Are the more expensive "Polishers and Waxes" really worth it?

O

OUCH

New member
I just finished applying 2 coats of AIO, 2x SG, and 2x Paste Glaz on one side of this Body kit I have, these were all done by hand. And on the other side I used just plain old Meguiars Cleaner/Wax that I bought for 5 bucks, that was applied via Porter Cable and later on topped with Paste Glaz...



Well here's what I've noticed so far, the side where I applied all those expensive looks more wet and shinier compared to the side that only has Meguiars Cleaner/Wax which is more reflective, meaning it reflects everything clearly and doesn't bend the light as much as the "Expensive" side. The difference is very subtle to the untrained eyes... So I thought hey why not top the Meguiar's side with a Coat of Paste Glaz, so I did and now that side is as shiny but still not as wet looking as the "Expensive Side" Almost but not quite though it still reflects objects and backgrounds better..



Anyways here's a couple of pictures that I took before when I didn't have any of the "More Expensive" materials that I have now, including the PC.



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With this one I used Claybar, Meguiar's Step 1 and Meguiars #7 Glaze and look how reflective it is.



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Here's the finished product a week or 2 later, after it was topped with Meguiar's Gold Class.



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My friend's Civic, that we claybarred, then used 3M SMR on, Meguairs #7 and Gold Class. :) Almost as good as a Zaino huh



So what do you guys think?
 
That's because the prep makes the car shine. Some of the extra bucks are for ease of use, or special characteristics, like being able to use in the sun, etc.



However, take the Gold Class car, and compare to the Klasse car after 3 weeks of rain every day, like we get here. You'll notice the difference right away. I guarantee it. I know I did.
 
Hey, if you can get results you like (and what's not to like in those photos) without spending a lot on product, then there's certainly nothing wrong with that. Different products work in different ways. Buy what works for you. If it happens to be cheap, then that's great! :bigups



P.S. I found it amusing that you referred to the products as "More Expensive". They aren't really "more expensive", they are actually more expensive. I just thought it was amusing is all... ;) :wavey
 
I have had Zaino sitting in my closet unused for close to a year now. I just couldn't bring myself to switch from my Meguiars #9, #7, #26 routine. 2 kids later, a full time job and a home business and I have no more time for my routine so I am going to give up a tad of the deep shine that I am used to in favor of durability which I think Zaino and similar products have hands down.



I know that people do not like Zaino on dark cars but, what consitutes dark? The only chart I have seen is the one at www.zymol.com and it states that the Laser Red on my 01 GT is a dark color. Anyone out there care to share pics of a Metalic Candy Red with Zaino?



Thanks
 
The only true test is for you to apply the Zaino and see if the appearance meets your appearance desires. If so, Zaino works on Metallic Candy Red. :wavey
 
I think 2wheelsx2 and blkz28conv said it. :up The more expensive products Autopians like to use usually won't make a difference all by themselves in appearance, but it's the prep that really counts. Keep in mind that both of those cars are quite new and don't require as much prep as older vehicles to make them look good.



Also, products like Klasse offer more than a superior appearance - they're much tougher and offer more protection as well.
 
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With this one we washed it down with Dawn, then Claybarred then used Meguiar's Step 1, was gonna use #7 and then Gold Class but got tired hehe so I went straight to AIO. It's been a week now and so far it looks good, my car the White Prelude on the other hand still looks great and it's been thru rain like a couple of times. So we'll see who could outlast each other :)
 
blkZ28Conv said:
The only true test is for you to apply the Zaino and see if the appearance meets your appearance desires. If so, Zaino works on Metallic Candy Red. :wavey
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I know I know :) I really don't have a choice as I usually waxed at least once a month and that is getting really hard to stick to now.



My Stang used to be a garage queen spending evenings in my garage at home and the days at work in a parking garage. Now its lucky to see the garage at all. We also now live in an area where it sees gravel and quite a bit of road crud so I guess my priorities are going to have to shift to durability no matter what it looks like.



I am just trying to get a feel for what others have experienced who might have gone through the same thing.



Thanks
 
Bob, I understand your dilemma. What I was trying to say was that pixs and other's opinions , though valuable, will not solve your problem of appearance vs durablity vs time available to detail dilemma. A good quick trial can be perform on a portion of your car. One weekend just Dawn wash your hood, repair any paint flaws ( swirls (SMR) and clay if necessary), polish and apply some Zaino. To give Zaino a fair shake you MUST prep. Anything less will not be fair to Zaino. Personally ( used Zaino on metallic silver) I believe you will be quite happy with the results. :wavey
 
Well, I'm at about that 30 post number, so I can chime in, I think.



If it was only product, then the wealth of knowledge represented at and by this website wouldn't matter.



