Thx. My car (Subaru Forester XT) is rapidly becoming un-new 'cause I can't resist the temptation to drive it 120 miles/day just for fun. It has splatted many a bug already. Only plain, sprayed drive-thru washes.
The car is white, non-metallic paint. Would I expect it to have a clearcoat, or not?
Oh, one last stupid question: Is it pronounced Zay-no or Zeye-no?
You'll need to check with Subaru to see if your white has a clearcoat or not. If no clearcoat, use Z3 with ZFX instead of Z2. Be sure the paint is as clean as possible by removing the bug splats and bird bombs, road tar, etc. As with ANY wax/polish, prepration is the key to a good finish. That's why some Dawn, clay, and Z7. I didn't. My car was new so I just Dawn'd it and applied the Z1/Z2 combo. ZFX wasn't available until a couple of years later. It's pronounced Zay-no.
As mentioned above - You are not REQUIRED to do all the steps. ANY car wax or polish would benefit from this same regimen.
However, the potential of the Zaino finish is so incredible, that the benefit of doing all you can to prep the car fully is well worth it. Besides, Zaino is so darn fast and easy to use it is really nothing - it just sounds like a lot when you make a list.
You want a super easy, great, longest lasting shine with the best protection? Just wash it and Z2/ZFX it. Period. There is NOTHING EASIER OR FASTER.
If you want even more, then do a little more - the potential is there.
As I look further into this, the only really daunting part of DIY is the initial claying step. And that preparation really should apply to the Zaino regimen or other methods.
As an old wooden-boat maintainer, I know the value of surface prep. ("Don't rush with the brush," we used to say about topsides and varnish.)
I asked a couple of big detailing shops locally what they would charge for the claybar part of the job, and I heard $150-$200. Obviously, they don't include this in the soup-to-nuts "full detail" jobs they typically sell.
So, how hard is claying, really? My vehicle is a Forester -- not too big, not too small.
I have an Acura TL and it takes about a half hour to clay bar. It depends on how much gunk you have on your car. If the surface is already clean then a few swips should do it. If there is a bunch of gunk then some elbow grease will be involved. But $100 to $200 to just claybar your car? You've got to be kidding me, they are ripping you off for the work involved.
Speaking of which I just claybared my Acura and applied Zaino for the 2nd time since I got it last March. It looks like a Million bucks. The shine from the last Zanio application lasted from April even though you could tell it lost some but after I reapplied some more Zaino for the 2nd time yesterday it really buffed up the shine to the point of when I first put it on, if not better. This time instead of doing 3 coats of Z2, I did 2 coats of Z5 and one coat of Z2 and Z6 afterwords. This time I didn't waste my time applying Z6 in-between coats, just after the final coat.
Used all my Z2, Z6 and Z7 now so I did a reorder. I also bought some tire gloss, glass gloss, and some leather cleaner/luster. I hope these products live up to the results the polish does.
It depends on how much of a "fanatic" you are. Most of is here fall into the category.
If you really want to get into it, here are the steps I'd follow...
1. Dawn Wash then rinse 2. Dry with either 100% cotton towels with the fringe removed or a good quality microfiber towel 3. Clay using Zaino clay bar using Z6 as a lube. You can substitute a mixture of 4:1 water/Z7 mixed in a "plant mister" spray bottle. 4. Wash with Z7/rinse and dry. 5. Apply a coat of Z6 and wipe off 6. Apply one coat of Z5/ZFX mixture and then remove with cotton towel/microfiber. "Dampen" your applicator with Z6 before putting the Z5 on it. Be sure to use vertical application motions on vertical body panels and horizontal application motions on horizontal body panels. 7. Apply a coat of Z6 and wipe off doing only 1/4 of a body panel at a time for application and wipe-off 8. Apply a coat of Z2 as in step #6 9. Apply Z6 and remove as in Step #6 above 10. Don't forget to do the wheels the same way as the body as above
From that point forward, just do a Z7 wash and/ follow up with Z6 and/or another coat of Z2 and Z6.
Or, if that seems daunting, just wash with Z7 and apply a coat of Z2/ZFX.
Please let us know how Zaino glass gloss and leather cleaner/luster work out. I'm thinking about ordering them too. So far, other Zaino products seem to deliver what they promised.
