So if I don't wanna DIY, is it a good idea if I let a car wash shop wax and buff my car? Or is it really best to DIY?

 

Always better to do it yourself but if the shop has a good reputation and can be trusted, it should be okay. Problem is when a shop does a car and uses a direct drive machine and 'burns the paint' it often looks good when the wax gets put on but then the wax fades and the sun hits it and its horrible.

Just be careful in picking a shop if you do, Also keep in mind, I detail cars on the side and my wash, clay, polish and wax special on a scion is $150 which is below most of the shops in the area, but its also 75% of the cost of our entry level kit, so you can save money by doing it yourself.

 

^^ Thanks for the insight. One more thing I don't understand, I know $20-orbital buffers are crap but don't you think it'll do the job just fine if I'll only use it once in every 3 or 4 months? 'Cause I dont have the cash to invest on the orbital buffers recommended on the previous page.

 

A $20 orbital won't be able to polish out any imperfections. Most cheap orbital or even rotary polishers are the 10" variety which is only good for applying a wax or a sealant.

Applying waxes and stuff is pretty easy to do by hand but it's convenient to do it by machine. But for any sort of paint correction, you can forget about it.

If you really wanna get a good look without a 150 dollar polisher, get a claybar, a good glaze, and a sealant. Most glazes are designed to fill in scratches and enhance the shine of a sealant or wax. That way you can get the look of a 200 dollar detail for under 50 bucks.

 

I think I'll try the cheap orbital buffer for now since I'm not worried about paint imperfections yet. I just need to wax my car just because I haven't done it for a long time now. I'll just save up for those hi-end orbital buffers. Thanks for the tip! :D

 

Absolutly 100% agree....