For me, knowledge has turned cleaning the car from a chore to a delight. First, the results are obvious. Second, when done properly, even a job that starts with stripping and clay barring is easier than just "waxing the car": it's all in the planning, and step-by-step detailing removes unforeseen roadblocks, like for example the gob of tar at the wheel well getting on the wax pad and ruining the paint. Third, it was easy to learn. The first 98% is revealed the first time you do the car right; the last 2% you learn when you encouter stuff like bird droppings and chewing gum in the carpet, and then you come here and learn that.



All that being said, I'd never use anything other than the Souveran on my red car, now that I've seen what it does. All my other products, the Zymols and Meg's and Wax Boys and NuFinish and such, those are for the wife's car!





Mosca
 
blkZ28Conv said:
. One weekend just Dawn wash your hood, repair any paint flaws ( swirls (SMR) and clay if necessary), polish and apply some Zaino. To give Zaino a fair shake you MUST prep. Anything less will not be fair to Zaino.
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Could you explain what you mean when you say polish before using Zaino? I thought you couldn't apply anything under Zaino.
 
There are many polishes that do not contain oils, silicone, etc. A good example would be 3M's Fine Cut. I would follow with a paint cleanser like P21S GEPC or Vanilla Moose. Follow with a Z6 wipe down to remove anything that may interfere with Zaino bonding.

If a Zaino protected finish is to have a flawless, deep, wet, reflective appearance , like all products, one must first create a perfect canvas (finish ).
 
blkZ28Conv said:
Bob, I understand your dilemma. What I was trying to say was that pixs and other's opinions , though valuable, will not solve your problem of appearance vs durablity vs time available to detail dilemma. A good quick trial can be perform on a portion of your car. One weekend just Dawn wash your hood, repair any paint flaws ( swirls (SMR) and clay if necessary), polish and apply some Zaino. To give Zaino a fair shake you MUST prep. Anything less will not be fair to Zaino. Personally ( used Zaino on metallic silver) I believe you will be quite happy with the results. :wavey
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I definitely agree with you on the prep. My surface prep arsenal includes my trusty PC, Scratch X, #9, DACP and Medallion Premium Paint Cleaner. As you can see I am a big Meguiars fan. Been using their products for years with great results. Problem is in my particular situation Carnauba just isn't cutting it anymore.



I thought about using Mequiars Premium Paint Protection but from what I understand it is sort of a blend of Polymers and Carnauba and from Autopia I have read that it only lasts marginally longer than #26.



The picture below is the last major detail I did on the car before moving here to SC. I did some major demage to my clear coat by hauling the car on a trailer with a tarp over it. The tarp flapped in the wind causing abrasions in the clear coat over the entire surface of the car. What you see below is the result of an entire week of spending about 3 hours or more a day with my PC and Mequiars PPC and #9. Then used #7 to cover up anything I might have missed and finally topping it off with #26.



Gotta wait for some decent weather, we had hail yesterday. Definitely going to go with Zaino as I need the durability.



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Beautiful car and color. I believe Zaino will look great with that shade of metallic red. :xyxthumbs



Yes, we have been having some severe storms lately also but my lawn and flower beds look great this year. :D
 
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rjstaaf said:
I thought about using Mequiars Premium Paint Protection but from what I understand it is sort of a blend of Polymers and Carnauba and from Autopia I have read that it only lasts marginally longer than #26.
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You might find MPPP lasts longer, but it isn't as fun. For one, it doesn't bead like #26 does. For another, it has light cleaners in it so it negates any extra gloss/swirl-filling that a glaze prior to it leaves. And lastly, it doesn't smell as nice as #26 and doesn't look as deep (though it is quite shiney). Unless you want more of a 1-step product, MPPP probably isn't what you are looking for.
 
Bob, that is a nice looking Mustang. I agree that your Megiuars combo is great but time consuming. I would suggest considering a sealant like UPP which is $15, you can use this over AIO. The UPP is really easy to use and just wipes off. From what I undersatnd the protection although not quite as good as Zaino is much better than #26. I have got two months from UPP so far and still going.
 
Expensive products do not mean quality products. Zymol is the classic example. Selling $1000 USD waxes. Sheesh.



If your prep is excellent and you have a flawless to near flawless finish, pretty much anything you put on top of it will look awesome. Different products produce different types of reflection and have differing durabilities. That decision will ultimately make you decide what you top off your finish with.



It's the not the price of the product that makes a good polish or not. Most products work very well - if, and it's a big if, you know what technique works best for that product.



Finesse It II from 3M is a classic example. If you do not work it long enough or hard enough, it will lead to hazing. If worked properly, you'll get a high gloss finish. To often, people don't work it nearly enough - probably 1/10th the time they should - and then blame the product.



Also, some products are easier to work with it than others and some of the slightly more expensive products can be a dream to work with compared to the Turtle Waxes of the world.
 
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