Interior Exterior
Q:
Any of the so called "durable" waxes are actually degrading to your paint over time, but none of the sprays (which supposedly are what you should use on the new cars, per CR) last very long.
How does a long lasting wax degrade your paint? Are you talking about cleaner-waxes degrading the paint? There are plenty of gentle waxes/sealants that last longer than spray waxes.
A:
Zaino, Zaino, Zaino!
A:
How does a long lasting wax degrade your paint? Are you talking about cleaner-waxes degrading the paint? There are plenty of gentle waxes/sealants that last longer than spray waxes.
In the article by CR, supposedly most of the waxes that last long strip the top layer of paint off (i.e. in newer cars, the clear coat). The article said that over time, those waxes will actually degrade the shine.
A:
What were the longest lasting products in the test?
CR is testing mostly products you can walk into Walmart and buy. It is not a given that a long lasting product removes paint...perhaps just those that they tested. Many long lasting products need a bare surface to apply, and thus, these consumer products contain abrasives or solvents to clean the surface off so the user doesn't have to do any preparation (or very litte). NuFinish for example is abrasive, either chemically or physically. But why you would use such a product on your Elise is beyond me.
If you want to stick with readily available products, I'd go with Meguiars or Mothers. Otherwise, there are plenty of great boutique products as well.
A:
Im gonna go with the rejex as well. That stuff is awesome for the ease of application.
-Whit
A:
I thought I wasted money when I opted for the paint sealant from the dealer - guaranteed nice finish for 5 years provided you bring the car in on the yearly anniversary for a $35 reapplication. The black starlight had a few mars in the finish due to leaning over getting stuff in/out of the boot as well as other "smudges" in the finish. After the reapplication, the car finish was like brand new - everything had been buffed out.
I usually never wax a car - I feel it is a waste of time. Water beads up on the finish as it is. I use Meguiar's Gold Class car wash to clean - then my back pack leaf blower and a towel to dry.
In between time I use Meguiar's Quick (mist & wipe) Detailer (and a pack of soft cotton wipes from Autozone) to clean the bugs/dust off. The car looks like brand new after using the detailer. A little spray on the bugs, let it soak for a few seconds, then wipe clean. Since the car is so small, it takes no time at all.
Also Armorall takes care of anything (wax, dirt) on the black plastic vinyl.
A:
You think waxing is a waste of time (usually)?!?
Compare your finish to a like-mileage car that was always waxed/polished in 5 years and come back to tell me what a waste of time waxing is....
A:
You think waxing is a waste of time (usually)?!?
Compare your finish to a like-mileage car that was always waxed/polished in 5 years and come back to tell me what a waste of time waxing is....
Exactly!
Boy oh boy! This thread has made me laugh a couple of times! Nevertheless, I think Consumer Reports simply stinks when it comes to testing out these detailing supplies...Afterall, these are the same people who I believe heavily criticized the Elise for being uncivilized! Hmmm...all I can think of is how so many people are misinformed about detailing vehicles. I'm not going to go into that topic, but for everyone out there, wax is not the answer to a good finish on paint. It's the LAST step of a list of process designed to keep paint looking it's best. That basic list is as follows:
1. Wash
2. Clay bar exterior surfaces
3. Polish
4. Apply sealant
5. Apply wax
Out of that list, it seems that most of my clients can most benefit from a proper CLAY BARRING (especially if your car is not garaged) of the exterior as well as a proper POLISHING.
A:
I wish I had the time and patience to clay my non-garaged cars every time I get them washed. I have a hard enough time finding the time to wash the everyday-cars let alone clay them!
At least the Elise gets a nice cozy garage! I have clayed the Elise once, before using Zaino, and - wow - what a smooth surface the clay bar helps reveal!