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I put 3 coats of Z5 on my car yesterday with a damp Zaino-provided pad using 1/2 an ounce and 4 drops of ZFX. Tossed out the other 1/2 along with the little bottle.
Took me just under an ounce of Z5/ZFX to apply 3 coats to a Dodge Ram quad cab.
If I only got 10 coats per bottle I'd be a tad upset.
bret: BTW, thanks again for your recommendation for my friend with a huge RV. Also, if you only used .5 ozs for three coats, you are doing just fine. Perhaps better than me! I know its easy for me to say you're wasting the other 1/2 oz, but I've done that too. I think the trick is to only mix a half ounce with say two drops of ZFX.
atoews: All applicator pads will pick dirt. That's why (even with wsshing in Tide), I generally throw out a pad after two uses. My pad generally pick up dirt from the bottom of rocker panels and from the wheels. As a result, I do the lower rocker panels after the rest of the body, and then using the same side of the applicator, I do the wheels. And that does it for one side of the applicator pad. After removing the Z2 residue and wiping with Z6, I'll use the other side of the same applicator pad to apply my second coat. Afterwards, the pad goes into the garbage. If I do a third coat (that's pushing it for me), I'll wash the pad and use the clean side for the beginning of my next session. But don't feel bad about seeing an accumulation of dirt on the pad after usage. I've washed, clayed, washed, Z6'd, and then when applying Z2, noticed dirt starting to accumulate on the pad. I think most of it is a result of dust in the air. It happens to all of us.
I'm in the same ballpark as pblevine and bretfraz. I use probably 1/3 of one of the ZFX mixing bottles for 1 coat on the PT Cruiser Turbo. On my 300M, I use about 1/2 a bottle.
I don't use the "dime/quarter" measuring method.
I give the cotton applicator a liberal squirt of Z6, rub it in. Then I use the following pattern for Z2/Z5 application in an "X" pattern:
* * * * * * * * * * *
My Zaino useage and application isn't much bigger than those "dots". I use 1 "X" for doors and 1/4 panels...2 "X"s for roof, hood, trunk lid. Use 1 "X" for two chrome wheels and for each bumper.
...I finally washed both cars after an 8 week waterban. I used about 1.5 oz to put 2 coats each on the Accord and Odyssey.
Washing the Accord, I got so ticked off. The week before the waterban, I had the rear bumper resprayed due to minor damage. I noticed yesterday, the bumper was scuffed at scraped at the corner - AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH. Why do I care so much - no one else does.
I know exactly how you feel. My Accord ('98 EX Coupe) is a daily commuter over some rough NY roads (West Side Highway, Sprainbrook, I287, The Hutch, Cross County, etc.). And when I'm up in Otis, MA., I commonly have to drive on dirt roads. I get all sorts of sand, rocks, road salts, and bird droppings. Oh, then there is tree sap! But that's another story.
I care. I really do. And I know its a slow loosing battle. I've taken to using those bumper guards when parking or leaving in a garage. And I even park at the ends of a parking lot. But I still pick up scrapes and scratches. And they still drive me up a wall. Anyway, we all do care.
bretfraz gets 12 coats per that little ZFX bottle for his car, and 6 for a Dodge Ram quadcad, if I understood him correctly. Pblevine gets 6 coats per bottle and I get a little over 2 coats per bottle. And you are getting 3 coats per bottle on the cruiser, and 2 on the 300M.
I wonder if bretfraz meant 1/2 a bottle when he wrote 1/2 ounce. Recall that there are 2 ounces in a bottle. If so, then what he really meant is that he gets 6 coats per bottle for his car, and 3 for the Ram.
Anyway, it sounds like a good target for me is to try and use 1/2 as much as I do now.
What? Ya don't use Zaino supplied little bottles? Don't ya know the value of them little things? Don't complain if your shine isn't up to spec. And by the way, how do I get access the Container Store so I too can get a supply of those bottles?
On my car (Saab 9-5) I get 3 coats of protection from 1/2 ounce of product. So I guess that works out to 6 coats per ounce or 12 coats per 2 ounce, etc, etc.
On a big truck like a Dodge Ram I get 3 coats from about 3/4 ounce of product.
PBLEVINE- If you cannot get those 2 ounce bottles locally I can buy some for you here in Atlanta and ship them whereever. IIRC they cost $0.79 each.
I thank you very much. It turns out that I have a local source for such bottles - a retail store around here has piles of them at about $.85 each. That's within reason.
