The one thing that I semi-hate about having a new(ish) car is the need to keep it looking new(ish) as long as possible. For the past month I've been hitting the innanets watching as many detailing tips as possible. My wife is ordering my first DA polisher and I've got over $150 in wash, wax, polish and seal tools set to be ordered. The sad thing is, I stopped giving 2 fucks about the L200 in its older years (and definitely after the first engine was replaced). Apparently my wash technique has been wrong for 3 decades (2 bucket wash seems the way to go). Anybody have any favorite wash/wax/tire shine stuff they go with? Or is everybody rolling dirty?

After a few months with the Fusion, I can definitely say I REALLY like this thing. It's far from perfect, but you could stand to do much worse for a family sedan. I think because Ford has to sell this in the UK (Mondeo) they couldn't really skimp out on some fit and finish details or the chassis settings. Across the pond, the Mondeo has to fight against crossover/CUVs (as every midsize sedan does everywhere), but also the lower end 3 series and C class (we're talking base model repmobiles) so bells and whistles have to be baked in, and a good spirited ride is a must. Still, you can see how they tried to hide some of the cost cutting. Take the door. The parts that you touch (say the top of the door or the arm rest) is padded/soft touch material. The inner door card, where your arm would brush against, isn't quite the same material, as it would have cost more, but in a padded fabric similar to the seats, which keeps the illusion up. The bottom of the door, however? Straight up Tupperware status. BUt at least it looks cohesive

<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up...
__________________________

Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect.
Game: Like Gladys Knight.
Jay: Aretha Franklin.
Game: Word, I like her too.
Jay: Nigga...

I've washed my new car maybe 4 times in a year....

I know I annoy my neighbors, and I'm annoying myself. But that Fusion is sparkling, and once the Focus is detailed...boy oh boy

<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up...
__________________________

Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect.
Game: Like Gladys Knight.
Jay: Aretha Franklin.
Game: Word, I like her too.
Jay: Nigga...

its about time though, its a 07 and has had more problems than it should at this stage.

anyone had experience with the Hyundai sonata hybrid, looking at that pretty tough...

It's not a Camry hybrid, so there's one thing at least

<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up...
__________________________

Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect.
Game: Like Gladys Knight.
Jay: Aretha Franklin.
Game: Word, I like her too.
Jay: Nigga...

Volvo getting detailed today. I skipped last year, and was going to this year until I hit the edge of the garage door backing out.

Most of the time, the Volvo looks younger than it is. however, that repair bill I just go...
>After a few months with the Fusion, I can definitely say I
>REALLY like this thing. It's far from perfect, but you could
>stand to do much worse for a family sedan. I think because
>Ford has to sell this in the UK (Mondeo) they couldn't really
>skimp out on some fit and finish details or the chassis
>settings. Across the pond, the Mondeo has to fight against
>crossover/CUVs (as every midsize sedan does everywhere), but
>also the lower end 3 series and C class (we're talking base
>model repmobiles) so bells and whistles have to be baked in,
>and a good spirited ride is a must. Still, you can see how
>they tried to hide some of the cost cutting. Take the door.
>The parts that you touch (say the top of the door or the arm
>rest) is padded/soft touch material. The inner door card,
>where your arm would brush against, isn't quite the same
>material, as it would have cost more, but in a padded fabric
>similar to the seats, which keeps the illusion up. The bottom
>of the door, however? Straight up Tupperware status. BUt at
>least it looks cohesive

I had the Fusion while in Boston a couple weeks ago, and I really liked it. It was a SE trim, with a USB port (no AUX-IN apparently), and the Sync system. The infotainment controls were the only thing that took me a while to figure out. The actual driving was pretty dope. It's quiet as hell (only noise I heard was when the window was open). The steering wheel really is the only clue to its place in the automotive pecking order. Even in the low trim, it just feels pretty solid. And yeah, there's some Tupperware.

Real talk, I would just go with that one, and use your phone for everything if you can.

The only gripe I had about that car was visibility. I didn't feel comfortable checking my mirrors, looking to my sides or behind me. At least there's a backup camera.

But it's the only car where I could drive slow or fast and not be disoriented at all, coming off the Volvo.

some people complain about compression, but *shrug* I'm usually listening to soundcloud streams anyway

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

>some people complain about compression, but *shrug* I'm
>usually listening to soundcloud streams anyway

I was looking all over for it, and it was even referenced in the manual (even though technically I didn't need it). I think that base system is really all you need. Prop the phone up on something.

I never got to drive the previous gen, but this might be the GOAT Ford midsizer (stateside anyway). Best one since the OG Taurus.

that way, i stream from Spotify, Soundcloud mostly.

if i want my iPod stuff it's there, but w/ streaming i hardly access it.

Since I have an ipod, I keep that plugged into one of the USB ports (the MFT setup has 2 USB ports, which is nice). Bluetooth streaming works for convenience, and sucks for sound quality. But that's a known quantity and is pretty much the same in any car/phone setup you'll get, so my expectations on sound quality are tempered. If I really had some esoteric player that didn't have USB or bluetooth I could go cop a 3.5mm to RCA cable and use that (I'm sure a have a few at the house now), but the chances of needing that are slim.


>I had the Fusion while in Boston a couple weeks ago, and I
>really liked it. It was a SE trim, with a USB port (no AUX-IN
>apparently), and the Sync system. The infotainment controls
>were the only thing that took me a while to figure out. The
>actual driving was pretty dope. It's quiet as hell (only noise
>I heard was when the window was open). The steering wheel
>really is the only clue to its place in the automotive pecking
>order. Even in the low trim, it just feels pretty solid. And
>yeah, there's some Tupperware.

The MFT system isn't that hard to figure out. Give it a day and you're pretty familiar with it, either using the touch screen or the buttons on the steering wheel (which is usually what I do). If it weren't so unfreakingbelievably slow. I swear the stock Sync setup is faster. I'll probably do a video of both since my wife has the Focus and compare the reaction times of both setups. But yeah, even if you get the base model, you still get a solid car, solid (but stark) interior and a nice ride. Can't really ask for more unless you're stepping up to another class vehicle

>Real talk, I would just go with that one, and use your phone
>for everything if you can.
>
>The only gripe I had about that car was visibility. I didn't
>feel comfortable checking my mirrors, looking to my sides or
>behind me. At least there's a backup camera.
>
>But it's the only car where I could drive slow or fast and not
>be disoriented at all, coming off the Volvo.

<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up...
__________________________

Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect.
Game: Like Gladys Knight.
Jay: Aretha Franklin.
Game: Word, I like her too.
Jay: Nigga...

http://www.motherscarcare.com/

Especially if you step to their detailer line. But their OTC Gold Class or Mirror Glaze lineup is no slouch either.

As it stands, I'm picking up a few Chemical Guys products (VSS compound/polish, JetSeal, Blacklight glaze) and some Collonite 845 wax. Applying it all with a Meguiars MT-300 DA polisher.

<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up...
__________________________

Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect.
Game: Like Gladys Knight.
Jay: Aretha Franklin.
Game: Word, I like her too.
Jay: Nigga...

I did not know until the other day that even tho it's a mid size and the current taurus is a full size, it actually has more headroom and legroom.



www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

>I did not know until the other day that even tho it's a mid
>size and the current taurus is a full size, it actually has
>more headroom and legroom.

Even with how I have the seat placed, I can sit behind myself. Immediately I knew that this was probably Ford's best product in ages.

the current Taurus is a "Ford-skinned" Volvo S80 (or at least that's how I view it), and like the S80, its backseat is some BS for a car in its class.

I almost wish that slot could be taken up by the Falcon. Especially since I don't think Panther fans really warmed up to the Taurus in the wake of the Crown Vic's demise

It's big on the outside, but interior room is not maximized at ALL. The Fusion is smaller on the outside, but uses the interior space much better than the Taurus, which is 'full size' only in exterior dimensions. I think if Ford moves the Taurus to a stretched version of the CD4 platform it will make a world of difference

<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up...
__________________________

Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect.
Game: Like Gladys Knight.
Jay: Aretha Franklin.
Game: Word, I like her too.
Jay: Nigga...

but has less room (other than trunk space) and is less useful than the two best alternatives that ford itself sells (Fusion and Explorer)

If I were going to get a Taurus I'd want the AWD SHO, and if I were going to spend that much, I'd just get an Explorer Sport

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

Ford has a car that really has no place or value other than the Taurus name itself, which isn't nearly as valuable as it was in the late 80s. The SHO hustles for its size, but there's no real need for it considering it's other flaws that it can't outrun. It's a shame too, as I always had a soft spot for the SHO. Pops still has his '95 SHO that he bought off the lot. It's time has come after 20 years, as there are more rattles, shakes, leaks, etc than it's worth to fix (and that Yamaha V6 was always a bitch to work on, and not every dealer or shop know how to work on it). We both seriously worry that it will simply catch fire as he's going to work one day. The intake runners were prettier than anything this side of an Alfa Romeo though.

Ford isn't the only one with that kind of problem. Look at Nissan with the Altima. If you got the V6, there was little reason to get the Maxima, and Nissan spent 2 generations trying to make it viable. People still bought it (mostly black people, because of the Max name), but it really wasn't any better than the Altima, and more expensive. The jury is out on the latest Max. I think tone of the few companies that managed to separate their mid size from their full size model was Chrysler. But then again, it was hard not to, as the 300/Magnum/Charger was a big RWD bruiser built on hand me down Mercedes parts, and the 200 was a sad, sad POS that somebody at Cerberus conned Eminem to shill for Detroit.

If the Chinese version of the Taurus is anything to go on, the new version here in the States should fix a lot of those packaging problems. Whether they do enough to differentiate it from the Fusion remains to be seen.

<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up...
__________________________

Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect.
Game: Like Gladys Knight.
Jay: Aretha Franklin.
Game: Word, I like her too.
Jay: Nigga...

Apparently, we're washing our cars wrong

https://youtu.be/uWmtLSQYbys

https://youtu.be/nVXLg6bCIEo

Larry K seems to be one of the detailers to the stars (he got a call from Bugatti, so that means something), so I'll trust his word and technique most of the time. While CG is out to sell product (and suckered me in for a good deal of their product. That Honeydew wash is the business...), their technique is quite similar, so there has to be something to it

<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up...
__________________________

Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect.
Game: Like Gladys Knight.
Jay: Aretha Franklin.
Game: Word, I like her too.
Jay: Nigga...

Wash, clay, polish, wax

Took like 3 hours, it looked so great though.

It got a lot of the swirls out too, I think the polish helped a lot.

Then it rained 2 days later so I didn't get to enjoy it for too long.

But it does still look really clean when I wash it.

I did some of the interior last weekend, the front, next weekend will be the back

Wash (foam cannon, the honeydew wash w/ 2 bucket setup)
clay (I have the Eagle One prep mitt, but I want a Nanoskin towel or mitt)
wash (possibly, just with foam cannon to get rid of anything from the clay)
polish (Chemical Guys VSS scratch & swirl remover, with the DA )
glaze (CG Blacklight, which can act as a final polish)
seal (CG JetSeal)
wax (Collonite 845)

<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up...
__________________________

Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect.
Game: Like Gladys Knight.
Jay: Aretha Franklin.
Game: Word, I like her too.
Jay: Nigga...