I'm your typical friday-wash-the-vehicle-guy. But for me I love having a clean engine bay.[&:] I don't have anything fancy.. just a 2001 Ram and a 2003 Liberty but for some reason a clean looking engine just looks good and I've been that way with all my vehicles I've ever owned.

 

I try to wash my car every time I fill up, even if it's not at the gas station that I get the wash at. Just a nice routine to fill up and get it washed. Does't always work that way though, if it's dirtier then I can stand or if it's snowing/raining when I get gas, I choose another day obviously.

What sucks though is that I have some inconsiderate people at my apartment complex. Thought for sure that I would have this problem before this, but no problem until new people moved in. Now I have things that I have to get fixed because they drive me crazy. I have a nice scratch, deep, and a small dent right up the side right near my back window. Not sure how much that's going to cost, but I'm sure it's not going to be cheap since they do the whole blend it from that point back, forward and up. Long scratch, don't like it. Then I have a nice white ding on the driver side that seems to have come from when I was at a concert. On top of that I have scratches on my windshield and one on my window from my ice scraper. My 06 I had nothing then I get this 07 and do it all. So I have some work to do.

As for obsession, well, the chrome or plastic piece on the radio, if it's touched and has finger prints on it, I have to get them off right away. Of course that plastic piece on the radio, the display, is scratched really easy so then there's nothing that I can do about that.

 

I think part of the reason why I'm not as good at keeping it clean is the fact that the exterior and interior was less than perfect when I got the car. It had several dings on the right side and the carpet had a coffee stain that I've been unable to get out of it. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that if I'm going to wash it, I'm going to do it by hand since I find that automatics never seem to do it right ever since they were touchless and lost the brushes. Also, I have avoided vandalism I think by the fact that my car looks less than perfect. Being a bit of a slob has its advantages. When I get a Challenger, I intend to treat it way better than my 11 year old Intrepid.

 

Wash both cars every weekend - weather permitting. Includes doorjambs, rockers, weather stripping, and engine compartment. Clean the windows - inside and out - with clear window cleaner.
Wax the wife's Charger every other weekend - the Cruiser once a month.
Clay bar treatment each once in the spring and once in the fall - followed by wax - Meguiar's kit.
Vacuum the entire car (interior, trunk, engine compartment) every weekend.
Clean the wheels with each washing (brake dust is nasty).

Is this obsessive-compulsive?

 

I am very much like Bootcamp, but I do not do the level of detailing unless I am going to get a week's worth of good weather or if it needs to be waxed for protection.

I also coat the black rubber pieces with protection.

Before I do any of this, I also make sure all of the tires including the spare have the right PSI down to .5 PSI resolution.

I did buy a gauge for my son that is .1 PSI resolution but that is for his Mustang.

Yep that is obsessive-compulsive.

 

Forgot to mention the tires - I do that when I do the wheels.

OCD treatment center - here I come! [&o]

 

I also clean, polish, and coat the wheels. They get shiney and it keeps the brake dust for sticking so easily with the coating I put on it. Water usually knocks it off.

 

Hmmm...Have you two ever taken the "Are you Monkish?" exam. It might be very interesting.

 

Yea, I have been told I am a monkey before.

 

LOL. I ascribe to the law of economics, Bud; "Good enough is good enough".
Of course what's "good enough" to one person may not be "good enough" to the next.

I understand not spending unnecessary time on a car you never intended to keep as close to perfect as possible since you didn't buy it in a condition to make that possible in the first place. However, if you so desired to restore/repair it to be close to perfect, you might change your approach to it's maintenance.
Again, it's all a matter of what the machine's purpose was when purchased, and what it's worth to you. If it serves it's purpose as is, any more effort than you currently exert is a waste of time .... and not economical.