My car/options: Suggestions Please

E

eclemens

New member
I have two main cars that I'm worried about (heh, that I wax :p). One is a 1998 Corvette Convertible in Torch Red and the other is a Platinum Silver Metallic Subaru WRX. After reading quite a few good reviews, I purchased a Porter Cable 7336SP this past weekend. I haven't bought any additional polishing pads yet (I plan to, please recommend), nor any polishing products or waxes. I was told 3M 39009 Swirl Mark Remover was the polish to use, and I know how many people like Zaino. I've never used it, so I don't know. With these cars/colors/tools what would you recommend? (Notice I didn't ask which is best, I'm obviously asking opinion here; specifically for my red and silver vehicles). The paint on both cars is in quite good condition with slight swirl seen on both cars (just in sparse areas) under flourescent lighting. I have been using Meguires Gold Class car wash and wax on both cars. I use 100% cotton terry cloth towels for washing and an absorber for drying. I don't have any microfiber products yet. The gold class car wash seems pretty good, but the gold class wax leaves much to be desired (in both shine as well as durability). My main concern on the Vette is shine, and durability is most important on the Subaru.



Thanks for any help/hints/suggestions :xyxthumbs



VV
 
I would recommend Blackfire for the 'Vette. It will blow away Gold Class in terms of look and also durability. For the WRX, it sounds like Zaino would be a winner on silver, and it also sounds like the durability can't be beat (although I've never used Zaino, so take it FWIW). Klasse might be a great choice too, but Zaino just sounds like your car is what it's perfect for.



If you want to use just one product, try the Blackfire on the WRX. See if it has the durability you want. If not, then buy some Zaino (or whatever). I suspect the Blackfire will go a good 6 months.



I'm surprised you are dissappointed in the looks of Gold Class. I used it on my 1987 Corvette, and it always looked awesome. Granted, I wouldn't use it now, but it does look great and is easy to use.
 
Maybe I'm just applying it all wrong. I smear it on with a foam applicator, let dry to a haze, then buff off (all by hand). Do you use a PC? If so, what accessories do you reccommend?



VV



Aurora40 said:
I would recommend Blackfire for the 'Vette. It will blow away Gold Class in terms of look and also durability. For the WRX, it sounds like Zaino would be a winner on silver, and it also sounds like the durability can't be beat (although I've never used Zaino, so take it FWIW). Klasse might be a great choice too, but Zaino just sounds like your car is what it's perfect for.



If you want to use just one product, try the Blackfire on the WRX. See if it has the durability you want. If not, then buy some Zaino (or whatever). I suspect the Blackfire will go a good 6 months.



I'm surprised you are dissappointed in the looks of Gold Class. I used it on my 1987 Corvette, and it always looked awesome. Granted, I wouldn't use it now, but it does look great and is easy to use.
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When you're applying waxes, start by following the directions on the container. The reason I say this is because some you apply to a small area and buff off like P21S/S100 or Souverän. Others you can apply to the whole car like Blitz, and then buff off. Some you wait for the wax to haze and some you don't. Some are applied with a damp applicator and some with a dry applicator. Also when you're applying the wax you should put it on in a thin layer, using too much can make it harder to remove. So if you're following the directions and are still not happy then....



Currently, I'm using Klasse topped with Souverän on my BMW and just Klasse on my wife's Catera. Both cars look great, but I think mine has better depth and shine being topped with a carnauba wax. If I didn't love waxing my car so much, I think I'd switch to Zaino. I'll probably will use Zaino on my wife's car next Spring since I can't give her car the same TLC that I give my car.



Klasse is a great product if you can devote the time to it. You can get by with one layer of SG and be done in a day, but you will get better results with multiple layers of SG, which should be allowed to cure for 24 hrs between layers. You could get 2 layers done over the weekend or any 2 day period and add another layer the following week. You also need to allow the SG to dry for 2 or more hours before you buff off the residue.
 
I would say Zaino would be great on both cars. IMO, Zaino cannot be beat on red.. just because theres nothing that shines as much as Z, and I love red mirrors. :D That being said, hands down Zaino would be my choice for the Subaru. Z-2 looks sooo nice on silver/white/gold cars. When the product is layered you will get results you never imagined were possible.



