Today`s Special: 2003 Element

[RCBuddha]

The Process:



- Wash with a NXT/Optimum soap mixture

- Clay with Claymagic

- Adams New Scratch and Swirl remover on a scratch by hand

- PwC via Propel Blue pad

- Deep Crystal Step 3 Carnauba wax via Propel Grey Pad

- Meguiars Natural Shine on all trimming, inside and out

- Optimum Tire Dressing on tires

- 20/20 on glass



A good friend of mine asked me to do this 2003 Element for his parents. No swirl removal done today, just a wash, clay, polish and wax.



First thing i noticed was how rough the paint felt, this was just off a small 1x1 section of the roof!





This was from half of the back hatch:









Here`s a scratch that was greatly reduced in appeareance:





Reduced to this:





And the final shots:













Metal flake is back!







All in all, the detail was a success. The owners were very pleased, and one even commented on how they had never seen the flake in the paint before!



The clay REALLY smoothed out the paint, i had to go over the roof twice! The car has been garaged kept for the most part, with the occasional tunnel wash being done. In fact, the owner mentioned that he got a "wax" job at the last car wash (about a week ago). He was shocked at how smooth and clean i had gotten the paint.



The Element was a really easy car to detail, a good majority of it is plastic, so the interior took me no time at all to dress and clean. One thing though: The paint felt kinda "thin" at certain points, has anyone else experienced this?



I hope to have more pics soon....

[hirosh]

that flake shot is

[imported_series1]

Nice job, yeah the flake shot is pretty cool!

[imported_plazaman]

nice, but damn, that truck is ugly!

[SilverLexus]

Very nice!

[MongooseGA]

Great detail! The flake shot looks awesome. :xyxthumbs



Like an ugly car turned into an ugly car with amazing paint!

[ScubaStevo]

Originally posted by MongooseGA

Great detail! The flake shot looks awesome. :xyxthumbs



Like an ugly car turned into an ugly car with amazing paint!

My girlfriend owns a Element.

[MongooseGA]

Originally posted by Buick_guy1

My girlfriend owns a Element.

Bummer.



:p

[Kleanride]

personally, I dig Elements. A very easy detail too...with all the plastic on it...!

Nice detail! That particular element could stand some rims tho!!

[ScubaStevo]

Originally posted by MongooseGA

Bummer.



:p

Eh, theres lots of room in the back.

[RCBuddha]

Thanks guys! I was very pleased with the results, as were the owners! I was glad that the PwC brought the paint alive, when I first got there, I could not see the metallic flake at all.



I`m not the biggest fan of the Element, but it does seem quite practical for the owners who use it to haul their Costco purchases. I think some sportier rims, a V6 with supercharger, and styling like the new Ridgeline would make this vehicle quite fun.

[General Lee]

Originally posted by Buick_guy1

Eh, theres lots of room in the back.

:xyxthumbs







Nice work RC, hopefully that vehicle didn`t use up all your clay:p

[Mad iX]

I really can`t remember ever seeing such an ugly Honda.

I`m actually glad we don`t have it over here.

Nice detail, though.

[ScubaStevo]

Originally posted by RCBuddha

Thanks guys! I was very pleased with the results, as were the owners! I was glad that the PwC brought the paint alive, when I first got there, I could not see the metallic flake at all.



I`m not the biggest fan of the Element, but it does seem quite practical for the owners who use it to haul their Costco purchases. I think some sportier rims, a V6 with supercharger, and styling like the new Ridgeline would make this vehicle quite fun.

Might as well just ask for a whole new car/truck/suv thing.

[MongooseGA]

Originally posted by Buick_guy1

Might as well just ask for a whole new car/truck/suv thing.

I think that`s the idea...



I`m not too fond of the Ridgeline yet, either. I do think it`ll eventually grow on me though.



BTW, my `59 Dodge has lots of room in the back, and a big trunk too. It also looks good.