I just bought a 2001 C5 navy blue metallic convertible. We drove it home from Ohio last night and it is covered with bugs.
What is the best/easiest cleaner and polish to use on it to maintain that beautiful shine?
Also, is there a special windshield washer fluid i should use keeping in mind it is a convertible?

Thanks.

 

First off, congrats on your Vette, and welcome to the forum!!! As to your question, there are as many opinions on this as there are a$$holes. You may want to check out the car care section of the forum. There are MANY threads on this. For wiper fluid I like rainX, but just about anything will work fine. The way the nozzles are integrated into the wiper arm does a pretty good job of keeping the fluid on the windshield, and out of the cabin. I would use any quality foaming car wash to remove the bugs. Run you hand over the paint. If it doesn't feel smooth like glass, then you will want to try a clay bar treatment. You mention polish. There is a difference between polish and a protectant like a wax or carmaic coating. If you need paint correction, this is a major job. If you don't then my suggestion would be mechanics choice ceramic detailing spray. It works well, is easy to apply, and is cheap. You can find it on amazon. Post up some pictures of your new car. we'd love to see it.

Don't forget to SAVE THE WAVE!

 

What is a clay bar treatment?

 

There is vender most of us use, and you can call for advice:

www.autogeek.com

 

Congrats on your 2001! I'm using Griot's products. I really like Speed Shine, Spray-On Car Wash, & Best of Show wax. I have an Arctic White 04 and the dirt and bugs on the front bumper stand out. It's the first thing I see when I walk into the garage. I wipe down the hood and front bumper with Speed Shine or Spray-On Car Wash and it removes all the dirt and bugs. Takes roughly 10min.

 

Clay bar is exactly what a clay bar is. A lump of clay you can buy at autozone, Walmart, etc. Rub the clay back and forth all over the whole car to remove contaminates. The key is to use lots of water so the clay moves easy on the car. I wash and wax after I clay. Long process but worth it. Makes the car smooth as glass.

 

With a convertible (and I have an '01 Vette 'Vert', but in light pewter metallic), the question in my mind was, "How often do I want to take a hose to this finish, especially the top?" My problem is worsened by the fact that I don't have a garage for it, only an assigned parking place in front of my townhouse. So I had to find the best way to protect the finish, between ceramic treatments.

My decision was to "go waterless," and I chose Wolfgang Uber Si02 Waterless Wash, diluted 40:1 (5 ml concentrate to 200 ml water), as a detailing spray.

The process is simple: spray it onto a section of the car, then wipe it down with a microfiber towel that's faintly damp with the solution. A few spritzes on the face of a folded towel takes care of that initial dampening. I wipe in one direction, and when the face of the towel gets even a little discolored, I re-fold the towel to continue with a clean face. I work front-to-back, and I leave the rocker panels (below the door sills) for last. Actually, I leave the wheels for last, because that brake dust is a real mess and the towel will need to be laundered afterward.

If you do much driving through bug-infested areas, I'd recommend a car-bra. I chose the Novistretch brand, which is a sheer black mesh that's easy to install, easy to remove, and easy to wash. (And it gets a laugh when I tell people that it's from "Crown Victoria's Secret.") I don't use it all the time, but it's a must for long cross-country trips. (So is my quick-detailing kit, with a bottle of concentrate, the spray-bottle, and a little plastic applesauce cup marked for 100 ml, plus a few of those microfiber towels.)

 

 

If I use a clay bar any wax or sealer on the car will be removed correct? So if I wash the car then use clay do I have to wax or seal the paint right away?

 

I have been using Turtle Wax ICE wax on my cars for years - does a great job protecting the car and does not leave any of that white wax residue on the car. There are a lot of very good products out there so it may take trying different products to find one that works for you.

 

Zanio, don’t know if it’s the best. But I get a lot of complements on how good my vette looks. Most of their products are very good for inside and out of your car.

 

my preference is Zaino, been using it for years, no complaints just nice shine

 

Thanks for all the great advice. I washed and waxed it for the first time today. I used Turtle Wax Ice which we had from my wifes car. Shines better than when I picked it up from the dealer. I bough Mothers Power Cone 360 to use on the wheels. They came out awesome with minimal effort.

 

I use Chemical Brothers products, been very happy with all of their product line.

 

I did the Zaino claybar then their wax protocol - love the results - get comments all the time on my 2001 Navy Blue Convertible also - this pic is a year old - been using their Z-8 Grand Finale and it looks like ceramic coating - I've been asked who did the Ceramic a few times too