As for the PC... I would check out CMA's selection of accesories. http://www.properautocare.com/porcabpolac.html



Hope this helps, and welcome to Autopia! :wavey
 
Thanks :)



You mention Z2 for the Suby, should I use Z5 or Z2 for the Vette? I had planned on prepping with SMR, but the dawn step before zaino would remove the fillers, right?



VV



thevolvoguy said:
I would say Zaino would be great on both cars. IMO, Zaino cannot be beat on red.. just because theres nothing that shines as much as Z, and I love red mirrors. :D That being said, hands down Zaino would be my choice for the Subaru. Z-2 looks sooo nice on silver/white/gold cars. When the product is layered you will get results you never imagined were possible.



As for the PC... I would check out CMA's selection of accesories. http://www.properautocare.com/porcabpolac.html



Hope this helps, and welcome to Autopia! :wavey
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VetteVert said:
Thanks :)



You mention Z2 for the Suby, should I use Z5 or Z2 for the Vette? I had planned on prepping with SMR, but the dawn step before zaino would remove the fillers, right?



VV
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I think you could use Z5 or Z2. Z5 is supposed to hide swirls more, so you might try it if you have swirls to hide. You could certainly prep your car with SMR if you have swirls to remove. You would want to remove the fillers anyway before using Z as it is supposed to go on bare paint. The SMR should remove swirls because of the mild abrasives in them. So, they will be gone. It doesn't just fill them in (although most SMRs also fill in bigger swirls). So a SMR should still produce results even if you then remove any fillers it left.



I have used a PC for Gold Class, but I also used to apply it by hand. If you follow the directions and buff it off completely, you should have a great look. I think it has a great look especially on darker cars. My flame red Corvette always looked awesome with Gold Class. But, it doesn't last very long. As I said, it was a great look, but I don't use it anymore. In what way does it not meet your expectations? Does it look hazy? Does it just not shine much? It's possible that you aren't applying or removing it correctly. If that's the case, you will have problems with Z or Klasse or Blackfire too. Your description of "smearing it around" doesn't sound too good, but perhaps you were just being quip. Try it using less product, and spreading it around more evenly. Make sure that foam pad you use is clean. Wash in in the washing machine if it's cruddy or has product built up in it. Don't use pressure on the pad. Try coating the whole car and letting it sit a few minutes. Then buff it off. Make sure the toweling doesn't get "full" of product. If it starts to feel dusty or sticky, switch to a new towel. I can understand wanting to use something other than Gold Class, but I am a bit surprised that you feel you can't get decent results with it.



You wash your car with towels? You might want to try something else. I like those chenile-wrapped sponges. It's like a terry towel with much thicker nap, and there is a sponge inside to hold soapy water, and also to dissipate pressure you put on it.
 
I use a clean foam applicator and I've tried circular as well as back and forth motions (front to back and up and down). Maybe I'm using too much product. No hazing, it just doesn't have the deepness I would like. Maybe it is more in the lack of prep (polishing) beforehand that keeps me from the results I'm looking for. Thanks again



VV



Aurora40 said:
I think you could use Z5 or Z2. Z5 is supposed to hide swirls more, so you might try it if you have swirls to hide. You could certainly prep your car with SMR if you have swirls to remove. You would want to remove the fillers anyway before using Z as it is supposed to go on bare paint. The SMR should remove swirls because of the mild abrasives in them. So, they will be gone. It doesn't just fill them in (although most SMRs also fill in bigger swirls). So a SMR should still produce results even if you then remove any fillers it left.



I have used a PC for Gold Class, but I also used to apply it by hand. If you follow the directions and buff it off completely, you should have a great look. I think it has a great look especially on darker cars. My flame red Corvette always looked awesome with Gold Class. But, it doesn't last very long. As I said, it was a great look, but I don't use it anymore. In what way does it not meet your expectations? Does it look hazy? Does it just not shine much? It's possible that you aren't applying or removing it correctly. If that's the case, you will have problems with Z or Klasse or Blackfire too. Your description of "smearing it around" doesn't sound too good, but perhaps you were just being quip. Try it using less product, and spreading it around more evenly. Make sure that foam pad you use is clean. Wash in in the washing machine if it's cruddy or has product built up in it. Don't use pressure on the pad. Try coating the whole car and letting it sit a few minutes. Then buff it off. Make sure the toweling doesn't get "full" of product. If it starts to feel dusty or sticky, switch to a new towel. I can understand wanting to use something other than Gold Class, but I am a bit surprised that you feel you can't get decent results with it.



