After loads of research and years of longing, we traded in our gas-thirsty 2000 era SUV for a new 2012 Mazda 3!
I LOVE this car. It’s so fun to drive, but it also has the practical features I wanted too: great gas mileage with the 2.0L Skyactive engine, hatchback, and excellent safety rating.
It also had one thing I didn’t want: The enormous dealer decal on the hatch.
Most of the time when you buy a car, you can request that the dealer remove this unsightly advertisement from the vehicle before you accept delivery. But between hashing out purchase price, financing and extras, it’s very easy to let a relatively minor detail like the dealer decal slip, which is exactly what we did.
So I decided to remove it myself. This seemed very intimidating at first. What if I were to damage the finish on a brand new car? But my research assured me it could be done with ease and little risk, so I soldiered ahead.
It turns out that on a hot day, the vinyl lettering used on these decals softens in the heat. If it’s winter for you or you just live somewhere cold, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun (carefully!). I live in Florida, so it being August it was 30 billion degrees out creating no need for artificial heat. When the letters are softened, you can just pick them off with your fingernail!
Excuse our goofy reflections.
With the letters removed, all you are left with is nasty goop in the shape of the previously offending decal.
Grooooss.
But this is easy to remove. Just grab a bottle of the ever-useful Goo-Gone and spray on then wipe off. It may take a couple of tries to get all the nasty off. Then just clean up with a clean rag and dishsoapy water.
And voila! 20 minutes of light effort and your car looks better and is no longer a driving billboard for the guy you bought it from.
SO SHINY.
