Time for a new car-related toy

So with the move to Kelowna, I'm thinking of getting a new toy. I have three options, and I want the advice of the GRM Community.

Option 1 is a foam cannon, because I love cleaning cars and the latest and greatest in detailing technology.

Option 2 is $100 worth of Chemical Guys products. Apparently they're really good, and as my next car will probably have terrible paint, I would like to correct it as much as possible.

Option 3 is some off-road gear, like tow straps, a come-along and tow hooks for my next vehicle, a GMT400. This would be nice for going up into the mountains, but I would only use it once a month or so.

What would GRM do?

Did you win a prize and these are your choices?

4x4 gear. Won't matter how shinny your truck looks when you're stuck in the deep woods.

trucke wrote: Did you win a prize and these are your choices?

No, these are what I want to spend my money on.

Appleseed wrote: 4x4 gear. Won't matter how shinny your truck looks when you're stuck in the deep woods.

Fair point.

Offroad gear. Getting unstuck is always better than being shiny.

Off road gear is in the lead. I'll probably end up getting everything on This List.

Option 2. If you love cleaning cars, then that's a good investment in a detailing business. If you love to do it, there is good money in it especially for a high school kid.

rcutclif wrote: Option 2. If you love cleaning cars, then that's a good investment in a detailing business. If you love to do it, there is good money in it especially for a high school kid.

Fair enough, I just have no idea how to set it up.

G_Body_Man wrote:

rcutclif wrote: Option 2. If you love cleaning cars, then that's a good investment in a detailing business. If you love to do it, there is good money in it especially for a high school kid.

Fair enough, I just have no idea how to set it up.

Here's what I would do (I hate washing cars, so I never did this):

• first, get a little experience. Maybe wash your parents cars. They might even pay you a small amount for your materials. Read about dos and donts from the internet on detailing. If you cant wash your parents cars, there is someone on your street who will let you wash their car. Always take before and after pictures.
• Once you are comfortable with a wash, wax, vacuum type of standard service, drop fliers all around your neighborhood that you will wash any car. Include price, how to schedule with you, and the time you need access to the car for. These can be printed from a home printer or the library, etc. For bonus points, include some before and after pictures.
• at the end of each job, ask them if they would like to schedule another appt in a week/month/etc.
• as you start building a client base (and experience), start to dabble in other things, like clay bar, polishing, etc. With good before and after pictures, you can take your fliers to cars and coffee type events, and start landing cool cars to detail.
• work hard to help people, keep your promises, and you will be successful.

I'm a fan of chemical guys stuff. That said, you don't need to blow $100 on CG products to have a clean car. Your choice of soaps, some butter-wet wax, and hybrid v-07 spray should get you well on the way for much less. Perhaps you can do both detailing and some portion of your off-road list

I like Rutclif's idea. Take your budget and spend it on a small start up car care biz. Keep it small and isolated from any other money that comes your way. Any profits from the biz can be used to either grow it larger or buy car related geegaws. Self sustaining hobby.

Grassroots detailing? Maybe I should open up a small detailing business.

I use the "mobile detailing" angle, I come to people, use their water and space, I used to do it out of my Miata. I like CG products, they're usually just as much as the stuff at big box stores but deliver a better product. I had $100 to spend on their products I would say no matter how great a product is, you can destroy it with crappy towels so invest in good towels, another thing I like about CG they offer 4 ounce samples so you can try a lot of great products without spending a lot of money initially.

Offroad gear. Good paint is fleeting and the car-wash machine at the gas station is good enough for most people.

I wouldn't buy off-road gear for a truck you don't have yet.

I guess I'll splash out more cash and start a mobile detailing business. I'm seeking input on this idea on a new thread in the off-topic section.

Don't you not own a car?

tuna55 wrote: Don't you not own a car?

I do own a car, but I have to get rid of it because it will not pass BC inspection.

G_Body_Man wrote:

tuna55 wrote: Don't you not own a car?

I do own a car, but I have to get rid of it because it will not pass BC inspection.

So what are you going to wash?

I'm intrigued by the foam cannon idea, but the only mental picture I'm getting involves using it for nefarious purposes.

I made some decent coin in HS doing detailing. I did one of my dad's employees' cars which had tree sap everywhere, and made it look new again. Within a few days, a bunch of other people started calling after they saw her car in the lot and asked about it. Word of mouth referrals can do wonders.

Don't under price yourself, and don't just do flat-rate for cars that need more work. I like danimal's mobile detailing idea.

*For those who are mystified by what goes on in G_Body_Man's mind, I can't say I understand everything, but I have almost parallel discussions with my 15y/o every day. (In the last week, we've talked thru Jeeps, 70-80s trucks, Toyota pickups, Fieros, and now a Saab convertible with blown clutch)

In both cases, I'm pleased that they're thinking about cars and real physical things rather than video games or standard teen angst/drama llama stuff.

Also, he's communicating with adults and asking us our opinions, which seems to be very rare in this day and age. Regardless of whether he actually listens, he values what we have to say. Any thoughts about making money legally are a double win from my point of view.
Tuna and Mazdeuce will get to live this soon enough .

G_Body_Man wrote: Off road gear is in the lead. I'll probably end up getting everything on This List.

skip the come-a-long and get one of these, which can do the same job and so much more with some careful rigging: