Caring for our soft paint

nowayhighway

Would opticoat really preserve and protect our soft paint?

WI_Hedgehog

Without having used it on the Z yet, I'm going to say "yes."

The first thing is to wash the car.
Second, clay the clearcoat.
Third, use a mild cutting compound to remove the scratches put in while claying.
Fourth, polish.
Fifth, apply CQuartz (or Opticoat).
Sixth, wax.

The wax sheds water and dirt, and the less dirt there is to remove the better. Dirt is the abrasive that ruins the finish. The wax protects the CQuartz from being scrubbed off. CQuartz protects the clearcoat from being damaged by the abrasive dirt. The clearcoat protects the paint. Each soft layer we add is sacrificial, protecting the next.

None of that will protect against stone damage, nor keep the car from wadding up in a wreck. It extends the life of the finish by helping protect against micro-abrasion. Bug bodies will come off easier, and bird splat won't react with the clear coat until it has gotten past the other barriers. The slick finish will keep dust from sticking to a fair degree, and rinsing the car will pull the water off therefore drying the car. The work and expense is worth it if you value the finish.

OldGuyFla

I got one of the clear protective coatings that the dealerships apply (mine called the protector) After seeing this thread about soft paint, I went all over my car trying to push my fingernail into the paint & couldn't see anywhere it left a mark. I got this coating to help with the love bugs down here & it has been working great.

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