The glass cleaner is a bit gritty/abrasive. It depends what you are trying to accomplish. If you just want the windows clean, I'd use something like Sprayway glass cleaner. If you have an older car, or your windshield is scratched/pitted, I'd use the Zaino stuff.
I agree that the leather cleaner and conditioner products work very well. Just a cautionary note not to apply them on dark leather that's warm/in sunlight, as I can see wipe marks on my charcoal leather where this happened one time...
What is sprayway? Is it a Zaino product or can you buy it at a store? I wish I knew this before I ordered it. I am just sick of windex and the light white glaze it leaves on the windows.
There are several good window cleaning products. Stoners Invisible glass is good. It costs about $4 and you can sometimes get it at Pep Boys. Sprayway is a spray can also. There were some long threads about how hard it is to find, but someone found it at a local Ace Hardware store and I went to my local Ace store and there it was, in the cleaner section (although the salesman had no idea what I was talking about) for about $3. They both work about the same IMO. They are fine, and I find either of them to be better than the Z product (no grit, no "polishing" involved). Another product that works about as well and much better than Windex is Clearvue, made by Turtle wax. The reason I have been using that lately is that, unlike Sprayway and Invisible glass, it is a spray bottle, not an aerosol and it is clear, not white. No big difference in them, IMO.
I think you can pick up a 4-pack of it at Costco (if you have one in your area - my sister brings me a couple of cans every few months from Denver). Google for Sprayway Glass Cleaner, you'll find several online stores which sell it.
What types and sizes of microfiber towels are folks using to wipe off the Z2 and Z6? Sal recommends large towels for this. Does this mean you use waffle weave?
Do all of you use the small ones for washing? Do you use cotton or microfiber for washing for really dirty/gritty areas?
I just did the zaino thing for the 1st time. Dawn, clay, z7,z6,z5,z6,z5,z6. Sounded real complicated, but not that bad. The car does look really good. I really don't understand the clay part. It didn't seem like it was doing anything. The same with the z5. I kept thinking I wasn't putting enough on, but stuck with what I was told, LESS IS MORE. Then I wiped of a dull film and saw the result. Very nice! Next is a coat of z2.
My new FX is Laser Red, but I know little about caring for the paint. After reading these discussions, I want to use Zaino, but I'm unsure of what products/procedures to use. I'm not even sure if I have a clearcoat or not.
1. Do you need to wipe out the Z6 application or does it remain on the paint? 2. Depending on temp/humidity, one could wait 24 hours (as per the Zaino website) to wipe out Z2 or Z5....As per my experiences, there is a high possibility of dust flying onto the car surfaces. Trying to wipe the Z3/Z5 out after this contamination would defintiely cause scratches/swirls. How do you guys/gals manage avoiding this??
Can someone compare their car Zaino car finish to their original car finish? Same, better, Can't believe it?
I think it is impossible not to get them. I did everything right-100% cotton towels, microfiber products zaino products and I still see swirls but they are minimal.
A body shop owner once told me that there is no way to aviod them-now I believe.
#1 - Yes, you spray and immediately take off. If it should dry, spray again and wipe off.
#2 - If you use ZFX with Z2 or Z5, drying times shouldn't be a problem. Even before ZFX, using Z1 drying times weren't a problem here in humid Houston.
I'm 90% decided on placing an order for Zaino. Like previous skeptics, it seems too good to be true. In a worst case scenario, I'll find that it is no better than store products...and would have spent a little more money. My only real concern is the long-term effects on the car paint. Are there really no adverse effects on the paint or any other issues with Zaino???
Does anyone know what Sal did in his previous life? Where does his expertise come from?
Yes, there are some. 1- Forget past experiences with the other stuff you have used. With Zaino, less is definitely more. Thin coats are the way to go. 2- Kinda like potato chips. Can't eat just one. After the first coat, it looks so good. Hmmm, it's so easy, let's see what a second coat will look like.
I concur with tmart. Unfortunately, bret does not log on as much as he used to, but I do know that at one time, bret was finishing off his Z detailing with a traditional wax, because he liked the looks of the wax and wanted the best of both worlds.
Now THAT is going out of your way - because with that routine, you would have to remove the wax with Dawn every time you wanted to reapply Zaino.
Note that although you can apply wax over Zaino, the reverse is not true. You must remove any wax (eg with Dawn) before you apply Zaino.
time. She's a '99 Volvo C70 LPT convertible with a tan top.
