Could be the economy...Zaino may not be the mos expensive but it aint cheap. Some of the megs products can be had for a lot less.

 

I was going to say the same thing. That's why I switched to Mequires car wash.

I think it is interesting how an innocent post turns into such a nightmare for some folks.

 

with strippers and beer.

 

If it's dirty or first wash of the year....wet her down, Meguire's gold car wash in the bucket...go to town. Rinse. Use leaf blower and absorber to get it dry. Detail wheels and tires.
If it's been in the garage and just needs to be freshened up...then I use some Adam's detail spray...and that takes care of it.

 

Funny how just because I drive mine and let it get dirty people assume I abuse the car and not take care of it. I have some mechanical experience and the car is maintained mechanically better than most. I drive the car with respect and do not abuse it. The car is in perfect shape and when clean looks as good as anyone's on this site. It has been entertaining reading peoples reactions to this thread. I am not a true "Corvette Guy" and am very proud of that. I am a guy who owns a Corvette and because it is a daily driver I get to enjoy it more often than most of you do. It is just a car. A very popular and very replaceable car. I can find a used C5 on about every other car lot in my town. Thousands are for sale online right now. I'm all for taking care of your ride but I think most Corvette guys are just obsessive about things like driving in the rain or during the winter. I drove mine everyday this year and with a good wash and detail it will look as good as yours. It is just a car so don't be so afraid to drive it. That's what it was made for. Anything that happens to it can be fixed and if it can't then look around because there are plenty more out there.

 

Geez, this looked like a simple question. The ensuing debate about whether you are an obsessive moron for having a routine more than just running some cold water over the exterior and wiping it down with an old diaper is hilarious. First off I didn't buy my vette as an investment and I drive it daily, doesn't mean I dont have a passion for the car and I do take special care in washing and detailing it to the point that I am pleased with its looks. The evidence is the waves and looks and comments it gets just by passerbys in a parking lot. On the other hand it is just a car and there are plenty available and anyone can have one. Then again my daughter is just a girl, there are plenty of those around and most anyone can have one as well. But she is my daughter and I treat her special. But hey, what do i know.

 

Very thorough. I only have one minor point. Once my car is driven even a BLOCK, it does not get wiped down with anything. Ther ewill always be dust or dirt in the air and I am not going to rub it in with a towel. I do use a California Duster if I drive it betwen washes. Probably only marginally better, but zero pressure.

 

You really just compared a car to a person. Wow we have a winner!

 

No genius, I was making a point about passion. Now I understand that may have escaped you, but take the time to look it up. It’s called a allegory. Now, go out and kick sand on your vette and feel pleased with yourself that you are “not a corvette guy”. But hey thanks for the prize. Oh, and please lets just see if we can bring the thread back on topic, besides I really feel bad about getting into a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.

 

Honestly truth be told I don't really care either way. He can drive his car painted with a spray paint can for all I car. What I was saying was a Corvette is not just another Car. Just because I put 500 miles a week on my DD doesn't mean that I should neglect it, cease to care, or lack passion for it.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

Can you find me another electron blue 6 speed Vert within 500 miles of Southern California for sale sir? There were approximately 500 made so it shouldn't be too difficult right, I mean that would average to about 10 per state right? I agree if I were to expand my search to include any C5 it would not be that difficult, however an actual replacement for my car may take a while to find if at all. How often do the original Z06s come up for sale? Or Convertible Grand Sports? Everyones Corvette is special to them for one reason or another. We have a member on the forum willing to pay more than the car is worth to rebuild his likely totaled C5 with almost 300k miles because it is so special to him. I hold my ground that it is not just a car.

The problem is you think you aren't a "Corvette Guy" We aren't "Corvette Guys", we are "Car Guys" and would be just as excited about almost anything we chose to drive. You sir on the other hand are just like my wife, no cares, no passion, it is merely a tool to get from point A to point B. So you should be saying you aren't a "car guy" and there is nothing wrong with that.

By the way people are going to call me crazy, but both of my Corvettes chose me, and a million different things had to line up just right for things to happen the way it did. My Z06 took me 8 months to finally buy and it fell into my lap, THE DAY before I was having another car shipped to me. Start to finish my Vert took exactly seven days. Both seemed to be illogically perfect situations and both experiences have been very different than any other car I have ever purchased. They are both completely different, yet somehow similar, and yet completely perfect for me. But after all it is just a car.

OK, so I found one. I only had to go back through a year of for sale ads on a Corvette Message board full of enthusiasts spanning the entire country in order to find another. Bet you I could find a white Camry for sale 3 houses down from me. Just saying

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-c...light=electron

 

Wow

 

I think a lot of it comes down to that Depression-era ethos you got from your parents about taking care of your things. I try to treat things like my house, tools, pool, etc., the same way as my cars - take care of them, regular maintenance, keep them clean, and so on.

I would bet that these obsessive vet owners - and I count myself among them - are the same way about their boats and other cars. Maybe not to the extent that they care about their Vette, but I bet their boats and motorcycles are clean, tools organized, etc.

Of all the cars I've owned, the Vette is my favorite. It's fast, fun to drive and just plain cool lookin'.

But one thing I do find interesting is why the Vette owners don't drive them more. I'm blown away when I see 10-year-old Vettes for sale with less than 10K or 20K miles. My Pewter Vert is my DD. If I lived up north, I wouldn't drive it in the snow or with salt on the road - it's not really practical - but I would be in it every other day.

It would drive me crazy having a beautiful car sittin' in the garage and not being driven. Some of these Vettes on this forum are amazing.

 

You pegged me wrt to the boat comment. It's ten years old, only had 165 total hours when I purchased it in Oct 2008, looks and performs as new. We enjoy but don't abuse the boat. It almost always gets cleaned after use.

 

I realy dont Care who washes there vette when and why! The op wanted tips on washing his... were getting way off track here guys!!! All I know is that we all love our vettes daily driver to show car to race car..

 

I wanted a smokin' hot, red corvette for over 30 years and I must be stupid because I waste a lot of time taking care of my baby!

Just over a month ago I finally found my perfect car: 2001 Magnetic Red (not the original paint) C5 for less than $12K. It had over 107K miles on it when I bought it, is my (almost) daily driver and I put over 200 miles on it each week... but it is my baby!

I wash it every Friday after work at the coin-op car wash on post. $4 gets me a wash and clearcoat that gives it a great shine. I hand-dry and buff it with clean army-issue brown towels, then clean the wheels, foam the tires, vaccum the interior and shine the dash. I got a great 2-for-1 deal on Meguires at Advance Auto so I use all their products and love the results.

Often times during the week I find myself using the Meguires Quick Detailer and a clean towel I always keep behind the passenger seat to touch up the shine. I love getting and asked "is it new" from folks that don't know a C5 from a C6.

I've never obsessed over a car before, but hey, I love my Vette!

 

 

good thing there's a car care section