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From: bauern@houxa.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: car wax
Message-ID: <273@houxa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 12-Oct-83 17:31:07 EDT
Article-I.D.: houxa.273
Posted: Wed Oct 12 17:31:07 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Oct-83 23:08:00 EDT
Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 58


	I am posting this in response to the query about car wax,
but thought that I'd include some flames as well.
	I just bought a Toyota Celica and also had questions about
how to care for its finish.  After carefully reading the
labels on the more popular brands of waxes and polishes, I
could find few which did not contain an abrasive mixed in
with the wax.  I settled on SIMONIZ BodyGard liquid wax.
This stuff comes in paste or liquid, contains silicon
as well as wax and claims to be 'low-friction'.
Beware of those which say 'cleans' 'polishes' or such.  If and
when my car does need cleaning, there are auto polishes made
to do that.

******** FLAME ON **********

	Many (all?) dealers I talked to had a very hard sell
to have their new car customers have undercoating, rust prevention,
paint protection and interior protection done for ~$500 or so.
My first and hottest flame is against paint protection.
I couldn't find *anything* which proved that it is *worthwhile*.
My sources were: their information, manufacturer's reports,
Consumer's Reports, friend's experiences and firsthand experiences.
It doesn't protect against ultraviolet radiation (fading),
acid rain (esp. here in Jersey), or anything more than a good
wax job would protect against (such as dirt and abrasion).  Also,
the paint protection seems to last only a year or so, according to
friends and consumer reports, mostly the former.  I'd recommend
washing and waxing your car as often as it needs it, leaving the
interval to your discretion, and saving the money for other things.
	As to the rustproofing and undercoating part of the package.
I was called a number of national businesses which only do the above.
I ended up having my car done at Ziebart for $219 (as opposed to
dealers quotes of ~$350).
They did a complete job, and will provide touch-ups every year for
free for as long as I own my car.  I used the word complete because
every dealer package car I have looked at has missed places,
or just ignored them, except for those dealers who use Rusty Jones.
I chose Ziebart over Rusty Jones because of the yearly maintenance
and previous personal experience.
	I bought a couple of cans of ScotchGuard (TM) for $4
apiece and waterproofed the interior myself.  It wasn't hard
and didn't smell too bad, and it was cheaper than the $65 part
of the package deal.
	In short, DON'T LET THE DEALER DO IT!!!!  I have heard
rumors of lawsuits in Penn. where the customers were forced
into the package deals, but have no more information on that.


DISCLAIMER:  The above opinions are of course mine, not my
	company's, and other than saving you money and
	possibly grief, I have nothing to gain if you take
	the above advise.  Of course, if doing so saves you
	lots of money, you could share some with me ;-).

	houxa!bauern