I apologize in advance if one or more of these seem so elementally stupid to some people.

1. How do you get the "G35" emblem off the trunk without leaving holes? Do you have holes and just have to have them professionally filled in?

2. I have seen a number of mods, but no one seems to have the scoop at the front of the sunroof. Particular reason for this other than you just don't like the look (e.g. don't make them, bad for gas mileage, etc.)?

3. Any one have an opinion on how good the aftermarket parts are on Ebay, like the spoilers they sell, etc.?

4. Will putting a lip on as the only mod look out of place (i.e. do I also need to put rails on the side so it is an even distance to the ground)?

5. Why the %$*! does anyone buy a Lexus IS series when the G rocks it in practically every category? (speaking of which, I saw a brand new IS250C on the road today with the roof stuck in the closing position - i.e. the back part which opens up was sticking up straight in the air. Too funny!)

6. What is the best thing to keep the dash, etc. looking new. I always hear rumors that Armor-All is terrible and will eventually cause cracks. Same question with the leather. I am using McG's rich leather.

7. Last but not least, what is the best formula of products to get a show room shine. And specifically, how the $&% do I get those super fine scratches/lines that you see on 99% of all paint jobs. Oh and related, how often is too much for a pretty mild wax that is easy to rub off (like Mothers Carnauba).

I know this is a lot of questions. But I am obsessed with my new car!

 

1) The badges are held on with adhesive.. no holes. Use tooth floss and heat to get them off and some goo-gone to clean it up.

2) Personal opinion... they're hideous and they collect a lot of abrasive debris. I hate them and will never install another.

3) Some things are good, others are crap. Spoilers are okay and about half the price of similar OEM designs. Look around the forum and you'll find people who have them.

4) I have a lip without side rails and it makes the car... I love it! It sits at the same height as the bumper edge itself... you won't scrape.


5) I almost bought an IS... until I test drove the G

6) http://www.lexol.com/vinindex.html

7) The mother of all questions. Ask ten people, get ten answers. I have a ton of stuff in the garage that I love, but if you want one stop shopping and a great shine with great longevity and protection, start with Zaino.

 

I'll only answer the ones that aren't/haven't been answered, or that have multiple possibilities

 

Are the fine scratches there forever?

 

No. You can buy a porter cable DA/Flex polisher and some quality swirl remover and do it yourself. Or have a professional do it for you.

 

You got great answers from the guys so far.

For #7, like AV said, there is a lot of good stuff out there. Look at the Care and Detail section of Driver and you'll find out a bunch of great info. I have started looking thru there only the past three months and I am 10000% smarter about taking care of the car. Also bookmark detailedimage.com and read through all the useful stuff there to learn how to do things correctly.

 

Fine scratches can be removed through polishing. If you don't know how to do those kinds of things, I suggest practicing on the wife's car. I have a Porter Cable 7424 which is almost idiot proof. The Flex is a more powerful machine but dangerous in the wrong hands.
Be careful what products you use for polishing. Some are more abrasive than others. In fact, some "polishes" are not polishes at all. Zaino, for example... they have polishes that are 100% abrasive free. They call them Polishes, but they are actually polymer sealants. They are great for masking or hiding the fine scratches and swirls, but they will not remove them.
I detailed my car this Spring with Klasse products. I found them to be very difficult to work with but the results were pretty good. I wouldn't recommend them to a beginner though.
If you really want to learn all there is about cleaning and caring for your car, start here.

 

Thanks!

 

With regards to #6, I use 303 Aerospace Protectant on the dash. It's the best as far as I'm concerned.

 

303 is good stuff, but it smells like ***. 1Z has no smell, so I switched to that instead.

 

FYI, got 303 from a local boat store ($14 for 16 oz). Dash, etc. looks good and I didn't notice a particularly bad smell. Also, I took the G35 emblem off. Taking the numbers off was cake, taking all that crap off with Goo Gone was something else.

Next thing is the buy the Porter Cable buffer. What is the difference b/t the old version and the new XP version besides more amps? Anyone know?

After that is to save my money and get a front lip.

 

The XP is a little more powerful and they claim to have improved the ergonomics.
To get the glue off, I opened the trunk to where the goo-gone could sit for a minute and then I rolled the adhesive off with a finger. I then polished up the area to get rid of any fine scratch lines from rubbing the glue off.

You'll love the lip once you get it on. It does so much for the car and pics don't seem to capture it as much as in person.

 

Aeson is 100% right on using Lexol leather care on your seats. I've talked to many people and that brand is FTW.

Regarding waxes/ polishes, I use Zaino Z-2 and if you got a good amount of coin to burn off for a great car show shine I suggest Dodo Juice.

 

The best wax I have found under $20 is Natty's Blue. Got it from Detailed Image for under $20.

I will also recommend Zaino products. Leather in a Bottle FTW!!