Help me get started and choose a good kit: Griots vs Menzerna and PC?

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gtochris

New member
I've only been lurking here for about 2 years and reading about everything I can. (I over research everything)...



My bottom line concern is degrading my paint and clear coat quality any further. If I can't get perfection that is OK, just want an improvement.



Car is a 2004 GTO in Pulse Red, I bought it in 2006 and the previous owner did a good job of swirling it up in car washes and it has some acid rain damage on the roof and trunk lid. I've polished it by hand, and normally use Mothers step 2 and step 3 carnuba but want to improve the base and take out the towell scratches and scratches caused by my winter car cover. Also, the Mothers combo seems to have some durability, but the luster is short lived and then the scratches re-appear.



Been comparing these 2 systems:



Dual Orbital Machine Polish and Wax Kit - Griot's Garage



Does the Griot polishes (1,2,3,4) contain fillers? or no? I dont want fillers. I don't find many reviews of there polishes.





Menzerna kit, menzerna polishing kit, menzerna intensive polish kit



What is the other Ceramic kit about? And as I understand it, the GTO has some really SOFT clear.



I also looked at the M105 and M205 but they seem a little extreme and could do some damage.



Which one will deliver the best? Also should note: I'm looking to top with Klasse AIO and later the sealent. Is this a good process? Durable? (outside car).





Thanks!:)

-Chris
 
Barry Theal- Heh heh, before too long we oughta know just how durable that Griot's unit really is, huh? ;)





gtochris said:
I've only been lurking here for about 2 years and reading about everything I can. (I over research everything)...



My bottom line concern is degrading my paint and clear coat quality any further. If I can't get perfection that is OK, just want an improvement...
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Welcome to Autopia! Sounds like you're on the right track and have realistic goals :xyxthumbs

Car is a 2004 GTO in Pulse Red, I bought it in 2006 and the previous owner did a good job of swirling it up in car washes and it has some acid rain damage on the roof and trunk lid.
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If it has "normal GM clear" it'll be pretty hard stuff and nice and thick. But don't expecdt to do much about the acid-rain etching, just live with that.







Been comparing these 2 systems:
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My advice (and I have a scad of polishers ;) ) is to buy the Griot's polisher but *NOT* the griot's polishes. I've never been satisfied with their Machine Polishes and I've tried a few generations/version of them.



Also, you may very well find that that the Griot's machine will work a *LOT* better if you fit it with a smaller backing plate/pads. Not a biggie as it uses the same stuff as the (common) PC.



What is the other Ceramic kit about? And as I understand it, the GTO has some really SOFT clear.



I also looked at the M105 and M205 but they seem a little extreme and could do some damage.
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Even if it's pretty soft clear the M105/M205 might be a good choice. The Menzerna stuff is also very good, just *different*. Note that brands like Blackfire and Wolfgang are also made by Menzerna and offer little diffs/"features" of their own. I'm 100% confident that you'd be happier with Meguiar's or Menzerna than you would be with Griot's Machine Polishes.

Which one will deliver the best? Also should note: I'm looking to top with Klasse AIO and later the sealent. Is this a good process? Durable? (outside car).
Click to expand...



The Klasse twins can be great, though I'm not crazy about the look. I still use them on one of my vehicles and IME the way to get the best result is to heavily layer the KSG. Six layers will last a long, long time...you won't believe.



But if the thought of doing all that work (and the Klasse approach *is* a bit of work) is daunting, then you could do very well using either the KAIO, or Zaino's AIO, or Autoglym Super Resin Polish (in many ways my preference) topped with Collinite brand wax, which is more durable than many sealants.
 
Accumulator said:
Even if it's pretty soft clear the M105/M205 might be a good choice. The Menzerna stuff is also very good, just *different*. Note that brands like Blackfire and Wolfgang are also made by Menzerna and offer little diffs/"features" of their own. I'm 100% confident that you'd be happier with Meguiar's or Menzerna than you would be with Griot's Machine Polishes.





