tried NXT - Not what I expected

S

SamIam

New member
Walking though Pep Brothers, I decided to try NXT paste. I had read alot about it, both good and bad, and thought i'd give it a try. My thoughts:



Price: Higher than I expected. I believe it was $18.50, but there was a money back guarantee on it, which convinced me to give it a try. Figured if I don't like it, I can always get my money back, if I do like it, even better. However, seemed like a lot of money, seeing as the 845 I bought and Glanz Wax I bought both were less expensive.



First impressions: Didn't really like anything about it. Subjectively, I didn't like the smell. I didn't think it went on and off that easy. The surface was well prepped, having been previously polished with 1Z MP Pro till swirl free and topped with collinite 476. I prepped again by claying and using 1Z MP Pro till surface looked fabulous. At first, I seemed to put it on a bit heavy, and then got the hang of it, but it just didn't seem to go on smoothly. Maybe it was product, maybe it was me. Anyways, didn't really think it was that easy to take off either. First it seemed oily, so I let it dry some more, but then it got tougher to take off. I usually find the whole applying paste wax a relaxing event, this wasn't. This was work. More so than even the Collinite I use.



Results: Again, not impressed. I thought it didn't look as good as the Collinite, S100, Glanz Wax or even old #26 I've previously used on the finish. I actually like #26 MUCH better than the NXT.



Finally, today I drive through a rainstorm. Part of the car done with NXT, I had medium size and small beads, not particularly tight, that refused to roll off the paint. However, the part of the hood, roof, and side that I left with the Collinite Fleetwax was bone dry when I wheeled into the garage. Driving down the road, the Collinite side had water FLYING off it, the NXT, even though it was only a couple days old, didn't have much effect at all. Frankly, I can't see this lasting very long at all.



Perhaps its me, perhaps its product, but I didn't really like the process or results. Guess I'll send it back. I'm sure there are people out there who love the product and get better results than I did. If so, my hat's off to you.



I still want to try #21. Please tell me it a better product.
 
SamIam said:
However, the part of the hood, roof, and side that I left with the Collinite Fleetwax was bone dry when I wheeled into the garage. Driving down the road, the Collinite side had water FLYING off it, the NXT, even though it was only a couple days old, didn't have much effect at all. Frankly, I can't see this lasting very long at all.
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ive never used NXT but i LOVE the beading action of collinite 476s
 
I just tried the NXT paste on a silver Honda Accord and I am realy not that impressed with it. I did not like it at all. I have used the liquid version and I have had muc better results wit it. Easier to use, and I actually seemed to get a better glow from the liquid version on light colors. Just my .02!
 
I have a tin of this sitting on my shelf just waiting to be tried. I heard it's not the easiest to work with, but hopefully I'll be able to achieve some decent results with it.
 
For most, you either like or you don't.



I didn't care for it, but kept it just in case...there may be a place for it at some point.
 
i have the liquid version and i actually did like it. haven't used it in a while but it's still in there in case i want to. certainly very easy to use and pretty slick. most people can't tell the difference anyways ;)
 
I like it on black, but like most sealant/polymers, I don't like it as much as carnaubas. I really like it on metallic blues, the darker the better. Some waxes/sealants are just like that, they excel on a particular color more than anything else. Similarly, I find EX w/carnauba to be stunning on non metallic reds.



For me, it works best when applied via PC, seems I can lay it down thinner and it sets up more quickly for easy removal. If it takes any real effort to remove, you applied it too thick or it isn't completely dry.



I've had decent durability, on par with a good carnauba. Slickness does fade after a few washings but the look seems to hold up pretty nicely.



BTW, AIO seems to be the best base for NXT in my experience.
 
SamIam said:
I still want to try #21. Please tell me it a better product.
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I have not tried NXT paste, but I was an NXT liquid wax user. Let's just say #21 was good enough for me to switch from NXT topped with P21s. The only drawback is that #21 only comes in a 64oz size. You might be able to purchase sample sized bottles from detailing supply sites though.



