Had a courtesy car, gave it a clean. (LATE NIGHT REPOST)

"Svend" (svend) 09/13/2019 at 21:57 • Filed to: None

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That was the long and short of it really.

Got Sandy back from the bodyshop the other week, and she threw up a warning for the SOS system. Was booked in today at Skoda to be sorted.

As they didn’t know if it was going to take two minutes or two days, they gave me a 2019 Skoda Fabia 1.0MPi, 75bhp as a courtesy car.

Got her home, thought about having a beer but went and gave the Fabia a wash.

This is how I got her.

Washed her a couple of times and removed the baked on bugs, etc... they sprayed with fallout remover.

That’s a lot of fallout for such a short lived car.

After a good vacuum, glass cleaned, engine dressed, tyres dressed, etc...

So ye’, had a courtesy car for three hours or so and gave her a clean and returned. Lol.

Also.

I took a cloth with me to the car show room when I dropped Sandy off. I noticed all the cars felt a little coarse to the took, was took by one of the salemen, ‘it’s because another dealer may phone up and ask for the car, they send us cars that have no protection on, so we don’t put any on ours in case we have to send one away’.

I said but when you wash a car, you have to dry it, why not spray on a drying aid, dry it and protection is left behind. He shrugged his shoulder and said, ‘I don’t know’.

He did say if I wanted to do it, I was to feel free to come and do it. I may get back in touch to see if her was serious.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Svend 09/13/2019 at 12:38

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It might be time for an intervention if it weren’t such a kind gesture.

Svend > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy 09/13/2019 at 12:42

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Lol. They said they cleaned Sandy. I looked, they only sprayed tyre shine on the tyres, didn’t even rub it in, just sprayed it and left it. 

vicali > Svend 09/13/2019 at 12:49

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Haha, you’re sick.. I’m sick like that too - washed the last courtesy car I got as well..

hi five!

Svend > vicali 09/13/2019 at 12:57

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Good lad, two crazies together. Lol.

The way I see it, it’s the only time they will get a proper pampering. 

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Svend 09/13/2019 at 12:57

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If you didn’t wash it, it may never have been properly washed...

Svend > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 09/13/2019 at 12:58

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That’s the way I see it.

The thing is, they actually gave it a quick wash and vacuum before handing the keys over. 

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Svend 09/13/2019 at 13:20

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lol..... only you would return a loaner nicer than it was when you got it (probably nicer than it was when it left the showroom)

also... you know hes serious if you aint charging... (but hell its a dealership...id ask them to recompense you for all the stuff you use at least....they’d still get a sweet deal)

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Svend 09/13/2019 at 13:24

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You do great work and are clearly obsessive about it. If we lived closer together, I’d take mine to you for a Svending.

Svend > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 09/13/2019 at 13:33

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I’d happily do it for free.

I saw a guy wondering around the new Skoda Scala, then I noticed he had an Auto Smart spray bottle and cloth, he sprayed the cloth and haphazardly wiped over the vehicle.

I walked over and the car was filthy with finger prints and smears. I took my microfibre out and so effortlessly wiped away the marks. I don’t know why they pay that guy.

But I’d happily do do a couple of cars a day for free, buying my own stuff if I was going to be left alone to do it. 

Svend > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 09/13/2019 at 13:34

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If I lived next to you I’d expect you to park on my drive way. Lol. 

someassemblyrequired > Svend 09/13/2019 at 13:35

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They’re gonna start sabotaging your car so they can get all the loaners detailed.

Svend > someassemblyrequired 09/13/2019 at 13:41

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Hey, I’d be more than happy to do it for free. 

vicali > Svend 09/13/2019 at 13:44

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Agreed, plus I like it when you go back and the service guys drool over it..

It happens when I sell vehicles as well, It ’s easy to get asking price from a buyer when they pop the hood and it’s spotless underneath.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Svend 09/13/2019 at 13:45

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Knew you’d say that

Just my 2 cents 

Svend > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 09/13/2019 at 13:56

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Ye’, you know I ain’t in it for the money.

I love doing it. 

Svend > vicali 09/13/2019 at 13:59

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I never see the service guys faces, but I get to see friends faces after cleaning their car, and it’s a brilliant feeling. 

Ye’, I had a neighbour sell his van back to who he bought it from two years earlier for the same price he bought it for. That’s a good feeling.

someassemblyrequired > Svend 09/13/2019 at 13:59

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Most dealerships can more than afford to pay you and cover supplies. Don’t underestimate your value! They can totally afford to build you a Svending Centre.

