My Orient Red C4S was in pretty good shape to begin with. Minor swirls from toweling (previous owner, of course )

Added PSS10s, new wheels, V1, and a few goodies, so decided to try my first machine polish and wax. (detailed the inside too, of course)

After watching a few videos and reading posts around here, I ordered the Griots RO polisher (and the mini, which is great, by the way).
My main fear was making things worse, so I washed, clayed, and used #3 polish and Griot's wax. I was really happy with the results, but always tweeking . . .
So on the next wash I went with Menzerna PO85RD, Swissvax Cleaner Fluid
and 2 coats of Swissvax Onyx (thanks Phil). This was the first "liquid look finish" that I have achieved. If you look really close with critical light, I did not get 100% of the toweling scratches out, but so close that I am going to quit while I am ahead! One thing I liked about the PO85RD was that I thought removal was easier than the Griot's #3.

Here are some photos. Good photos are not easy, so hopefully these will improve in the next few weeks. Note also--front part of hood (and mirrors) have 3M Clear Bra. (Front bumper, fyi, has Ventureshield)
Post wash in the garage. (nice clock on the wall, huh?) Thanks all, by the way, for the lighting hints a week or two ago . . .

Finals outside

 

Great job...glad you enjoyed the experience. You're hooked....welcome to the dark side

 

Thanks much! Regarding hooked: No kidding . . . I will say, however that tweeking the finish is one of the most cost effective upgrades I have ever seen!

 

Paint and photos look awesome... so does the car haha

 

Seriously slick color. Car looks great paint wise too.

 

Looks great! I think that is first time I have seen black painted skirts and rear to match a lower lip.....and I love it......

 

I've worked with Griots#2 and it was very difficult to work.

Almost forgot-car looks great!

 

griot's makes some good prosumer products but to step up to the big leagues, Menzerna polishes are the way to go. The reason being Menzerna ONLY makes polishes....they make polishes for all industries and applications and that's their expertise. I find their polishes and compound to be easy to work with, most of the time, and the results are legitimate.

 

Thanks all for the comments and encouragement.

One question for you experts--how often do you think I should use a final polish like the PO85RD? Want to leave some clear coat for later!

Orient Red is an interesting color. A challenge to photograph as it changes depending on the angle of the light (even if I keep the white balance the same).

Another thing that drew me to this car was the kind of "retro" interior. I always wanted a vintage E-Type Jaguar (but without the electrical issues). The lines of the 996, along with the color and the interior just kind of clicked for me. In keeping with the slightly retro theme, I actually stayed with 18" wheels instead of 19s.

Anyway, here is a snapshot of the interior--I think it goes well with the paint color:


New pedals are fun too:


one final interior photo--oops, it's a 356 (not mine, unfortunately)

 

PO85RD is still my favorite finishing polish. It gives an overall gloss and sharpness that you simply can't get from anything else.

Really great finish on that one, makes you feel really good to turn something like that out doesn't it?

 

No kidding!

 

Probably a few times a month, every month, if you wanted to haha

85rd will take off such small amounts most paint gauges won't even notice it... it actually mostly levels the existing paint instead of removing it...

I would recommend 2-4 times per year since your paint is soft and you're bound to get a swirl mark here or there at times

 

I don't usually do this (disagree with Moe), but I think the 3M Perfect-It 3000 line blows the Menzerna out of the water. Any thoughts?
BTW the Porsche looks great.

John

 

I really like the 3M line, but it has some big limitations.

The working time and finish consistency with the Menzerna really seems to set it apart from the other polish lines for me. I am a huge fan of Ultrafina, I think it is an amazing finishing polish, but the other stuff in that line doesn't do it for me quite as much.

 

85rd is a polish, even with a rotary it will remove very little. On the PC, it's not even measurable. Don't worry about "removing clear coat". Do it any time you have swirls that you want to remove. I get better results with menzerna 106. Even the new 1Z polishes have been very good.

The 3M stuff is good also, I have liked what I have used, some of it seams more temp/humidity friendly over Menz.