DaveVY

This past weekend spent a day doing this: Before: After:

Currently around 4 months...

I would first talk it over with my Bride and expect that we would give it to help others.

It might be due to my OCD perfectionist tendencies but I don't like the idea of a bead of silicon caulk since I know that the silicon surface can tend to hold mold/mildew and other dirt - and getting a perfect smooth bead is difficult for me. So I what I am normally do for rinseless is use a non-Adams bucket (gasp!) so that I can skip the GG. In my earlier post I was stating what I did when using ALL Adam's products. I do not know the particulars of the method you mentioned but I NEVER put a used wet towel back in the rinseless bucket, hence I have no reservations not having a GG in there - I know my non-Adams and non-Gamma seal bucket is very clean so a GG is not needed. I love the Adams rinseless product as we have water restrictions here in central Florida every year. Makes washing the panels much better - though I still have to sneak in a quick hose wash for the wheels.

I use the grit guard when using the Adams Bucket as I find the gamma seal lid has a lip that makes it impossible to fully rinse/empty the bucket (and be assured that all dirt/grit is removed from the bucket).

I usually do not use the washer fluid - the exception is long road trips when getting road spray after a rain storm. But at the end of the day or when stopping to get gas will then get the glass cleaning cloth out and clean it properly. My Bride knows this... And in the rare occasion that she might use it she will tell me and then apologize for making me go through the work of cleaning up after it. :-)

Very cool! I still have lots to learn!

Great thread and pics! I have been missing from the forum for some time. Been getting involved with Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto, FL. Great organization providing guide dogs for the visually impaired and providing service dogs for veterans - they do this at NO cost to the recipients of the dogs and they do not receive any gov't funding. In addition to being a great cause and helping make a huge difference in people's lives it has also been a great opportunity to get some fun puppy pics. Here are a couple - these are taken with a Canon 7D keeping the aperture wide open and using as much focal length as possible to reduce the depth of field. ISO 3200, f5.6, 1/80s, 100mm ISO 3200, f5.6, 1/50, 135mm ISO 3200, f3.5, 1/30s, 35mm We are now volunteer puppy raisers with Southeastern Guide Dogs - so you may get to see more puppy/dog pics in the coming months. :-)

I agree with the comments about not needing a DSLR. Using a DSLR will not produce noticeably better photos than a camera phone or a "point and shoot" pocket camera...unless you dedicate the time to study and learn how to use the DSLR. We have a DSLR and I love using it, but I also still use the iPhone for many pics since it is always with me (vs the DSLR which I don't take with me everywhere I go). This pic was taken with an iPhone in the morning hours. As I was walking into work I noticed the lighting and snapped this.

I ran out of waterless and have been trying diluted rinseless. IMO diluted rinseless is not as effective in removing bug guts (as others have said) and I also like the smell of the waterless much more than the rinseless. That rinseless smell sticks to my hands for more than a day, which if I liked the smell wouldn't be a bad thing but the rinseless smell is my least favorite. I like the rinseless product performance for being able to wash a car in the garage and also conform with the water restrictions when they are in effect. I like the waterless for pre-treating bug guts and also for quick touch ups on the garage kept car. (And also like the smell too)

I have lost some enjoyment and don't detail as much anymore. What triggered this for me was my neighbor cutting down the tree that provided my Saturday morning shade. Trying to wash and detail in the Florida sun is so blazing hot. But I have been missing detailing so I have been considering getting a good quality pop up canopy or two so I can have my Saturday morning shade back.

Removing badges is definitely a personal choice. I like at least some of the extra "noise" removed from a car but don't think it always looks good for every car/color combination. Even other items like the wheels and window tint can influence when debadging will look good. Sometimes I also like debadging for the purpose of removing "bragging" and being less conspicuous.

Reminds me of the "shrinky dink" arts product that I played with as a kid. Wonder what a 4 oz bottle would looks like... :-)

Welcome! Great looking Benz!

My brush is around 3 years old... Slightly darker than it was when new. I clean it every use with APC by liberally spraying it, letting it sit a couple minutes and then brushing a section of rough clean concrete. That roughness from the concrete seems to provide the agitation needed to clean some of the gunk from the bristles. Then a thorough flushing from the hose nozzle and it is ready to drip dry. For me the gunk has seemed to accumulate mostly when cleaning other's cars where they had heavy thick tire dressing.

Great car to be driving through the mountains!

Love it! Congrats on the new Baby!

Have you had the chance to ride in the car? Love the ride and interior on this car.

Just back from a trip on and down the east coast. Before this trip the car was spotless and had a fresh coat of quick sealant on the nose and side mirrors. Total of 2000 miles this past week. After 1000 miles I removed the bugs from the nose, side mirrors and windshield. Those first 1000 miles were worse from bugs than the second 1000 miles but I don't have pics from that first 1000 miles. The brake dust in these pics is from the 2000 miles and the pollen was worse earlier but most of it was blown off during the last drive. Quick sealant did a great job of making the bug removal fairly easy. Here are a few pics before it was cleaned up: Nose (after 1000 miles): Mirrors: Front Wheel Rear Wheel Then a few pics after it was cleaned up: Love Adam's products, how well they work and the customer service!

I had one of the Goodyear red hoses for around 20 years and it was still working great. Only reason I don't still have it is due to accidentally leaving it behind when I sold a house.

Great car! Loved our C6 and would love to have a C7. I have the turbo stick and the 3 pack woolies. The turbo stick for most cars I don't find all that useful BUT it was great on the open design and deep wheels on the C6 GS we had. Made maintaining the wheels much more enjoyable and easier. I would imagine you will find the turbo stick to be a great tool on the C7 wheels too.

Congrats! You must be going out of your mind with anticipation! Good luck with focusing on that class this morning...knowing that your new Vette is sitting at the dealer... :-)

IMO the biggest hurdle in self-driving cars is the legal liability. Who is responsible for an accident? Who is at fault? Currently we already have cars on the road that are doing some driving. If you haven't experienced it, try the current model Mercedes S Class with the optional Distronic Plus w/Steering Assist. It is awesome in slow traffic and stop/go traffic. It takes a huge part of the frustration out of traffic jams. Or when cruising on the highway it will watch the cars around you and also steer - you can take your hands off the wheel and watch it do the work - but for liability purposes it will require that you put your hands back on the wheel after 20 seconds (if you are going more than 20 mph). I love driving but also see the benefit of having the safety of cars that have autonomy.

For me the garage queen is all about enjoyment - and since I enjoy applying Americana and how Americana looks I tend to stick with Americana. I will use spray sealant on the leading edges on the garage queen when driving at times when bugs are heavier.

The cold is trying to make it down here to central Florida... Had to change from shorts to jeans yesterday as the lows are mid 40's and the high yesterday was upper 50's ... Brrrr... :-) But back to the mid 60's today. After spending 38 years in the Midwest I am enjoying central Florida and the lack of long, dreary, bitterly cold winters. Hats off to all of you enduring it!