Hello all,

I just washed my ivory coupe for the first time yesterday after a week of rain here in NYC. My car unfortunately is kept uncovered so it had to sit through all that crap. There were also a lot of leaves or something from a tree that fell on my car's hood (I really need to get a car cover or something) that left little orangish circles in various spots. I couldn't get them out washing the car with soap and sponge. This is my first time washing a car, so I didn't really wanna try using something else. I noticed I could kind of scratch it off with my fingernails, but that doesn't seem good for the paint. Anyone have any suggestions of what I should use?

Thanks...

 

I have an ivory that turned 3 weeks today. I've had marks as well but mostly from bugs and other stuff. I've done some reading but in a nutshell, what we need to do is get our cars as clean as possible then put a good coat of wax or polish or something similar. White usually looks good and can be pretty dirty and still look good. However, when you get up close, you start to see brown stains in spots.

here's what i'm doing.

Using Dawn dish liquid with water and giving it a good washing. Drying it really well with terry cloth, 100% cotton. Then i'm putting a coat of liquid Maguiar's Gold on it.

Don't scrub hard with anything. Try the dawn as it does a great job with getting greasy type stuff off your car. If that doesn't work buy an automobile tar and bug remover and put just a dab on with a terry cloth rubbing every so slowly until is comes off.

 

Get a claybar (Just ask at Autozone or Pep Boys, they'll point you to it). It's the ultimate "fingernail" for crap on your car. It won't hurt the paint, but will get rid of all the bumps and cruf you might accumulate.

Wash with Dawn
Lubricate and claybar one panel at a time, wash off excess lubricant (lube + claybar are in one package, btw)
Apply your choice of waxes/polymers. I would recommend something a little harder than Mother's, as it has a high percentage of carnuba in it, which while giving a great shine, doesn't protect your paint very well- it's soft and has a low melting point. If you're up north and it's not raining, you're fine, but if you get a lot of direct sunlight, I'd recommend something else. Best of luck,

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

claybar says that it gets out treesap, but it didnt work at all on my Corolla..i simply gave up, didnt feel like scratching off all of the 100 leaf spots (with my fingernail).
The claybar is sitting in my garage and was entirely useless.

<font color=green>-Rambo</font color=green>
G35c 6MT DG/Willow/HyperGround/BorlaExhaust

 

Wow, that sucks... I break it out when I get spots on my car. So far it's taken out everything, I just need to make sure to not over-lubricate it. Did you try that? If you use too much, it'll slide over it a bit, but if you use just enough to keep it from tugging too hard, it pulls it all off... or should.

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint