I have a 97 gt, the paint is in average condition. My car is stored outside, with a car cover in winter, but i was wondering how often i should hand wax the car, I know some people that do it once a week, but was wondering if that is right or not

 

I do mine 3 to 4 times a year if that helps you any. I use meguiars #26 or NXT generation. If I need a cleaner wax I use #6

 

when should you use a cleaner wax?? or is that another product you use combined with the normal wax

 

just get nxt gen from meguiars, get the liquid kind. use that maybe once a month. they sell meguiars nxt gen spray wax for in between waxes. u just use the spray like once a week, every other and wax like every month or so. im outside too so i wax whenever i can.

 

The only time youll need it is if you have inbedded dirt on the paint or have any hard water spots. You can also use it to remove tree sap, tar, etc. Works great with a high speed buffer. Check out www.meguiars.com and read about their products. They are all good and ive been using them for the past 20 years. 100% satisfaction.

 

The number of times you wax your car and how you do so is determined by your personal standards for appearance. Some people think a quick coat of cleaner wax makes it look good enough. Others will do a few more steps to get a better finish. There are many people that really set the bar high. They will clay the car to remove contaminants. Based on paint condition, they'll then remove any oxidation. They polish the car to remove scratches and swirl marks. Once the surface is smooth and cleaer, they then apply glazes, waxes and/or sealants.

There is no absolute best way to take car of your car's paint. But, you can make it look a lot better and last longer by doing something more than just a swipe with a one-step wax. A good carnauba wax will last 2-3 months. A good sealant can last up to six months. You have to get to the point that you wax your car when you want to, not when you have to. (credit for that last line goes to another poster on a detailing specific forum).

If you are happy witha simple one step, then good for you. If you want to go further, then by all means, have fun and try out different products and procedures. The best car care products are available online. The consumer grade products are getting better, but you still have to find the good stuff. Detailing forums like Autopia, Detail City, Detailers Club, etc. are all good sources for information.

 

If by "stored" you really mean stored, then you shouldn't have to wax it at all during the winter - as long as your are leaving the cover on it the entire 3-4 months and its a good quality cover. I'm assuming you polished or waxed it prior to going under cover. I would just leave it alone, then when you unveil it in the spring it would probably be wise to repeat the process as I'm sure there will be some evidence of moisture forming and escaping through the cover.

Now if by storing you mean covering it at night, but uncovering & driving by day - then use your own standards based on how dirty the car gets and how often you wash it. Try the spray wax that you apply before drying the car if you are washing frequently. This will help keep the finish looking good and cut down on the actual polish and wax process.

 

I usually wax mine everyother time I wash, so twice a month. And two times a year I use the complete Meguiars gold class 3-step process (cleaner, polish, and carnuba). It's worked pretty good for me on every car I've had.