I've taken two fairly long road trips this summer (1700 & 1900 miles) and the car was made for that kind of driving. Only saw maybe five other 9-5's on those trips too which is another reason I like the car.
I owned a 9-5 turbo about 10 years ago. At the time, it was really a nice car and great long distance runner. I had it for about 125K miles with no significant dealer stays.
Rumor had it that right before GM took them over, they were experiencing some serious quality control gaps. I usually don't believe much of what's posted at car groups regarding "this car is better built than that car" as I haven't seen significant differences in car quality or reliability for a long time.
I always thought about getting another. It's not like me to own two of the same thing in a 10 year period, though.
What year is yours? Anything unusual regarding reliability?
It's a 2000 SE sedan; the SE model is their V6 version. Comes with a light pressure turbo spinning off one bank of cylinders. Kind of a unique engine and based on GM Europe design but heavily modified by Saab.
For the most part my car's been very reliable. Only problems are electrical but nothing serious. I know some people with 1999 models (first year for the 9-5) have had problems with the turbos and other things but the car's have got better as Saab gets it right. The 9-5 is usually at or near the top of JD Power reliability rankings for new cars and it seems very few '01 and newer owners complain about anything substantive.
It's my first European car and there are lots to like about them. Style and design wise they are very different from your typical American car. It handles and drives like no other car I've owned. I now understand why some European cars are so expensive to buy and maintain.
Mine's a lease and I'm torn whether to keep this one, lease a new '03 (I really want a 9-5 Aero) or get something like the new Infiniti M45 or even their FX45 which will be out next year. It was easy to leave Infiniti and the Asian brands as they were soooooo boring and plain but now it seems like at least Nissan is focusing on design again so there's lots to tempt me. But I love car shopping so I'll be sure to check out everything in my price range :-)
The Saab I had was a 9000 turbo (predecessor to the a 9-5).
Bret...gotta agree with you about some of the Japanese brnaded cars being boring. Of those that I like, the Infiniti G35 coupe and the Acura CL/TL series. Infiniti M series looks interesting. I talk to my BMW dealer buddies all the time, as I used to be one of their customers. If I could just get over the fact that BMWs are fickle machines, I might jump back in the fold.
Who knows, I'm not even in the market for anything right now.
I can easily live without the Camcords (no offense pblevine, they just aren't my cup of tea...doesn't make them bad cars, though).
Didn't know this forum was here, but now I do (thanks Steve!). Thought you would be amused to see how well Zaino looks under the worst of circumstances...
I hadn't washed the car in around three weeks prior to the wreck (goofball made an illegal left turn right in front of me). I use Zaino on my Viper GTS and my wife INSISTED it be used on her Denali. Both are black. While many say that black is a major pain, we have found that is not necessarily the case. We use the Z-2/ZFX combination every six months or so. We then use a California Duster followed by a spritz of Z-6 on the fingerprints, water spots, etc. Takes less than five minutes unless we work on the wheels - then it is all of ten.
People still look at my 2000 GTS with 25,000 miles and ask if I just bought it. I did - almost three years ago. I would use nothing but Zaino and have tried just about everything else. My only negative was that my tiny ZFX bottle was only about half full when I received it. No big deal, as I am perfectly happy with the stuff. I even did a "quick polish" on a Miata I picked up for my brother-in-law. Washed the car at the self-serve wash (using Dawn to take off the old wax) and then did a very fast Zaino job with the ZFX while still at the car wash. The entire thing, from starting the wash to wiping off the last of the Zaino, took 50 minutes. It looked 100 times better than when I started.
Best looking wreck I've seen in years. And like automophile said, 'Glad you're OK.
graphicguy: No offense taken. The primary reasons I bought my Honda ('98 Accord Coupe EX V6), was reliability, size, handling, and price in that order. I like the styling of the coupe, but I do admit that both Honda and Toyota are way too conservative. The only reason people look at it in the parking lot is due to the Zaino finish. But I know it will be there tomorrow (unless stolen during the night), even after facing up to "pot hole city".
That is one shiny wreck. I'm sure that one had to break your heart. If you're going to have to park it in the "back lot" with all the other damaged cars, might as well be the best looking one there.
pb...I gotta admit, the '03 Accord is looking like the better deal compared to the '03 Acura TL.
I'm pretty irritated with myself. I ran out of ZFX and Z2. I should place an order to Sal because I want to put one more coat on the family vehicles before winter really hits.