You wash your car with towels? You might want to try something else. I like those chenile-wrapped sponges. It's like a terry towel with much thicker nap, and there is a sponge inside to hold soapy water, and also to dissipate pressure you put on it.
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VetteVert said:
I use a clean foam applicator and I've tried circular as well as back and forth motions (front to back and up and down). Maybe I'm using too much product. No hazing, it just doesn't have the deepness I would like. Maybe it is more in the lack of prep (polishing) beforehand that keeps me from the results I'm looking for. Thanks again



VV
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Well, maybe it just isn't the product for you. Even if you did get a great shine, there are better products out there.



Here's my old Corvette with Gold Class on it. They were scanned a while ago on a rather crummy scanner, so they aren't the best.



2657myvette2.jpg




2657myvette1.jpg
 
It looks good to me :)



"Depth" is a hard thing to define and hard (impossible?) to get on lighter colours. I'd say the red of your car is a bit on the light side and not a hugely "deep" colour to begin with. People have said that Klasse and carnaubas are best for depth and warmth as opposed to Zaino, which is considered best for bright, clear shine, so you might want to look into those.



Most people like the look of Gold Class though, so maybe try applying it thinner. If you can see there's a thin layer on there, it's more than enough - this is true for almost anything. Or try prepping the car with a pre-wax cleaner or SMR if you need it.



Also, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned claying and if you've clayed it. Lack of prep by cleaning the surface and claying it (if it needs it) could lead to wax being harder to use.
 
VetteVert said:
Looks Great! Here is what mine looks like with gold class:



http://www1.appstate.edu/~jg25023/both/both5.jpg



I linked because the picture is...ahem...BIG :p



It has good shine, just no depth



VV
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Yeah, I see what you mean. What a turd... :rolleyes:



It looks great. I know what you mean about "depth", though. My car (Aurora, not the 'vette) looked great with Gold Class, but I wanted something more. I've since tried #7/#26, Medallion Protectant, and I got some Souveran and Klasse to try. But then I got some BF and tried that. I haven't seen need to try the Klasse. The Blackfire really got the look I wanted. I don't know if it's depth or just the metallic sparkle, but the car looks excellent. So, I would have to again recommend you give Blackfire a try.



I would like to try Klasse sometime I guess just to see. I use it on my wife's car and it does add a neat glow. I also use it around the house on metals that oxidize (like brass). I would like to try Souveran on top of BF, but I can't see using just Souv because of the durability. I've noticed the Klasse SG has a sort of glow when it is in the shade on a bright day. In the sun, it just has a nice reflection. The Blackfire is sort of the opposite. In the shade it is darkish and very deep. But then in the sun, it has this metallic radioactive glow like crazy. Keep in mind, though, that this is on two different cars of two different colors (my wife's car is green).
 
Vettevert, your red is brighter than mine, but like most Meguiars waxes the issue that is missing is the absolutely crystal sharp reflections. Blackfire should give you both. Blackfire goes over Klasse AIO according to Terry of CMA in a recent post. That will add extra durability. Blackfire can be topped with P21S also for an even deepershine.



I wouldn't boo hoo too loudly about your current conditon, cause it looks darn good.
 
VV --



I have always used Z-2, havent yet tried Z-5. You may want to ask someone who has tried both what their choice would be. (RedCarGUY??) Z-5 does have some swirl filling capabilities, but for that reason it must have some additive(s) which could change some things with durability, shine, both or it could change nothing at all...



I agree that BlackFire looks great on red, but its just not as reflective.



VV, check your PM's I think that will help you out a little. ;)
 
I may have come across too strong on the gold class comments. I don't mean that it doesn't look good, it just doesn't have the punch I'm looking for. I don't think any product will make it look bad; the paint is in near perfect condition (cars has 8k miles, never seen rain, stays garaged).



Thanks for all the suggestions!



THANKS thevolvoguy!!



Gotta go order my pads now :o



VV



mrdetailer said:
Vettevert, your red is brighter than mine, but like most Meguiars waxes the issue that is missing is the absolutely crystal sharp reflections. Blackfire should give you both. Blackfire goes over Klasse AIO according to Terry of CMA in a recent post. That will add extra durability. Blackfire can be topped with P21S also for an even deepershine.



I wouldn't boo hoo too loudly about your current conditon, cause it looks darn good.
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