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Comments
I'd be curious if you'd be willing to try a second test...DON'T wax either side for 6 months. Wash it, of course, but just don't wax it. Then maybe you can give us an update on which lasts longer, Zaino or Meguires. I'm sure many would like to know.
Sorry you're disappointed, obviously some products are not for everybody. Good luck in getting your money back, but please, go ahead with the test I suggest and report back.
dave
Jeff
I'm sorry that the Zaino didn't work out for you. The clay process is recommended for any wax/polish, not just Zaino. It's just a way to get all the crud off of and out of the paint.
As for the results, I'm speechless- for once! ;-)) You said that you "Did the whole process: wash, clay, wash, z-1 then z2,z5,z2,z5 followed by z6." I have just two questions- after you did the initial Z-1/Z-5, did you wait 24 hours before applying the additional coats of Z and did you apply the Z-6 after every coat?
My second question- what color are these cars? The only reason I ask is because the results are more dramatic on the darker colored cars as I'm sure you've seen in my pics.
All I can say is that time will tell what holds up the longest. Sorry that your results were so disappointing.
fastdriver
dhanley--sorry about your experience. I think if you call Sal Zaino, he would work with you if you really want to return it. At least he would talk to you about your experience. That's another great thing about Zaino. We get great customer support from the owner of the company.
As for the shine, I'll agree that Zaino creates a different 'type' of shine in that it produces a 'clear' reflection rather than a color enhanced glow. Many waxes I've tried (Mequaire's, etc.) slightly color the finish and reflect off of that.
But the liquid quality of the Zaino shine (after about 2 or 3 Z2 applications) was far better than that produced by meguair's. That's my experience and also the experience of several reviewers.
When I Z'ed my wife's blue Toyota Sienna, after we had it for a year, people came up and asked if we had just bought it because the color was so deep and wet looking. Perhaps a side-by-side on blue would be more telling. Protection-wise, there is no doubt in my mind about how great Z - plus it is so easy to apply.
The current issue of Consumer Reports gives their ratings of cleaner/waxes (unfortunately, they didn't test Zaino - I'll write them about that). Their top ten choices were in order (all liquids except one): Zymol Cleaner Wax, Prestone Bullet Wax, Nu Finish CAr Polish (paste), Armor All Car Wax 3M One Step Cleaner Wax, Turtle Wax Emerald, Turtle Wax Super Hard Shell, Nu Finish, Eagle One, and Blue Coral.
Prestone, Armor All and Turtle Wax Emerald were all rated the highest in durability (estimated to be only 2 months!) but were all average in gloss. Mequiar's and Mothers, etc. were further down the list. Buy the May issue of Consumer Reports for all the details.
I need to do my daughter's teal colored 1991 Honda. I will get some Prestone and do a side-by-side on it and then report on it over the next 6 months. Dhanley's experience may be anomalous due to the way it was applied, the paint, etc. More of us should experiment to find out the differences.
FYI - Consumer Reports also rated cleaning, ease of use, and scratching/hazing which need to be assessed in our experiments..
Vanessa
NO DAWN!!!!!!!! That's ONLY for when you are starting from scratch again! Just Z-2 or Z-5 and then Z-6.
fastdriver
Applied Z-1, z-2 to my new black Saab. After removing the z-2 (waited 1 1/2 hours in 60 degree weather) it looked like there was a thin film still on the car. I figured I hadn't let it dry long enough - so I parked it in the garage and waited till the next day (70 degrees) to try and remove the film. I also applied z-6 at this time. To no avail, there is still a visible residue on the car. (And I am exhausted after applying zaino because of all the pressure I have to use to try and remove it.)
Anyone have any suggestions to alleviate this? I know zaino can be stunning on a black vehicle - but I can't seem to get that result.
Do I have the sequence correct?
Wash w/Dawn solution
Towel dry -wh/am/100%ct
clay bar w/Z-7 solution for lubricant
apply Z-1
apply Z-5 or Z-2 directly over Z-1
(I plan to initialize w/Z-5)
Let dry (min. 1 hour-until hazed) then remove with towels
Now I can drive the car and go somewhere if nec.
or if there's time left,
Spray Z-6 either now or before
the next Z-5/Z-2 application, or both
Note- spraying Z-6, in effect, "washes" the vehicle, to prep it for the Z-5/Z-2???
Last step -Throw away the old stuff you used
to use 'cause this is incomparably better
After this just a Z-7 car washing when necessary and the Z-6 spray to shine it up. Occasional Z-5 or Z-2 when needed.