Should have done it this weekend when it was sunny and 60 degrees. Now, my weatherman says it's rain and flurries for the foreseeable future.
In the Ohio Valley, that means we probably won't see another 60 degree day until next April. What's even more distressing is the fact that the only thing I'll have to do in the coming months of Sundays is watch the hopeless "Cincinnati Bungles".
graphicguy: I hear you. Winter's coming on. I too would like to put another coat of Z on before it snows. On the other hand, it looks like I'm being transferred to Manhattan (NYC), so the car won't be getting the daily commuter's toll of sand, salt, and other nasties. Bungles? How about the "Gangreen" Jets (and now the Tinies too). Ah, winter!
I confirmed today that the CWB can cause scratches if one is not VERY careful. I do not believe that these scratches necessarily are caused by dirt becoming lodged between the blade and the vehicle.
I believe that the danger comes when dragging the blade over portions of the car that are dry. It sets up a friction that causes wide, fine scratches.
The solution is to be very careful not to overlap onto dry sections when using the CWB.
I am not going to take the risk anymore. It is back to 100% cotton, US made, bath towels for the entire drying process.
Too bad. The CWB is a wonderfully efficient drying tool.
Just set a new record to wash and Z2 (with ZFX) my car.
Rummaging through the garage early this afternoon, I found an older bottle of Z2. A little less than an ounce was in it. I had all of about 3 drops left of ZFX in the little blue bottle.
Temps were hovering in the low 40s. Since my hoses are all packed away for winter, I drove on over to the "do it yourself" spray/wash places.
Only one other guy was there using the vacuum. Pretty much had the place all to myself. Gave the car a good rinsing then put a capful of Z7 in the bucket, put the "wand" in the bucket to fill it. Got my lambs wool wash mit out of the trunk and proceeded to wash the entire car. Dumped 8 more quarters into the "wand" and rinsed. It was so cold that it took all of 3-4 minutes for me to quickly wash the car...another 2-3 minutes for the rinse. Dried it (no CWB...just using the "absorber"). Fingers are now numb. Z2/ZFX was applied. Waited 5 minutes while I cleaned the windows and vacumed the interior. Removed the Zaino.
Total time for wash, dry, vacuum, do the windows, apply Zaino, remove Zaino was 25 minutes. That included putting on wheel dressing. That's a new record for me. I can say that for at least today, I had the best looking car on the road.
Ran errands, went to the grocery store and then pulled back into my garage. 5 minutes after the garage door closed, a freezing rain hit. I'm a lucky guy....plus, the Cincinnati Bungles won for the first time this year....must have been the Zaino.
WOW!! You were fast! Sounds like a record to me! ;-)) I still haven't put another coat of Z on the Acura since August 23rd. I think that was the same day that my Vertigo disappeared! LOL.....
I haven't washed it since sometime in September. We've had a few downpours since then, so it still looks "good" to the average person, but not me. I'm sure we'll have a few nice days soon. Then I can go all out and get it Z'd for winter.
Other than that, the car is EXCELLENT! Not one thing broken, nothing falling off, nothing leaking, everything working!! Just the way a new car should be! After 20 months and almost 20,000 miles, I would not be upset if something did happen. I mean, it's almost 2 years old. How long can this "perceived reliability", as my other 300M friends call it, last? LOL...
If it wasn't so cold outside, I'm sure I would have taken my time. Temp guage in my car said it was 41 degrees outside. With the wind blowing, windchill had to be below freezing.
It's amazing how quick I work when I'm cold to the bone.
Usually in the Spring/Summer/Fall, when I'm "Z-ing", I wash and dry...go into the house and have a beverage, come back out and apply Zaino, go back into the house for another beverage, come back out remove the Z. Usually a 2-3 hour process.
I thought I'd get stuck with a long drying time on Saturday given the temps. With ZFX it was put in on and wipe it down, even though temps were that cold. I was pleasantly surprised.
I think if you keep that "red rocket" Z-ed, you should keep it until the wheels fall off. That said, can you or I keep a car that long?
That's amazing! Could you take a picture to show us how dirty your car looks? I have to wash my car every week since it's so grimy. If I didn't wash since September, my car would be a whole shade lighter!
Wow Two! You must have looked like an old Keystone Cops movie. Personally, I take it easy. While washing, I tend to "inspect" the finish, looking for scratches, etc. And after washing and drying, I'll break for a beer (at least). I have to admit that putting "Z" on is very easy and quick. But I also tend to "watch" it dry before removing the residue. And as a side benefit, the longer "detailing" time helps me get out of other family work.
