How or what should we use to coat our car so it'll last longer looking new or clean? The dealer ofcoarsed asked me if I wanted to coat the car with paint protection for $700, but I read somewhere these costs around $20 to do it by myself.

What should I do to maintain the exterior of my car? THanks for any advice!

 

Wash often. Wax when needed (or when you feel like it - even if that's a little more often than needed ).

That's really all there is to it. Maybe once a year, especially if you DO wash and wax often, maybe a real heavy detail - where you use a heavy-duty soap that you know will strip all the wax off. Then dry the car, and use detailer's clay to really clean the bare paint. Wax the car up again (maybe two well-done coats for good measure) and you are set for another year of regular washing/waxing.

I'm sure someone here can do more in-depth explanation of a good detailing job - but basicaly, keep your car clean and protected with a good coat of wax, and the finish should last a good long time.

Oh, yeah - and garage the car if you can!