That is one nice looking Q! Colour is great!

 

Rick, those pictures are great. I'm amazed you can keep the vehicle that clean to get those outside pictures with all the snow around.

I don't even want to talk about how clean your garage is!!

Stephen

 

Rick, you had mentioned in your first post that you had the front fenders 3M'd as well. If so, how did they handle the badging on the fender wells, or did you just get the front portion of each fender done (presumably with a line showing where the 3M stopped?

 

Hi Stephen. Congrats on your soon-to-arrive Q5. I had the boys at Glenmore/Fifth Avenue Auto Haus do the full hood/full fenders/lower rockers/A-Pillars/Roof above the windshield, rear lift deck, and door handle cups. They did a really good job. They were so exact with their trimming around the "V6T" badge that I didn't even notice until you asked me about it. It's perfect.

 

Rick, did you get them to do any type of paint prep work before they did the 3M coating, or was the Q in good enough shape from the factory. If you did get some prep work done, was it included or was it extra?

I'm thinking about taking it elsewhere due to the pricing they want. Even after bargaining they were just barely coming in at what other places were offering, but with less coverage of the vehicle. Unfortunately, the place I may take it too doesn't do the prep work (as in swirl removal).

 

Stephen, I am pretty OCD when it comes to my cars, so like you, I was apprehensive about the dealer prep process. I told them to take no compounds or polishes to the car, but I think they did take a buffer over it. I was not too worried about the 3M going on top of any paint imperfections. I just bit the bullet and hoped for the best. It worked out. There are a few imperfections in the 3M that I'm just going to live with.

The dealer will do a pretty good job of prepping your car and there's no cost. I was very impressed with the 3M installer (can't recall his name), but I hear what you are saying about pricing it out. In the end, the convenience of just having it all done prior to taking it home was worth the possible savings I may have got through a different outfit. (Thompson Graphics was about the same price when I called them)

You'll go back and forth in your head a bunch of times, but just go with your gut.

 

Gave the garage a little clean. Not bad for early-March, in Calgary...


http://www.flickr.com/photos/35948621@N03/13017799615/]IMG_0027[/url, on Flickr


http://www.flickr.com/photos/35948621@N03/13018225904/]IMG_0030[/url, on Flickr


http://www.flickr.com/photos/35948621@N03/13018239224/]IMG_0028[/url, on Flickr


http://www.flickr.com/photos/35948621@N03/13018025583/]IMG_0033[/url, on Flickr

 

Do you not get snow in Calgary?

My garage is the opposite, I've got 2 nice clean cars in it, but the floor is a disaster due to all the grit and nastiness that melts and drips off the cars.

Love the Hot and Cold taps, I've wanted to do the combo hot cold tap from Moen, but just found out they discontinued it. Your approach could work great, 2 taps with a y-hose in between.

Love the blue color. I love blues and that is one of the best shades without going with an Exclusive color.

 

Nice garage. Wayyyyy to clean for Calgary.

Rick, you mind telling me where you got those bike racks from that suspend from the ceiling? I've been looking for something like that to help organize my garage a little better.

Stephen

 

There was a good month where I was really struggling to keep it crisp and clean. I was tracking in all kinds of crud, but this type of floor does a great job of capturing the mess and keeping it at bay. It does accumulate, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to deal with it. The biggest pain is the new salt mixture the city lays down on the roads. It clings to everything

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35948621@N03/12962179524/http://www.flickr.com/photos/35948621@N03/12962179524/]IMG_0002[/url, on Flickr

My little hose configuration works well. Here's a photo showing it a bit clearer:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35948621@N03/13017986053/http://www.flickr.com/photos/35948621@N03/13017986053/]IMG_0024[/url, on Flickr

Nothing fancy, Stephen. Four hooks such as this is all I use. Bikes are light enough that placing and removing them isn't a issue:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35948621@N03/13074760204/http://www.flickr.com/photos/35948621@N03/13074760204/, on Flickr