To Simoniz or not to Simoniz

joyceww · 08-29-2008, 12:52 PM

I will be picking up my Prius on Tuesday, as the CT registry closed early today. I know from the Info here to not rush in to the dealer's extended warranty. But should I consider paying a big $595 to Simoniz the car before picking up? I am told that the paints today are not as sturdy as my old car and things like my vast amount of tree pollen will cause the paint to etch soon.

Advice needed.

fossil517 · 08-29-2008, 01:07 PM

Don't do it. Went thru the same sales pitch about bird droppings et al. The factory finish is fine - but should be maintained regularly with a quality wax/polish. Another big profit center for the dealers - they have sold you a car and now they want to scare you into thinking they have sold you a car that will not withstand the elements. If anything, today's paints and finishes are much better than the olden days.

bac · 08-29-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joyceww

I will be picking up my Prius on Tuesday, as the CT registry closed early today. I know from the Info here to not rush in to the dealer's extended warranty. But should I consider paying a big $595 to Simoniz the car before picking up? I am told that the paints today are not as sturdy as my old car and things like my vast amount of tree pollen will cause the paint to etch soon.

Advice needed.

Your dealership is attempting to add $595 to its bottom line. Don't help them do it!

... Brad

Neohybrid · 08-29-2008, 04:41 PM

$595 will buy some high quality carnauba wax, a dual-action polisher and plenty of extra accessories to apply and remove the wax -- with some change leftover. As a matter-of-fact there are probably plenty of reputable places that will do a bang-up detail (inc. wax) for less than $200. I do my own -- every six months. My 18-year old T-bird looks as good today (except a few garage dings) as it did the day I backed it out of the Ford dealer's showroom.

Save your money for something nice!

ksullivan2002 · 08-29-2008, 07:30 PM

I applied two coats of NU FINISH and the car shines like no other. It should be good for a year before the next application. Great stuff!

Save your money for accessories :-)

rigormortis · 08-29-2008, 07:45 PM

the prius finish IS NOT FINE. the prius paint job is the least durable paint job i have ever had. i am not telling you to get the simoniz, what i am telling you to do specifically is to spend about $700 and go to your average window tint place, and get that 3m invisible film installed. this will prevent a lot of paint chipping on the hood.

when the car is brand new and you want to wax it, i would reccomend using something not really abrasive, like some cheap spray on quick wax, and after a 6 months maybe of using that and allowing the paint to cure, then you can use black magic or nu finish or whatever you favorite brand is. wax can be abrasive too, and black magic is good and not very abrasive

KK6PD · 08-29-2008, 07:53 PM

Buy yourself a Porter Cable Random Orbital Polisher, 100 bucks, some Zaino, Meguires, or other top quality polish and car care products and do it yourself!

I did and my baby shines like a nice RED Barcelona Cherry!!!

The secret is the Porter Cable Polisher!!! Easy, dependable, and takes 90% of the work ut of keeping your ride looking good!

73 de Pat KK6PD

rigormortis · 08-29-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KK6PD

Buy yourself a Porter Cable Random Orbital Polisher, 100 bucks, some Zaino, Meguires, or other top quality polish and car care products and do it yourself!

I did and my baby shines like a nice RED Barcelona Cherry!!!

The secret is the Porter Cable Polisher!!! Easy, dependable, and takes 90% of the work ut of keeping your ride looking good!

73 de Pat KK6PD

yeah whatever you want, thats fine, but geez give the paint a couple months to cure first before you attack it.

KK6PD · 08-29-2008, 11:28 PM

I gave it 6 months, and VERY little red came off on any of my pads!!

Or maybe I just got a god paint job!!

It did bake in SoCal Sun!!!!

73 de Pat KK6PD

SW03ES · 08-30-2008, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rigormortis

when the car is brand new and you want to wax it, i would reccomend using something not really abrasive, like some cheap spray on quick wax, and after a 6 months maybe of using that and allowing the paint to cure, then you can use black magic or nu finish or whatever you favorite brand is. wax can be abrasive too, and black magic is good and not very abrasive

Paint on modern cars is long cured by the time you take delivery. Its hard cured at the factory. No need to wait on anything.

Please don't use NuFinish though. You can do a LOT better.

For all things detailing Autopia - Autopia Home

08-29-2008, 12:52 PM	#1
joyceww Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: northeast CT Posts: 9 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	To Simoniz or not to Simoniz I will be picking up my Prius on Tuesday, as the CT registry closed early today. I know from the Info here to not rush in to the dealer's extended warranty. But should I consider paying a big $595 to Simoniz the car before picking up? I am told that the paints today are not as sturdy as my old car and things like my vast amount of tree pollen will cause the paint to etch soon. Advice needed.

08-29-2008, 01:07 PM	#2
fossil517 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: philadelphia Posts: 3 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: To Simoniz or not to Simoniz Don't do it. Went thru the same sales pitch about bird droppings et al. The factory finish is fine - but should be maintained regularly with a quality wax/polish. Another big profit center for the dealers - they have sold you a car and now they want to scare you into thinking they have sold you a car that will not withstand the elements. If anything, today's paints and finishes are much better than the olden days.

08-29-2008, 04:41 PM	#4
Neohybrid Not-so-junior member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 85 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: To Simoniz or not to Simoniz $595 will buy some high quality carnauba wax, a dual-action polisher and plenty of extra accessories to apply and remove the wax -- with some change leftover. As a matter-of-fact there are probably plenty of reputable places that will do a bang-up detail (inc. wax) for less than $200. I do my own -- every six months. My 18-year old T-bird looks as good today (except a few garage dings) as it did the day I backed it out of the Ford dealer's showroom. Save your money for something nice!

08-29-2008, 07:30 PM	#5
ksullivan2002 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 7 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: To Simoniz or not to Simoniz I applied two coats of NU FINISH and the car shines like no other. It should be good for a year before the next application. Great stuff! Save your money for accessories :-)

08-29-2008, 07:45 PM	#6
rigormortis Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: san jose, ca Posts: 1,146 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: To Simoniz or not to Simoniz the prius finish IS NOT FINE. the prius paint job is the least durable paint job i have ever had. i am not telling you to get the simoniz, what i am telling you to do specifically is to spend about $700 and go to your average window tint place, and get that 3m invisible film installed. this will prevent a lot of paint chipping on the hood. when the car is brand new and you want to wax it, i would reccomend using something not really abrasive, like some cheap spray on quick wax, and after a 6 months maybe of using that and allowing the paint to cure, then you can use black magic or nu finish or whatever you favorite brand is. wax can be abrasive too, and black magic is good and not very abrasive

08-29-2008, 07:53 PM	#7
KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 317 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: To Simoniz or not to Simoniz Buy yourself a Porter Cable Random Orbital Polisher, 100 bucks, some Zaino, Meguires, or other top quality polish and car care products and do it yourself! I did and my baby shines like a nice RED Barcelona Cherry!!! The secret is the Porter Cable Polisher!!! Easy, dependable, and takes 90% of the work ut of keeping your ride looking good! 73 de Pat KK6PD

08-29-2008, 11:28 PM	#9
KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 317 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: To Simoniz or not to Simoniz I gave it 6 months, and VERY little red came off on any of my pads!! Or maybe I just got a god paint job!! It did bake in SoCal Sun!!!! 73 de Pat KK6PD