Svend > someassemblyrequired 09/13/2019 at 14:03

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I’ve been offered seven jobs over the years (three said I’d have free reign over what I did, but I know it’ll last for a short while then business minds will kick in) , plus one who said they would finance the business if I did the cleaning, they’d do the finances, but again, that’d change as business minds got involved. 

vicali > Svend 09/13/2019 at 14:04

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I always ask that they not ‘clean’ my vehicles.. W as sad when we bought the truck and they had armor- all- ed the interior for me . .

Svend > vicali 09/13/2019 at 14:08

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They know me as ‘the guy who won’t let us clean his car’.

So ye’, I’m happy they didn’t actually do anything but spray the tyres with tyre sheen.

Armor-all is awful stuff, especially on the dashboard, ‘holy glare Batman!’. 

vicali > Svend 09/13/2019 at 14:12

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I do all my own swirls..

Svend > vicali 09/13/2019 at 14:16

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I am a little disappointed that I didn’t polish the gloss black B pillars and seal them with a ceramic coating. 

Manny05x > Svend 09/13/2019 at 14:52

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That is awesome, is very therapeutic for me to clean my own cari dont know about a stealerships.

someassemblyrequired > Svend 09/13/2019 at 14:54

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Oh yeah, can understand that sentiment, there’s no need for the business types - especially when you’ve already made most of the investment required in terms of supplies and equipment .   You just need the credit card reader...

Chariotoflove > Svend 09/13/2019 at 14:58

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You’re amazing.

Shane Moore > Svend 09/13/2019 at 15:01

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What do you use as a fallout remover?

You are truly the courteous one here though BTW.

Svend > Manny05x 09/13/2019 at 15:16

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Normally I only clean cars of people who respect and enjoy their cars, but courtesy cars and rentals are different. They’ll never be treated like that ever again. I have a vain hope in shaming the companies into pulling thier fingers out.

But to the majority of people, a clean car is a car that doesn’t have stand out obvious dirt on it. It’s a shame, but they make up vast number of people. 

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Svend 09/13/2019 at 15:17

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*chuckles*

I’d give you a code for my garage, as I don’t like parking outside.

Svend > Shane Moore 09/13/2019 at 15:30

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Cheers mate.

I use Bilt Hamber Korrosol for fallout removal on the body,

For wheels I use Bilt Hamber Autowheels, it’s a wheel cleaner and fallout remover in one.

For stubborn areas of heavy pitting I use CarPro Iron-X Paste, spread it with a bush, let it dwell, then agitate it and rinse.

CarPro Iron-X used to be an industry standard for years but people complained about the smell (sort of a sulphur smell), so they added a scent, and then another, etc... each time losing more of what it was. 

Svend > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 09/13/2019 at 15:31

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I may just grab a camp bed and sleep in your garage then. 

Manny05x > Svend 09/13/2019 at 15:43

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It’s very sad i hate to see a car dirty and neglected.

Svend > Manny05x 09/13/2019 at 15:52

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We are in a very fine minority I’m afraid. 

Shane Moore > Svend 09/13/2019 at 16:16

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Thanks man! Though the Bilt Hamber stuff looks difficult to get over here in the states, it looks like some great stuff.

Svend > Shane Moore 09/13/2019 at 16:27

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If it’s any help. HS Tuning in Westlake, Ohio (west of Cleveland) stock Bilt Hamber.

https://www.hstuning.com/car-care-and-wash-accessories/cleaning-degreasing/

I’ve been using it for some years now. 

M.T. Blake > Svend 09/13/2019 at 22:19

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Good people like you are rare. If you ever make it out to California, you can borrow the M5. I know I’ll get it back better than I gave it to you. 

Svend > M.T. Blake 09/13/2019 at 22:45

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Cheers mate. I get more enjoyment from cleaning a car than anything else. 

Svend > Chariotoflove 09/18/2019 at 14:31

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Thanks mate, just saw this now, sorry. 

Svend > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2019 at 15:55

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Lol. I could never charge. Money complicates it and makes it dirty for me. 

someassemblyrequired > Svend 09/18/2019 at 15:58

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Please move to my street at your earliest convenience. 

Svend > someassemblyrequired 09/18/2019 at 15:59

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Lol.