For my new '11 Prius Four, how long should I wait before putting a good quality wax job on it? I've heard suggestions to wait a month or 6 weeks to make sure the paint is fully cured. Anything to that?
It took that long on the slow boat from Japan. I'm waiting for some warm & good weather. I hope it won't take 4-6 weeks to arrive.
Using the hard baking facilities at the factory it was cured when they loaded it on the boat, and in fact the dealer waxed it already before you took delivery.
Has anyone heard it's bad to clay a new car? If not, then .. I would recommend claying carefully before applying wax. Now, some people are skeptical of that (they think it might scratch finish. I've never heard a serious claim that clay scratches finish) Here's why - My new car was PDI'd 9/14/10. I bought it 1/7/11. It may have come by rail from Ohio. The car picked up a lot of particles in transit and bonded black dust form sitting. Can't see it with naked eye, but it is there. Wow did a lot of smudge come up when claying. If I had not clayed, I would have just been rubbing the smudge into the wax, and applicator and paint finish. Think washing can get that rail dust off? Not a chance. Sorry to scare you, maybe you know about claying or finer point of detailing. btw, I mentioned claying at a Honda workshop. They had no bad things to say about it. And they confirmed it could take a a few iterations of clay and wax to get it in great shape (but over time).
No reason not to clay, in fact you should to remove ferrous contaminants that may have gotten into the paint during transport to the dealer.
Get some wax on the wheel well edges. Get the grit out first while washing. Don't use your regular wax applicator (to avoid picking up stray grit), just your finger tips, to get wax on all the edges, and as far as you can reach. Use the braille method. And take it off with a scrap rag.
Yeah, I do that too. Also, has anyone noticed how smooth it is around wheel well housings; i.e. no sharp edges, rough spots. For the money, Toyota offers excellent fit/trim quality on the Prius.