Towels are a mixed bag. For the Z, I use cotton. I have one micro towel I use for drying; had two but one disappeared from the garage. They are great for drying. Since the cotton works so well removing the Zaino, I've seen no reason to change.
and got a good answer from you too on using towels or micro towel.... I will try the towel as suggested for the Polish and just use the micro on drying
I can't wait to use Z (I just ordered yesterday)on my
Accord Graphite Pearl (more than one year old, I guess I have to wash, clay and polish)
New sienna of the wife (will it really make a difference if I don't clay this one?)
should arrive before the weekend. Their new delivery system is super quick. My last order arrived before my check would have even reached New Jersey under the old mail a check system. Claying a new vehicle is really your call, same with the towels. Some swear by the microfiber ones and some prefer the cotton. Personally, I haven't tried the micros for removing the Zaino because I already had the cotton towels. Don't see how the micros would make that much improvement though, but I could be wrong. They definitely are better for drying, but cotton towels work fine too. Have fun this weekend!
Ann is 100% correct about having to remove existing waxes in order to apply another coat of Zaino. You can wax on top of Zaino (or most any polymer sealant) but you cannot Zaino on top of wax.
As for drawbacks, the only ones I can think of are:
1. Z5 doesn't remove swirls (its not abrasive) and doesn't fill them as well as I'd like. But frankly, to get the best possible results you need to polish your paint to remove defects and flaws anyway so by the time you bust out the Z5, you're paint should be near perfect.
2. Z2 and Z5 really need to be mixed with ZFX to make application reasonably time-efficient. I always end up having some excess product that gets wasted and I usually toss out the little bottle instead of washing it. Not like it's gonna bankrupt me or anything but I can see how the little bit of waste could bother someone.
There is nothing in any Zaino product that will permanently damage auto paint. There are no acids, no oils, no abrasives, no harsh chemicals and virtually no solvents.
One of the reasons Sal created his own line of products was to satisfy his clientele. He was a custom car painter for many many years and wanted a product that would truly protect paint for more than a few weeks without needlessly abrading or damaging the mega$$$ paint job underneath. The word got out about his killer show car polish and the rest, as they say, is history.
I have been using Z for a few years and recently had the hood repainted (Black) and the shop said not to touch the paint for 90 days. Well, 30 days post repaint it seems that tiny cracks appear under the clear coat and a few acid rain type circles as well. These would not come off with water or car wash soap. So, the shop repaints again at their expense.
I am now considering giving it the Z treatment to protect against the birds etc. and see what happens.
So, anyone out there use Z on a recently painted vehicle and did any adverse results occur?? Should I wait 90 days?
From what I have read, you should wait a period of time before applying any wax/polish in order for the paint to cure. Can't confirm if 90 days is correct or not.
It is a catch 22...one hand you seal, potentially causing paint probs. Other hand, don't seal, leave your paint exposed to harmful elements.
You may want to contact Sal at Zaino directly with this question, unless someone here can answer.
It's been about 2 weeks ago since I got my Zaino and used it (referred from one on my buddy's 350 Z sites). 04 Accord Pearl Green that's 6 months old. I put about 4.5 coats on it over 2 days with the Z6 in between each coat. 15% Z5 + 85% Z2 for the first few and the last two were 100% Z2. Really makes the metallic in the paint stand out. The paint looks laminated with multiple coats. I don't think the Z6 would have matter if it's a light, solid color.
This is what I wished someone had told me before using it: -Don't skip on the prep cleaning and clay the entire car. A lot more came up on the clay than I expected. -1 oz of mixed polish should do a 4 door midsize sedan 4 times. -The first time you apply it, dampen the applicator with the Z6 as instructed. Add six drops of mixed polish on the pad and spread with your finger. Apply to an area about 18" x 18". -Each time you add more polish to the applicator, add one drop on a white area of the applicator and apply to an area about 14" x 14". I got better results working in smaller areas than trying to add 2-3 drops and doing a large area. -If don't see where you applied it, you're probably doing it correctly. As Sal said, "Apply it as if it costs $800 a bottle." He also returned a call 30 minutes after they closed. -Any excess can be used on headlights/taillights and rims (mine are alloy). -I had good luck with terry cloth for everything except I used micro for drying the car .
