I'll get flamed for this but...

OneQuickGT1 said:
.. I would be pretty interested to see how just one coat does, honestly. I know my coverage was good, as it was applied by PC



Yeah, I was just thinking about how much better FK1000P (and some others too) lasts with two coats. Sometimes the diff is surprising.
 
It would be a fun experiment to get a few gallons of NuFinish, package it in a "boutique" bottle, and get "regulars" on detailing forums to use it and post opinions. I suspect we'd see a whole different review than if we handed them the ugly orange NuFinish bottle.



I'm not saying all sealants are the same, and on a well prepped car you really CAN see a difference in "looks". There is no denying this is true. However, IMO, the difference isn't as great as many might claim.



I'll get run off of the forum for this, but I've resigned myself to claying and applying 476, 3M performance Finish, DG101, or some other long lasting sealant twice a year and calling it "good". Using proper wash techniques and materials seems to keep it *mostly* swirl-free. The car doesn't look quite as nice as when I was more obsessive with polishing, etc, but the average person can't really spot the difference, especially after the car sits outside and gets a layer of dust on it after one day.



Call me a slacker, but I find I just don't want to invest time in obsessive detailing anymore. My paint doesn't appear to be suffering because I've relaxed a bit. :)
 
novadude- Gotta keep this stuff in perspective, huh? I think it's all too possible to make the whole "perfection" issue such a big deal that it can take a lot of the fun out of the whole car-hobby thing.



I too only reLSP when it really need doing, though I do manage to keep the marring at bay and..sigh.. I can't help but inspect like crazy just to confirm that all is well.



But no, I'm not sweating it like that on the Crown Vic until I get the mechanicals sorted out, and since white doesn't show much anyhow I gotta say it's nice to *NOT* have to be all Autopian about it. It's kinda funny...I'm sometimes embarassed about how that car looks, but the guys at my Ford dealer are so impressed with it that they treat it like some showcar.
 
Accumulator said:
It's kinda funny...I'm sometimes embarassed about how that car looks, but the guys at my Ford dealer are so impressed with it that they treat it like some showcar.



Only a true Autopian would be embarrassed. To borrow from the popular phrase going around today, "we are the 1%" concerning car aesthetics. I'm sure the Crown Vic looks plenty good as an enjoyable, real world vehicle :bigups
 
Bill D- Yeah, I actually think I insulted some members of the Jag Club with my response when they complimented that car :o But I mean, really....if you saw it you'd just *die*.



And heh heh...you can guess where I stand on the various "1%" designations that're making the rounds in our society these days ;)
 
Well, a little update. It's been on the car for a bit now. A couple of light snow events, lots of road salt, and two touchless washes. I'm happy to report the beading is as good as day one. Slickness seems good. Look is good. Now, I know this is not much of a test, but we're due to get some snow this weekend, plus I'll be going on a 500 mile trip. So, probably a couple touchless washes in the next week.



I have a lot of faith this will last through the winter, and this is only one coat. Like I said, it's going to get a deep polishing in the spring, and I might just use this as my LSP, just to see the look with a complete polishing.



This might be the best 7.99 I've spent.
 
Or you could keep it in the family, Cling isn't bad if you water it down. Its crazy at full strength.
 
I have gotten away from the all the hype of high dollar products. Price is no indication of quality to me when it comes to detailing chemicals. 3D helped me see that!
 
novadude said:
I'll get run off of the forum for this, but I've resigned myself to claying and applying 476, 3M performance Finish, DG101, or some other long lasting sealant twice a year and calling it "good". Using proper wash techniques and materials seems to keep it *mostly* swirl-free. The car doesn't look quite as nice as when I was more obsessive with polishing, etc, but the average person can't really spot the difference, especially after the car sits outside and gets a layer of dust on it after one day.



Call me a slacker, but I find I just don't want to invest time in obsessive detailing anymore. My paint doesn't appear to be suffering because I've relaxed a bit. :)



I agree with you. I haven't clayed or polished the paint on my car in 2 years. Still is a head turner.
 
Another update...it's been several months, several road trips, salt, snow, and about 5 touchless washes. Maybe not a huge challenge, but today I ran it through the touchless again. Have to say, beading is still strong, decent slickness, and it still looks good. I wanted to hate this stuff! :)



For $7.99, I am giving it a pretty solid nod. Like I said, it might just go back on once I polish in the spring, topped with UQW or Nanowax spray. I'm sure it looks a little sterile on most colors, but the look is good and crisp on silver. I am actually interested in seeing how it protects and releases the summer grime and bugs.



I'm going to keep experimenting. Not much time with work, planning a wedding, and customer cars. Anything to make my life easier and still keep the car looking good!
 
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