Has anyone used microfiber towels for either washing, drying, or zaino removal. Hear a lot of good things about them, but you can't believe everything you read. Does anyone have any personal experience using these towels.
Check out the "Store Bought Waxes Part II (No Zaino Posts)" board under Maintenance and Repair. Several board members are sold on Microfiber towels. The discussion on Microfiber towels is conveniently occurring during the Nov 2-4 time frame on that board.
husker54: I use a large MF towel for drying my SUV. Each 'wipe' with the MF covers more area than a CWB or chamois. Easier to handle than a large bath towel. Your mileage may vary but the MF does just fine for me. =;-)
wow - what dedication! i grew up in cincinnati and now am 90 miles south, but the weather isn't too different. i've been watching the reports in hopes of another 60 degree weekend for one more coat before winter. hope this weekend will be the one!
bjtjps...As luck would have it, I looked at the newspaper this a.m. and it said 60 degrees and sunny on Saturday. I should have waited. I might just "Z" it again on Saturday just for the heck of it (albeit, much less quickly)and if Sal can get my order to me in enough time if I send in the order today. That weather has got to be headed your way, too. You must be down in the heart of KY. Louisville? Lexington? Both beautiful cities.
automophile...I amazed myself with how quickly I worked. I actually got my heart rate up quite a bit by "whizzing" around while doing all of the wash/dry/zaino routine. My fingers were numb after about 5 minutes. I thought about just chucking the whole idea and driving home with just a "wash job". Once I got started on the Zaino, I knew I had to finish or admit defeat (which I'm not one to do). I didn't Z6 before and after the Z2 application like I normally do. I should have dried it better, too. I didn't dry the door jambs or under the hood like I ordinarily do. I did use fastdriver's old trick of "drive it 'till it's dry" technique by driving around the parking lot of the car wash a couple of times to get a good portion of the water off the car. Plus, the wind was so blustery that a lot of the water just "blew off" the car. After that, it only took 3-4 minutes to dry the rest. I didn't end up with any water spots, which is surprising given the poor quality of clean water you find at those "spray" car washes.
I'm beginning to feel that the more Zaino coats you apply, the less likely water spots will form.
It wasn't the most meticulous Z application I've ever done, but it looks very good (as it's been sitting in the garage, untouched since then).
Many of us had water restrictions this summer and still do, no washing cars in the yard, only car washes are permitted and I refuse to let someone wash my car. Thus, the past three months have had filthy cars also but recently washed them (illegally) but the Z has held up great. Not as shiny but still beads great and looks good.
I have not had a problem with drying in colder weather. Mine seems to dry in less then an hour consistently regardless of temp.
LOL... until the wheels fall off?? Not me. Every 2-4 years, I have to change cars because I get tired of them no matter how nice they are or how much I like them. It's been like this my whole life. Thank God I can afford to do it. People who get my cars are lucky. The dealers can never believe what cream puffs they are.
fickle-
Your wish is my command. Here's the pics I just took today when I came home from work. Car last Z'd in August and last washed in September. Looks good to me. I hope this YAHOO thing lets you in. If not, I'll post them at one of my many photo sites! ;-))) Click on the album that says Nov. 6.
Great pics! And a great car too! This is my last week up in White Plains as I've been transferred back to Manhattan. And that means my car may not have to face daily commuter encounters with snow and road salts. Well, we'll see how long this lasts...
Thanks. Isn't it somethin? That long with no Z and no washes and it shines like that after 2 months of dirt! 20,000 miles+, 20 months and nothing broke yet! LOL........ BORING!!!
caramo-
If you're going by the recent pics I posted up above, don't go by that shine! Click on my name above and check out the pics of what it looks like with a real ZAINO shine! It looks as good as any car on Sal's site. It's like NOTHING you have ever used before! Trust me.
I can't believe how good your "dirty" car looks, fastdriver! Did you get rain in the past couple of months? It rains here a little almost every day so I get so much grim on the bottom portion of my car. Your "bottom" looks great! :)Thanks for posting the pictures.
LOL.....Phew, glad my "bottom" looks great! ;-)) We have had some rain in the past 2 months, but the heaviest rain has occurred during the night when the car is in the garage!! LOL....
