We all want our Mopar to look fantastic and stay looking great for years to come, and modern base/clear automotive finishes make this task easier than ever. Unlike single-stage paints which contain the pigment, solvents, and protective chemicals all mixed and sprayed together, base/clear paints involve a two-step process in which the pigment, or basecoat, is applied first, and then covered by a protective clear coat. This two-step process not only provides a deep glossy finish, but also offers more protection than single-stage paints. But even though modern paints will last longer and stay looking better than outdated auto refinishing products, they still require routine, preventative maintenance using the proper car care products to stay looking their best.
New cars aren't painted like our older muscle cars, and with special care late model Mopars can stay looking great for a long time. This month we'll show you the best techniques to protect the base/clear paint on your Mopar.
If you've been to a car show or local cruise night, you're likely aware that a car is often first judged by the quality of its paint. And keeping a car's paint looking good can be a daunting task for a variety of reasons, especially if your Mopar is driven regularly like our '09 Dodge Challenger. Living in Florida, the paint on our Dodge is exposed to sand and road debris kicked up by the nearly always heavy traffic, and gets parked in hot sunlight followed by intense rain showers if driven during the summer months. But no matter where you live the elements can take a toll on your paint, as can the chemicals of acid rain and driving through corrosive products designed to remove ice from winter roads. Parking under trees can provide some shade to protect your paint, but can also subject your car to falling tree limbs and sticks, tree sap, and even acorns, causing damage to your car's painted surfaces. Believe it or not, some of the worst things that happen to your car's paint can be caused by you or whoever washes or details the car, and you may not even know its happening.
So with all of these factors contributing to the eventual demise of your car's paint, the question is, how can we protect our paintjob and keep it looking its best? The answer is not as simple as it seems. First, if you drive your car and expose it to the elements, the paint will suffer inevitable defects over time no matter how often you clean and wax your car. The key is to reduce the effects of these elements by keeping your cars paint clean and protected with high-quality automotive cleaners and waxes, and use the proper procedures to apply these products.
Modern paint systems involve a tinted base coat of paint, covered by a protective clear coat. This system is far better than older single-stage paint methods, but still requires routine maintenance to be properly protected.
There are numerous products on the market that seem to be the latest craze when it comes to cleaning your car, many offering ridiculous claims like "waterless car wash" or "effortless wax removal". And though we haven't tested each and every car care product out there, we have noticed that Meguiar's does a great job of providing modern products that are well engineered and provide quality shine and maximum protection for not only the paint, but the interior, glass, trim, wheels and tires.
Remember that even having the best car care products doesn't matter a whole lot unless you know how to use them properly, and we'll show you some common mistakes people make when taking care of their car's paint. And although good car care products do add expense to the maintenance of the vehicle, compared to a new paint job or paint repairs the expense is money (and time) well spent.