Okay. I finished all three cars today. It was a very relaxing day. The wife got a little anoyed when I got my zaino kit. I kept hearing "don't you have enough car wax". When she saw me putting in drops of ZFX and Z2 she just shook her head and told the kids I lost my mind. Then she saw her black Sable wagon and said " Hey , that looks pretty good". I did 2 coats on 2 of the cars and put the 3rd on my daily driver. Now comes the time test. Is this stuff going to last. I have a good feeling it will.
It's hard to say which polish to use because there are so many to choose from and I don't know what condition your paint is in or what results you're looking for. So typically the best advice is to start with a mild polish and work your way up the aggressive scale if needed. You could start with a swirl mark remover from 3M or Meguiars (3 on a 1-10 scale) or one of the pre wax cleaners from Mothers or Meguiars. All are available at stores everywhere.
quite possible things have changed. wonder if depends on the process. some autobody shops spray and bake, some just spray. i do not purport to be an autobody or paint specialist. thus, again, i suggest seeking advice from Sal directly.
I saw an ad for a clay gel in a catalog - "Diamondite" brand. You squirt it on a special sponge and then use this to scrub the car. It seems that this might be a better way to use clay instead of the bar and lube.
Has anyone heard of this or have any experience with it?
Some pages back, it appeared that there had been a mass order to get some quantity discounts on the products. Being new to the thread, I need filled in on the details. I have used Meguiars products for some time - REAL Blue Coral after it was Cadillac Coral before that - and like what I am reading about the Zaino Bros stuff. Is there any plan for another BIG TIME order?
I have been lurking on this board for quite a while and appreciate the good advice you have given. They have been resurfacing the roads in Vero Beach and the amount of tar thrown up on my lower panels is unbelievable. It shows up real well on my diamond white CTS. I have searched the site using the word "tar" and all I find are references to CD40, Avon Skin-so-soft, Kerosene and finally Turtle bug and tar remover. But as I recall there was some reference to Turtle b&t having an abrasive in it.
I have tried CD40, Ethyl alcohol and concentrated Zaino car wash. The first two did nothing Zaino will get it off but it takes hours. I sure would like to know if you have a product that I can buy that would work quickly without damaging the paint. And by the way, comments from anyone would be appreciated.
Do you mean that you tried WD -40? This usually dissolves tar quite easily, as it is a petroluem based product. Next, try a "bug and tar" remover, such as from Turtle Wax, etc. If this doesn't work, it isn't tar.
It may be some other type of material altogether. First - call the road department and ask them what it is and how to remove it, Second, try the clay it off with a good car clay.
Please note that ALL these methods remove your polish, so the car has to be re-zainoed from square 1 when you are finished. Good luck!
As said above, most petroleum based products will remove road tar. I like 3M's tar and adhesive removers but stuff like mineral spirits, naptha, or your basic bug and tar remover will usually do the trick. Clay is a safe method and brake cleaner the most aggressive method.
I like the idea of contacting your road dept. They could be using some different type of binder or seal coat that is not petro-based. It's worth a phone call for sure. Good luck!
The correct answer really depends on you and the condition of the surface of the X3. The better the prep, the better the result. That said, unless the finish has rail dust or other contaminates, I would not think claying is imperative. I'm no expert, but I didn't clay my new cars and the Zaino works fine.
Put your hand into a plastic baggie and lightly rub the paint surface. If you feel roughness, go ahead and clay.
"The better the prep, the better the result" is exactly right. It has nothing to do with what product you're using. Even wax bought from the dollar store will benefit from a claying step.
I believe that all cars can benefit from claying. Even if there are no surface particulates that you can feel, the clay smooths the paint like no other process can, and does not add swirl marks, etc.
I was able to get one of our Acuras with the protective film still on it. I can tell you that it was even better and smoother after claying. It is well worth it, and it is not a lot of work.
Comments
The car is white, non-metallic paint. Would I expect it to have a clearcoat, or not?
Oh, one last stupid question: Is it pronounced Zay-no or Zeye-no?
However, the potential of the Zaino finish is so incredible, that the benefit of doing all you can to prep the car fully is well worth it. Besides, Zaino is so darn fast and easy to use it is really nothing - it just sounds like a lot when you make a list.
You want a super easy, great, longest lasting shine with the best protection? Just wash it and Z2/ZFX it. Period. There is NOTHING EASIER OR FASTER.
If you want even more, then do a little more - the potential is there.
