Turtle wax. Can. Costs less than $4. Shines as good as any of 'em!
Soooo many different waxes. Alright I think I heard enough opinions...my final decision is Zaino. But thanks for your opinions! Pictures of my cars: www.angelfire.com/mech/evo A recent evo meet in January: (I am the 2nd guy from the left in the group pic) www.angelfire.com/mech/axis90702 -Philip
The UK selection off the shelf isn't that hot, but I've just finished doing mine with AutoGlym products. Never really used anything else (1st time I've had time to do the car myself), but it wasn't exactly a 5min job. Still, please with the results and the glass polish smells nice Incidentally, the car more often looks like this: Hope Mark doesn't mind me linking to this. He "kindly" photographed it!). The car does get used after all Also the Peugeot in the background was done with the same stuff too. And that really was a state! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Guys, I sorry but I don't adhere to the if it is expensive, it must be good theory... Knowing that a number of the well regarded so called high end products are manufactured by you know who, and sold under labels X Y & Z... IMHO, as long as you clean/polish/protect your car properly, then it really doesn't matter what product you use. "An uneducated opinion. Ferrari uses enamel" Yes, that would be an uneducated opinion!
It took me the best part of 6hrs! The AutoGlym stuff is a 4 stage work out for the right shoulder. Wash it, dry it (bummer of a job), polish it and then another different polish for the last bit. Then you have the glass and wheels to do. And can add even more top layers with different stuff if you want (I didn't want!). The good thing though, once you've gone through this turmoil, is that subsequent washes are just the first 2 stages to get to this state once more. For a month or two anyway II've used AutoGlym on my 7, which is how I know). The finish also helps protect the paint, and the first polish layer acts like a very mild T-Cut so can buff out minor scratches. The most satisfactory bit in the process is the last polish. You leave the solution on for 60mins and it clouds over. When you lightly buff it off the colour really comes through. It's almost worth the aching! All the bits including sponges, polishing cloths, chamois and 6 types of polish cost 42GBP in the high street (UK based) and will do about 6-7 cars I think. The green peugeot you can just see was about as filthy as the 355 in the linked picture. So the car can be quite dirty when you start, just set aside a day to do it!
Klasse is all I use. I use the "All in One" about once a year to clean the paint and the "Sealant" in between uses about twice a year.
I use Pinnacle on the Ferrari. I was using Zaino on the C5 Corvette - but recently tried Meguiar's NXT. Just as good as Zaino [IMHO] and a lot easier to get. I use Meguiar's Medallion on the daily drivers. All are great products if you take the time to prep/clay. I think the Pinnacle creates the deepest looking shine, but it's expensive stuff. Zaino is great if you want your car to look like its sheeted in plastic [but, it's very, very durable].
Autoglym, klasse, Pinnacle??? I've never heard of these brands. Do you have to special order these like Zaino?? Pictures of my car: www.angelfire.com/mech/evo A recent evo meet in January: (I am the 2nd guy from the left in the group pic) www.angelfire.com/mech/axis90702 -Philip
Try www.premiumautocare.com/klasse.html Be sure to get both the "All in One" and "Sealant Glaze" . The All in One has a mild polish that you only need once a year or so to remove acid rain marks, swirls and oxidized paint. It will make old paint look new again. The Sealant Glaze will put a shine on your car that you will not believe, and it last a pretty long time too. Cheaper than a lot of the other preminum products and much easier to apply and remove. Try it...you'll like it !
I'm UK based - not sure whether AutoGlym is a global brand, but it's meant to be used by all the big names here.
This is a professional detailers line - https://www.prowax.com/collections/waxes I mention this brand, as I have used it before and can vouch for the results. Years ago, I helped a Fchat'r get his 355 ready for a Concorso Italiano show in Monterey, using the Caranuba Wax. The gloss was nothing short of "wow!!!". But again, it's how you prep the surface to get to 'wow!' I used my tin up, since. It's great stuff.
Quick ceramic shot a couple times a year, about an hour each time, glass, wheels, paint. The coach gets four sides, wheels and the roof. I rest my case for ceramic. No swirls. I also have a mini and dually that sit outside. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Do you use this on the older lacquer paints? This works great on the GM single stage lacquers they were using in the mid 80 s.
FWIW, as an old guy that worked as a "detailer" long ago while in high school and college, late'60's and beyond, the products out today are miles ahead of what was available then. The man I worked for did used cars for dealerships prior to being put on the lot. We actually used compound, containing pumice and ammonia, and waxed the car with Simonize; a lot of rubbing....I mean a LOT of arm work. Later with my own cars I went through a progression of products; Simonize, DuPont, Mothers, and finally Meguiar's for years. The last 15 years or so I've been a convert of Griot's Garage products. I've been using Griot's Ceramic Wax and usually Ceramic Quick detailer just to spiff things up. My SF90 is completely covered with PPF, so I'm not about to spend a lot of time rubbing on a plastic cover. The SF is garage kept with seals around my garage doors, so I don't ever bother covering the car, and the most I ever get is very little dust. I wipe the car down with a damp micro-fiber towel, the surface is already slick from the previous detailer coat, and use the Ceramic Quick Detailer spray. DO NOT USE TOO MUCH product, no matter what company you use. I can hit most of the surfaces, and wheels including wheel barrels, and wash the exterior windows in just under an hour. My car is Nero Daytona, metallic Black, and always has a deep shine with no swirls or smears and is extremely hydrophobic. Use whatever you like, but be sure the product contains some ceramic.
