keeping it pristine- questions

While I enjoy keeping mine in pristine condition, I also think it's important to enjoy it. Chances are you won't keep it 20 years

 

Sounds like you're on the right track. I'd try to get some tips/tricks from a detailer guy so that you're not spending a ton of time keeping it clean and can get out and enjoy it. It'll be hard to only put that kind of mileage on it. Have fun!

 

Your a man after my own heart. Do some searches under my name and you will see some of the crazy things I do. I also use the Griots products and speedshine the car every time I drive it. I have it professionally detailed (10-12 hrs) whether it needs it or not about once a quarter. I completely go through the car on my own every free opportunity I have. I pull the wheels off and clean the inside suspension area, pull the belly pan off and detail the undercarriage, detail every nut and bolt on the car including the engine, etc. Frankly, the car looks better than when it came off the showroom and I take pride in that. My therapy!

 

It's a tricky thing, having a really clean car. When I bought my 1995 F355 in March 2010, it had 124 miles and must have been stored in the dark the whole time. It really looks like a new one. It's fun, but it makes it hard to enjoy driving sometimes, because I get worried about stupid things like going through puddles, or a little gravel on the road.

The more I drive it, the more I enjoy it. The more I keep it in the garage and fuss over, the more stressed out I get.

One thing that has helped me enjoy it a bit more, and worry a bit less, is the idea that no car is in perfect condition. They all have flaws if you look closely enough. So the trick is to enjoy looking at it, but try not too look too closely. I've got about 3,300 miles on mine now.

 

Bodywork: Don't drive it!
Mechanicals: Drive it!

Unnecessary for modern age cars like a 360. Just drive it like a prius until the oil comes up to temp.

 

Some people like detailing their cars more than driving them. I am of the opposite view but also like driving a clean car. So, the key is keeping the dirt off your car and then when washing, being sure not to do more harm than good. This means at a minimum having 3 large buckets, each separately labeled for soap, rinse and wheels. Use a good clean mitt or microfiber towels to wash, and wring out in rinse bucket before dipping in soapy water again. If a microfiber towel hits the ground, use it for something else around the house. Do not use a chamois to dry. Use microfiber towels. Use a polymer sealant on the clear bra, not wax. Have the car professionally detailed once a year but no more, as use of buffing wheels too much may not be that good for the paint, in my view. I'm sure others have their own views/tips.

 

If you drive the car, you will get nicks in the bumper. I was so concerned about road rash from debris thrown off other cars, it would stress me out. Getting a clear bra made a big difference in my comfort level while driving the car. I had a good Ferrari authorized body shop touch up nicks in the front bumper, then install a clear bra and also skid plates. The first time you cross a driveway threshold and hear the skid plates touch, you'll smile knowing they did their job!

 

The things I'd recommend from experience are to not park right up against curbs in parking lots to avoid door dings. I've never had a ding, but have scraped both lower right corners of my nose. I love admitting my own stupidity. Oh well. Touch up paint made it almost unnoticable and some day I'll fix it properly for $1000.

Another lesson in keeping up, calipers. Don't have this problem on the ferrari, learned on my porsche. Don't ignore cleaning and finishing the calipers until they lose their luster.

Keep your leather conditioned regularly.

Good, good wax and use nothing but fresh microfibers that have never hit the ground. Never let up. Keep a good coat year round.

 

I am the same way about my Ferrari! I enjoy cleaning the car as much as I do driving. Sometimes when my 430 is perfectly cleaned up I actually hate the thought of getting it dirty. Crazy I know but for me the detailing and attention to details as well as the drive fulfills my ownership experience.

Griots garage has some great products. I have the speed shine, spray on wax, best of show wax, glass cleaner (works awesome by the way), as well as a few other products they offer. Make sure that you use only microfiber towels on the body of the car. I try to be careful and do not use a dirty towel from the rocker area then use the same side of the towel to wipe the hood. Turn the towel over and make sure you lubricate the surface to avoid scratches and friction. Microfiber towels are generally very soft and do not leave lint on the finish. FYI- Do not use fabric softener on microfiber towels. The fabric softener does breakdown the microfiber knit.

I currently do not have clear bra on my car, except the small pieces on the lower vent edge and the rocker strips behind the tires that the factory provides. I myself feel that the paint itself is the most enjoyable way to look at the car. I have always been bothered by clear bra lines and variation in clear bra material with aging etc... I have really got to give it some thought though. I now only have a couple of very tiny chips but this will only get worse as I drive her more, I currently only have 4300 miles on the car. I really should get the bumper and hood done soon....

