[drbjaz]

Has anyone already waxed or otherwise treated the paint on your new spider? I've had mine almost three weeks now and it's ready for a bath and I'm wondering if it's time to wax it. Any suggestions, tips, or advice from those of you who know what the proper treatment of the paint on these cars should be?

 

[Wny124]

I had a detailer apply Cquartz Finest. Better than wax. It should last a couple of years. Arete Auto Salon in Rochester New York if you're near the area.

 

[zvezdah1]

absolutely go seal, holds up for a year.

CQuartz finest (ceramic coating) would be best as WNY mention, it lasts for a couple years but is significantly more expensivethan traditional sealant.

I was quoted anywhere from $500-$1k for C Quartz finest on my alfa.

 

[drbjaz]

Thanks for the information on C Quartz. I'm in Arizona, so won't be taking her to your detailer in NY, although I was born in Schenectady.

 

[Stewie]

The most ideal way to do it is to seal with Cquartz, Opti-Coat, or something along those lines, and then keep topping up with a decent duration wax. Yes the sealant will last long, but you're going to want to extend that period for as long as possible. Just make sure they do paint correction prior to applying the sealant otherwise all the swirl marks or defects will be there stuck underneath.

 

[drbjaz]

How about the cloth convertible top? The Spider is my first convertible so this is new to me. Any tips on how to clean and protect it?

 

[wedgewa]

The folks at Griots Garage HQ (online and catalog but based near me) have a cleaner for cloth tops and sell a soft horsehair brush for scrubbing (lightly). I haven't tried the cleaner yet because plain water is getting it clean so far. My selling dealer delivered the car with "Super Polysteel" treatment on the paint. Online reviews on that are not very good, though water is beading up well. It was an extra charge dealer item I had not asked for so I wasn't charged. But without paying for it, I didn't get the followup kit or the warranty on whatever the heck that process is.
I frequently use Griot's waterless "Spray On Car Wash" and it works very well.
Schenectady? I spent quite a few years there as a kid in the 50s and 60s. And later a couple of adult years in the 70s working at WGY/WGFM/WRGB when they were all together on Balltown Road under GE Broadcasting.

 

[aroundincircles]

Your son might now a thing or two about waxing a vehicle for Arizona, may even have some of the stuff on hand. Jus' Saying.

 

[vjamison812]

We put the Xpel clear bra on my Prima. It looks amazing. Had it done at the HQ in San Antonio. They have a 10 year warranty on their work. My son gave me appropriate washing accessories and products to use with the clear bra...the car is magnificent!

 

[Stewie]

How about the cloth convertible top? The Spider is my first convertible so this is new to me. Any tips on how to clean and protect it?

Make sure it's really clean, you can even use a lint roller to get it nice. Make sure it's really dry. Give it a few light coats of scotch guard to protect it, it'll make it hydrophobic

 

[Wny124]

For the top, I've always use RaggTopp. It's been great. Comes in a kit with a cleaner and sealant. You can order online.

 

[Stewie]

I've actually heard about that stuff too, seems to have great reviews

 

[LongBeachJim]

So I have a large dealer who puts "Super Polysteel Advanced Formula System" on their cars and mandates that the customer pay $1,200 for it "because it's done to protect the cars from salt air during overseas shipment" (I have a deposit with this dealer for the Abarth).

Typically, I NEVER purchase such add-ons with a new car, as I'm quite good about keeping my cars treated with my own products and I've always heard that such things are rip-offs. Yet, the dealer mandates the purchase, as this as been done to all their cars prior to acceptance at their dealership.

Has anyone heard of Polysteel and/or been forced into such a situation? Sounds like profit-padding to me.

 

[canesice]

So I have a large dealer who puts "Super Polysteel Advanced Formula System" on their cars and mandates that the customer pay $1,200 for it "because it's done to protect the cars from salt air during overseas shipment" (I have a deposit with this dealer for the Abarth).

Typically, I NEVER purchase such add-ons with a new car, as I'm quite good about keeping my cars treated with my own products and I've always heard that such things are rip-offs. Yet, the dealer mandates the purchase, as this as been done to all their cars prior to acceptance at their dealership.

Has anyone heard of Polysteel and/or been forced into such a situation? Sounds like profit-padding to me.

This really doesnt sound right to me.
These cars are in a hold, deep in the ship. they are not riding on the deck...

So in order to accomplish this, the dealer would need to have someone do this application prior to the car being put on the boat.
Why would FCA wait around for this one off?

I say call FCA direct and ask them about this. Sounds like a lot of nonsense.

 

[LongBeachJim]

Agree, Canesice. So in addition, this dealer (#1 in the U.S.A. for sales volume) forces upon the buyer mandatory "Trax" for $300, which is "stolen vehicle recovery system". Huh?

They were the only dealer which offered a "refundable deposit" on the Abarth, so they knew they had me cornered.

What they don't know is that I'm smarter than they are, and that I'm developing close relationships with five other dealers in my region.

For those of you reading this, don't be taken.

 

[Stewie]

Yea that's some nonsense. I told the dealer when I bought my last car not to have anything done to it. Leave it completely bare, don't even detail it. They can't force anything like that on you

 

[Chipshot]

Total hooey. They may be in violation of state laws (that tracking is often imposed on minorities and customers deemed poor credit risks).


As for largest, I wonder how their volume compares with Fiat Chrysler's Lapeer Road Marshaling Center.

 

[JFernald]

So I have a large dealer who puts "Super Polysteel Advanced Formula System" on their cars and mandates that the customer pay $1,200 for it "because it's done to protect the cars from salt air during overseas shipment" (I have a deposit with this dealer for the Abarth).

Typically, I NEVER purchase such add-ons with a new car, as I'm quite good about keeping my cars treated with my own products and I've always heard that such things are rip-offs. Yet, the dealer mandates the purchase, as this as been done to all their cars prior to acceptance at their dealership.

Has anyone heard of Polysteel and/or been forced into such a situation? Sounds like profit-padding to me.

That is the oldest scam in the books. I bought my first new car in 1976, and they were pushing that paint sealant, fabric sealant, undercoat crap back then. What they do is no better than Scotchguard and Armorall.

Don't pay for it. They will sell you the car anyway.

 

[JFernald]

We put the Xpel clear bra on my Prima. It looks amazing. Had it done at the HQ in San Antonio. They have a 10 year warranty on their work. My son gave me appropriate washing accessories and products to use with the clear bra...the car is magnificent!

After hearing that you had scheduled to have this done, I went down to their shop and spoke with Chris. He mentioned that they had done your Prima yesterday. He gave me a tour of the facilities and I scheduled an install for Tuesday. It was not as expensive as I thought it would be, and it really looks good on the car.

Did you have just the bumper done, or the hood, fenders, mirrors, etc.?

 

[Stewie]

I would just get the whole car completely !