Zaino Detailing Spray vs Mequiar's Detailing Spray

[BookemDano]

This isn't exactly a review...

Tonight, I got my order of Zaino products (ZFX, Z5, Z6, etc). Out of curiosity, I grabbed the Z6 Detailing Spray and sprayed it on my wife's car's hood (bright red '05 Subaru Forester). After wiping and buffing with a clean MF, the surface was nice and slick. And, the shine was very nice.

Here's the odd part - the protectant on her car is Menzerna FMJ!

FMJ is an excellent product, looks great on a bright red car, and is nice and slick. But it has two drawbacks. First, it doesn't look quite as good on my Dolphin Gray Audi. (I'm not sure why.) Second, Menzerna doesn't offer a detailing spray.

So to address the Audi issue, I purchased the Zaino stuff. To have a detail spray, I stopped by a local parts supply house and bought a large bottle of Meguiers detail spray.

Anyway, back to my story...

So I stood there rubbing the Z6 detailed area. Then I thought, "Hmm... I wonder how this compares to the Mequiers stuff?" So I sprayed and buffed an area next to the Zaino Z6 area. Both looked nice. Both looked shiny. But the Zaino was smoother and slicker! It had less drag.

So I repeated the test on another hood section. Same result. Then I went back to the first section and repeated the test on top of the original sprayed areas. Oddly, the Zaino area seemed to get a bit slicker, while the Mequiers didn't change much.

Obviously, this isn't a raving endorsement for Zaino. I still need to go through the whole Zaino prep and protect process, and I'm a complete newbie with Zaino products. Nevertheless, I'm off to a (modestly) good start with Zaino. I'm pleased so far.

Has anyone else compared Zaino Z6 to another detailing spray?

Regards,

Dan.

[ZaneO]

Zaino Z6 is a very nice product. Meguiar's Wipe & Shine is somewhat different as far as purpose goes...it's not so much of a gloss enhancing QD.

Some QD's comparable to Z6 is Wolfgang and QuikShine.

[rjstaaf]

I think Meguiars best quick detailing spray is the Last Touch Spray Detailer. It produces even more gloss than the consumer Quik Detailer. One thing to also keep in mind is that Z6 is not just a quick detailer, it is also a booster. It does a bit more than just a straight quick detailer. Unfortunately it is also quite a bit more expensive.

[RedondoV6]

BookemDano .. one thing you might like to try is diluting the Z6 with distilled water. This will make the bottle go further and IMHO make it a little easier to work with (I'm in the South, everything dries quickly here).

Some Zaino guys here at Autopia dilute Z6 1:1 with distilled water, I'm happier just diluting the Z6 at a ratio of 2:1 with distilled water.

You might want to try this at some time, see if you like it

[BookemDano]

Originally posted by RedondoV6
BookemDano .. one thing you might like to try is diluting the Z6 with distilled water. This will make the bottle go further and IMHO make it a little easier to work with (I'm in the South, everything dries quickly here).

Some Zaino guys here at Autopia dilute Z6 1:1 with distilled water, I'm happier just diluting the Z6 at a ratio of 2:1 with distilled water.

You might want to try this at some time, see if you like it

I'll give it a try. One thing though, here in the damp Seattle area, we don't worry about things drying out too fast.

Tonight, I checked my wife's Subie again. The portion of the hood that had not been Z6'd was a bit dusty. The Z6 portionwas pretty much dust free. I'm trying to maintain my perspective about Zaino products, but it's getting tougher. If the protectants (Z2 and Z5) are anywhere near as good as Z6, I'll turn into a Zaino fan-boy. :scared

Regards,

Dan.

p.s., one thing I do NOT like about Z6 is the spray bottle. The sprayer is not that great. I purchased a nice little spray bottle from a local "Storables" store and transferred the Z6 to that. Now, I can spray a very fine mist on a panel.

[SK2003TypeS]

I use Z6 when doing Z2 orZ5. But after regular washing, I use Meg's FI or Mothers Showtime. I picked up a 20oz of Showtime not too long ago for $5. I'm really impressed for such a cheap QD. It also seems easier to use than FI for some reason.

[RedondoV6]

Originally posted by BookemDano
..... p.s., one thing I do NOT like about Z6 is the spray bottle. The sprayer is not that great. I purchased a nice little spray bottle from a local "Storables" store and transferred the Z6 to that. Now, I can spray a very fine mist on a panel.

Yep! I found the same thing. It really irritates me when the container a product comes in does not get the job done and the Z6 spray bottle is marginal IMHO. I have real difficulty in getting a good spray pattern from the Z6 bottle however I adjust the spray nozzle.

One work around, which has now become my preferred way of applying QD's is to spray the Z6 on the MF, not the paint. I've even sprayed Z6 on a MF bonnet on my PC and finished the application of Z2 with a Z6 "polishing". Seems to work well for me.

Good luck! Let us know how you get on.

[beau]

Bookemdano, be sure to post pics of your Zaino'd or FMJ'd Dolphin Gray. I've Klassed mine, but I'm not satisfied 'cause there's no depth. I have some P21s coming so perhaps it won't be a problem for much longer.

[Bill D]

Using a pump cooking oil type spray bottle from Wal Mart is a favorite technique of mine for QD and tire dressing

[DetailGirl]

Z6 is by far and away my favorite QD. I just wish that "pop" would last a bit longer

[SLiM003]

My favorite qd is pinnacle crystal mist. It doesn't spread as easy as the other qd's i've tried but it produces the best result on my black car. I also like meguiars FD but it attracts more dust than crystal mist.

[bet993]

Z6 is an excellent product. Currently I have been hooked on using 1Z's Lackfinish. Also an excellent product. I wish there was a good comparison (side to side) of the 1Z and zaino products because they are so similar (unfortunately I don't have any Z6 left or I would do one). Anyone done one or know of a such a write up?