Your best tips for wash, wax, polish, buff, detail in prep for a sale

[Etfren]

Then again, if you're considering selling, it may be just as cost effective to take both vehicles somewhere to be professionally detailed and roll that cost into the purchase prices, because when you consider the cost of purchasing detailing supplies (it sounds like you'd actually have to buy a buffer) plus the time involved...

That's why I recommended to not even bothering with the polishing step since he is just putting them up for sale. Unless they have some pretty significant scratches all over the whole car, a good cleaner wax with another coat of a nicer wax on top will make it look great without the need to get buffing stuff if you are only planning to use it for the pre-sale prep. If it does have some small localised blemishes you want to fix a hand applied compound will work as a cheap alternative.

I like to use Meguiar's cleaner wax if I'm doing a detail that doesn't involve polishing and then after that cures for a day, put a coat of nice wax on top. Here is a picture of my dad's truck that I did. No polish, just a wash, clay, cleaner wax and then Meg's NXT 2.0 for a final coat. The clay had the biggest affect on it I think. Polishing it is on my list of things to do though, but its a daily driver and work truck so its racking up new scuffs and scratches all the time.



Here is our old Blazer right before we sold it. I did the same, just a good clay bar and only one coat of wax for this one and it looked great for the sale and the new owners were really happy with it.







I don't think a professional detail is worth it for a private sale IMO. For a dealer its to be expected, but for a private sale as long as its clean inside and out to a reasonable level, its good enough.

[vt_maverick]

That's why I recommended to not even bothering with the polishing step since he is just putting them up for sale. Unless they have some pretty significant scratches all over the whole car, a good cleaner wax with another coat of a nicer wax on top will make it look great without the need to get buffing stuff if you are only planning to use it for the pre-sale prep. If it does have some small localised blemishes you want to fix a hand applied compound will work as a cheap alternative.

I like to use Meguiar's cleaner wax if I'm doing a detail that doesn't involve polishing and then after that cures for a day, put a coat of nice wax on top. Here is a picture of my dad's truck that I did. No polish, just a wash, clay, cleaner wax and then Meg's NXT 2.0 for a final coat. The clay had the biggest affect on it I think. Polishing it is on my list of things to do though, but its a daily driver and work truck so its racking up new scuffs and scratches all the time.

+1 - Right on the money. Here's what I use, it's certainly not super top-end, but you get great results:

• Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash or NXT Generation Car Wash
• Wool Wash Mitt
• Meguiar's Cleaner Wax (fabulous for covering scratches and removing water spots)
• Meguiar's NXT Generation 2.0 Wax (use it as a second coat as Etfren said)
• Meguiar's Microfiber Wax Applicator (comes in the NXT 2.0 box, or you can buy them separately - far superior to terry cloth applicators IMHO)
• Eagle One Glass Cleaner (cleans glass without leaving streaks, great for when you need to detail in the sun)
• Meguiar's Endurance Tire Gel (aka Grape Jelly - leaves nice shine that lasts)
• Tire Swipes (these are like $1 each and make applying tire gel much easier)
• Meguiar's Gold Class Leather Protectant Wipes (super quick to apply with wipes)

Some folks may chime in for Armor-All on the interior, but personally I don't like the super high-gloss look - Meguiar's Interior and Exterior Trim Cleaner leaves a much darker, more subtle look.

All of the above can probably be had for $75 or less.

[VX KAT]

Some folks may chime in for Armor-All on the interior, but personally I don't like the super high-gloss look - Meguiar's Interior and Exterior Trim Cleaner leaves a much darker, more subtle look.

I use 303 on the interior...not shiny, and leaves the panels and dash a little darker and rich looking.