So you want to wash your car?
Detailing your car the right way, with the right products has become a serious talking point in the car community abroad and it has trickled down to our community here in Barbados as well. Here enters Automotive Art. The goal of car care is top on their list so it’s only logical they would want to help you maintain your ride.
For the second time around, Automotive Art is offering its “Gearbox” limited edition package. Who is it targeting? Is this something you would want as a car enthusiast? Did it exceed expectations? I’ll try my best to answer these questions in this article.
Detailing your car the right way, with the right products, has become a serious talking point in the car community abroad and it has trickled down to our community here in Barbados as well. Dealing with streaking, paint swirls and of course because of our location in the Atlantic Ocean we are dealing with the unique issue of Saharan dust. Here enters Automotive Art with car care being top of their list so of course they would want to help you maintain your ride.
The Basics
Sitting at the bottom of the Gearbox, we have “The Works” from Surf City Garage. There are: (1) Wash and Wax car cleaner (2) Dash-away interior cleaner for your interior surfaces (3) Glass cleaner and (4) Wax detailer. Contained within these 4 bottles, is the ability to give your car a mini detailing session of your own. The wash and wax will protect the exterior of the car, and the detailer will tidy up those hard to reach places you may have to go over after your rinse.
I think it’s quite clear what glass cleaner does, and so we’re moving right along! Dash cleaner would allow you to wipe up and clean your dashboard and other interior plastics and leather textures, refreshing them to an almost factory state. Of course all of this depends on how bad you let it slip, I hope you’ve been keeping a tidy ship.
Personally I’ve used Surf City’s cleaning products before and it’s always exceeded my expectations. The wash and wax foam up quite decently, although I do find myself using a bit more than stipulated, might just be me. As for the other products they do what they are supposed to, they clean up the glass and the inside of your car quite well. An added bonus is the scent they leave behind, its pretty sweet, if i do say so myself!
After you’ve washed the car down on the outside, its time to stop dirty droplets from drying onto your precious car. For drying your car off, there is a chamois provided within the package and a microfiber cloth for cleaning your glass and more delicate parts of your cars interior. It would’ve been nice though, if the Gearbox came with a rinsing sponge with a microfiber exterior so you wouldn’t have to look for one separately. But overall they give you a well-rounded package for cleaning and drying the exterior and for any sprucing up that needs to be done on the inside.
More than Basic
These gift coupons were included: (1) A free headlight polish (2) 50% off a wheel alignment and (3) 10% off 4 quarts of Valvoline. Sometimes these are things you want to buy but just never get around to it. Automotive Art makes it just all too easy for you, just pop in and there you have it!
Styling
Alright, so you’ve stepped out the million-degree sun, and you want to roll out to meet up with your boys at the “hot boi” spot. Your car is rinsed and waxed all in one, check! Your dash and interior are clean, check! What’s missing? Your car doesn’t smell like apples, what are you going to do? Don’t worry Automotive Art has you covered. I got an apple-scented air freshener. Of course, whether or not the air freshener smells like apples, is up to your nose but i’m sure we will all agree the scent is quite pleasing.
This Automotive Art limited edition snapback is also included, apparently, they are only available if you get a gearbox so DON’T MISS OUT! It sports a blacked-out automotive art logo and a vibrant underside, it’s an interesting understated look.
When it comes to personalizing your car with stickers, there’s an endless array of stickers out there. I believe a few of these stickers were just added as a cross-section of options for your ride or maybe inside of the workshop.
Automotive Art is the official dealer for FALKEN TIRES here in Barbados, and they have been running a long and a well executed marketing strategy resulting in these tires on your cars. I thought this scale model of a FALKEN TIRE liveried truck was pretty cool as a keeper for sure.
In my opinion overall the 2020 “Gearbox” was good, it covered the basics, and that is the most important part. It also gave an idea to an average consumer looking to get into some simple car care what it would entail. The limited edition items did give some incentive to collect one as well, if you’re a big fan of the brand, then you would want to represent those you support. I thought maybe the Gearbox could’ve included a wash sponge to go along with the rinse and wax and maybe 2 air fresheners so you can do more than one full clean up and touch up. The coupons are a great incentive to reach out to an Automotive Art store though, and in-store consumers will definitely stock up on more supplies while their car is being serviced. I’m looking out for the next one, to see how things could change or even improve. This is Alex and I’m signing off for now, happy motoring everyone!
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Predators on the Prowl
Picture yourself rolling with 5 heavily Modified Mitsubishi Lancers, sure one can start to break necks, but 5 whips out phones. We had a run in with Saber aka "Wrap God" a few weekends ago so we were acquainted with the idea behind Street Predatorz.
I went for a prowl with some Predatorz, I can't think of a cooler way to spend an afternoon! It really helped me to understand the desire to "Stance" a car. It's not about you alone, it's about your community, and I think these guys have the concept and execution in order. This side of Car Culture is about making a statement.
Jevon Lashley- J707 - Night Fury, Hugh Sealy- T4148 - Saber aka Wrap God, Joel Leacock - SA 2734 - Ghost, Danny Lashley - Viper - XK 501, Jabari Batson - Wolf - G 1070
Picture yourself rolling with 5 heavily Modified Mitsubishi Lancers, sure one can start to break necks, but 5 whips out phones. We had a run in with Saber aka "Wrap God" a few weekends ago so we were acquainted with the idea behind Street Predatorz. Actually being on a drive with them is a totally different experience. It's a goal of my inner 10 year old. I can check that off the list. Thanks guys! I can die a happy man!
Street Predatorz as a group was formed August 21, 2012 and it started with 2 members. Jevon Lashley the Driver of Fury and Jason Gamble. They shared a mutual love for this late model Mitsubishi Lancer. Over time the group grew rapidly. They stand at 28 members at the time of writing. They are persons who recognized the potential of this car and wanted to express that vision. They really have come a long way.
This group has been spearheading not just car modification but community. It's amazing how much they stick together it's not just about the car, it's about the culture you want to build behind them, and this bleeds out from their interactions with others to how they welcomed me into the group to photograph their cars.
James Skinner "Besocial"
That afternoon, I was behind the scenes of a video highlighting the cars and group. This was sponsored through Automotive Art, one of the leading brands in the Caribbean who deal with a wide range of car products, from aftermarket accessories to materials needed to rebuild or repair aspects of the car itself.
“It’s a bunch of friends who love cars!”
As a group, Street Predatorz has been turning the right heads and going in the right direction with how they meet and build the awareness of the group. We all know project cars are never ever finished, so don't believe the person who says "It's Finished", that's a lie! Street Predatorz are here as a facility for those who also own Lancers to help exchange ideas and give input on the direction to take with either the aesthetics of your car or performance.
They hosted their first Mitsubishi Owners Day, MOD, at Sky Mall in Haggatt Hall earlier this year which was a major success as it was well received by the community here on the island. Intentions are to host a bigger even better one. They are also looking to partner with brands in order to get this done. Reaching outside their immediate group, they are looking for ways to give back to the community as well through charitable events.
Without exception though, this group has faced and may face challenges in the future. Lancers are a dying breed and are slowly rising on the endangered list. Mitsubishi has not announced a new model or reiteration of the Lancer line of cars. This may prove a little problematic in terms of aftermarket support, but this works two ways, because these cars once well maintained will become a rarity, and a gem on the roads when you see them.
Alpha predators change and adapt to their environments, this is what keeps them at the top of their game and like alpha predators these guys will find a way to keep on changing and growing. So look out on the streets and make way when you see these cars coming.These guys are on a mission!
Until next time! Happy Motoring! - Alex