The Klasse twins can be great, though I'm not crazy about the look. I still use them on one of my vehicles and IME the way to get the best result is to heavily layer the KSG. Six layers will last a long, long time...you won't believe.



But if the thought of doing all that work (and the Klasse approach *is* a bit of work) is daunting, then you could do very well using either the KAIO, or Zaino's AIO, or Autoglym Super Resin Polish (in many ways my preference) topped with Collinite brand wax, which is more durable than many sealants.
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So is 105 rather safe on all surfaces with a standard polishing pad? or should you always start with 205 and drop down if necessary?

As noted, I just dont want to do any further damage, thats my bottom line. The car looks beautiful and I always get complements just how it is now.



I think I am up for trying the Klasse, I actually enjoy washing my car weekly and spending some time bonding with it, but I dispise waxing, also, the fact that this is an outside car stored under a Wolf Noah car cover a good part of the winter makes me want to go the sealant route. Also, I'd like to start sealing our Tahoe as that only gets waxed 1-2x a year and I'd like it to last.
 
gtochris said:
So is 105 rather safe on all surfaces with a standard polishing pad? or should you always start with 205 and drop down if necessary?

As noted, I just dont want to do any further damage, thats my bottom line. The car looks beautiful and I always get complements just how it is now.



I think I am up for trying the Klasse, I actually enjoy washing my car weekly and spending some time bonding with it, but I dispise waxing, also, the fact that this is an outside car stored under a Wolf Noah car cover a good part of the winter makes me want to go the sealant route. Also, I'd like to start sealing our Tahoe as that only gets waxed 1-2x a year and I'd like it to last.
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I recommend the griots da using a 5" BP with 5.5 yellow flat pads and Menzerna Power Finish followed by 85rd via a black 5.5 pad



The 105 will not hurt your car either if you choose to go that route use a orange 5.5 followed by 205 with a green pad and 85rd via a black pad
 
gtochris said:
So is 105 rather safe on all surfaces with a standard polishing pad?
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Keep it off plastic trim and don't let it splatter all over as it's a PIA to clean up. It's not all *that* aggressive, but it is pretty potent stuff, especially if you're not used to serious products. I only use M105 on cutting pads, but that's on *my* paint and yeah, if you can do the work with a milder pad that's a good way to do it.



or should you always start with 205 and drop down if necessary?
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That's a good approach, at least until you've learned what works on your particular paint.



As noted, I just dont want to do any further damage, thats my bottom line. The car looks beautiful and I always get complements just how it is now.
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Plan on just using the M205, reserving the M105 for serious spots. OR...look into the Menzerna/Wolfgang/Blackfire line.



I think I am up for trying the Klasse, I actually enjoy washing my car weekly and spending some time bonding with it, but I dispise waxing, also, the fact that this is an outside car stored under a Wolf Noah car cover a good part of the winter makes me want to go the sealant route. Also, I'd like to start sealing our Tahoe as that only gets waxed 1-2x a year and I'd like it to last.
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OK...but I found it impossible to keep an outside vehicle (covered or not, since every time you put a cover on/off you'll almost *certainly* induce a tiny bit of marring, especially if the vehicle isn't perfectly clean) good enough for the Klasse twins, which make every flaw really obvious. I used Collinite on a few winter drivers (including my Yukon XLD) with good results, but OK, sorry for the hard-sell; I won't beat you over the head with that idea any more...just plan to get at least four, and preferably six, layers of the KSG on there if you want it to last that long.
 
Accumulator said:
Barry Theal- Heh heh, before too long we oughta know just how durable that Griot's unit really is, huh? ;)
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Smart Asss! We will see! It is pretty nice though. By far the best d/a machine I have used.
 
If you decide to go with the Griots, create a MSN Bing Cashback account (free). Link from there out to AutoAnything.com (Search "Cashback stores"). They are an authorized reseller for Griots. You will get free shipping AND a 12% rebate.
 
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