preserving factory appearance

[chromal]

My pearl white 2010 Mazda3 s Sport 6-spd is my first new car. I'm really interested in some of the mods folks here are doing to enhance the stock appearance, but right now for my own vehicle, am mostly concerned with preserving its finish at this stage. You see, I live in the Colorado foothills where sand (which I suppose I'll take over the road salt back east in my old home state of Pennsylvania) is the normal traction enhancer dumped on the highways by the state DOT.

It's pretty common out here too see cracked windshields by each spring because of all the rocks kicked up by trucks on the foothill highways, and sometimes pits and a mild sand-blasting effect on the front on cars that have been around a while. I'd like to spare my mazda3 the worst of this, am considering options like llumar or 3m scotchguard clear bra films.

To make matters worse, the last 1500ft or so to my driveway are dirt/mud, and when it's dry, cars driving along the road kick up a cloud of dust that settles over vehicles parked in my driveway (no garage). At first, I thought a car cover might be a good solution, but I'm not sure I can keep the car clean enough to avoid excessive abrasion when using such a cover.

I realize there's going to be no ideal solution (short of moving somewhere paved and/or with garage), but I'm open to suggestions for a pragmatic finish care/cleaning regime to keep my mazda3 happy and shiny. What would you do?

 

[Bobcat]

Well, as a part time detailer, there are a bunch of things that you can do to help. First, I'd join truthindetailing forum, it's a small gruop of folks that really take car care to the next level and I'm sure you could get some good articles and get started. Warning: it can cause you to get crazy about your paint - in a good way!

 

[_Chris]

My pearl white 2010 Mazda3 s Sport 6-spd is my first new car. I'm really interested in some of the mods folks here are doing to enhance the stock appearance, but right now for my own vehicle, am mostly concerned with preserving its finish at this stage. You see, I live in the Colorado foothills where sand (which I suppose I'll take over the road salt back east in my old home state of Pennsylvania) is the normal traction enhancer dumped on the highways by the state DOT.

It's pretty common out here too see cracked windshields by each spring because of all the rocks kicked up by trucks on the foothill highways, and sometimes pits and a mild sand-blasting effect on the front on cars that have been around a while. I'd like to spare my mazda3 the worst of this, am considering options like llumar or 3m scotchguard clear bra films.

To make matters worse, the last 1500ft or so to my driveway are dirt/mud, and when it's dry, cars driving along the road kick up a cloud of dust that settles over vehicles parked in my driveway (no garage). At first, I thought a car cover might be a good solution, but I'm not sure I can keep the car clean enough to avoid excessive abrasion when using such a cover.

I realize there's going to be no ideal solution (short of moving somewhere paved and/or with garage), but I'm open to suggestions for a pragmatic finish care/cleaning regime to keep my mazda3 happy and shiny. What would you do?

I don't know about where you live but we have car washes that are only like 5 bucks. My GF loves to keep her tribute clean and does it about once a week. well worth the 5 dollars of not having to wash it yourself.

 

[sstass]

My pearl white 2010 Mazda3 s Sport 6-spd is my first new car. I'm really interested in some of the mods folks here are doing to enhance the stock appearance, but right now for my own vehicle, am mostly concerned with preserving its finish at this stage. You see, I live in the Colorado foothills where sand (which I suppose I'll take over the road salt back east in my old home state of Pennsylvania) is the normal traction enhancer dumped on the highways by the state DOT.

It's pretty common out here too see cracked windshields by each spring because of all the rocks kicked up by trucks on the foothill highways, and sometimes pits and a mild sand-blasting effect on the front on cars that have been around a while. I'd like to spare my mazda3 the worst of this, am considering options like llumar or 3m scotchguard clear bra films.

To make matters worse, the last 1500ft or so to my driveway are dirt/mud, and when it's dry, cars driving along the road kick up a cloud of dust that settles over vehicles parked in my driveway (no garage). At first, I thought a car cover might be a good solution, but I'm not sure I can keep the car clean enough to avoid excessive abrasion when using such a cover.

I realize there's going to be no ideal solution (short of moving somewhere paved and/or with garage), but I'm open to suggestions for a pragmatic finish care/cleaning regime to keep my mazda3 happy and shiny. What would you do?

I would say - clear bra/film is your best option for the front bumper, hood, and skirts. Just make sure to not stick them over wax
Get some mud flaps, they will keep your quarter panels from sand blasting. Besides, black mud flaps on a white car are the tits (boobs)
Every couple of months (and right after you buy it) do full on wax. Something from Meguiar's (I use their NXT TCH WAX 2.0). Do quick wax spray stuff every wash. And in your situation, I would at least spray the car off every couple of days; Don't let salt, bird crap, tar, etc settle on your car. I also like to use Swirl-X before every wax job, but that's up to you - white cars don't show swirls that much. Definitely read up on some detailing forums, know what/when/why to use different chemicals. Oh, and stay away from brushes (be those automatic or manual swirl-enhancers) (attn)

I don't know about where you live but we have car washes that are only like 5 bucks. My GF loves to keep her tribute clean and does it about once a week. well worth the 5 dollars of not having to wash it yourself.

Drive thru sand blasting is probably not the best option to keep the paint looking good. It keeps the car clean from dirt though (lol2)

 

[Ryank401]

Good luck! The paint on these cars is cheap as hell. I've had my car for less than a year (April) and there's already small chips on my bumper and I haven't even made it to one winter yet.