Why Fix What Isn't Broke????

[crobinso]

I came here looking some somthing better that would give me better results than what I was getting and the same still applies.
If I can find somethng that does better or takes less time or possibly cheaper it's all for the best.

It also gives the manufacturers something to strive for, why would they bother to come up with new products if everyone was satisfied with what was being currently offered.

JMHO
"J"

I first came to DC not knowing anything about detailing. I'd just bought a new car and didn't want the paint to fail on it. I spent about $800 on all manner of products and gadgets and now have a cabinet full of product. But my car shines. It shines. It SHINES! And I'm lovin' it.

Manufacturers (Blue Coral [BOO! HSSS!] for one) continually try to find the ultimate product for the uninitiated to latch on to, and get it to market before fully testing it under all conditions. I'd had my 1988 Grand Marquis for 5 years with a perfect shine on it (yes, even though I'd been using Dawn and such), but got sucked in by Blue Coral's ad for their One Step Touchless Acrylic Instant Restoration Coating. I ordered some of this stuff and put it on my car. The shine was bright, but the coating was uneven. Then I found that I could not get this stuff off of my car, and scrubbed and scrubbed until I ruined not only my clearcoat, but the base underneath.

I kept that car until 2004, when I bought my current Grand Marquis. The old car's paint was beyond embarrassing, with primer exposed along all edges. I will not let such a fate happen to my car(s) again!

That is why I'm so impressed with the PB line and the 4S line. Their products are gentle. Their processes to a perfect shine aren't a quick coverall but rather a series of layered steps instead. I have to say that I have not had to do a full detail on my car since I first used 4S in December 2004. (Disclaimer, I guess: I keep my car garaged both at home and on my job.) A few swipes with PB's Spray & Gloss between washings, and I'm good to go. I get stares and compliments from people all the time for the great shine on my car. I recommend both lines of products (PB, 4S) for those who really want to take the time to achieve similar results on their cars.

Charles

 

[Jen@autogeek]

I have narrowed down a list of "go to" products that work well on my cars (and keep these on the shelf at all times) but I will always keep an open mind towards evaluating/using other products too.

Until there is a product (or product line) that prevents oxidation, staining, contaminant bonding, maintains gloss, depth, slickness and durability at the highest levels for 6+ months, etc.... there will always be room for improvement.

Some products are further advanced than others (IMO), but I don't see the market place shrinking down to a single product line that fill all needs any time soon.

Thanks for sharing your comments, but I'll need to borrow Curious George's binoculars to read them! lol J/K

 

[black bart]

Like everyone I keep trying new products but the prep is more important.
With the right prep nearly anything will look good. Last summer I was discussing this with a fellow show car owner and he thought the LSP was more important so I made a bet with him. To prove my point I stripped off the Souveran prepped it and applied a LSP that I bought at Wal-Mart for $1.97 and I won best in class. Need I say more. Yes some product do look a little better but durability and user friendly products is something that I want for my daily driver. For the show car durability is far less important I want depth and gloss. Recently I came across a product that gives me all of the above but I'm reluctant to speak of it. We come here looking for others opinion on products but if you give your opinion then you are accused of hyping the product so I guess you just need to try all of them and use what you like and keep it to yourself or be accused of hyping the product by some.

 

[Mikeyc]

I have narrowed down a list of "go to" products that work well on my cars (and keep these on the shelf at all times) but I will always keep an open mind towards evaluating/using other products too.

I completely agree. I also find that my buying habits are cyclical. I tend to buy a lot of products, find some I really like, and then I stop buying for a while so I can use up the stuff I didn't really like. I do often re-stock the items I really like during the lulls, but I've had these lulls last up to several years because I'm fairly happy with the products I have.

 

[PhaRO]

I try new stuff out in hopes that that bottle is filled with pure magic

 

[Bobcat]

Oh c'mon Bart! I swear on all that is holy that I won't accuse you of product pimpin! I won't even buy (budget is spent for a long time) I just got to know what it is.

 

[SVR]

Interested to see what others think about this. I read about all kinds of products for car care on the net / here. Most all claim to be the best, no surprise there.

My question is if you have found a line or combo that you really like, what makes you go outside that and try new stuff?

Technology. It keeps moving.
It's good fun to get in unknown brands and to test them out.
Currently got driven polish, fire glaze double strength and 200 mph car wash
And you never know what you may find. Plus I mix alot of products from diff brands together sometimes, like RMG and Menz IP. better than either of them on their own.

Driven has teflon and full of fillers so only used for my daily hack but definately won't get again.
Fire glaze scratched the clear coat when I did it by hand and did nothing by machine but seems to be a good sealant.
200mph wash smells like banana ice cream topping but is actually alkaline, sodium free and works a treat on cars with good to great paint. Will buy again

If I had stuck to all that I had back in may, I would not have found, tried and got the results I have now with jeffs werkstatt.
Best results I have ever gotten, still very slick with 50% of the car not polished and sealed since february. the other 50% has had a prima/werkstatt treatment and is insanely shiny, wet and deep.

I just love to experiment.