I got my new 2025 Prius plugin (reservoir blue) a couple weeks ago.Is it recommended to have it waxed when new to protect the paint? Or do they come waxed from the factory? As mine has the solar charging roof, when getting it waxed at the car wash, should one tell them to avoid getting wax on the solar panels? TIA
Your vehicle is a mass produced product with so many parts made as cheaply as possible and the steps to assemble them does not keep them clean. So from the perspective of a professional detailer your car rolls off of the dealership lot filthy and needs a huge amount of cleaning. Also brand new paint needs to be treated and properly cared for it you want that paint to still look nice in years to come. It's way more than a wax job. And with the amount of money you spent on a brand new car it makes sense to spend close to $1K on having it professionally cleaned. Alternatively you can DIY the job... There's endless auto detailing teachers on Youtube and Tiktok
My routine when I first received my Prime was: Wash (2 bucket technique of course) Clay Bar the wet car immediately - make use of a detailing spray to lubricate the clay bar Wash (just lightly) Thoroughly dry the vehicle Klasse All-in-One paint prep Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze This part is optional: (Leave car in the garage overnight to allow the Klasse Sealant Glaze to set with a sheet over it if possible) Then apply Colinite 845 Insulator Wax * Of course, use whatever products work for you. I do this yearly - in between I just do standard washes and a light application of Spray Wax (like Mothers or Meguiars). If you leave your car outside all the time then twice a year is better. Best drying cloth (imo) - Wooly Mammoth microfiber towel by Chemical Guys I also recommend an auto detailing blow dryer to push most of the water off of the vehicle before using the microfiber drying towel. It's also quite useful for blowing water out of the Toyota badges on the side of the car and the door handles. Now that my wife has her new Camry I get to have "twice the fun".
What are your thoughts regarding engine detailing, underside cleaning, windows and trim and tire detailing?
To be honest, since I live in SoCal underside cleaning and even engine detailing aren't usually my thing. If I remember, I'll try to spray the underside. I'm a little nervous to try cleaning the engine bay so I defer to those who have done it before. My old 85 Celica, that was no problem - a PHEV is another story. Windows, I always use a safe cleaner like Invisible Glass because my tint job costs north of $1k. To clean the rims, I have a soft Meguiar's tire brush and I try to remember to add a quick application of Meguiar's Hot Shine (it was on sale and seems to do a good job).
I wax our ‘10 regularly. Used to be twice a year, but only putting on about 3k kms a year now, and its garage stored, so for the last 2~3 years just once yearly, typically in September. Strictly a one-bucket and sponge wash, let it dry overnight, apply wax the next morning, then me and the missus buff it off in the afternoon. we get road salt in winter, so I also brushed-on boiled linseed oil, on the underside, suspension components, anything that shows rust.
I am suffering from severe back problems. So no, I could not wash nor wax it myself, My parking space is outdoors, uncovered, so it will get dirty faster.Also, I live right by the ocean, so the ocean air might deteriorate it further. When I have had cars waxed it has been at the car wash. One can pay extra to have it hand waxed after being washed. (Perhaps $100 or so?) I don't think I would do something so complicated as what people are recommending here? I'm not a car nerd. Mostly just transportation to me. However, it looks so nice now new (although already dirty), I wondered if having it waxed would help protect the paint? (As said though, if I have someone wax it, should I tell them to avoid getting wax on the solar roof?)
The solar panel is protected by a layer of Temperlite tempered glass. So it should be cleaned and protected like any exterior glass.
If you have back problems, then no. You are not going to be waxing your car, and YES waxing it (or keeping it waxed) will help protect the paint. If you're going to pay it done then make sure the person knows what they're doing - or? Just keep it washed however they do that on the left coast. ^ THAT.
I've never waxed a car or had it undercoated. Is undercoating still a "thing"? Whatever the carwash squirts on the car is what they get. Nothing more. They still look great IMHO.
The first thing I did when I bought my near base model pickup was to give it a thorough hand wash and then wax it. I keep it washed regularly and I hand wax it annually (ish) just to keep bugs, sap, and Father time somewhat at bay. Other than that? My truck serves ME, not the other way around. As far as the sea? I've lived as close as a few hundred yards from the sea (Gulf, in my case) but now I'm about 30 miles away from it. SAND worse than sea-salt air in my never-to-be-humbled experience, but in the end???? It's time and miles. This is a CAR FORUM, and I 'get it.' The G5 is a DARN good looking car (FINALLY!) and it's even somewhat fun to drive for a two-pedal car. My advice? Drive it and ENJOY it.
By getting it waxed at the car wash I didn't mean paying a couple bucks more for the machinery to squirt something on it. One can pay $100 or more extra (at least at some car washes) to have them hand wax the car after washing and drying. I've had that done a couple times before (on other cars) and it certainly looked good. (Don't know if it's a good idea on a new car though?
If you wax all your other car windows and like the result, then sure, wax the solar roof too. It's just a piece of glass.