As an old wooden-boat maintainer, I know the value of surface prep. ("Don't rush with the brush," we used to say about topsides and varnish.)
I asked a couple of big detailing shops locally what they would charge for the claybar part of the job, and I heard $150-$200. Obviously, they don't include this in the soup-to-nuts "full detail" jobs they typically sell.
So, how hard is claying, really? My vehicle is a Forester -- not too big, not too small.
Speaking of which I just claybared my Acura and applied Zaino for the 2nd time since I got it last March. It looks like a Million bucks. The shine from the last Zanio application lasted from April even though you could tell it lost some but after I reapplied some more Zaino for the 2nd time yesterday it really buffed up the shine to the point of when I first put it on, if not better. This time instead of doing 3 coats of Z2, I did 2 coats of Z5 and one coat of Z2 and Z6 afterwords. This time I didn't waste my time applying Z6 in-between coats, just after the final coat.
Used all my Z2, Z6 and Z7 now so I did a reorder. I also bought some tire gloss, glass gloss, and some leather cleaner/luster. I hope these products live up to the results the polish does.
If you really want to get into it, here are the steps I'd follow...
1. Dawn Wash then rinse
2. Dry with either 100% cotton towels with the fringe removed or a good quality microfiber towel
3. Clay using Zaino clay bar using Z6 as a lube. You can substitute a mixture of 4:1 water/Z7 mixed in a "plant mister" spray bottle.
4. Wash with Z7/rinse and dry.
5. Apply a coat of Z6 and wipe off
6. Apply one coat of Z5/ZFX mixture and then remove with cotton towel/microfiber.
"Dampen" your applicator with Z6 before putting the Z5 on it. Be sure to use vertical application motions on vertical body panels and horizontal application motions on horizontal body panels.
7. Apply a coat of Z6 and wipe off doing only 1/4 of a body panel at a time for application and wipe-off
8. Apply a coat of Z2 as in step #6
9. Apply Z6 and remove as in Step #6 above
10. Don't forget to do the wheels the same way as the body as above
From that point forward, just do a Z7 wash and/ follow up with Z6 and/or another coat of Z2 and Z6.
Or, if that seems daunting, just wash with Z7 and apply a coat of Z2/ZFX.
I have not tried the glass product.
I agree that the leather cleaner and conditioner products work very well. Just a cautionary note not to apply them on dark leather that's warm/in sunlight, as I can see wipe marks on my charcoal leather where this happened one time...
--Robert
I think you can pick up a 4-pack of it at Costco (if you have one in your area - my sister brings me a couple of cans every few months from Denver). Google for Sprayway Glass Cleaner, you'll find several online stores which sell it.
--Robert
Do all of you use the small ones for washing? Do you use cotton or microfiber for washing for really dirty/gritty areas?
Thanks.
Can anybody help this paint care newbie?
Thanks.
Steve
2. Depending on temp/humidity, one could wait 24 hours (as per the Zaino website) to wipe out Z2 or Z5....As per my experiences, there is a high possibility of dust flying onto the car surfaces. Trying to wipe the Z3/Z5 out after this contamination would defintiely cause scratches/swirls. How do you guys/gals manage avoiding this??
Can someone compare their car Zaino car finish to their original car finish? Same, better, Can't believe it?
I did everything right-100% cotton towels, microfiber products zaino products and I still see swirls but they are minimal.
A body shop owner once told me that there is no way to aviod them-now I believe.
#2 - If you use ZFX with Z2 or Z5, drying times shouldn't be a problem. Even before ZFX, using Z1 drying times weren't a problem here in humid Houston.
Does anyone know what Sal did in his previous life? Where does his expertise come from?
1- Forget past experiences with the other stuff you have used. With Zaino, less is definitely more. Thin coats are the way to go.
2- Kinda like potato chips. Can't eat just one. After the first coat, it looks so good. Hmmm, it's so easy, let's see what a second coat will look like.
I am waiting for my zaino kit and will be applying to my two cars, and I am sure I will be happy with it just reading through the threads
Now THAT is going out of your way - because with that routine, you would have to remove the wax with Dawn every time you wanted to reapply Zaino.
Note that although you can apply wax over Zaino, the reverse is not true. You must remove any wax (eg with Dawn) before you apply Zaino.
Every time I see your post, I think of a gold car. :-)
If you use microfiber, what kind of microfiber do you use to wipe off Z2 and to wipe off Z6?
