There’s a certain satisfaction in cleaning a car, or in this instance, observing the thorough cleaning and polishing of a well-used vehicle for the first time in a long while. Before listing it for sale, the team at Gears & Gasoline took their Subaru Forester camera car to Automotive Aesthetic in Charlottesville, VA, for some essential care—the Subie, which has seen 200,000 miles, had reportedly not been washed in nearly a year. Daniel Wendell, the owner of Automotive Aesthetic, walks us through the steps of washing, polishing, and protecting the black Forester, showcasing impressive professionalism and enthusiasm throughout the process.
Alongside popular techniques like utilizing two buckets and grit guards, Daniel shares advice on reducing visible swirl marks, restoring faded headlights, and properly caring for a freshly detailed car’s mirror finish. After a two-stage correction, aside from a few rough spots and the usual dings and dents accumulated over 200,000 miles, the Forester’s finish has been revived and now appears as if it could have graced a showroom floor for the past decade.
As someone who also owns a second-hand black car in dire need of a paint correction, I’m considering taking the initiative to contact my local detailer after watching this video.
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