I was looking for some good things that I can do to help protect a car that has to be kept outside. My current temporary living arrangements has me keeping my car in a parking lot outside of my appartment. I was planning on putting a few coats of colinite or meguiars ultimate with back to black on all trim when I can. I already use a sun shade and have a dark tint all around to protect the inside. Really just want to know if what I'm planning on doing will be good enough.

Another thing, I live in Florida so mother nature is not very nice. I'm thinking of a cover to use only when she sits for long periods but still don't know.

 

My truck is also kept outside. i just keep a nice coat of wax on it all year round. (hard to do it here in michigan with winter but i do it) i use nothing but meguiars products. i love megs ultimate quick wax and ultimate quick detail. they both work great and keep the paint shining. you probably dont have to worry about this like i do here in michigan but for the winter if we get alot of snow i make sure i spray the bottom of my truck off regularly since they use an *** load of salt here.

 

Thanks for the reply. I tried my Ultimate Quik Wax I got for Xmas this past weekend and all I can say is amazing. Stuff beaded just as good as NXT did on my 06. Bought Ultimate Liquid Wax a couple of days ago and cant wait to lather her in a coat after a coat of Meguiars cleaner wax.

 

Get yourself some ONR - Optimum No Rinse. Perfect for your situation to keep her clean.

http://www.detailedimage.com/Optimum...-P444/32oz-S1/

 

+1
I use ONR and Ultima Wash Plus, whichever i have at the time. My car has gone from u believably filthy to look better than showroom clean whenever i use these products. Two bucket method of course though

 

I usally spray the quick wax on a micro fiber and then wipe it on the car that way. Works well and you don't have to use as much.

 

I'm in the same situation...my new Mustang doesn't get to live in a garage. And it's black...I'm a glutton for punishment. The main thing I worry about is bird droppings. But in the end, this is a sorta daily driver and my priority is to enjoy it. I did at least go over it with Klasse AIO and then some Collinite 845 first thing.

 

The most important thing in worried about is the snow and all the salt!! How often should I wag my car? And is a regular car wash acceptable??

 

I just don't win down here. I just read about pollen which is starting to pick up down in Florida.

I need to accept that everything is out to mar the paint. It's hard to take care of a car that doesn't have a garage. Pollen scratches, dust scratches, water marks, bird crap pitting. Ehhhhhhhh too much to worry about.

 

I don't recommend that anyone wag their car. But you should probably wax it quarterly.

 

remove the bird crap as soon as possible.

PS I wag my car and have never been caught doing it

 

Welcome to TMS glad to have you aboard. You can use the quick wax after every car wash and I have some of that waterless wash stuff in a spray bottle ready to go all the time. A California car duster every morning or at the end of the day or both is really helpful to keeping a clean car also

 

A car cover is a must in any situation, only if you can park it off the street. A car cover is easy to take on/off whenever needed. The cost is worth your investment. Here's mine.

 

Really..? I'll trade you Chicago and it's salted metal eating roads for your Florida and it's pollen and bird crap.

 

Lol. That salt would have me walkin every day.

 

Here's your solution to your pollen problem lol!

 

A car bubble! Lol. I wonder if their mobile.

 

Man... I want a car bubble!!! Seriously though, my car lives outside- no garage Here's my best tips:
1. Get a car cover and use it. I love the cheap auto zone one I have- it's super lightweight, doesn't scratch anything, dries quickly
2. Wash weekly- just a oz of carwash in a bucket with warm water, soap, rinse, dry, you're done.
3. Don't let dirt build. I know it's OCD, but every time I get out of the car, I look. If there's dirt, I get the spray detail and a microfiber and clean it.
4. Keep the trim protected. Mothers B2B on all black trim at least 1x a week, more in summer.
Thats it.

 

A cover still scares me away. I drive the car to often to really invest in one right now. I've decided just to suck it up and live with it for three months. It's not that much longer that I have this living arrangement and so far all the bird droppings that I've had to remove have not damaged the paint in any way. I think it may be because my car sits in the shadow of my building all day.

I just decided to clean her every week (Very light touch) and protect the trim with B2B. Paints not super slick but with this pollen its too much of a risk to apply anything. Im going to be doing a full correction/polish this summer which should make her happy after this time in the sun.

 

i used to be like that when i first bought my '05 GT. bought it brand new off the show room floor, my dad and i drove it home. it was great and took care of it really well for about 2 years. then i moved to philly late in '06.

well over 5 years later and now mileage is up around 85K, the bumper is pitted from salt and rocks from highway driving, but it still is a great to drive. it's no longer my daily driver so i have since been able to put it away for the winter but in the summer it still sits outside.

i've resigned to the fact that until i own a home and have a garage it will need to take the punishment. i figure in the next 2 years i'll have a home, and at some point i will do a major overhaul on the paint. until then i just enjoy the car because i wanted to make sure i held onto it and i've been blessed that i can do that.