Did it get this all right? Please reply ASAP!
lynne29: The only step I noticed that you missed is rewashing after you clay to ensure all the clay residue and Z7 soap is removed before applying the Z1. Other than that, you have it down pat!
Ron
The best thing you can do now is to wash, dry, and apply a layer of Z5 to remove the swirls and uneven deposits of Z2 you left behind when you applied too much pressure and move the stuff around. Then apply a very thin layer of Z2 and really let it dry. WAIT, until its dry tests tiny spots with your finger. If it moves, its NOT yet dry. Trust but Verify!
Again, not to worry, many of us initially had similiar problems. You'll see, the results WILL be worth the effort.
That was my first coat of Z-5 on a new black truck. I'm going to go for the second coat this weekend hoping it is a little warmer and less humid in Dallas. If all goes well, I'll have some pics for next week.
Good luck !
A recent poster said that Sal Zaino said that Dawn will not remove his products. That's contrary to my understanding, but as our long lost Chris Parrish was fond of saying, "I'm no chemist" but here's my two cents.
Bottom line, on a light car, you won't get that really really wet look, but it will still look "wetter" than other light cars. But the PROTECTION is well worth the money.
Since it's doing so well at 3 months, I have decided to wait as long as I can (until the shine diminishes or the water stops beading) to apply another coat of Z. I'll provide progress reports until I do Z it again.
What has impressed me is how easy it is to keep clean. Bugs and tar just don't stick. I can wipe them off with a spritz of water or Z-6. Beading is exceptional.
I think there is a psychological Zaino factor as well. I've never been so intimately involved with the finish of my car. After claying and multiple polish coats, I know every square inch of the surface. Heck, the car has better towels than I do. Using Zaino will make you care more about your car. Of course, you have to decide for yourself if this is a healthy obsession. :-)
(no automatic car washes, waxing etc)
Does zaino is less effective on light coloured cars? anybody used something called zymol??
thanks in advance.....
The other Zaino products available are for leather/vinyl, glass and chrome, plastic, and rubber. All have sun protectant in them.
Most people are using either z5 or z6?? do i have to order both?
One more thing how do i know my car is with clear coat? ( its a 99 Acura.) They reccomend to put a mild abbrasive polish on a cotton cloth and rub on the car, is Turtle wax polish a mild abbrasive?
I didn't get a chance to read your mail before posting my reply... Thanks again....
So I guess I will order z1 z2 z6 z7 and z18.
see.... I also started using these cryptic languges( z's...)!!!!!!
Once you've done that, a Z6 rubdown as "maintenace," with occassional Z7 washings in between is all you need to do to keep the look you first got. Z2 once or twice more a year, depending on what elements your car is exposed to. Also depending on the exposure, Z1 annually or semi-annually. Really very low and easy maintenance.
If you're "into" caring for your car, more applications of z2 will probably improve the look of your car. Unlike wax, Zaino can be "stacked;" only so much wax can be put on the car at any one time or with any frequency without making it a rolling dirt magnet.
Good luck.
Dawned, clayed, Z-7 washed, then Z-1 and Z-5 my husband's 1998 Camry.
Really pleased so far. Spent more time on my van than the neighbor across the street, who is a lawn fanatic, did on his yard and I know he thinks I nuts to wash my van on Friday and again today!!!
Tomorrow, maybe even tonight, Z-6 for both
Now I can read and understand these posts like a pro!
Once back home rinsed off the car with a hose, did a quick wash-down with Z7 and a soft-bristle/long-handled brush, wiped off with white towels. The entire process took 20 minutes and the car had a mirror finish afterwards without the need for another application of Z2, Z6 or anything else!
Could not believe how easily bugs, dust, and assorted beach grime disappeared.
Thanks,
Kevin
My conclusion? Prestone Bullet Wax at $6.50 a bottle works fine for me.
PJ
Pl let me know
suppose "product B" costs $10 for a ONE-year supply, which consists of applying it 8 times using a total of 30 hours of my own labor ...
then using "product B" costs half as much ($40) over four years, but also 120 hours of my own labor because I have to put it on 32 times and each one is twice as much work. That is 90 more hours than the more expensive "product A".
I do not know about everyone else, but I value my 90 hours saved at over a buck an hour. :-)
These are all rough estimates of course. The point is, I use Zaino not because it `works better' -- whether or not it is `the best', it works well enough, and that suffices for me. I use Zaino because it is so easy to apply, compared to traditional waxes.
