Gave it a good clean

[DSPUK]

As this is my second ever Black car I thought I would look after it better than last one - I managed to cover last one in swirls through cleaning - now I am doing it properly -- thrown all yellow sponges away -relegated chamois leathers to window cleaning and bought some microfibre cloths and a big fluffy washing mitt along with some good shampoo and a Quick detailing spray -- I now have some clay on order and some real good wax so I am hoping to improve on this ---Only trouble is it doesn't stay clean for long




Dave

[angelos]

Oh shiny like a star Mine now is covered in mud even the wheels have become brown! I hope the weather will get better I'm using micro fiber clothes and a micro fiber version especially for windows! They have some issues too thought!!

[majki]

Angelos, mine is the same now and because of weather I think it stays the same for some weeks , it has no sense to wash it when is this rainy/snowy/muddy weather...

[angelos]

What about your engine bay??

[majki]

Not clean enough, but not as bad as in Punto . At guarantee check I will tell them to clean it completely..will look as new

[DSPUK]

Majki

I hope they don't clean it in a car wash or do it by hand with a sponge as you will end up with swirl marks in paint - the garage are sellers and mechanics not car valets - That picture by way was first stage - next stage is to clay the paint to remove any minute bits sticking to paint then a seal coat then a full wax 

Dave

[majki]

DSPUK: No, they make it by hand and clean it all, than wax it etc. The process takes about 90minutes. They did it for me once yet (when it was in service because of somebody hit my front left dashboard and front bumper on parkplace) and it was perfect. My mum when saw the car, she thought it's a new one, not car with 10.000km

[DSPUK]

It's now two months since we had our new sport -- Black is a great colour if you can keep it clean and polished 24/7 - it's now showing minute scratchs which is annoying when you are polishing it. --
Some berk in supermarket car park opened his door and banged it into drivers door - I had a word with the old goat but his door didn't leave a mark.

So far we have done 1600 miles - the tyres are well scrubbed in and I am now happy with road holding - doesn't feel skittish in wet - fuel consumption has gone from an initial 39 to 47 driven steady - was stuck behind a load of slow traffic for miles -- I also have that thump/bump on rear when hit a big bump - I am now finding the car a bit noisy probably due to being used to it - thats road and wind noise but it's still a lot quieter than old Yaris.

Brakes I was worried about after reading on here but must say I find them OK - powerfull when needed.

Wifey loves it which is all that matters  -- Did a long run in my Mazda Zedos 9 Miller and got 29mpg - lot better than usual 22. - I have to say you can't beat a big car with a big engine and loads of room and Auto trans.

Dave

[Nathan_MAZDA2]

wow the miller cycle engine is amazing!
not many of them in the UK

[majki]

Mazda2 has Miller cycle engine too, but 1.3litres and in Japan only

[DSPUK]

Nathan

That V6 Miller is so smooth it keeps catching me out when I hold it in a low gear - keeps hitting rev limiter and I think what heck - look at speedo and it's doing 80 in second (4 speed) and didn't realise as it's so smooth and quiet.

Majki

Now that would totally transform the M2 with a supercharger on it -- wish they had them here.

Dave

[majki]

FYI:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/31/mazda-develops-new-na-1-3l-miller-cycle-engine-for-mazda2-demio/

[DSPUK]

Ahh -- so it's not supercharged but tricked for more fuel efficiency -- I thought the idea of a Miller cycle was the supercharger pressured up all the intake system before the intake valves closed and gave a lot more power.

Dave

[colric]

Hi Dave,
Your polished black 2 looks really good. Having looked at the new white ones, pictured on our site I was beginning to think that white showed the car's design off best.  Black also suits the car's design. But I now think the car looks different but still stunning in most of it's colours; a rare achievement.
The great care you and others on our Forum, take over the paintwork on their cars makes me more aware of other careless owners whose parking antics threaten our motors with irritating dings.
Has anyone fitted the side rubbing strips or the corner bumper protectors?
The rubbing strips don't look to protect the protrusions in the door profiles.
Looking forward to some fine motoring weather.
Cheers
Colric

[DSPUK]

Hi Colric

I was wondering about side strips - I bought some of those door edge protectors because when you open door if you hit something it chips paint - they are the plastic slide on strips but when I cleaned it last and took them off they have left fine scratch's on paint and I couldn't polish them out - one other thing which might pay to get it rear bumper protector - it stick's on where boot release button is - I notice scratch marks that might have occured from key's in hands or rings on fingers - these probably wouldn't be so noticeable with any other colour but slightest scratch shows up as a white line.
I had a white car once and said I wouldn't have another but Hanni's looks real good - not sure of stripes though

Dave