Why are nubas so popular other than looks?

zoomzoom3

New member
I've always wondered this. I know a quality nuba looks nicer than a sealant, but 4-6 weeks of protection from a nuba is nothing compared to 4-6 months protection of a quality sealant. I'm not slamming nubas by any means, b/c I used to use Pinnacle Souveran, but applying it every month got really annoying.
 
  • Ease of application
  • warmth/glow
  • often a dramatic initial slickness
  • owner seeking to bond with car more often
  • broad selection of hi quality products



You don't use carnauba 'cause you're looking for longevity, Zoom!
 
tom p. said:
  • Ease of application
  • warmth/glow
  • often a dramatic initial slickness
  • owner seeking to bond with car more often
  • broad selection of hi quality products



You don't use carnauba 'cause you're looking for longevity, Zoom!



i could'nt have said it better.
 
tom p. said:
  • Ease of application
  • warmth/glow
  • often a dramatic initial slickness
  • owner seeking to bond with car more often
  • broad selection of hi quality products



You don't use carnauba 'cause you're looking for longevity, Zoom!



+1



You just don't bond with your car with a sealant the same way you do when applying a nice nuba paste.



I even appreciate the carnauba look on lighter colors, something like Collinite has that carnauba glow but with better durability than many sealants.
 
zoomzoom3 said:
I've always wondered this. I know a quality nuba looks nicer than a sealant, but 4-6 weeks of protection from a nuba is nothing compared to 4-6 months protection of a quality sealant. I'm not slamming nubas by any means, b/c I used to use Pinnacle Souveran, but applying it every month got really annoying.



I get closer to 5 months from my 'nuba.
 
Marketing mostly, and "Carnauba" becomes a code word for certain aspects of the product. It is usually not the critical ingredient, or could be replaced with something equivalent with little if any loss of functionality.



Creamy consistency

Nice smell (usu fruity or tropical)

Tends to Haze

Forms a thick film, with slightly variable thickness.
 
i actually like the blends..



i'm using TWUP steady, and cant see a forseeble change anytime soon.



cant believe what it does on black.
 
Besides the look...



Some of my waxes last a good long time, #16 and the old version of 3M Showcar Paste come to mind (I consider Collinites to be wax/sealant hybrids).



Waxes seem to shed water better than some sealants and to better do the "self-cleaning in the rain" thing.



Some waxes seem to provide better protection against bird-bombs and bug-guts than certain sealants.



With regard to minor marring, waxes do a bit of conealing whereas sealants make the marring *more* obvious.



Some waxes (e.g., Souveran) seem to work better on surfaces that aren't ususally LSPed (e.g., exterior rubber trim)



Waxes are less finicky about bonding with underlying products.



Some waxes are easier to use than most sealants.



And as Gears noted, they're just more fun for me to work with :D I like how they smell and how the application/removal process goes. Subjective? Sure..but when *I* am the subject in question, well, that matters ;)
 
in my experience Zymol Titanium carnauba wax has a great shine and lasts a very long time for a carnauba wax. it is actually designed for daily drivers and lots of highway use.
 
I say if you are an enthusiast about looks good for carnuba. If you are lazy, go for sealant.



BTW, I wax my car every 2 weeks. :secret
 
zoomzoom3 said:
I've always wondered this. I know a quality nuba looks nicer than a sealant, but 4-6 weeks of protection from a nuba is nothing compared to 4-6 months protection of a quality sealant.



You are confusing durability with protection. Just because a product makes water bead on the paint doesn't mean it is protecting it. Who cares how long a product stays on the paint if it doesn't offer much resistance to bird bombs?



My experience has been that carnaubas and the WOWO sealants (Opti-Seal, Ultima UPGP and Zaino Z-CS) give better protection against bird bombs than any of the sealants I have tried.



I don't see much differnce in applying protection monthly vs layering sealants.
 
I just love the look of the carnauba on even pearl, makes it deep and rich looking.

Starfire Pearl IS350, KAIO followed by Souveran.



IS7.jpg
 
Scottwax said:
..I don't see much differnce in applying protection monthly vs layering sealants.



-AND-



GS4_Fiend said:
If you are lazy, go for sealant.



BTW, I wax my car every 2 weeks..



For me, the diff is that once I get my sealant layered thickly enough, I can just wash for at least a year. No every-few-months LSPing for me when I go the sealant route. Yeah, I know, more of my Autopian Heresy :o





GS4_Fiend- Not so much lazy as a matter of prioritizing. These days I have better things to do than detail our vehicles all the time ;)



Scottwax- Whenever the subject of wax durability comes up, I'm reminded of how well Souveran works for you in the Texas heat! Man-oh-man I wish it lasted that long for me on the hood of the Jag :nixweiss
 
Back
Top