Nissan Altima detailing in Houston

What we watch for

Paint and interior on the Altima

Paint and exterior

Fourth and fifth generation Altimas in black, red and dark grey often have clear coat thinning or peeling on the roof and trunk lid. Where the clear is intact, a one-step polish brings the gloss back. Where it has lifted, we say so before anything is polished.

Interior

Cloth on S and SV trims, leather on SL. Light grey cloth shows coffee and makeup stains, the driver's bolster wears first, and the back seat collects whatever passengers leave behind. Newer cars have a gloss black center stack that swirls from a dry rag.

Living in Houston

An Altima that spends its days on the Katy Freeway and its nights in an apartment lot gets brake dust baked onto the wheels and sprinkler water on the glass. Regular upkeep stops both from setting in.

• Cloth seats on many trims: spot-treated in every interior detail, with shampoo extraction as an add-on when they need it.
• Black and dark colors are common: they show swirls, water spots and pollen film first, and benefit most from a coating.
• Piano-black trim: it scratches if you look at it, so it gets plush microfiber only and can be polished and coated.
• Older plastic headlights yellow in the sun: headlight restoration is an add-on worth asking about.