Review: Synergy and Surface Cleansing Polish

Imatk said:
I've found very little difference in appearance for most of the waxes, sealants etc. that I've tried.

Which is why I suspect we don't see many side-by-side comparisons to the newest "must have" wax/sealant.

Like side "A" and then tape down the middle and side "B"

Anyone want to do a side-by-side review :)
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Yes and no. I'll gladly do a side by side review of layered Klasse SG next to Collinite 845 (you'll clearly see a difference even in a photograph). Other LSP are very similar in appearance some are indiscernible.

It all depends on what "look" you going for. I personly like reflections/shine/gloss and I find sealants and coatings fit the bill better than wax's. Wax's on the other hand, kind of mute the reflections and flake to make the paint look wet, deep, and rich (looks great on paint that doesn't have flake IMHO).

If you compared two acrylic sealants or two nano ceramic coatings I'm sure it would be very hard to tell them apart.

Some very different LSP's I've compared look identical but bead/sheet water very differently.

You also need to take into account that some LSP get dirtyer quicker and are less easily cleaned (no self-cleaning).

Variables I can notice between LSP (from most to least significant difference):
  • Cost
  • Smell/look
  • Ease of use
  • Durability (how long does the product bead/sheet)
  • Beading/sheeting of water
  • Slickness after application
  • Self-cleaning (how long can the product bead/sheet between washs)
  • Flake Pop
  • Reflections/Gloss/Shine
  • Depth/Glow/Wet look

For example I have WG Uber coating on my hood and it looks very similar to the FK1000P I have all over the car (high gloss / reflective) but the two behave very differently when left unwashed for an extended period of time and it's now easy to tell them apart (something most people don't do in a side by side review). With that said I'm setting up to do a LSP face off to take these factors into account over the course of the winter comparing various LSP I own...

Feel free to let me know what two LSP's you'd like to see compared over the course of the winter (in Montreal Canada) on my daily driven Jeep SRT8 (outdoor parked). It's really a LSP torture test. Tomorrow is the last day to submit your request (assuming I have the LSP's you'd like to see compared), thread: http://www.autopia.org/forums/car-detailing-product-discussion/182245-lsp-questions.html

Sorry OP, dont mean to highjack your thread. Amazing review BTW!
 
I'd like to see a side-by-side comparison to the Synergy.

Other than that I've probably used all of the waxes you listed... been doing this a while.

Are there differences to different waxes and sealants? Sure... are they noticable... no.

On a black car, where IMO you would notice the MOST difference, I've noticed varying differences between different products in terms of look.

Huge differences ? No.

Enough that if I showed you a panel with Klasse on one side and Collinite on the other that you would be able to tell me which one was which? Unlikely.

I mean you'd have a 50/50 guess but other than that I doubt you would be able to honestly identify one from another.

There's an example of what I'm talking about on this thread on Meguiar's (not sure if I'm supposed to link it from here so if not my apologies)

Another boutique wax debate - Page 3

I'm sure if you google it there are hundreds more just like it. Probably youtube videos etc.

The point is... does the "look" make enough of a difference to pay 190 bucks? No.

But I'm sure many will debate that until their dying breath.

They did when I inquired about the Zymol Vintage that cost over 2k to buy.

I asked for side-by-side comparisons and was told, "You can't tell the difference from a picture!"

So then I asked if I could pay for a sample of the Vintage... and was flatly denied.

Then I finally found a sample jar that Zymol used to sell in a "kit".

Well, I did my own in-person test with Zymol and Carnuba Moose.

Guess what? Not enough difference to tell between a 2400 dollar wax and a 20 dollar wax.

Even the longevity was similar so sorry... I don't really need for you to test any of the waxes you mentioned... as I've probably tested most if not all of them.

Longevity is definitely one factor that DOES differ on various products... but I already wrote that above. The look however... not so much.

BUT I would like to see a side-by-side of the new Synergy.

And if it's that dramatically different I'll plunk down my 200 bucks for a jar ;)
 
Imatk said:
I'd like to see a side-by-side comparison to the Synergy.

Other than that I've probably used all of the waxes you listed... been doing this a while.

Are there differences to different waxes and sealants? Sure... are they noticable... no.

On a black car, where IMO you would notice the MOST difference, I've noticed varying differences between different products in terms of look.

Huge differences ? No.

Enough that if I showed you a panel with Klasse on one side and Collinite on the other that you would be able to tell me which one was which? Unlikely.

I mean you'd have a 50/50 guess but other than that I doubt you would be able to honestly identify one from another.

There's an example of what I'm talking about on this thread on Meguiar's (not sure if I'm supposed to link it from here so if not my apologies)

Another boutique wax debate - Page 3

I'm sure if you google it there are hundreds more just like it. Probably youtube videos etc.

