Got my car professionally detailed for the first time

As most of you regulars know, I tend to really use my car to its fullest potential. It's a daily driver that is treated like a "regular" car and it sees track duty as well. As a result it tends to get a little dirty and doesn't exactly show like most people think a Porsche should. Since I took the majority of the season off because of the new baby I figured it would be a good opportunity to take my car to the spa and get it cleaned up a bit. I went with a detailer in the area called "CMC Detailing" and I'm really impressed and satisfied with the job he did. My paint has several flaws because of the track and just the daily activities my car goes through. Plus since my interior is a lighter color it had a lot of grime on the surfaces that again he did an excellent job cleaning up. I've got the Griot's kit and have used all of the things they offer but like many skilled trades it does really help to have the experts do it once in a while. I figure I do something like this yearly and try to maintain it myself and I should be good. Anyway here are the after photos:

Looks really good!

Very nice, a good detailer is key. It really is an art what those people do. I prefer to do my own as I actually enjoy it, I have until recently been a big fan of Zaino products but switched to Adams car car stuff. In the spring I need to do a mild correction step with a DA machine and their correction products to get out a couple do surface scratches. I've never used Griots products so I have no basis of comparison, I do like sealant they a good quality Carnuba finish to lock it in.

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Thanks, the detailer was obsessing over some of the perceived imperfections still remaining on the paint but I was very impressed by his work. Considering all my car has been through he did a great job on it. The detailer used something called CQuartz on the car. I'd never heard of it but the results are quite stunning in my opinion. The Griots may be just as good but I just don't have the skill to make it shine the same way. What I'm hoping is that now since I have a good foundation to work from I can continue to maintain it as time goes on. And then as I initially mentioned maybe once a year I take it back to him and get it back in shape again.

What is a fair charge for a good detailer for in and outside of the car?

Very nice job indeed. Your detailer also gave you some of the best stuff by using CQuartz which should last awhile and protect your paint. As for pricing, it can be all over the board from around $200 for a basic detail to over $1k if a multi-stage paint correction is needed. Things like top paint sealers and leather rejuvenators will also add to the cost. As with most you generally get what you pay for.

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I had both the inside and outside done. The list price on his site is $350 but I had some extra work that needed to be done because of the condition of the car. I got it all done at less than $500. Sure it's pricey but it also saved me an entire day of doing it myself and the results were better than anything I've ever been able to accomplish. Plus the car looks like it just appreciated in value.

Looks good; an experienced detailer can give you some pointers on what additional work the paint, glass, plastics, interior items can have done to really make them nice. Some should even know what chemicals work on P-cars and which ones dont'. A detailer I came across here in S. FL. did some mild polishing and Opticoat on the entire car and even showed me the plastic and tire treatments and leather cleaners and conditioners he frequently uses on his other clients high-end cars . His full details usually take 2 days. Pry close to $1K is my estimate. Just the wash, clay, wax and Opticoat on my Turbo was $300.

The car turned out great fpena944 Glad you had a good experience.

The biggest thing going to a detailer is if you have to have paint correction done. They most likely have a lot more experience in polishing, knowing the limits, and using the best products and techniques. The last thing you want is to mess up your paint, causing more damage or a possible repaint in the worst case scenarios. This isn't rocket science by any means and it can be a diy if you're careful but not everyone is willing to take the chance or be inclined to do a lot of sweat labor that's usually involved. FPena944, I think you got a great deal considering what they were able to achieve.

You will be very happy with C Quartz. It is the only nano coating I offer to my clients. It will save you money in the long run since you don't have to wax ever again.