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Waxes and Polishes, Part III
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GET ZAINO!!!!
fastdriver
I'm getting a 2000 Odyssey in a few months and wondering what the best way to go is in term of appearence, protection, longevity and time needed per application of all products involved.
Tel5: Your proposed program looks fine even if it does look like a lot of work. Meguiars is a good product and even if I know that Zaino would be better, I know your heart is set on your favorite shine. So be it. And I hope you are truly happy with the results.
Shekharpatel: From your post above you do sound like an objective skeptic. That's very good, and I was one too. I'm still a skeptic on most subjects such as politics. I don't automatically take other's word on a subject, and I don't pass judgement automatically. Rather, I reason things out objectively (hopefully), compare and/or test. Nothing any of us here says will automatically change your mind. You should go back through the earlier posts on this subject (prior linked topics). But only honest testing will be meaningful to you. SO TEST. Find some other, or older, or even someone else's car where you can say do half the hood with one product and the other half with Zaino. I would honestly like to hear about your test results. DO IT.
len a: 'Don't know anything about Durashine. Personally (IMHO), I'm not sure I would trust a liquid that is or could be applied to an already wet surface. If you're not happy with the shine, I'd recommend testing Durashine against Zaino. IMHO (In My Humble Opinion), the shine producted by Zaino's Z2 is just wonderful: clear, wet looking, and very long lasting. So remember, trust but test and verify.
Did you get any input on your cleaning process? Please give us an update. Thanks
Ed
However, it will also depend on whether or not the dealer details your car before delivery. If they do then you have a few weeks at least.
If you have a cloth interior, try to ScotchGuard the interior immediately, tho!
Yes, I did. Thanks.
TEL
I couldn't stand it anymore. My car was the dirtiest it has ever been in the 20 months that I owned it! Today it was sunny and 30F here in So. CT. There is a CITGO gas station around here that has a GREAT, no touch, high pressure car wash. Last week when I got gas, I purchased the car wash ticket even though I wasn't go to use it that day. It's good for 30 days. Plus, you get a dollar off if you fill up. It cost me $6.00.
Some of you are probably wondering what kind of car wash it could be for that price. With ZAINO on my car, it's a perfect wash for me who doesn't want anything touching the car.
At any rate, I went to the hand car wash first because I wanted to use the brush on my aluminum wheels because I knew that they would not come as clean as I wanted them to at the other wash. While I was there, I figured that I would loosen up all the crap on my car and then rinse it off and "fly" over to the GOOD car wash about 5 miles away. WHY I thought there would be no line there is beyond me. By the time I entered the wash, my car was dry!
The point I'm getting to is that my car came out great! I KNEW that under all that crap, the ZAINO was just waiting to shine through! I was NOT disappointed! I came home and decided that I would put a quick coat of Z-6 on. I have used the Z-6 at 40F, but never at 30F like it was today. I parked in the sun. There was a slight breeze. I started at 4PM. By 4:30 I was done! I guess I should tell you that I have a 99 Chrysler 300M. I'm sorry that I didn't bring the digital camera home from work so that you could see the before and after pictures.
The car looks like I spent HOURS cleaning it! Nothing could be further from the truth. The car looks like I clayed it, applied Z-1/Z-2 and then Z-6! Not so. Just the Z-6. I will bring the camera home on Monday and take some pics. There was NOTHING stuck to the finish either under all that crap!
Despite what others have said here, I'm sure that I could have applied the Z-2 today too with NO problem. If I didn't spend so much time waiting in car wash lines, I would have put on the Z-2 first. I would not have had to wait hours for it to dry either- I never have from day one. The ONLY time that I see a problem with ZAINO drying time is when the humidity is high! Other then that, by the time I'm finished applying it, the first part is already dry!
So, for all you doubting Thomas's, like I was at first, I'll post some pics ASAP of what the car looks like right now with NO Z-2 having been applied for a long time now.
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to give everyone my first hand experiences.
fastdriver
the car has a nice shine maybe,I was expecting too much,or from what I heard it could be the German finishes,but the shine is not what was expected.I'm not saying I wish to discontinue using Zaino,but for a comparison,If I would choose to try another product like Blitz or P21S how would I do this?I hear these two are also fine products,I believe both Carnauba based and may be more suited for German finishes..Would I have to "strip" the zaino off or apply the new product over the Zaino?Thanks for any help
XterraBill
I have not used any other clay, but I have used the ZAINO clay on my cousin's BLACK 2-seater BMW convertible a few months back. NO problems. I used the ZAINO car wash, mixed with water, as a lubricant. Very easy to do. I thought it would be a major project, but it wasn't.
fastdriver
fastdriver:
That's great news. I too have a few coats of Z2 on my Accord and haven't done anything to it in about 3 months. And yes, my car looks like a test bed for off road handling.