The point is... does the "look" make enough of a difference to pay 190 bucks? No.

But I'm sure many will debate that until their dying breath.

They did when I inquired about the Zymol Vintage that cost over 2k to buy.

I asked for side-by-side comparisons and was told, "You can't tell the difference from a picture!"

So then I asked if I could pay for a sample of the Vintage... and was flatly denied.

Then I finally found a sample jar that Zymol used to sell in a "kit".

Well, I did my own in-person test with Zymol and Carnuba Moose.

Guess what? Not enough difference to tell between a 2400 dollar wax and a 20 dollar wax.

Even the longevity was similar so sorry... I don't really need for you to test any of the waxes you mentioned... as I've probably tested most if not all of them.

Longevity is definitely one factor that DOES differ on various products... but I already wrote that above. The look however... not so much.

BUT I would like to see a side-by-side of the new Synergy.

And if it's that dramatically different I'll plunk down my 200 bucks for a jar ;)
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If you read the review, It's not about looks - but durability and ease of use. I wouldn't suggest Synergy per se on "looks". Although, it does look pretty - good.

I'm liking it because it gives many of the advantages of a coating - with the ease of use of a wax.

You don't need to beat the "high dollar waxes are a rip off" drum here. Most of us know Nattys looks as good as Swissvax.
 
Swanicyouth said:
If you read the review, It's not about looks - but durability and ease of use. I wouldn't suggest Synergy per se on "looks". Although, it does look pretty - good.

I'm liking it because it gives many of the advantages of a coating - with the ease of use of a wax.

You don't need to beat the "high dollar waxes are a rip off" drum here. Most of us know Nattys looks as good as Swissvax.
Click to expand...

Well the review doesn't detail how long it has lasted... you did an update 3 days later which is not nearly enough time to know if it's lasting.

Either way, I'm not doubting that it MAY last longer. Because with the ceramic portion of the wax I'm guessing it will... but I'd definitely like to know if it does last.

What I was responding to was this

It's not difficult to make a wax that lasts a long time. That's easy.

What's difficult is creating a wax that lasts a long time while offering a unique look that is second to none. That's what Synergy offers.

Synergy isn't for everyone. If you want maximum durability at the lowest cost, then stick with FK1000 or Collinite 915. There's a lot more to a wax than how long it lasts, just like there's a lot more to a super car than just how fast it goes in a straight line. :)

Some day, when you try Synergy, you'll understand. :bigups

This comment is ALL about how Synergy looks better "unique" and "second to none" and so on.

This is the kind of thing that I shake my head at. Because I've read it over and over and over again and it's never held true in my experience.

But again... I'd love for someone to prove me wrong on the new wax... then I'd probably buy it, but I won't hold my breath.
 
Imatk said:
..I've read..[talk about significant diffs in LSP appearance].. over and over and over again and it's never held true in my experience..
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IMO you oughta go by your own experience. Different people just have differing experiences.

I've posted before about how I *never* tell my wife when I change LSPs on our vehicles; most of the time she immediately notices the difference but sometimes she doesn't. (It's not just that the vehicle has been "freshly done" either. When I switched her silver Audi from Souveran to M16 it should've looked better because I did a good prep job, but she took one look and asked what I did to her car that it didn't look so nice any more.)
 
Imatk said:
Well the review doesn't detail how long it has lasted... you did an update 3 days later which is not nearly enough time to know if it's lasting.

Either way, I'm not doubting that it MAY last longer. Because with the ceramic portion of the wax I'm guessing it will... but I'd definitely like to know if it does last.

What I was responding to was this

It's not difficult to make a wax that lasts a long time. That's easy.

What's difficult is creating a wax that lasts a long time while offering a unique look that is second to none. That's what Synergy offers.

Synergy isn't for everyone. If you want maximum durability at the lowest cost, then stick with FK1000 or Collinite 915. There's a lot more to a wax than how long it lasts, just like there's a lot more to a super car than just how fast it goes in a straight line. :)

Some day, when you try Synergy, you'll understand. :bigups

This comment is ALL about how Synergy looks better "unique" and "second to none" and so on.

This is the kind of thing that I shake my head at. Because I've read it over and over and over again and it's never held true in my experience.

But again... I'd love for someone to prove me wrong on the new wax... then I'd probably buy it, but I won't hold my breath.
Click to expand...



It's subjective I guess.

Some people cant hear the difference between studio standard sound and lets say a $5.00 speaker.
 
Ronkh said:
It's subjective I guess.

