Back After A Long Time Away!

[Boongie]

Hi All:

After a long time away from this forum, I am back wanting to learn about the latest in products and techniques. When I was last on this forum, Klasse and Zaino were the dominant polymer types of products and P21S and Soveran were the top waxes. I just got a new 2016 Subaru Outback in a blue-gray exterior color. The bottom portion is clad in some sort of black plastic material. Presuming that nothing has changed in exterior finish prep, I plan on claying the paint before applying any products. I will be reviewing the forum posts for the latest in products, but in the meantime, can anyone catch me up with any exterior product recommendations? I live in the Midwest so I experience four seasons. My Subaru is not garage kept. Thanks for any feedback!

[Pats300zx]

Welcome back !!!!! Things have definitely changed since the Zaino and Klasse days. Souveran is still the king of carnuaba...

[mjlinane]

Welcome back! Coatings are the hot exterior protection products these days.

[Bunky]

Welcome back!

[JBM]

[Ronkh]

Welcome back

[Boongie]

Thanks all for the welcome back! I especially liked the "Welcome Back Kotter" one! Now a few questions...
1. I don`t want to go the wax route, and from what I am reading on this Forum, Klasse and Zaino are no longer the most popular products in the synthetic/polymer family. Can someone explain to me what a "coating" is and how it differs from the polymers that I was use to?
2. If I go the "coating" route, do I still follow the routine of wash, clay, wash, and then apply the "coating"? In the past, a popular route was to apply a polymer and then layer with wax. Is the use of a "coating" the only thing that would be applied after the final wash?
3. Since my Subaru Outback has a plastic clad bottom and a roof rack that also appears to be made out of a plastic material, would I clay that? This is the first time that I have had a vehicle with this plastic cladding.
4. What would I apply to the plastic cladding and the plastic roof rack?
5. What is currently being recommend to apply to alloy wheels?

Thanks!

[JBM]

Next coating ill probably use gloss coat by Optimum, so I would suggest you start there. I believe Autopia has a gloss coat kit with the panel prep which is very good and aids in the application of the coating in more way then one.

If you polish using an oily polish I would really do an ONR wash, then panel prep with the optimum spray. I dont "really" trust that a spray will remove all the oils from some of the more oily products.

[JBM]

One of the reasons ill be using gloss coat next is that it can be applied to wheel and plastic trim as well. Spray plastic trim with a diluted APC then spray with panel prep and apply.