The numbers are probably wrong anyway, so being off by 15 is not really significant here. My point is, my time is worth rather a lot to me, so I go for the "more expensive but quicker to apply" stuff.
ronniepooh: Don't mind 'red', he's just red faced about his poor choice of words. Go stand in the corner, red, you should have said: Zaino will be easier to apply and will last much longer too. Now please write that on the blackboard 100 times before going home today!
Now it's "wow, you sure did your research - those postings you read really knew what they were talking about."
The Camry is beige, of course, which is probably the least apppreciative color of Zaino. The past few days have been drizzle rain and it still looks smooth and clean.
After having so much fun with the Zaino on both of our vehicles, I plan to "Zaino" as a gift to some close relatives with old cars. My driveway will look like a detailing shop. Just another wonderful reason to look foward to sunny skies.
Now after my test the whole thing seems a bit shady to me. Does anyone really beleive sal zaino is a molecular chemist? Also, have any of the satisfied zaino customers tried dawn,clay,dawn, and followed up with the 3m products? They have a similar enough look and texture to make someone like me suspicious, and the results we basically like zaino for me, although I have yet to do a long term test.
dave
I must first start off in saying that price is no concern of mine when it comes to car care products. I just spent ~$25,000 for a 2000 Impala LS. What the heck do I care about another hundred bucks or so in wax/polish/cleaning products. I do not know how Zaino will hold up in the long term, but I'm sure to find out within the next few months. I'm 38 years old and have been driving since I was 17. Beleive me, I've had my share of different wax products, starting with Blue Coral and Turtle Wax all the way up to the other high-priced fancy waxes and polishes. I've even dabbled with the junk that used to be hot on those informercials.
Bottom line, I'm sticking with the Zaino product line, until the products diss-prove themselves. Here are just a few of my reasons:
1. The Z7 wash is great in removing grime and dirt. It lathers very nicely. Anyone that's done any detailing knows that one of the big things needed to avoid scratches and swirls is a good lather in the cleaning product. The Z7 product also smells great.
2. Unlike any other wax/polish I've ever used, I don't have to worry about accidently slopping the Z2 or Z5 over the black plastic moldings. With Zaino, if that happens, it is easily removed. I can not make that claim for any other product I've ever used.
3. Easy-on, Easy-off. What else can I say? I've yet to use any other product, including other liquids, that go on and come off as quickly and easily as the Zaino products.
4. End finish result. It looks pretty darn good to me, better than anything I've ever seen. Like I said, the long term effects are still unknown for me.
These are the key things for me that keep me using Zaino for now. Like I said, if someone can come up with a product that meets all of this criteria and is less expensive, please let me know. I'm always looking to save some bucks.
As far as the couple of folks that have thier own tests going, please report your results to us as time goes along. For some reason, I could never understand why anyone used "water-beading" as a measure of success for this type of product. Heck, I wish I didn't get a beading-effect. I'd much rather have the product "fall-off" and repel off the surface. Maybe that way, water spotting after a rain fall would not be an issue.
At any rate, what I'm interested in as your tests proceed are 1) how easy is it to keep the car clean by just hosing off 2) does the shine/gloss remain after any length of time and 3) since most people do measure the beading-effect, what's the comparision in water beading.
I'm over 50 and have had a lot of experience with different products over the years. That does NOT make me an expert, but I've developed the knack of spotting cons a long way off. After trying Zaino, I had to admit it was a real product, with real value, and did a really great job. Is it the 'best', is it unique, is it the cure for everything under the sun? Beats me! All I can say with complete honesty is that I am extremely happy with this product.
If you go back a few posts, you'll see the results of my little endurance test. Although not scientific in the strict sense, I can report that a normal application of Zaino did last all through the winter months. That's a lot better than all the regular wax products I've used through the years. That's what I care about, and that's why I'm a satisfied customer.
In the past, I've been able to dry the car with a chamois at a leisure pace; but this time, I was noticing water spots drying on the car immediately. I live in AZ and our water is very hard. This might explain it, or it might be that it has gotten warmer and the car will dry that much faster.
Just curious if others have seen this occurrence.
I'm with graphicguy when he says, "let's keep it civil", whichever side of the discussion you're on.
Do any of you show your toys? I don't want to take you off thread, but I'd be curious.
Take care.
Joe W.