I was just wondering what everyone here thought about dealer-provided color treatment for the car. The dealer I bought my Fit from offered me what his "special price" of $499 for "simonizing" (I'm still not exactly sure what that is). But he said that this treatment carried a 5 year warranty on the color, meaning that there was a guarantee that the color would stay new looking and would not be affected by acid rain or bird crap. Can anyone elaborate on what exactly this process is and if I'm getting a good deal on it? Thanks.

 

Don't go for it. Paint technology has gotten to the point where treatments like this aren't necessary.

 

In summary, you'd be paying them $498.00 to take $1.00 out of your pocket. It's not worth it.

 

Color protection?

I just consulted Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, and apparently "gullible" isn't even listed!

Psyche!

Hen...I'm sorry, but I think you've just encountered a "creative presentation" of the markup game. Similar to the $200 mudflaps or wheel locks, it's essentially a $20 bit of slap-dash disguising a smooth reach around for your bottom line.

I've seen the porters and detail guys for many Honda dealers. Not car finish professsionals imho (no thanks, don't touch my car). Whatever next new car I buy I'm going to apply a superior finish myself. It will take me an entire leisurely weekend. I will get my bermudas wet, and I will sweat a little. I will drink several beers. It will cost me about $25 in materials, I'll be confident it was done right and it will far outlast any silly simonizing stuff. Size up your dealers, decide if you'll prevail if you try to enforce any "color protection" warranty. Call your shots, live with the results.

 

Simonize is/was a brand of car waxes. It has migrated into the public domain much like kleenex and q-tips. Basically they want to charge you 500 bones to wax your car. Don't do it.

 

Just say no when they verbally caress your bum-bum like that.
A true auto enthusiast washes, strips, claybar, polishes and seals their car's exterior at least twice a year for this whole treatment.

And say No to the interior upholstery 3M Scotchguard Protection too.

 

What is a claybar?

 

It is a automotive product like plastercine or playdough that is rubbed along the car's exterior absorbing environmental fall-out. The absorbed minute particles that's in our paint that the naked eye can't see is astonishing.

It is sold by the major car care manufactures in N.A. like Turtle Wax, Mothers, Meguires. It is awesome. Somebody set up a hyperlink to the product. I gotta run to work now.

 

Yes, sir! This site offers several brands.

Here's kind of a FAQ/How-to on clay bars.

 

i opted to say screw teh auto bulter detailing, which is the same protection deal, not worth it in my opinion.

 

I claybar in the early spring and late summer cause dem american factories down throughout the Ohio Valley and along the Mississippi River have dem goddamn mile high chimneys which spew out crap and the trade winds take them onto Canada, Iceland Norway and Sweeden.

That's why we have to bash in the seal pups before they grow 3 heads.

 

My maple syrup does taste funny though in the mornings.

 

My 2 cents....I just applied Durashine to my new Fit. I've used it for several years on 3 other cars. It is a viscous gel like stuff that you can carelessly slather on with the (wet) sponge supplied. It dries in about 10 minutes and then you simply hose it off. It says it's biodegradable. That's pretty well it for the life of the car. No waxing, ever, and the paint stays bright and shiny. It really works ! I presume it must be some kind of polymer coating that covers and protects the paint. My old VW still shone after 14 years and 439,000 kms. One of my earliest jobs was waxing Rolls Royce cars and I appreciate something new, less strenuous and that doesn't leave white marks on edges etc.
Steve