Miata Washings

39,000 Dust Enhanced Water Spots

Thirty-nine thousand flickered by on the digital odometer during the trip home from work today.

When I picked up the car from the body shop they had washed and waxed the back part of the car (the parts they painted), but didn’t really clean the front. Sunday’s rain left behind spots on the hood of coagulated body shop dust. I have been meaning to wash the car for the past couple of days, but they have been calling for rain. The last chance of precipitation for a while past this morning, so tonight when I got home I broke out the hose and bucket.

While cleaning the car I noticed a couple of things that need addressing from the body shop. When closing the trunk the sound has been a little different. Does the latch need replacing or is it because the trunk is off align of straight by about 1 degree? There are also a couple of dust pimples in the pain on the left trailing edge of the trunk lid. There is also what looks like a milky haze in the clearcoat in a couple spots on the trunk and left fender. The kicker is what at first I thought was dirt and suntan lotion build up on the shift knob turned out to be several small scratches in the clear coating on it. Guess I’ll give them a call tomorrow.

Started down, went up, back down, back up, down again, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/06: 136

I Hope The Pine Pollen Is Gone

I did a test on Friday, but the results were inconclusive. I took a swiffer cloth and wiped a stripe clean on the center of the dash at lunch time. With the top down and the wind blowing, the dash stayed really clean. Unfortunately the wind was blowing straight on, so the dash was really protected. We got a nice big rain on Saturday which is always a help.

Today I washed the car.

I hope the pine pollen is gone for a couple of reasons, 1) I like a clean car and 2) if Allstate comes through and admits liability, I will be getting the car painted and we don’t want any of those little yellow vesiculate pollen grains getting under the finish.

Started up, went down, back up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/06: 104

Weekend Update

It doesn’t really qualify as a real wash, but yesterday morning before embarking on our little trip, I gave the Emperor a quick de-dirtifying with Meguiar’s Quik Detailer.

Changed the oil and filter this afternoon. And as I usually do I rotated the tires. It was nice not to have to tippie-toe around the partially stripped thread of the right rear wheel stud and lugnut this time. They were fixed a couple of weeks ago at the MMC Tech Day.

First Day Of Spring

The calendar (and the little countdown thingie in the sidebar) say Spring officially starts in 23 days. The birds have been very vociferous for the last couple of days. The trees branches have the startings of buds and the Bradford pears actually have a touch of white blossom showing, so it is really coming.

But today was voted the first day of spring in Aiken by a panel of judges (Donna and I) because instead of going straight home, we put the top down and took the long way.

When we did make it home, I decided to honor the God of the Vernal Equinox by washing the Miata. It won’t be this weekend, but soon it will be time to put on a coat of wax. Might even try and use a clay bar first to get it really clean first (the anal retentives over in the Car Care Products of Miata.net would be so proud.)

Started up, went down, went up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/06: 56

Sunday On The Outside

Sunday On The OutsideAfter finally dragging our butts out of bed this morning we headed out or a bagel for breakfast. We read the Sunday paper in the bagel place while enjoying our toasted treats. The only black mark on the experience is they didn’t have an OJ to drink.

Right next door was Publix and that is where we went next to do our weekly shopping.

After lunch we went for a hike in Hitchcock Woods. I took a couple more pictures at different locations in my quest for the look I wanted for my next series. We stumbled on a woman on horseback on a trail we were on, her companions, on a parallel trail, saw us first and called out, “People ahead.” So she turned around and headed towards them. After we were out of earshot Donna commented, “Why do they say ‘people’ like that? What the heck do they think they are? Maybe we should wear some alien costumes when we walk in the woods?” Not long after that conversation we encountered a carriage out for a drive. The carriage driver had to constantly reassure the two horses that it was alright as they passed. After all we were ‘people’.

When we got home I stopped short in the driveway and in answer to her quizzical look I replied. “I’m going to wash it.” It wasn’t real dirty, but usually it gets a monthly bath and with no MMC event in January, today seemed like as good a day as any.

Started up, went down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/06: 15

I Figured It Out

All I had to do was reboot the cable modem….

Almost forgot to post that I washed the car today.

Started up, went down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/05: 392

The Water’s Cold

Even though there was a chance of rain coming up tomorrow, the temperature was only in the lower 50s and no one was going to notice as it would be dark when the MMC gathered to go on the light tour, I washed the car today.

Started up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/05: 369