Got Gloss?

[The Critic]

This may just be the shiniest Previa around!









Yes, I am aware that the wheel covers are dirty, but the clear coat on them have failed and I really do not care.

This van received a one-step polish using Sonax Perfect Finish, three wipe-downs with a 50% isopropyl alcohol mix and was then coated with Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0. The paint is not oily nor is it slick to the touch (it actually feels grabby) -- which is partly why it does not attract as much dust as a freshly waxed car.

 

[gathermewool]

Very nice!

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Paint the wheel covers or get a set of cheapies to replace them.

 

[bvance554]

But its still a van....

 

[Dominic]

My motto is shiny = faster!

Loving it!

 

[flanso]

It looks amazing. What is the purpose of the alcohol mix wipe downs?

 

[Dufus2]

I like the shine, gives you a sense of satisfaction after hours of work.

 

[eljefino]

Haven't seen one of those here in years. With the unloaded rear and it sitting high on its springs it looks ready to pounce.

 

[Kira]

Hello, I swear I wanted one of those after driving one thousands of miles out west. After looking around for months for a Previa I threw in the towel and settled on a Volvo V70 wagon. That was about 10 years ago exactly.

The day after I bought my V70 from a local guy, I saw a Previa drive up my street with a FOR SALE sign on the window. I laughed aloud. Kira

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: flanso
It looks amazing. What is the purpose of the alcohol mix wipe downs?


Doing so removes any remaining residue from the previous polishing step, leaving the paint completely clear and exposed and ready to receive the next product.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: Dominic
My motto is shiny = faster!

Loving it!


Absolutely! My 0-60 times usually improve by at least 15% after a good wash and wax.

 

[01rangerxl]

That probably is the shiniest Previa around. Looks awesome.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Originally Posted By: Dominic
My motto is shiny = faster!

Loving it!


Absolutely! My 0-60 times usually improve by at least 15% after a good wash and wax.


This van needs all the help it can get….it only has 140hp and has 3500 lb to lug around!

 

[huffmuds9320]

Wow don't see too many Previa vans around especially with still glossy exterior paint. Around here the Previa vans I see driving around the exterior paint appear dull and clearcoat bubbling/coming off. You did a good job keeping the paint looking like new. Is the van usually parked in the garage?

My dad had a 92 Camry with a similar paint color as your Previa. The paint was faded and clearcoat was staring to come off at around the 10 year mark. But then all my cars are always parked on the street.

 

[RTexasF]

Does the roof look as good as the rest?

 

[daves87rs]

Looks great for an oldie!

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: RTexasF
Does the roof look as good as the rest?


It's funny that you ask. I only had about 3 hours with the car that day, so I quickly one-stepped the entire van except for the roof, wiped it with IPA and coated it. For the roof, I applied another coat of Menzerna PowerLock.

The paint on the roof is actually in good shape. There is no sign of clear coat failure at all. I will polish and apply Opti-Coat on my next trip home.. which is probably next month.

So yes, I skipped the roof for now, but it will be taken care of at a later date.

Originally Posted By: lpcmidst128
Wow don't see too many Previa vans around especially with still glossy exterior paint. Around here the Previa vans I see driving around the exterior paint appear dull and clearcoat bubbling/coming off. You did a good job keeping the paint looking like new. Is the van usually parked in the garage?

My dad had a 92 Camry with a similar paint color as your Previa. The paint was faded and clearcoat was staring to come off at around the 10 year mark. But then all my cars are always parked on the street.


Until recently, the van had only seen a couple wax jobs during the course of its life…but it was always parked inside. It spent the first ten years of its life in the garage and only saw 3-4k/yr.

 

[JHZR2]

Very nice. Sure wish hurricane sandy hadn't destroyed ours. Those wheel covers do lose their paint pretty easy. We scuffed and repainted with wheel paint and they looked great.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Very nice. Sure wish hurricane sandy hadn't destroyed ours. Those wheel covers do lose their paint pretty easy. We scuffed and repainted with wheel paint and they looked great.


That's what I was thinking as well. The car would look perfect of it weren't for the wheels. I think Critic will have a good project for this car

. I heard that plastidip is pretty good for that type project and pretty inexpensive too.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Very nice. Sure wish hurricane sandy hadn't destroyed ours. Those wheel covers do lose their paint pretty easy. We scuffed and repainted with wheel paint and they looked great.


That's what I was thinking as well. The car would look perfect of it weren't for the wheels. I think Critic will have a good project for this car

. I heard that plastidip is pretty good for that type project and pretty inexpensive too.

I'll have to explore the idea.

Should I sand the old covers first, spray, then clear? Any recs on a complete process? I'd be glad to explore.

The only wheel cleaner that I had with me that day was Meg Wheel Bright. If I had something else, I would've cleaned up those wheel covers for the picture…but the wheel acid would've probably done some bad things