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I’ve had my cars done by https://autodetox.co.uk/ in the past, and they’ve looked amazing. One of them was brand new and came out looking even better than it came out of the showroom.
It’s not cheap though, but to me, someone who doesn’t treat his cars like a tip even though they’re well used, it’s worth it.
He’ll be doing my wife’s car next year for its tenth birthday. A full interior and exterior detail, plus having the wheels refurbed will make it genuinely look like a new car and good for another ten years given its mileage. Well worth a grand.
I did ask him once if people detailed ‘normal’ cars and he said he did more of them than flash cars, as more people want to breath new life into an older car when they’re not in a position to replace the car.
@qwerty I clay barred our van once. Took me two days. My wife was so unpleased. It did look and feel incredible though - as if it was actually frictionless.
Whatever the answer, I sure as hell wouldn’t be doing it in December right before gritter season
Ironically it's probably the time of the year the car would see most benefit from having a renewed protective layer over it*
* But if your not lanoguarding the underside it's largely pointless . Sub frames rust faster than bodywork these days.
I think I prefer the Italian approach to car maintenance.
If it works, don't touch it.
Detailing is an extravagance probably wasted on your car
Agree, if probably just needs a proper valet as th inside looks 12 year old and the outside has green stuff in the sills and so on. It has been a spare cars for 5 years now so doesn't get much time spent on it!
it can be a worthwhile experience.
Whatever floats your boat I suppose, there's a hundred other things I'd rather do than clean a car (hence mine is an utter pit) let alone 'detail' one...
Differing priorities is the root of it ultimately, to me a car is a tool (and I appreciate tools), other people invest a bit more of their time/money/personality in their car(s).
In the OP's position, yeah I would pay £50-70ish for a basic valeting (a decent clean and vacuum out), but if it's an actual working family car it'll be minging within a fortnight, and odds on you won't have that spare half day to get it re-valeted for another month or two...
I pray I never become enough of a car ****er to get into detailing, I think it takes a 'unique' sort to even appreciate it, let alone take it up... So long as they're happy.
I get my base spec 13 yo car valeted (to an ott level, but not what I would call detailed), every year. And a hand wash every payday.
Valet is nearly £200, car looks immaculate for ~3 months and good for another 6 or so.
Worth it in my opinion because I can't be arsed to do it.
I used my Wife's car when our daughter was born, while she used the Shitroen we bought for baby duties.
This was for about 4 years or so.
When we got rid of the Shitroen, and she had her car back, it needed a bit of tlc.
We had the wheels completely refurbed and I bought some decent cleaning products from an online detailing place to give it a once over.
Probably nowhere near what a professional place would do in terms of outright quality, but for a day of my time and about £65 worth of cleaning products (which will probably last 5 years or more) it really improved the look of the car.
I did a thorough clean, then a clay bar over the whole thing with a medium compound clay. Then it got a polish, and finally a wax.
I've also got a wax stuff for the wheels and some of that stuff for the tyres to make them jet black.
It's a black car and it really improved the appearance of the paint, removing most imperfections and giving it a mirror like shine.
So, I'd say it is worth it, but would prefer to do it myself than pay someone several hundred quid.
I'll try to dig out a picture...
I'm struggling a bit with the concept that a detail makes an old car feel new again.
Might make it look and smell ok, but running gear and mechanicals deserve far more pampering and looking after than an OTT wash.
Each to their own of course, and if it floats your boat then great. My view is that unless it is show car or similar, what is the point in going to the extreme on something that will get as 'dirty' as it would have been following a good wash and valet very quickly.
Give it a good going over mechanically, seal the underside (if it needs doing) and clean then protect the interior and exterior. Probably still £500 if paying somebody to do it, but no toothbrushes involved 😀
ultimately, to me a car is a tool
They are and yet they're so much more. My wife and I bnought our Prius a year after we were married, we went exploring all over the country in it. It brought my first kid home from hospital, saw both kids grow up. The Passat took us on family holidays all over the place. They were part of those memories. Once I was on a ride in the Brecon Beacons, it took me way too long. It went completely dark when I had miles to go, I was cold and exhausted. When I finally made it back to the car, turned the lights on and started up, it was such a relief as to be a memorable moment. It was definitely more than a tool that day.
there’s a hundred other things I’d rather do than clean a car (hence mine is an utter pit)
I own a 16year old Peugeot partner, used principally for taking house renovation debris, hedge clippings and the dandelion harvest to the tip (or bringing compost back from the tip) or as a mobile tool box when its smarter to use that than my van for work journeys .
Recently I picked up an old friend from Spain at the airport and she said the had pretty much the same car, same age, as me but remarked how much cleaner, tidier, smarter and newer (and posher) my one looked than hers. "That" I said "is because I own a leaf blower"