Rep Power: 235

I have lots of small surface scratches on my car, and I usually could care less if it was in a less inconspicuous spot, but these ones are on the drivers side door so I seem all the time and it's annoying me. So I bought some Meguiares ScratchX. Does this **** work?

I'm not much of a detailer. I live in Houston, and theres always **** in the air and trees and ground getting on my car, and frankly it's a 6 year old car anyways and the paint isn't 100% perfect as it is, I mean its perfect, I dont have peeling or discolorations, but it's not factory new so I see no reason to clean it when it's going to get dirty immediately again -- meaning I usually just wash the civic, dry her if I'm so inclinded, and if I'm really enthusiastic enough I'll wax her with an orbital buffer, but that happens about once a year, literally. It's a bright red coupe, so all the existing blemishes show up very nicely. It's not so much I neglect the civic.. its just that my thinking is "your ****ed up anyways, stay ****ed up" because I doubt I can fix lots of the little faint scratches and black blemishes that have accumulated on her. She has a bunch of little marks and things, and I'm rather OCD so if her paint job is sub par and can't be restored, I just don't see the point in doing the whole routing. My brother has lots of car detailing equipment, so it's not like money is an issue because I could just use his stuff, but, he wouldn't do it for me, and so, I don't want to stand out there and give her a make over for a difference I *think* will be un-noticeable. It's red. It's shiny. works for me. Back to my original question though, I presume the scratchX should go on after I wash, but before I wax? Do I have to wax after I use it..I hate waxing my car, too tedious, my buffer sucks, but it doesnt leave swirls, and to me the benefits don't outweigh the money and time costs, but if it's necessary for THIS product, then I'll do it (my scheduled one wax per year lol). Do I need to use polish or anything else? I've never used that before either on the civic.

My brother details his LS for like 5 hours twice a month and he suggested I clay bar the car. Buuut, like I said.. tedious and not worth it IMO, but what are YOU guys' opinion on that? I figured that would just remove dirt, not eliminate scratches. I've never clayed the car since I bought it new and it seems messy as hell when he does it so If it won't remove the scratches I would rather avoid it.

Yalls opinions are appreciated.

EDIT: I moved this hear because I realized after I posted that the detailing section of the forums has been closed? Couldn't find a similar category in the new forums to post in so I put it here. Mods feel free to move it to a more appropriate section if you see fit plz.

EDIT: So I read on the meguiares website that claying does NOT remove swirls n scratches so forget the clay. They really encourage you to buy into their stuff and go through the, wash, clay, paint cleaner? polish, wax, and repeat once a month. Expensive habit.

 
Rep Power: 812

its the best there is. you just gotta keep applying it 10-20 times until you get the rersults you want. it works slowly but takes off almost all clear coat scratches permanently. keep rubbing til it disappears, then add more and rub again. firm pressure, back and forth motions, not circles.

 
Rep Power: 284

I'm thinking you should just wax whatever spots you used it on.

5 Hours twice a month? That's overdoing it IMO. I do a complete detail (wash, polish, wax, etc...) maybe twice a year. And I would wax every other month or so. As for claying, you are correct when you say that it doesn't remove scratches. But, in a way it helps prevents swrils and scratches. Claying will help remove small contaminants on your paint so when you are washing your car, you aren't dragging around things that could cause swirls or scratches. I'd recommend claying maybe once a year (like after winter with all the salt on the ground), or whenever your paint doesn't feel smooth.

Yes it can get really expensive, but I love seeing my car SHINE while being swril-free unlike a lot of people

BEFORE:


AFTER:

 
Rep Power: 235

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm thinking I'll just wax over the portion that I use the scratchX on.

I would invest time into maintaining my paint job, but i just feel like it wouldn't improve much because it hasn't been meticulously maintained since the car was brand new.

I would post pics of my car freshly washed, but I don't have image shack or anything to host the pictures. Then you guys could be the judge if she's chipped, nicked, and dirtied beyond salvation. I think she is. Are there any free sites where I can host pictures.. I have a webspace on my utexas.edu account but if they sense high bandwith usage from outside traffic they close it off. Thanks UT.

 
Rep Power: 0

I use Meguiar's Quick Detailer. Spray it on, wipe it off with a little pressure. For the time invested the results are very good and the shine will really last 6 months unless you run it through a commercial car wash. For around five bux, it's worth a try anyway.

 
Rep Power: 812

quick detailer? idk man, thats just like a cleaner you use for spot cleaning or dry washing at a show. it doesnt last more than a week maybe and should be used only after the whole car has been polished and waxed. i use the stuff too and i love it, but detailer is not wax.