Repaired Write Off. Time for a Detail Rating Options

[Bobzilla]

wAIT.... you guys got 4dr hatch Accents? WTF?

[Rocket]

Funny you should mention that. As i navigate this Forum it is amazing that Hyundai have different products line ups per country.

For example, i had never heard of a GT Elantra or Touring Elantra. I think here we only had the GLS and Elite.

Even came across an Elantra interior that has woodgrain inserts on the Dash and Steering Wheel. Gotta get one of those Steering Wheels.

Rocket.

[Bobzilla]

We also can't have the CRDi either.... I want one of those BAD.

[sarge]

wow - a 5dr Accent!

The Touring is comparable to the i30cw in other places

It's also amazing that the 07+ Elantra in the states doesn't come with any body/lip kit where in Canada the Sport version comes with a sweeet lip kit! Think that's also available down under..

[Rocket]

Hi sarge, Thanks for the tip about the shoe polish. Tried it out today and found it works a treat.

Will post a review on the correct Thread, but here is a shot of the car and a sneak preview of the result - Note i have only done the side strips at this stage.





Rocket.

This post has been edited by Rocket: Sep 4 2010, 08:37 AM

[Bigs]

wAIT.... you guys got 4dr hatch Accents? WTF?

They sold them here also for 1 or 2 seasons! Was called the Accent 5! No very popular.

Welcome Rocket!

[Alex2013GT]

Rocket, I'm a little late to the game (been MIA the last couple days) but welcome and it looks like you already made yourself at home in our club Looks like you are doing some great work on those Hyundai's over there! That Mustang is also very sweet. Keep the pics a coming

[Rocket]

They sold them here also for 1 or 2 seasons! Was called the Accent 5! No very popular.

Welcome Rocket!

G`day Bigs, Thanks for replying. Seems you are the Detailing Guru here. Look forward to communicating with you. I still have a lot to learn!

The Accent was a very popular car here in Australia, in fact probably more so than the Elantra. When the new 2007 model Accent was introduced the shape of the car lost its appeal for many, but thankfully Hyundais newest generation of cars are very nice looking and i think they are winning many people over again. The i45 is a stunning looking car - but the prices have been increased a fair bit. Personally i could not afford a new one at the current pricing. Maybe we will get some more Hailstorms - then i can buy one.

Rocket.

Rocket, I'm a little late to the game (been MIA the last couple days) but welcome and it looks like you already made yourself at home in our club Looks like you are doing some great work on those Hyundai's over there! That Mustang is also very sweet. Keep the pics a coming

G`day Alex, Glad you like the work we are doing. By the look of the black Elantra in your signature - i think you know a lot about Detailing. That car looks incredible.

The Mustang Grande Coupe is an exceptional car, and is one of a few that we have. If you like photos and can forgive my indulgence - here are some more of our cars -

A 1968 Convertible we painted earlier this year


A 1969 Vert that my son is restoring for his wife


A 1964 1/2 Coupe we recently completed. This one is Right hand Drive


And a Mach1 that we are about to commence Restoring


My 1968 Coupe


Guess that is enough for now.
Copping it in the neck from my missus - have to go and make some doors for her new kitchen cupboards. Will try and start the polishing job on the Elantra while the CNC router is doing its job.

Rocket.

This post has been edited by Rocket: Sep 5 2010, 12:11 AM

[Rocket]

[/size]
Time to get on with it.



[size="1"]

Made a start on polishing the Elantra this arvo - sort of!

First job when machine polishing a car is to tape off the exterior trim. This makes the final clean up a whole lot easier. No need to remove polish residue from the trim if you do not get it on there in the first place. Taped up the front of the car -



Then prepared for some serious work -



The Polishing machine to be used for this job is a Flex fixed rotation orbital polisher. If you do not know of this machine, here is a Link to explain it -
http://paintcare-n-detailing.com/review/flex/

I prefer to use Menzerna polishes for this work. Here is a link to Menzerna products.
http://www.menzernausa.com/menzerna-automotive.htm
Menzerna polishes give a beautiful shine to a cars paintwork. As i drive around and check out the nicely polished cars, i can always pick a car that has that "Menzerna" look.

Pads of choice are Lake Country CCS Pads. Have been using these for several years. They do a superb job. There are half a dozen different pads which are used for the various requirements of a polishing job. Here is a Link to Autogeeks description of each colour pad -
http://www.autogeek.net/ccs-polishing-how-to.html

This Elantra has already had a scuff and been buffed with Farecla cutting compound so does not need an aggressive polish. So stage1 of the job will be a White Polishing pad with Menzerna P203S polish. Stage 2 will use a green plishing /finishing pad with Menzerna P106FF final finishing polish, and for stage3 a black finishing pad with Menzerna P0 85RD Refining polish.

This will take about 12-15 hours of polishing, before the application of Sealant and Wax. However i am not off to a good start. today i figured on polishing the front of the car while the CNC router was cutting the MDF doors for my wife -



As i began polishing the bonnet, little pieces of MDF dust were landing on it. Oh shyte! Could not continue or i would have put scratches into the paint. Bugger! Through the week i can only get in an hour or so polishing each night. It is going to take a bit of time to get this job done.

Rocket.

This post has been edited by Rocket: Sep 5 2010, 06:41 AM

[Bigs]

Bastard has a Flex polisher.... I hate you now... I guess my PC will have to do for now!

[Rocket]

Hi Bigs, The Flex is a much prized posession. But the silly part about it is this - In Australia the Flex now costs in excess of $800, yet i see it advertised on USA sites for around $300. That is one huge price difference.
I bought mine several years ago for $670 and had to argue long and hard to get that price because they had only just increased the price, and i had previously been quoted the lower price.

The Flex takes a lot longer to polish a car than the rotary, but i find it much easier to handle than the Makita Rotary.

The Porter Cable machine has a lot of good reviews too, although we do not have it in Australia that i am aware of. No point importing one because our power requirements are different to the USA.

Rocket.


Well....... How things change in one day! Bugger!

Last night i managed to spend a couple of hours in the garage buffing the Elantra. It was quality time. Gave the bonnet, top of the guards and front bumper a 3 stage Menzerna polish. Came up great, and intended to go right around the car over a couple of hours each night. Here is how the front was looking -





Ah - that familiar Menzerna shine, soft, luxurious and deep.

But finishing the job was not to be! We received a phone call from our office managers father to say he had just been T Boned at a set of traffic lights. He drives an immaculate 2006 XD Elantra which he purchased new. The old bloke had just fitted a nice set of alloy wheels to it a couple of weeks ago. The car is Toast. No chance of repairing it. Now these people are very kind natured and would give you the shirt off their back in an instant. So without hesitation i offered him the use of my Elantra while he sorts out the insurance. so tonight upon arriving home i gave the car a quick wax with P21S 100% Carnauba Wax to protect the freshly polished areas -



Late this arvo they were talking of buying my Elantra, so i possibly will not get it back. Bugger! I had wanted one of these cars for a long time. So i logged onto the Auction sites and found a couple going up for sale late this week. Hail damaged like the other one. Here are the cars -













They are both 5 speed manuals, both have alloy wheels and both have the same type of rear spoiler. Do not like the spoilers, would prefer a much lower one. Both cars are around 80,000klms
If the price is right - i will buy one and start again with it.

Here is a pic of the almost complete Accent we painted last week -



Rocket.

[NevynPA]

Wow! Are both of the new choices wearing OEM alloys? We only had one choice here!