Survey S2000

Im setting off on a road trip later this week to Italy and back.

Im woundering if it would be a good idea to give my car a few layers of wax before i set off.

I tend to wax about every 3rd wash and clay bar every 6th wash.

So do i put lots of wax on to protect the S from a zillion bugs or leave it and just give it a simple wax.

dezymond

if i were to wax i would put 2 layers of wax on the spots where bugs get caught. Or you can just use painters tape or some of that spray on stuff they have now.

wanabe

agree- and i would use a few coats of synthetic topped by coupla coats of wax.
and then tape or clear protect the front end parts where bugs would hit

MuttGrunt

sealant sealant and more sealant gets my vote. bugs are very acidic so you'll want good protection

espelirS2K

Yes wax. My car is always waxed (meaning I wax it again before there's not anything left due to elements breaking it down) and I can have bugs, water spots, and bird crap sit on the paint for a week or so without ANY etching. (Yes.. I've got that long before ). It's quite amazing actually

wanabe

btw, i should have mentioned-
you might also want to take a "travel detail kit"...
i always carry a quick detailer and a few micro fibers.
for road trips this might not be all that you need, cause you might need more than a quick detail- but you never know. if the car gets hit by bird droppings, for example, you would want to have something to remove it with.

they make collapsable buckets if you think that you might have water and might want to wash it. or use a waterless product (qew, for example).

good waterless thread:

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=343073

truancy143

I just drove from Las Vegas to Mississippi. If you tape your car with painter's tape, make sure the tape is multi-layered to ensure 1) it retains its integrity against wind resistance and 2) the added layers provide additional protection against bigger rocks or those that are catapulted at you from semi trucks and other road debris.

Also make sure you keep some extra tape in your car because some of the tape will come loose and fly off or will peel off and make ribbons as you drive along. don't let this continually hit your paint. it'll make scratches. IF IT RAINS, FORGET ABOUT TAPING. IT WILL BE WORTHLESS

waxing prior to the trip is a good idea. made it easier for the gunk to be washed away.

Oh and FYI info - My AP1 burns half a quart of oil about every 2000 miles.

zoomspeed05

theres a new spray on car bra which is perfect for road trips do a search youll find it

wanabe

excellent reminder-

here is one (i have never used any of them so can not comment)

http://www.autobarn.net/duplicolor-spray-on-bra.html