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Does any Prius have a shiny new car look?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by mid jersey, Jul 28, 2012.

  1. mid jersey

    mid jersey Junior Member

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    Hi Everyone

    I picked up a new Silver Prius about a month back. While I do enjoy the new car smell and new car experience, I wish I could say the same about the new car look, or its lack thereof. When its parked next to my wife's 5 year old Red Honda Accord (no special maintenance or care), the Accord looks newer.

    Its not just my Prius. but I simply havent seen any Prius which has a glossy, polished look. I understand that bold colors like Red and Yellow and Black have a more shiny look than more subdued colors like Silver or White or Grey. But still its a little disconcerting that I've yet to see a single Prius even in bold colors that has caught my eye.

    Anyone else made this observation, or am I am outlier?
     
  2. Erikon

    Erikon Active Member

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    My Blue Ribbon sure has that wet n shiny look after nearly 3 years!
     
  3. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Sandy Beach here and it's about as shiny as it's gonna get. :D
     
  4. DAFTEK

    DAFTEK Junior Member

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    Barcelona Red Is that shiny enough? :p

    IMG_1550.JPG
     
  5. mid jersey

    mid jersey Junior Member

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    For those with the shiny look - do you do anything special?

    In particular, I am interested in the subdued colors like Silver and Grey.

    DAFTEK's car looks pretty sharp, but its Red, which like Black is usually is more striking.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i know what you mean. i don't consider my clearwater blue shiny like you can see your mirror image in it. but i like how it looks. it's probably a little easier to maintain.
     
  7. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    I hand wash my car with a soap that has some wax in it (Meguiers Gold). Seems to help with the shine between waxings.
     
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    The blue, red and black Prii definitely have the "new car shiny" look when they are clean. Blizzard Peral can too when it is very clean and the sun hits it just right. Most of the other colors just look subdued. Try looking at the red cars through polarized lenses. Wow!
     
  9. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    Many silver cars look a bit bland -- silver shows the car and the Prius ....... Well it is a Prius ...
     
  10. has been

    has been vote for anyone except Trump

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    wash car
    clay bar the paint
    wash again
    seal, wax, or...
    apply spray on wax as you dry off remainder of water (each time you wash)
    should ne nice for years to come and easier to keep that way
     
  11. Dark_matter_doesn't

    Dark_matter_doesn't Prius Tinkerer

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    +1. I use Griot's Garage stuff. After you clay-bar, you could try the #2 polish to take out any fine scratches, then use the Best of Show wax.
     
  12. ProximalSuns

    ProximalSuns Senior Member

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    My neighbor's new silver ATP seems very shiny. I think it is the fancy 17" alloy wheels.
     
  13. DAFTEK

    DAFTEK Junior Member

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    +2, I do all of this once every season. Summertime i might do it twice. Otherwise i only hand wash myself with a wax soap and once a month spray wax and buff.
     
  14. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    My Winter Gray has always had a shiny, new car look. It shines every time I wash it and especially after waxing every 6 months.
     
  15. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    I don't remember if the Prius came in two different shades of silver. But we have a Lexus in basically the same silver -- and it is a very dull color ......and under many light conditions looks flat. It is not that the top clear is any less shinny .......cleaning and waxing is not going to fix it. It looks great at night under the lights.
     
  16. walter Lee

    walter Lee Hypermiling Padawan

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    The metallic speckles in Blue Ribbon paint make it reflect sunlight a tad more - giving it that look wet n shiny look.
     
  17. DP200248721

    DP200248721 Active Member

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    here's mine, 2012 in Nautical Blue, warning.. pics are big lol

    Rinse
    Foam Cannon/Soak
    2-bucket method wash
    Clay bar
    Wash again...
    BlackFire Wet Diamond Paint Sealant x2 (paint, glass, wheels)
    303 Aerospace Protectant on all plastics

    Now I just wash and seal lol

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  18. has been

    has been vote for anyone except Trump

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    DP200248721 - I've used the Black Diamond All Finish Paint Sealer and topped with Liq Souveriegn.
    Pretty nice combo.
    Have not used the BD paint seal yet.
    On everything? 2 layers? Then a wax or??
    Your car looks great.
     
  19. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    What kind of tires are those? Maybe it is optical illusion but those look meatier than the 215/45R17.
     
  20. DP200248721

    DP200248721 Active Member

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    Thanks Man, I typically do the entire car with Blackfire Wet Diamond once, let it set about 20-30 depending on the temp, then add another coat about 12 hours later after the first coat is fully cured. I'm doing a full paint correction and CQuartz'ing the whole car after a couple of customer's cars next weekend.

    OP, forgot to mention, try either Collinite 845 or Pinnicale Sig Series II, both work great on silver!
    845 - $15-$18
    SSII - $50

    Rob
    ~any detailing or car care questions feel free to ask~