Has anyone ever detailed a minivan?

Just curious...

I don't see minivan owners as the type to invest in a pro.

 

I have detailed bout 3 but 1 was my mothers.

 

I just did last weekend, thing was destroyed. Spent hours on the interior and then washed, clayed and sealed the exterior.

It's all about proving yourself to customers and even people with subpar vehicles will invest in your services.

-Kody-

 

yes, and it is actually very intimidating considering how big they are and how much PAINT is covering the car! I believe some Minivans take a bit longer than SUV's... Most of the people who get their mini van detailed are those who really want the interior done up cuz of the kids and dont have time..they will usually request a wax/clay/wax. Some who understand the whole paint correction thing and protection get a 1 step.. Dont forget that you may be able to sell a detail to someone who is trying to get rid of the car and sell it.

 

I agree, and just to add my honest opinion, when you explain to customers with the honda odysseys, mazda mini vans etc that their car is just as valuable as that porsche and that the paint needs just as much attention, not to mention the interior, it actually makes them feel glorified that their vehicle stands out vs other cars/mini vans - A lot of my customers first say "i dont need it, its just a mini van, its just a family car, its just a daily driver"....all come back when there is that 1 car that you did, that is the same as theirs.

I try to do 1 detail on every model I can get a chance to work on, so that when they see that Corolla gleaming, they will usually say, "damn i didnt expect it will look like that...I want my car to look like that."

 

I've done a few and found that while there is more area to cover, they are generally simpler in design both inside and out which makes the job slightly easier. Also, most minivan owners are most interested in clean interiors and since minivans are used as the family 'workhorse,' you can make a huge difference.

 

Yes I have. Six of them were Honda Odysseys, and the others were various makes. As mentioned before, minivan owners are much more interested in the interior, and usually just have me wash the exterior. One thing I never fully understood was why minivans have carpeted interiors. Think about it. 99% of minivans are owned by families with small children, who are prone to spilling all sorts of things all over the floors and generally soiling the carpets. Removable rubber flooring would be so much more practical. And rubber floor mats don't really make much of a difference, at least not in the vans that I've done.

 

I agree, SUV and minivan owners care more about the interior since they let their kids destroy it, and in fact I did a Honda Odyssey, no correction, just clay wax and clean........... actually fairly profitable since the interior was so bad I charged accordingly and took me 3 hours, used very little product and it was all gravy. Besides, its fun to find all the nasty packed French fries jammed in to places. People with these types of cars I think can mentally justify paying 200.00 to clean the interior of a van more then they can trying to understand what clay bar is, dressing fender wells and what different waxes and sealants do. In fact, half don't even really care probably..... and have never had wax ever on the car.

different market, different approach IMO.

 

I think the most dirtiest place on a minivan is the carpet and the seat tracks. lucky I have a steamer.

 

Too many to count. As stated above, most minivan owners are more interested in interior work. I'd rather do minivans over SUVs anyday. Way more basic interiors, you can easily remove the seats to make cleaning the rear area a breeze.

 

Ditto with 911Fanatic - too many to count, the real minivans are always much easier, everything in the first 2 rows usually can be removed, its all vertical and horizontal panels, not much rounded stuff, if its a standard work van, sometimes you can hose it out, etc..

All SUV's are much harder, have more room for crap to get under, and the bigger ones are like big, dirty, living rooms, with dirty leather couches, etc.And if they haul dogs around, oh boy.....

But you do them, hopefully a Meguiars D151 outside, and it looks and smells, 200% better = very satisfied Client, and soon, more of these things are swarming around your shoplights !!!

Dan F

 

Wow crazy. I can't say I've seen more than two write ups on minivans. That is for sure.

Makes sense about being a different approach (interior more important than exterior).

Thanks for the clarification guys.

 

+1 on interior work. My dad's minivan is always used as a fishing-car and to haul anything really. Most of the seats are taken out and the thing is used to haul all kinds of mess... so interior is always dirty before I clean it up.

 

They are not glamorous as a Audi R8 or something of that nature, who really wants to see a Honda Odyssey with poop stains etc.

easiest car I ever did was an element, it had a plastic interior, just sprayed it out. LOL

 

I wouldn't call removing the seats a breeze though...some of them weigh a ton!

I'll have a bunch to do this summer, I'll do a few write-ups if people are interested

 

Do it!

I think a lot of people get tied up in detailing the baddest car they can; as it's been mentioned, seeing a huge improvement on a minivan may be enough to convince a prospect with a minivan to become a client.

 

Time to hit the gym cupcake! Fold the seatback forward so its flat on the seat cushion, roll the seat over onto its back and they just slide straight out the back door.

 

haha yeah I know, that's the one part of detailing that defeats me...moving very heavy things. And reaching very tall things

 

Id love to see some DD write ups, while I like to see full details on exotics, I think its more common for people to be doing typical drivers..... it takes as much skill, patience and dedication to make a Van, SUV or other family hauler look cherry.....

 

+1.

Probably more actually. You want to succeed on a lux/exotic. Tough to work on a car you don't envy...not to mention...as other said...more real-estate on minivans and SUVs.