The only kind that are as big a bath towels are the waffle weave towels. Is that what you use?
Thanks.
Maybe I should say "do you still have your gold C70 and your gold ES300?"
Towels are a mixed bag. For the Z, I use cotton. I have one micro towel I use for drying; had two but one disappeared from the garage. They are great for drying. Since the cotton works so well removing the Zaino, I've seen no reason to change.
Your Mystic Sea is a beauitful color.
and got a good answer from you too on using towels or micro towel.... I will try the towel as suggested for the Polish and just use the micro on drying
I can't wait to use Z (I just ordered yesterday)on my
Accord Graphite Pearl (more than one year old, I guess I have to wash, clay and polish)
New sienna of the wife (will it really make a difference if I don't clay this one?)
Ann is 100% correct about having to remove existing waxes in order to apply another coat of Zaino. You can wax on top of Zaino (or most any polymer sealant) but you cannot Zaino on top of wax.
As for drawbacks, the only ones I can think of are:
1. Z5 doesn't remove swirls (its not abrasive) and doesn't fill them as well as I'd like. But frankly, to get the best possible results you need to polish your paint to remove defects and flaws anyway so by the time you bust out the Z5, you're paint should be near perfect.
2. Z2 and Z5 really need to be mixed with ZFX to make application reasonably time-efficient. I always end up having some excess product that gets wasted and I usually toss out the little bottle instead of washing it. Not like it's gonna bankrupt me or anything but I can see how the little bit of waste could bother someone.
There is nothing in any Zaino product that will permanently damage auto paint. There are no acids, no oils, no abrasives, no harsh chemicals and virtually no solvents.
One of the reasons Sal created his own line of products was to satisfy his clientele. He was a custom car painter for many many years and wanted a product that would truly protect paint for more than a few weeks without needlessly abrading or damaging the mega$$$ paint job underneath. The word got out about his killer show car polish and the rest, as they say, is history.
So, the shop repaints again at their expense.
I am now considering giving it the Z treatment to protect against the birds etc. and see what happens.
So, anyone out there use Z on a recently painted vehicle and did any adverse results occur?? Should I wait 90 days?
It is a catch 22...one hand you seal, potentially causing paint probs. Other hand, don't seal, leave your paint exposed to harmful elements.
You may want to contact Sal at Zaino directly with this question, unless someone here can answer.
This is what I wished someone had told me before using it:
-Don't skip on the prep cleaning and clay the entire car. A lot more came up on the clay than I expected.
-1 oz of mixed polish should do a 4 door midsize sedan 4 times.
-The first time you apply it, dampen the applicator with the Z6 as instructed. Add six drops of mixed polish on the pad and spread with your finger. Apply to an area about 18" x 18".
-Each time you add more polish to the applicator, add one drop on a white area of the applicator and apply to an area about 14" x 14". I got better results working in smaller areas than trying to add 2-3 drops and doing a large area.
-If don't see where you applied it, you're probably doing it correctly. As Sal said, "Apply it as if it costs $800 a bottle." He also returned a call 30 minutes after they closed.
-Any excess can be used on headlights/taillights and rims (mine are alloy).
-I had good luck with terry cloth for everything except I used micro for drying the car .
Has anyone heard of this or have any experience with it?
I have tried CD40, Ethyl alcohol and concentrated Zaino car wash. The first two did nothing Zaino will get it off but it takes hours.
I sure would like to know if you have a product that I can buy that would work quickly without damaging the paint. And by the way, comments from anyone would be appreciated.
It may be some other type of material altogether. First - call the road department and ask them what it is and how to remove it,
Second, try the clay it off with a good car clay.
Please note that ALL these methods remove your polish, so the car has to be re-zainoed from square 1 when you are finished. Good luck!
I like the idea of contacting your road dept. They could be using some different type of binder or seal coat that is not petro-based. It's worth a phone call for sure. Good luck!
Also, it has been raining pretty strong for the last few weeks.
If I were to use Zaino, would I need to clay the car? or can I skip that step?
Thanks.
"The better the prep, the better the result" is exactly right. It has nothing to do with what product you're using. Even wax bought from the dollar store will benefit from a claying step.
I was able to get one of our Acuras with the protective film still on it. I can tell you that it was even better and smoother after claying. It is well worth it, and it is not a lot of work.