their vehicles. Or if the American car markers started giving us durable cars like they offered in the 1960's. But to this very day we never see any American car maker advertizing long term reliability and durability. The latest Ford commercial, for example, ephasizes "safety innovation" and the latest GM truck commercial "remotely controlled power folding seats". Yup and $$$ for $$$, both cars will last a long time. GM cars for example, alero, has had major issue but for $15K it will last a longtime. That priced against a lexus at $40K is a huge delta here. Again you could repair the GM car 10X to 15X and still be behind the lexus 8 ball. You can't compare the 1980 to today. More and more jobs etc are going over seas. I see it daily; it will compare back around. Sooner or later overseas people will want to live like the USA, it will be flatlined. I know what I see at work and the shipping overseas is slowly not all it is cracked up to be. Overseas makers jumped on the SUV ban wagon way after Ford concepted it. Then the minivan. They just take our designs and make them better. From an enginnering standpoint since I am one, creating one is a lot harder then reverse engineering one. China, Japanetc are growing so fast it is just a matter of time till their workers "want" more". Then it will go around full circle. Then again I am not too impressed with my ES300 paint. It has had issues 3 times since I had it (4 years); pretty good. That is 100% more times then my parents car and SUV (Ford ), and 50% my wifes MB. It all comes back to SPC. Sometimes you win and sometimes not.

http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/press....asp?ID=2006082 Jag (aka Ford is not far behind)....

"powertrain warranties are still short too." Hmm, My lexus has a lesser warrenty(milage wise) then my old (1997) Ford had. That was 5 years or 100,000K for my ford . BAM! Resale- well it was $27K new and traded in 5 years later for $18K. Not a bad deal for a Ford. I know many had issue with Ford E40D. I never had an issue in my truck. My personal call is it will turn around like everyother thing. With all the outsoucing, there will not be anyone left in the USA to buy there cars and the China and Koreans will be all over them (lower price). Just a matter of time. Then it will come around again that. Many business will build them here since it will be cheaper.