Good morning everyone,

Porsche execs discussing which trademark to file next:

Here's what's going on this week:

➡️ Toyota's all-new GR RAV4 has 320hp👀

➡️ The #1 reason your car looks old (and how to fix it)

➡️ Is Porsche bringing back the Slant Nose?

➡️ more, of course 💬

The #1 reason your car looks old 🏁

I've seen it hundreds of times.

A car looks old, dull, and weathered to the point where you think, "Oh well, it's old now. That's just the condition it's in".

Don't fall for that lie - 99% of the time, it can be easily fixed.

How do I know? I've fixed it many, many times.

Touch-free car washes are the reason why your car looks like crap.

What you're seeing isn't age. It's just dirt.

I can look at nearly any car in the city and tell instantly whether it goes through a car wash or it's washed by hand.

The truth is, touch-free car washes simply don't do a good job.

Sure, the paint comes out fairly clean, thanks to the acid they spray on it.

(Surprised? How else do you think they can get your car clean without scrubbing it?)

Touch-free car washes suck at pretty much everything else though, from the drying process to cleaning your wheels, exhaust, and door jams.

One of the tell-tale signs that a car only sees automatic car washes is a buildup of brake dust in the corners of every spoke on a wheel.

Since the car wash only blasts it with water, it isn't able to scrub the tighter spots, resulting in a buildup.

The heat from your brakes will cause this to eventually bake on the surface, making it nearly impossible to remove.

Your tires will always look dull and brown since they're never getting properly cleaned and dressed.

Your exhaust tips will turn black with carbon.

You'll see dirt and grime every time you open your doors.

Simply put, a touch-free car wash doesn't do as good of a job as washing it yourself with proper techniques.

So all you have to do is dedicate a couple of hours every once in a while for a quick hand wash.

Not sure how to do it? Make sure to stay tuned to my YouTube channel because I'll be sharing tons of techniques and tips to do just that.

Head over to the blog to read more about the dangers of automatic car washes.​

Ps: I'm not 100% against touch-free car washes.

If you have a newer car, it'll take a while for these issues to present themselves.

Also, going to one occasionally is totally different than using them exclusively.

Unless your vehicle is ceramic coated... then I would avoid them completely - the acid can wreak havoc on your coating.

The Gearhead Tracker: An all-in-one logbook for your vehicle maintenance

Organize your vehicle maintenance, calculate fuel economy, and create a detailed list of modifications with this Notion template!

This all-in-one digital logbook stores all of your automotive information from insurance to accident history, plus so much more!

Up to speed in the auto industry 📰

Is Porsche bringing back the Slant Nose?

They recently filed a trademark for "Flachbau" which translates to "flat nose".

Sometimes, car makers will trademark names of past models just to hold onto the company's legacy.

But with Porsche's love for everything vintage these days, could this be a hint at a comeback?

The new RAV4 is here (with 320hp?!)

The 2026 RAV4 has been announced and there's a cool twist - a Gazoo Racing model.

That includes tuned suspension/bracing, wider tires, and brake ducts in the front bumper, along with some sporty styling upgrades.

The powertrain is a 2.5L 4-cylinder with 3 electric motors that combine to reach that horsepower rating.

I don't hate it.

There's a 1957 Cadillac encapsulated in cement in Chicago

Don't worry, it's "art" and not a mob hit (probably). It's called "Concrete Traffic" and the Museum of Contemporary Art asked a German artist to build it in 1970.

His original version was built on an Opel and was used as a protest in which he buried it alive in concrete while the engine was running.

The Cadillac was recently restored to its former glory and now rests in a random Chicago parking garage.

I swear, if Chad posts one more of these vids, I'm moving to Thailand 🤣

A road trip filled with high-speed driving, beach patios, a Cars and Coffee event, and a V8-swapped BMW E30?

Sign me up.

CB Media does such a great job of sharing the automotive lifestyle in Thailand.

Might watch it again while I cry in the corner because our weather sucks right now.

How to detail a Ferrari Testarossa

Spoiler alert: You have to remove the door vents to gain proper access.

Another banger from Larry that gave me a new appreciation for a classic Ferrari.

I want to hear from you!

Are you enjoying this newsletter? You can always hit the reply button and give me your feedback. I read every email!

With spring cleaning season upon us, I want to know what you'd like to learn about detailing. What do you struggle with?

I'm obsessed with helping people make their cars look new, or better than new, so let me know!

Talk soon,

Tim Rempel

Founder of Canadian Gearhead

Let's connect 👇

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