Dirt, dirt, everywhere is dirt.
Grim, Grim, and road tar too boot!
But under all that there may be a shine.
For Zaino guards my finish until the sun do shine.
I KNEW someone was going to ask! I really don't keep track anymore of when I apply the Z, but I THINK I posted here or in the 300M topic when I last applied the Z-2. Maybe it wasn't even the Z-2, it could have just been the Z-6.
When I get a second, I will go back in these messages and see if I can find it for you.
Anyway, I just took some pics of the car. ALL I did was wash it last Saturday and apply the Z-6 in 30F weather. The car looks awesome.
Going to set up a webpage with them now. If I don't finish now, I will finish later tonight and give you the URL here.
fastdriver
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/Feb.html
fastdriver
PS I have to TRY and remember HOW to get rid of those damn pop-up ads! Try it later. I hate them!
I think Dawn should work...
Xterrabill
Anyone have any INDEPENDENT knowledge and/or experience regarding claying a new car?
I never clayed my 99 300M because I never knew about clay until AFTER I had already used ZAINO on my car in the fall of 1998. By that time, I had several coats of Z-2/Z-5/Z-6 on it and was not about to strip everything off and start all over! The car is driven every day and garaged every night. In two days, it will be 20 months old. If you look at the pics I took yesterday(link above), you will see that it doesn't look any worse for NOT having done the clay thing.
To me, the finish is as smooth as a baby's butt. Maybe if I looked at the finish under a microscope, I would see the need to clay it. However, it's a lease and I'm not going to kill myself so that it looks PERFECT for the next guy! I think it looks perfect now despite the stone chips on the sloping hood.
I don't know what to tell you. Maybe if you're keeping the car for a long time, you should clay it. This is just my experience.
fastdriver
I did see the pics. Really looks good.
I am an mid-income person and I try to economize my spending. Are there any polymor (?) products like Zaino that has similar performance and durability?! or even better (I don't think so, at least not from this forum!). So far I see Zaimo (?) in Pep Boy and how is it? Lets talk about this.
Chris
wordvoyage:
First, the effect of Z2 is cumlative. That is, additional layers of Z2 will greatly increase the 'wet shine' effect. So, I'd first try applying more layers of Z2.
Secondly, it would be better to test by comparing Zaino on one car to ...another product on a second car. If you can't do that, I'd pick some spot like the rear bumper as a test bed. I'm not sure that a singe washing with Dawn will remove the Zaino layer. You might wish to call Sal Zaino to determine the correct method. I've heard that a quick application of regular gas or kerosens will do the trick. You COULD apply the 'other product' right on top of Zaino's Z2, but that would NOT be a fair test of the other product against Zaino. To really be fair, both products should be used on differenct areas of the same surface. Then you could really see the shine under the same lighting conditions, judge the aging, etc.
If you actually do this sort of test, please keep us all informed at each step.
Zaino is only availalbe via mail order (find the order form at www.zaniobros.com).
If you've taken a look at the results of fastdriver, you'll see that the only products he put on his car from Zaino is Z1 (polish lock), Z2 (polish for clear coats) and Z6 (quick detailer) to get spectacular results. All those products combined will cost about $30. Drop the Z6 and you're a little over $20.
If that's too steep a price, then just pick one of Pep Boys products off the shelf that fits your price point. You won't get near the results (deep, wet gloss and shine) nor the durability that we have with Zaino.
I'm guessing here, but a can of Turtle Wax or Simonize probably costs about $7-$8.
A coat of Z1 (applied very thinly) and a couple of thin coats of Z2 will give you great results and will last many, many months. Any of the off the shelf products I've used (and some boutique waxes) will last only from a few weeks to a maximum of a couple of months. Since you don't have to use nearly as much Zaino as other products, in the long run, it ends up being cheaper.
No offense, but does anyone who doesn't sell clay for a living have an opinion on the necessity/benefit of frequent claying? I wasn't planning on doing it more than once a year (if that), or when I was going for a full strip/fresh coat(s), etc.
fastdriver - Great pics! They really capture that wet/candy-coated look you get from layers of Zaino.
Perhaps the person who saw "Zaimo" at Pep Boys saw "Zymol"?
fastdriver
Klasse: 16 oz about 22 dollars at:
www.autopia-carcare.com
also available elsewhere.