When you order, get the ZFX, Z-2, Z-5 and a few bottles of Z-6. With the ZFX, you can put several coats on one right after the other. Oh yea- get the clay bars too and the Z car wash. Check out Sal's site. E-mail him or call him with any questions. He's great! HE answers the phone! I've been using Zaino since the summer of 1998. NO PROBLEMS!
I wouldn't go back to regular wax/polish if I got it for free! My car is proof of Zaino's longevity. Good luck.
Does this really work better than the Z1. I haven't Zaino'ed in well over a year and have just learned about ZFX. Is there any advantage to sticking with the Z1, instead of the "faster acting" ZFX?
Last pics I posted of the Cruiser were after a couple of coats of Z2. I've put on at least 4 coats since then. I have to get my digi camera out and take more pics to post. It's "dirty" right now since it got caught in the rain a couple of days ago. I should take some tomorrow "before and after" another coat.
I'm looking out my window now. It's about 50 degrees and sunny. Tomorrow, it's supposed to be 65 and sunny....in November...go figure!
My wife has been ignoring the 300M. She told me last night that she took it to a "drive through" car wash yesterday....AAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
No way I'd ever use Z again without ZFX. Makes Z2 & Z5 practical products. Only problem is dealing with wasted product. You'll go thru a few uses of Z until you get the usuable amounts down pat.
Didn't get outside yet because it doesn't seem as warm as they said it was going to be. It's overcast here right now. I will get out there today. Now I just have to remember where I put my Z. It's been so long since I last used it!
AUTOMATIC CAR WASH!!!!!!! YIKES!!!! Tell her "Uncle Dave"(?) wouldn't like that! ;-)))
Can't wait to see more pics of both cars. Between you and sdmike2, I could look at them all day. I love that shine!
My wife has been admonished by both you and I now.
She said it was a "soft cloth" drive thru. I explained to her the differences between my "ritual" and the drive thru place...Not that she listened.
I started to wash and Z both the 300M (used Z5 for the first time in a while) and the Cruiser. It was sunny and "warm" (low 60s), a perfect "Z-day". Before I could put both cars back in the garage, the tornado sirens sounded. Got the Cruiser in the garage, but the 300M got it's 2nd bath of the day (as the monsoon hit). No damage at the graphicguy household, but the storms did some damage in the surrounding areas.
Comments
Took me just under an ounce of Z5/ZFX to apply 3 coats to a Dodge Ram quad cab.
If I only got 10 coats per bottle I'd be a tad upset.
BTW, thanks again for your recommendation for my friend with a huge RV. Also, if you only used .5 ozs for three coats, you are doing just fine. Perhaps better than me! I know its easy for me to say you're wasting the other 1/2 oz, but I've done that too. I think the trick is to only mix a half ounce with say two drops of ZFX.
atoews:
All applicator pads will pick dirt. That's why (even with wsshing in Tide), I generally throw out a pad after two uses. My pad generally pick up dirt from the bottom of rocker panels and from the wheels. As a result, I do the lower rocker panels after the rest of the body, and then using the same side of the applicator, I do the wheels. And that does it for one side of the applicator pad. After removing the Z2 residue and wiping with Z6, I'll use the other side of the same applicator pad to apply my second coat. Afterwards, the pad goes into the garbage. If I do a third coat (that's pushing it for me), I'll wash the pad and use the clean side for the beginning of my next session. But don't feel bad about seeing an accumulation of dirt on the pad after usage. I've washed, clayed, washed, Z6'd, and then when applying Z2, noticed dirt starting to accumulate on the pad. I think most of it is a result of dust in the air. It happens to all of us.
Are you sure you are only using 1/4 of that little bottle for three coats? Wow.
In all seriousness, thanks for the benchmark, which I will try diligently to meet next time I apply the Z.
I don't use the "dime/quarter" measuring method.
I give the cotton applicator a liberal squirt of Z6, rub it in. Then I use the following pattern for Z2/Z5 application in an "X" pattern:
* *
* *
* * *
* *
* *
My Zaino useage and application isn't much bigger than those "dots". I use 1 "X" for doors and 1/4 panels...2 "X"s for roof, hood, trunk lid. Use 1 "X" for two chrome wheels and for each bumper.
Washing the Accord, I got so ticked off. The week before the waterban, I had the rear bumper resprayed due to minor damage. I noticed yesterday, the bumper was scuffed at scraped at the corner - AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH. Why do I care so much - no one else does.
I get all sorts of sand, rocks, road salts, and bird droppings. Oh, then there is tree sap! But that's another story.