I used #21 by hand and by random orbital. I wouldn't go back to doing it by hand. I got better results by machine. It's been 3 weeks now since I applied it and last washed. My car has gone through 3 rain storms, lots of bug **** and the rain is still beading off the dirty surface. The drawback is that water doesn't seem to sheet off that quick (when you drive, the water doesn't flow away that quick).
 
FrizzleFry said:
i have the liquid version and i actually did like it. haven't used it in a while but it's still in there in case i want to. certainly very easy to use and pretty slick. most people can't tell the difference anyways ;)
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I have the liquid version also. My initial impression was it was okay, but nothing exciting and went back to my Poor Boys EX-P, UPP and S100. I did my dads truck a couple weeks ago and thought I'd pull out the NXT and was actually quit pleased with it this time around. I still like the others better, but not really as much difference as I had thought.
 
NXT isn't cheap. I guess with all the marketing and money back guarantees it costs more than the Collinite waxes to put on the market.

NXT has its uses but I'm a big fan of #845 nowadays.

#21 is a better product than NXT imo, whether you prefer the look or not, durability is no doubt a big improvement. Megs say NXT is still there and protecting the paint even when it's not beading blablabla, I don't care. I like seeing beads. #21 and Collinite give me that long after NXT stops.

That said, one of my fave combos is 2 x NXT topped with #16. NXT look with extra wetness and bead for you long time. I just don't like NXT by itself and could care less for the spray wax. NXT also works better when the paint is prepped with #80 or AIO.
 
I guess my point is:

1) Even if protecting after the rain quits beading, I like my car shedding water. Whether it sheets or beads, I want the water off. I didn't see that with NXT.



2) Without considering price, there is nothing special about it. When considering price, I believe it has a terrible price/performance quotient. High price, mediocre looks and performance. Put it this way, would you use NXT over UPP, 845, Glanz or S100? I wouldn't, and each of those products cost less.



3) I like Meguirs products overall, but I just don't get this product, unless driven by VOC. I still think #26 is a better looking product! However, my car is black, so maybe that has something to do with it.



Oh well, I guess its just not my "cup of tea". Back to the garage.
 
I've used the liquid for a while since they came out with it and loved it, very easy on and off, better than anyother wax I've used. Then I tried the paste NXT and didn't like it at all, harder to put on and take off and didn't give better results for the effort. #21 only comes in liquid but it's not the same as NXT, doesn't have the cleaners and is best applied to a perfect surface whereas NXT can be machine applied for some cleaning ability. With all that said, I still believe that nothing shines or lasts like Meg's #16. It's easy on, tougher off than NXT but the slick feeling and shine lasts much longer. Maybe some day they'll bring it back, in the meantime I got 4 cans.
 
But #16 doesn't have cleaners in it either. If comparing between #21 and #16, I'd still go for #21 since it gives a nice deep look as well. Plus, #16 is discontinued.



I think for the sealants such as NXT and #21, a spray of QD after wach wash is required to keep the surface slick so that the rainwater beads. The protection might still be there but QD with an MF somehow "refinishes" the surface so that it becomes smooth again. If you test by running your hand after washing, it is not as smooth as when you first applied it. But if you buff lightly with a clean MF over the clean surface, it becomes smooth again.
 
If you have a PC, a 4" finishing pad will make NXT paste much easier to work with. I thought the paste was rather difficult to apply by hand, but it's pretty easy with a PC, and the resulting residue is very easy to wipe off.



FWIW,

Tort
 
I used NXT liquid exclusively for almost 2 years on all my details.



I currently have 3 layers of NXT on my MR2 that I applied in the last week of MAY that still beads ALOT when it rains/wash.



All she's gotten since then is QEW washs (and the occasion bucket wash) and QD. The car is outside 24/7 BTW



click for those pics from May



The files were initially uploaded to my site on 01Jun05. . .



Bang for your buck and ease of finding the NXT makes it my favorite over the counter product.



I <3 NXT
 
Hey blue-sun, nice to see your MR2 is looking so good.



My MR2 loves NXT as well. I tried the paste but like others I found it was more difficult to apply and remove than the liquid. I have two coats of NXT liquid on mine and I follow each wash with the NXT booster. Easy maintenance and great looks. Check out my MR2 gallery to see the results on my 15 year old MR2.
 
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