Finish First: available at www.liqui-tech.com
Both these products are silicone free and recommended by a lot of enthusiasts. Do a web search to find these products, compare prices, and hear opinions.
I used to use a polymer wax called "Slick Shine" that was recommended by a good friend who owned a body shop supply store. It was made by Auto Tech of Grants Pass, Oregon, and retailed for about 12 dollars for a 16 ounce bottle
Cheesy name-but it gave a nice glossy shine, contained no abrasives or silicones, and was easy on/easy off. Check auto paint stores if you are interested. (I no longer use it, because I now prefer the look I get from carnauba products-but it is a matter of taste)
I am dying to get a good coat of Zaino on my new car. I'm in OH and it won't quit raining/showing long enough for me to do it. I have to put up with the "crap" wax that the dealer put on my car when they delivered it (and the resultant swirls).
BTW--My neighbor just took delivery of a new vette last week. He and I are always talking about cars and detailing. His co-worker has a heated garage to detail his car in this weather. After buying about $250 worth of Zymol products and using them (can't remember all the stuff he bought), he brought the vette over to show me his "detail job". It looked good. Just then, my wife pulled up after going through a "full service...soft cloth" car wash (can't convince her to stay away from those things). Aside from the resultant swirls that she had, her Zaino'd, two year old Avalon had a better shine.
I think I'm finally getting through to my "vette friend" to come over from the "dark side". He wants to "borrow" some Z1/Z2.
He has seen the LIGHT!! OR should I say- SHINE!! LOL.... Send him to my site to take a look at monday's pics. If he wants to see more, I can post the other sites where he can see the shine from October of 98 when I first set up my website and compare it to Monday's pics!
fastdriver
I've never used Zaino but was going to try it on my new Odyssey in April. I got the impression it offered long lasting protection. Now I'm left wondering how good it could be. In the past I've only used store brand waxes like Meguires (sp?) and honestly I expect at least a few months of protection and decent shine even through the winter months.
Truthfully, I thought it was longer than that. In the nice weather, I apply it whenever the mood strikes me. There is no set schedule. You're right, 6 weeks is NOT a long time. I'm sure that even if I hadn't applied Z-2 for 16 weeks, my car would still look just as good.
I get no kickbacks from Sal or anyone else. The only reason I tout ZAINO is because it's the best, easiest to use polish that I have ever used. In 45 minutes or less, I can have it applied and wiped off. Personally, I don't really care what you use on your Oddy. Whatever floats your boat! If you like Maguiars, use it.
Personally, I don't know of anyone who has tried ZAINO who doesn't like it EXCEPT shoman. That's because he has his own products that he used to hawk here or try to hawk here.
Enjoy whatever you decide!
fastdriver
Please let me know how that stuff works on your MB - I assume that's what you're gonna put it on. I haven't decided what to use on mine, but I read from carcareonline (seemed a pretty thorough place to pick up tips) that Zaino might not be quite as effective on German paints for some unspecified reason. I'd be curious to hear any feedback from you or anyone else on the matter.
Jeff
retiredjeff--I'm just curious, I used ot have a BMW. Aside from the dealer trying to push some "wax" product that they sold, I never heard of German paint requiring a different type of paint that needed a special type of wax. At the time, I used Blitz on the BMW, which was a carnuba wax.
Also, I found a little window protection trick. This is not a Zaino recommended method, but it seems to work well. I used Zaino Glass Polish to really clean my windshield glass. I then used Windex to eliminate any residual film, etc. The result was an extremely clean window. I then used Z6 (Detailer's Spray) on the entire window. After driving throught one of our messy snow/rain combo storms, the front windshield looked like it had two tunnels where the wiper blades were active. The stuff dried. When I next took the car out on a nice but windiy day, the dirt was still there. But after running down the road at 80mph for about 25 miles, 90% of the dirt had just blown off of the windshield. Again, that was the dirt that the wipers could not reach. I love Z6.
I'm sure you have read here that I use the Z-6 on my TV screens and my computer screen. This morning as I was getting into the shower I thought about spraying the tiles with Z-6. This would be a good place to do a test. ;-)))
I found that using the ZAINO glass polish on a damp towel makes it easier to apply. As you know, I hate cleaning the inside of the windows to begin with because you have to be a contortionist in the 300 to clean the front and the back windows! I only clean them as a LAST resort! I'd rather Z the entire car then clean the windows!
I use Z-6 on the windows too, but usually just the outside.
fastdriver