I care. I really do. And I know its a slow loosing battle. I've taken to using those bumper guards when parking or leaving in a garage. And I even park at the ends of a parking lot. But I still pick up scrapes and scratches. And they still drive me up a wall. Anyway, we all do care.
I wonder if bretfraz meant 1/2 a bottle when he wrote 1/2 ounce. Recall that there are 2 ounces in a bottle. If so, then what he really meant is that he gets 6 coats per bottle for his car, and 3 for the Ram.
Anyway, it sounds like a good target for me is to try and use 1/2 as much as I do now.
How have you been?
http://www.containerstore.com/index.jhtml
On a big truck like a Dodge Ram I get 3 coats from about 3/4 ounce of product.
PBLEVINE- If you cannot get those 2 ounce bottles locally I can buy some for you here in Atlanta and ship them whereever. IIRC they cost $0.79 each.
That's within reason.
BTW, how do you like the 9-5?
Great car.
Rumor had it that right before GM took them over, they were experiencing some serious quality control gaps. I usually don't believe much of what's posted at car groups regarding "this car is better built than that car" as I haven't seen significant differences in car quality or reliability for a long time.
I always thought about getting another. It's not like me to own two of the same thing in a 10 year period, though.
What year is yours? Anything unusual regarding reliability?
For the most part my car's been very reliable. Only problems are electrical but nothing serious. I know some people with 1999 models (first year for the 9-5) have had problems with the turbos and other things but the car's have got better as Saab gets it right. The 9-5 is usually at or near the top of JD Power reliability rankings for new cars and it seems very few '01 and newer owners complain about anything substantive.
It's my first European car and there are lots to like about them. Style and design wise they are very different from your typical American car. It handles and drives like no other car I've owned. I now understand why some European cars are so expensive to buy and maintain.
Mine's a lease and I'm torn whether to keep this one, lease a new '03 (I really want a 9-5 Aero) or get something like the new Infiniti M45 or even their FX45 which will be out next year. It was easy to leave Infiniti and the Asian brands as they were soooooo boring and plain but now it seems like at least Nissan is focusing on design again so there's lots to tempt me. But I love car shopping so I'll be sure to check out everything in my price range :-)
Bret...gotta agree with you about some of the Japanese brnaded cars being boring. Of those that I like, the Infiniti G35 coupe and the Acura CL/TL series. Infiniti M series looks interesting. I talk to my BMW dealer buddies all the time, as I used to be one of their customers. If I could just get over the fact that BMWs are fickle machines, I might jump back in the fold.
Who knows, I'm not even in the market for anything right now.
I can easily live without the Camcords (no offense pblevine, they just aren't my cup of tea...doesn't make them bad cars, though).
I hadn't washed the car in around three weeks prior to the wreck (goofball made an illegal left turn right in front of me). I use Zaino on my Viper GTS and my wife INSISTED it be used on her Denali. Both are black. While many say that black is a major pain, we have found that is not necessarily the case. We use the Z-2/ZFX combination every six months or so. We then use a California Duster followed by a spritz of Z-6 on the fingerprints, water spots, etc. Takes less than five minutes unless we work on the wheels - then it is all of ten.
People still look at my 2000 GTS with 25,000 miles and ask if I just bought it. I did - almost three years ago. I would use nothing but Zaino and have tried just about everything else. My only negative was that my tiny ZFX bottle was only about half full when I received it. No big deal, as I am perfectly happy with the stuff. I even did a "quick polish" on a Miata I picked up for my brother-in-law. Washed the car at the self-serve wash (using Dawn to take off the old wax) and then did a very fast Zaino job with the ZFX while still at the car wash. The entire thing, from starting the wash to wiping off the last of the Zaino, took 50 minutes. It looked 100 times better than when I started.
Highly recommend the stuff!
Chris
graphicguy: No offense taken. The primary reasons I bought my Honda ('98 Accord Coupe EX V6), was reliability, size, handling, and price in that order. I like the styling of the coupe, but I do admit that both Honda and Toyota are way too conservative. The only reason people look at it in the parking lot is due to the Zaino finish. But I know it will be there tomorrow (unless stolen during the night), even after facing up to "pot hole city".
pb...I gotta admit, the '03 Accord is looking like the better deal compared to the '03 Acura TL.
Should have done it this weekend when it was sunny and 60 degrees. Now, my weatherman says it's rain and flurries for the foreseeable future.