Enjoy your car and it sounds like you are ready to make the commitment to pamper your car to the fullest. Just make sure you dont get to caught up in the car being absolutely perfect. Things happen, and eventually you will probably scrape the front driving into a shopping center, or get a ding, or a rockchip in the windscreen, just make sure you dont lose it when that happens It is a car and is meant to be driven. Good luck and it sounds like you are enjoying your Ferrari to the max

 

Do you guys throw your microfiber towels in the wash once in a while or seriously just get rid of them if they ever touch the ground / have been used for a while?

 

Congrats on the car! I don't have time to polish all the time due to kids, but do try to keep the car clean. When I got the car the prior owner must have had a clear bra on there that was removed by the dealership, because when the dealership detailed the car and delivered it the car looked as new- the nose, wheels, suspension- everything was spotless and no chips! I drive the car on a fast highway by me often, and then it happened- the first stone chip. Once I got that over with I enjoyed the car much more- I'm probably up to about a dozen plus stone chips of varying sizes and I feel great driving the car Kidding aside, the chips I have at this point aren't that bad but I guess over time it may bother me if they start accumulating and look bad and I'll have the nose resprayed.

Perhaps I should have put a clear bra on as soon as I took delivery, but I was iffy because I too am somewhat bothered by the lines and look of a clear bra. If it ever gets to the point that I want to do a respray, I'll get the nose repainted and if I decide to get a clear bra wait the 30+ days or so for the paint to cure (I guess I just would stay off the highway or park the car for that time). Hopefully it will be many more miles of driving enjoyment before I have to make that decision though...

Just drive the car and repair chips as they come up if you want to keep the car perfect (professionally if you can't/don't want to do it yourself). You're not going to be hunched over in old age and happy that you parked a ferrari when you were younger instead of driving it and enjoying it

 

"I am the same way about my Ferrari! I enjoy cleaning the car as much as I do driving. Sometimes when my 430 is perfectly cleaned up I actually hate the thought of getting it dirty. Crazy I know but for me the detailing and attention to details as well as the drive fulfills my ownership experience."

Many of us have the same "sickness". Enjoy it any way you want.

 

Wash them, no softener. They can last for a long time.

 

I bought my car to enjoy driving it. Not to have it sit in the garage covered. You can't even see the car covered. There are so many 360/430s and like how much the prices have already dropped. It's not an investment for profit. I don't think about how many miles I put on it a year. Put a clear bra on it, take care of your cleaning duties, have routine maintenance performed, and enjoy it. No one knows when their last day is coming, you might as well enjoy your car while you are here.

 

+1

 

Out of curiosity, which leather care / conditioning product? I'd like a low sheen product; something that DOESN'T make the purposely dull Ferrari leather look shiny, and feel sticky.

Yeah, I know I need to head to the Detailing & Showroom forum...

DL

 

+2 ...and don't use too much detergent in the washing machine. Also, I run an extra rinse cycle. Not the most environmentally concious solution, but...

DL

 

Just saw this. You wouldn't like what I use. I use Maguiars, and it gives that puffy, shiny look you don't want. I think I'm in the minority on that one.

 

I've had good results with Leatherique conditioner every 6 months, Leatherique cleaner occasionally, and for a quick wipe down a microfiber towel with a little bit of Meguiar's leather conditioner spray.

 

Of all the cars that Ive owned, I wash my Ferrari alot less than the past cars and they were far less expensive. When i take it out, about twice a month its usually to the beach or somewhere far. I would be washing every other week if it concerned me. I clay, polish and wax twice a year but only wash a few times in between.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

 

I use 303 Aerospace Protectant. Leaves a nice matte finish and has excellent UV protection.

 

One of my cardinal rules is to never, ever tailgate, especially ANY kind of truck. What they're able to kick up onto your car is downright amazing. Avoid them whenever you can.

 

Keep my car looking good for me so when you sell it, I'll still have a showroom looking car!

Make sure you try and loosen the dirt with a nice pre-foam wash, use two clean wash mitts, use the two bucket system recommended by Griots, use a leaf blower to dry her off and non-chinese micro fiber towels for any drips. Enjoy it

Here's a great series of detailing videos to check out on basic detailing techniques. He has other ones, just search on YouTube for the Junkman!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w09r6m6sRCA[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XAqpOe9Zt4&feature=related[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc8InoK9zpE&feature=related[/ame]