How much Should a Detail Coast?

[JMatt]

Don't get my post wrong: I'm sure cnote does a spectacular job at what he's doing. Demand speaks for itself.

On one of my cars I've become VERY particular. The process for me involves the following:

1) Wash
2) Clay bar
3) Use quick detailer to wipe down car after clay bar
4) Use strong product for scratch removal with a porter-cable dual action polisher. (I like Hi-Temp Extreme Cut Leveller)
5) Use medium product to start bringing out shine (Meguiar's #83)
6) Use finer cleaner polish to further bring out shine (Meguiar's #80)
7) Use pure polish to remove last traces of any scrath/swirl/etc.
8) Use pure glaze on car (Meguiar's #7).
9) Use polymer sealant (Meguiar's #20).
10) After curing, use at least 2 layers of carnuaba wax (Pinnacle Souveran).

Enjoy shine. Drive car 150 miles on a Sunday - clean off when I get home. Park for another week or so.

No one is doing steps 1-10 for $40. (not likely even for $150).

[JMatt]

Forgot to mention: per this thread's title, a the price of a detail goes up depending on how well the car "coasts." A great detail job makes the car very slippery, and the car will coast better.

So in answer to the original question, good detail job should get your car to coast a long way.

[cnote05300]

Originally Posted by 300C2NV

See, the thing about this is it all depends on your clientele. I have high end clients who I have to detail their S500, S600 Mercedes, 7-series and 6-series BMW's, Corvettes, Porsches, Vipers, etc. THEY WANT THE BEST THEY CAN POSSIBLY HAVE, and wash, wax, and vaccuum (as you stated you do) would NEVER cut it. You've got to take a full day to completely clean a car flawlessly. As jMatt said, " And that's not even remotely close to a wash, clay-bar, scratch removal, polish, glaze, sealer, show car wax job."

Maybe your clientele in Tupelo is a little bit different then mine in Little Rock, who knows though. Not here to shoot down people.

exactly. most of my clientel is you average daily driver. guys who i used to work with in a factory, people ive met at shows, people who've seen my flyers..etc. and thats what i wanted. im not trying to be will castro or wash some yuppie *****s s550 with dasani and hand made soap. bump that. im trying to offer a decent detail that looks good and lasts, but without all the stuff that most people dont require. yes, for my own car, i do clay bar, carnauba..etc. if a client asks for it, ill do it for them too. but the majority of my business my customers dont ask for that.

if you wanna know the truth, i had a guy ask me once at a show if i would be interested in detailing his truck. i hadnt ever done it for profit before so i got his number and told him id call him with a price. well, i called a few local detail shops, got prices, and asked what those prices included. very few of them actually did the full procedure as jmatt described, and all of their prices were above $100. to me, thats still ridiculous. for the market i was shooting for anyway. i mean if your sitting on a trailer queen, one off, special edition something, that just sits in your garage like a yard ornament, i can see where youd want it to stay clean. but for my clientel, who actually use and drive their cars daily, yet want them to keep a good paint job with a nice shine, theyre gonna get dirty. and its just not economical to pay $175 bucks everytime it rains. thats where i come in.

im not here defending or promoting my business, i have repeat customers that do that for me. all im saying is, paying that much for a detail is ridiculous, especially when you can get up for a minute and do it yourself.

[cnote05300]

Originally Posted by JMatt

Forgot to mention: per this thread's title, a the price of a detail goes up depending on how well the car "coasts." A great detail job makes the car very slippery, and the car will coast better.

So in answer to the original question, good detail job should get your car to coast a long way.

i still think were being asked to clean up the shoreline.

[JGarrison]

I'll bring this one back up from the dead

I found this guy local, you car detail guys what do you think of his prices and what he does for that price?

MySpace.com - Elite Auto Detail & AutoSport Car Show June 21st! - 25 - Male - STOCKTON, California - www.myspace.com/eliteautodetail

[AKawd]

i charge around $130 for a full detail, inside/outside underhood and trunk..no wax though as it takes me too long. i've been doing it for 5 years or so now an i have a regular customer base..keeps me w/pocket money as i can do 5-6 a week in the summer.

[todd0218]

i cant put a price on a detail, for a new car thats going to the autoshow there is no such thing, its called taking the car to media prep taking all the door off realigning them absolutely perfect prepping and painting then off to the detailer and getting it polished waxed and usually orange peel removed. If the detailer messes up the car gets repainted. Standard procedure.

If i were to pay for a service in all honesty i would be looking for someone to use the porter cable to get out the scratches. After 3-4 times of detailing a 12 year old can wash, clay and wax a car. But someone that can fix a scratch and not burn a hole in your paint has some skill. But then again i know where all my scratches are on my car so I would just have a friend run his porter cable over certain spots..

[Richie Carbone]

You get what you pay for.

Some guys charge $130.00 for just a wash, clay and wax.

My full detail starts at $300.00 and goes up depending on size and condition of vehicle.


My full detail includes:

wash vehicle by hand, no pressure washer here.

clay all painted surfaces

remove all swirls and light scratches

polish paint and increase depth of gloss

wax vehicle

clean and condition all leather

spot clean all fabric surfaces as needed

clean all windows inside and out

polish wheels and exhaust tips

dress tires and wheel wells

This could take anywhere from 4-8 hours depending on the size and condition of the vehicle.

Now for those who think it is too much. I have to pay for insurance, busniess licenses, chemicals, pads, towels, fuel and advertising. Plus I do have to eat once in a while.

My clients that have me detail their cars also pay me $100.00 for a basic wash, vacuum, windows, tires and wheel wells.

They used to use the $40.00 Zipwash/wax guy, but once they see my work they don't mind paying the money to have it done right.

I'm very good at what I do, have more than 20 years experience and I'm not afraid to charge what I'm worth.

[Cibalo]

I paid $150 for a wash, clay, and 2 coats of wax plus a vacuum and interior windows. I thought that was reasonable considering I bought the car used and it really needed a good cleaning.

[JGarrison]

Originally Posted by Richie Carbone

My full detail starts at $300.00 and goes up depending on size and condition of vehicle.

Sounds like you know what you are doing. I just have a hard time paying someone $75 an hour to detail my car