In the Ohio Valley, that means we probably won't see another 60 degree day until next April. What's even more distressing is the fact that the only thing I'll have to do in the coming months of Sundays is watch the hopeless "Cincinnati Bungles".
I hear you. Winter's coming on. I too would like to put another coat of Z on before it snows. On the other hand, it looks like I'm being transferred to Manhattan (NYC), so the car won't be getting the daily commuter's toll of sand, salt, and other nasties. Bungles? How about the "Gangreen" Jets (and now the Tinies too). Ah, winter!
I believe that the danger comes when dragging the blade over portions of the car that are dry. It sets up a friction that causes wide, fine scratches.
The solution is to be very careful not to overlap onto dry sections when using the CWB.
I am not going to take the risk anymore. It is back to 100% cotton, US made, bath towels for the entire drying process.
Too bad. The CWB is a wonderfully efficient drying tool.
Rummaging through the garage early this afternoon, I found an older bottle of Z2. A little less than an ounce was in it. I had all of about 3 drops left of ZFX in the little blue bottle.
Temps were hovering in the low 40s. Since my hoses are all packed away for winter, I drove on over to the "do it yourself" spray/wash places.
Only one other guy was there using the vacuum. Pretty much had the place all to myself. Gave the car a good rinsing then put a capful of Z7 in the bucket, put the "wand" in the bucket to fill it. Got my lambs wool wash mit out of the trunk and proceeded to wash the entire car. Dumped 8 more quarters into the "wand" and rinsed. It was so cold that it took all of 3-4 minutes for me to quickly wash the car...another 2-3 minutes for the rinse. Dried it (no CWB...just using the "absorber"). Fingers are now numb. Z2/ZFX was applied. Waited 5 minutes while I cleaned the windows and vacumed the interior. Removed the Zaino.
Total time for wash, dry, vacuum, do the windows, apply Zaino, remove Zaino was 25 minutes. That included putting on wheel dressing. That's a new record for me. I can say that for at least today, I had the best looking car on the road.
Ran errands, went to the grocery store and then pulled back into my garage. 5 minutes after the garage door closed, a freezing rain hit. I'm a lucky guy....plus, the Cincinnati Bungles won for the first time this year....must have been the Zaino.
I'm ready for winter!
WOW!! You were fast! Sounds like a record to me! ;-)) I still haven't put another coat of Z on the Acura since August 23rd. I think that was the same day that my Vertigo disappeared! LOL.....
I haven't washed it since sometime in September. We've had a few downpours since then, so it still looks "good" to the average person, but not me. I'm sure we'll have a few nice days soon. Then I can go all out and get it Z'd for winter.
Other than that, the car is EXCELLENT! Not one thing broken, nothing falling off, nothing leaking, everything working!! Just the way a new car should be! After 20 months and almost 20,000 miles, I would not be upset if something did happen. I mean, it's almost 2 years old. How long can this "perceived reliability", as my other 300M friends call it, last? LOL...
fastdriver
It's amazing how quick I work when I'm cold to the bone.
Usually in the Spring/Summer/Fall, when I'm "Z-ing", I wash and dry...go into the house and have a beverage, come back out and apply Zaino, go back into the house for another beverage, come back out remove the Z. Usually a 2-3 hour process.
I thought I'd get stuck with a long drying time on Saturday given the temps. With ZFX it was put in on and wipe it down, even though temps were that cold. I was pleasantly surprised.
I think if you keep that "red rocket" Z-ed, you should keep it until the wheels fall off. That said, can you or I keep a car that long?
While washing, I tend to "inspect" the finish, looking for scratches, etc. And after washing and drying, I'll break for a beer (at least). I have to admit that putting "Z" on is very easy and quick. But I also tend to "watch" it dry before removing the residue. And as a side benefit, the longer "detailing" time helps me get out of other family work.
I use a large MF towel for drying my SUV. Each 'wipe' with the MF covers more area than a CWB or chamois. Easier to handle than a large bath towel. Your mileage may vary but the MF does just fine for me. =;-)
automophile...I amazed myself with how quickly I worked. I actually got my heart rate up quite a bit by "whizzing" around while doing all of the wash/dry/zaino routine. My fingers were numb after about 5 minutes. I thought about just chucking the whole idea and driving home with just a "wash job". Once I got started on the Zaino, I knew I had to finish or admit defeat (which I'm not one to do). I didn't Z6 before and after the Z2 application like I normally do. I should have dried it better, too. I didn't dry the door jambs or under the hood like I ordinarily do. I did use fastdriver's old trick of "drive it 'till it's dry" technique by driving around the parking lot of the car wash a couple of times to get a good portion of the water off the car. Plus, the wind was so blustery that a lot of the water just "blew off" the car. After that, it only took 3-4 minutes to dry the rest. I didn't end up with any water spots, which is surprising given the poor quality of clean water you find at those "spray" car washes.