Some people cant hear the difference between studio standard sound and lets say a $5.00 speaker.
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Agreed, but I also think it would be possible (in the wax/sealant scenario) to have someone look at a "cheap" wax and think it looks better than a boutique wax, that is IF they didn't know which one they were looking at.

I'd be interested in seeing a blind test like that on a panel.

1. Tell a group of people to examine the two waxes on the panel.

2. Have them leave and tell them you had changed the panel, without actually changing it.

I would suspect half of the people would say they notice significant differences with the "new" panel...even if it's exactly the same.

Sometimes I also think it's also a placebo effect.

"I paid more for X there for X looks better."

I think it's probably that and maybe buyer justification.

I mean if I dropped 2k on Vintage and it looked exactly like it did on my car next to the 20 dollar Clearkote I would have been PISSED.
 
Imatk said:
Agreed, but I also think it would be possible (in the wax/sealant scenario) to have someone look at a "cheap" wax and think it looks better than a boutique wax, that is IF they didn't know which one they were looking at.

I'd be interested in seeing a blind test like that on a panel.

1. Tell a group of people to examine the two waxes on the panel.

2. Have them leave and tell them you had changed the panel, without actually changing it.

I would suspect half of the people would say they notice significant differences with the "new" panel...even if it's exactly the same.

Sometimes I also think it's also a placebo effect.

"I paid more for X there for X looks better."

I think it's probably that and maybe buyer justification.

I mean if I dropped 2k on Vintage and it looked exactly like it did on my car next to the 20 dollar Clearkote I would have been PISSED.
Click to expand...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-LapXzYhag
 
Ronkh said:
It's subjective I guess..
Click to expand...

Right, in the best sense of "subjective"; different subjects are gonna experience it differently, just like with the speaker analogy.

No right/wrong or extravagant/frugal or sensible/foolish judgments need apply IMO. As long as [the person who matters] gets what they want out of the whole thing it's all good.
 
Imatk said:
Well the review doesn't detail how long it has lasted... you did an update 3 days later which is not nearly enough time to know if it's lasting.

Either way, I'm not doubting that it MAY last longer. Because with the ceramic portion of the wax I'm guessing it will... but I'd definitely like to know if it does last.

What I was responding to was this

It's not difficult to make a wax that lasts a long time. That's easy.

What's difficult is creating a wax that lasts a long time while offering a unique look that is second to none. That's what Synergy offers.

Synergy isn't for everyone. If you want maximum durability at the lowest cost, then stick with FK1000 or Collinite 915. There's a lot more to a wax than how long it lasts, just like there's a lot more to a super car than just how fast it goes in a straight line. :)

Some day, when you try Synergy, you'll understand. :bigups

This comment is ALL about how Synergy looks better "unique" and "second to none" and so on.

This is the kind of thing that I shake my head at. Because I've read it over and over and over again and it's never held true in my experience.

But again... I'd love for someone to prove me wrong on the new wax... then I'd probably buy it, but I won't hold my breath.
Click to expand...

Pardon me... I posted updated longevity info on AGO at the one and two month point. For whatever reason - it didn't end up here. This is the link:

Review: Pinnacle Synergy + Surface Cleansing Polish
Review: Pinnacle Synergy + Surface Cleansing Polish - Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum

Ok. So you do not want to buy Synergy. It's all hype. I've have been round and round with this wax - and I'm telling you it's good. It lasts an unusually long time and looks great. I'm not a professional detailer or wax reviewer. But, Synergy is better than 915. I've used that.

I ran this wax all last winter through PA salt & snow sludge. It was MUCH more resistant to salt and snow than anything in a tub I've tried.

But, I do not think its the right wax for you.
 
Swanicyouth said:
Pardon me... I posted updated longevity info on AGO at the one and two month point. For whatever reason - it didn't end up here. This is the link:

Review: Pinnacle Synergy + Surface Cleansing Polish
Review: Pinnacle Synergy + Surface Cleansing Polish - Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum

Ok. So you do not want to buy Synergy. It's all hype. I've have been round and round with this wax - and I'm telling you it's good. It lasts an unusually long time and looks great. I'm not a professional detailer or wax reviewer. But, Synergy is better than 915. I've used that.

I ran this wax all last winter through PA salt & snow sludge. It was MUCH more resistant to salt and snow than anything in a tub I've tried.

But, I do not think its the right wax for you.
Click to expand...

Well I was responding to your post about the "longevity" factor.

I wasn't even responding to YOUR original post... just the other one that I quoted.

I've already addressed my observations on longevity... and yes I have observed differences.

But thank you for linking the other site and your two-month pictures. From those I can actually tell that I don't see any difference whatsoever with this wax than I do with many other quality waxes that cost far less than $195.

So you are absolutely correct... Synergy is not for me.

I'm glad you are enjoying your purchase.
 
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