What type of billet aluminum wheel polish do you use on a weekly basis? I know you use the Adams metal polish for the full detail and repair.

I also enjoy taking care of my Corvette and all my cars. I'm about to turn over my daily driver to my 17 year-old daughter and it's just shy of 200K miles. The picture below was taken a few weeks ago after I washed/waxed it. When she drove it to pick up her friends, they thought she had just gotten a new car. No one believes her when she tells them it is 10 years old with close to 200K miles.

 

I keep my 02Z in show condition but also drive it and enjoy it, 16k in the last season and a half, not a DD either

DRIVE THEM AND ENJOY THEM ANY WAY YOU WANT

 

These comments, one a snarky shot at hybrids, the other a more benign comment on what is considered a "Vanilla" flavored car, address a question I've been pondering for a while - What is the difference between Car Guys, Corvette Guys, Other Specific Make (Porsche or Viper or ?) Guys, and "Status" Guys (those not really interested in cars or the car but in the status or image it accords them)?

I consider myself a car guy in the broadest sense - I have an interest in just about anything that resembles a car, be it internal combustion, electric, hybrid, and in whether that vehicle accomplishes its goal. I love my Corvette - it's fast, handles well, is stylish and sporty, and comfortable on long trips and just plain fun. It does all this while being fairly reliable and economical. I also love my DD Subaru Baja, a vehicle that meets with much derision when mentioned on this forum. But it is perfect for what I need/use it for and for what it was designed - car-like ride and economy for daily use, AWD for inclement weather, an open bed for hauling lawn and garden materials from the Home Depot and camping/cycling/paddling gear for outdoor adventures (I'm a Scoutmaster) plus room for four passengers. Some think it is ugly, but those who own them or want them (resale value on these has remained higher than average) either don't or can get past that for the functionality of the vehicle.

I also think my Mom's Toyota Prius is a pretty neat little car - roomy, comfortable to drive, and a techological marvel. Despite his initial negative feelings, my Dad has also come around as I notice when they go places together, they usually take the Prius (despite my Dad having an '85 Lincoln Town Car, '98 Lincoln Mark VIII, '04 Lincoln LS, '94 Jaguar XJS, '10 Saturn Sky Redline, and '07 BMW 650i).

I've owned sports cars, sedans, station wagons, a minivan, and a pickup (other than the Baja, which is officially a crew cab pickup) and I have appreciated all of them for what I needed them to do at that time and in that situation. I maintained all of them with regular maintenance, washing/waxing, etc. I have a long list of cars I would love to own - Miata, Fiat 500, Mini, Mustang (1960s or current), Datsun 240Z (I had a '75 280Z as a younger man), mid-80s BMW 325i, to name a few.

When my wife is ready to replace her '04 Mazda 6 in a year or two (only one more year of college tuition and then we are done, they are all off the payroll), we will likely go with a hybrid (and I could see her wanting a Camry hybrid, and I will wash it and wax it and do all the maintenance on it and I will appreciate it for its ability to provide my wife with the comfort she wants (and that is infinitely more important to her than high performance) and the reliability that I want her car to have - much peace of mind knowing that she is less likely to be stranded somewhere.

There are many on this board who are not quite as broad in their appreciations, often limited only to Corvettes or just to Corvettes and other "manly" vehicles ('Merican made full-size pickups and Harleys).

Status Guys? They are in to their car not so much because they appreciate the performance, styling, technological features, or functionality but because they see it as an accessory that makes them look/feel better than those around them. I remember a comment on a thread here by a guy pulling into a cruise in in his Corvette and the guy in the Ferrari (or Porsche?) parked next to him making a snarky comment to a companion about Corvettes being a dime a dozen. That guy is a status guy, not a car guy.

Okay, I guess that is my manifesto.

Oh, here's my Baja (notice my old Outback wagon behind it - keep it as a backup winter driver and for hauling my dogs around):

 

If school wasn't as demanding as it is I'd be right there with ya.

I've seen both cars and he's not exaggerating. Both are pristine.

 

I am also one of those guys who polishes , waxes , details etc . I find going to the man cave to do this a stress reliever . Its not work if you enjoy it .

 

I just spray some Zaino Z8 on a micro fiber towel and wipe off the wheels. Then again with a dry micro fiber towel to get it all off. I lift each corner of the car to rotate the wheel to make sure I get the entire wheel.

Thanks Ed
I do it cause I enjoy it... not cause I have to.

Exactly !!!

Toque

 

Yaaa the only bad thing about a dirty Corvette is driving around town with it dirty. What an eye sore. And oh by the way shame on you for downloading Acura's and whatever that wagon is.
THIS IS A CORVETTE FORUM!!

 

You're right. "Removed them I did! Although chill you must!"

 

Thanks. I've heard of Z8 on paint, however did not know you could used it on polished aluminum.

 

Not a car guy, are you? More of a "I have a Corvette" guy?

This is a discussion forum, centered around Corvettes and Corvette owners. Sometimes discussions have a way of bringing in different views and ideas with participants in the discussion using examples and information from their experiences to contribute to the discussion. Sometimes cars other than Corvettes get mentioned.

Of course, whenever any car other than a Corvette is mentioned, you're free to cover your ears and do the "la-la-la-la-la-I-can't-hear-you" thing.

K9Leader
Red cars are faster. They did a study on it.

 

I get a kick out of people who live and breath their car. Too many people ignore them or have them as a trophy. Clean it, wax it, drive it....take your choice. It's all good.

maybe it's not like it was back in the day when we all drove our cars at every opportunity but I love thse guys myself.

 

Yea it seems to work well. Gives the wheel a slippery feel after it dries and you wipe it off.

Toque

 

And thanks to Toque's passion I have been able to do maintenance on my Vette that I wouldn't have tried because of his awesome site. Diff fluid, trans fluid, brake bleeding, shifter mod, all because he has that passion. So OBSESS I say!! It helps the community in the long run. Just live happy and drive happy

 

Glad to hear its helped !

Toque

 

Uh-oh.

1) My car is slammed
2) I have numerous coats of Zaino
3) I polish the inner barrels of my wheels.

 

Da Bears!

 

Hmmm....I think I'll go on a quick canyon run then wax my car and tinker with some plastidip instead of reading the rest of this thread hehehe

Corvette days are good days....

 

I'm glad people are so worried about keeping their cars clean! When i got my C6 ZO6, the seller was crazy about taking care of his car so it gave me peace of mind. Eh, better for buyers... Shhhh

 

 

If Toque ever decides to sell his Z06 there will be whole bunch of us ready to ****** it up because we all know how well he takes care of it. Although, my little one will probably end up with the Vette when the 16th birthday rolls around. I don't think she'd let me sell it even if I wanted to. I know my oldest would have disowned me if I'd tried to sell my Monte Carlo instead of giving it to her when she turned 16. All of her friends are jealous.