I'm beginning to feel that the more Zaino coats you apply, the less likely water spots will form.
It wasn't the most meticulous Z application I've ever done, but it looks very good (as it's been sitting in the garage, untouched since then).
I have not had a problem with drying in colder weather. Mine seems to dry in less then an hour consistently regardless of temp.
LOL... until the wheels fall off?? Not me. Every 2-4 years, I have to change cars because I get tired of them no matter how nice they are or how much I like them. It's been like this my whole life. Thank God I can afford to do it. People who get my cars are lucky. The dealers can never believe what cream puffs they are.
fickle-
Your wish is my command. Here's the pics I just took today when I came home from work. Car last Z'd in August and last washed in September. Looks good to me. I hope this YAHOO thing lets you in. If not, I'll post them at one of my many photo sites! ;-))) Click on the album that says Nov. 6.
http://photos.yahoo.com/fastdriver2_99
fastdriver
This is my last week up in White Plains as I've been transferred back to Manhattan. And that means my car may not have to face daily commuter encounters with snow and road salts. Well, we'll see how long this lasts...
Thanks. Isn't it somethin? That long with no Z and no washes and it shines like that after 2 months of dirt! 20,000 miles+, 20 months and nothing broke yet! LOL........ BORING!!!
caramo-
If you're going by the recent pics I posted up above, don't go by that shine! Click on my name above and check out the pics of what it looks like with a real ZAINO shine! It looks as good as any car on Sal's site. It's like NOTHING you have ever used before! Trust me.
fastdriver
LOL.....Phew, glad my "bottom" looks great! ;-)) We have had some rain in the past 2 months, but the heaviest rain has occurred during the night when the car is in the garage!! LOL....
When you order, get the ZFX, Z-2, Z-5 and a few bottles of Z-6. With the ZFX, you can put several coats on one right after the other. Oh yea- get the clay bars too and the Z car wash. Check out Sal's site. E-mail him or call him with any questions. He's great! HE answers the phone! I've been using Zaino since the summer of 1998. NO PROBLEMS!
I wouldn't go back to regular wax/polish if I got it for free! My car is proof of Zaino's longevity. Good luck.
fastdriver
The only advantage is:
1. Dries instantly.
2. Can put on multiple coats in one day. Don't have to wait 24 hours. If that's not a problem, then use up your Z1 first.
graphicguy-
El Nino coming to CT this weekend too!! Have to wash and Z my poor, neglected car!! Wait until I post those pics!! LOL.... Fickle will flip!!
fastdriver
Last pics I posted of the Cruiser were after a couple of coats of Z2. I've put on at least 4 coats since then. I have to get my digi camera out and take more pics to post. It's "dirty" right now since it got caught in the rain a couple of days ago. I should take some tomorrow "before and after" another coat.
I'm looking out my window now. It's about 50 degrees and sunny. Tomorrow, it's supposed to be 65 and sunny....in November...go figure!
My wife has been ignoring the 300M. She told me last night that she took it to a "drive through" car wash yesterday....AAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Didn't get outside yet because it doesn't seem as warm as they said it was going to be. It's overcast here right now. I will get out there today. Now I just have to remember where I put my Z. It's been so long since I last used it!
AUTOMATIC CAR WASH!!!!!!! YIKES!!!! Tell her "Uncle Dave"(?) wouldn't like that! ;-)))
Can't wait to see more pics of both cars. Between you and sdmike2, I could look at them all day. I love that shine!
fastdriver
She said it was a "soft cloth" drive thru. I explained to her the differences between my "ritual" and the drive thru place...Not that she listened.
I started to wash and Z both the 300M (used Z5 for the first time in a while) and the Cruiser. It was sunny and "warm" (low 60s), a perfect "Z-day". Before I could put both cars back in the garage, the tornado sirens sounded. Got the Cruiser in the garage, but the 300M got it's 2nd bath of the day (as the monsoon hit). No damage at the graphicguy household, but the storms did some damage in the surrounding areas.
No matter, I've prepared both cars for winter.