JeRKy 8 Owner

I knowthat majority of you are devoted to Zaino and its "noble cause" butwhat brands of wax would any of you recommend for peoplelike me who want a local store brand? Inother words what brand didyou guys use before this Zaino culture shock took place

Lufa

Ummm honestly none, I used Turtle wax, and still do on my wife's car (might zaino it someday when I am really motivated).

In every concievable way Zaino is 5x better than Turtle wax, sorry, I am using the rest of it up, I don't reccommend you go buy some.

truemagellen

look around...there are many Zaino to NXT converts...NXT is amazing but what is more amazing is that even a lazy bastard can use it

the reasons:
1. looks the same (I'd even say NXT looks a tad better)
2. Fast and Easy to Apply (I wouldn't mind waxing every week with this stuff if I had too)
3. Inexpensive...Zaino is expensive and comes in tiny bottles...NXT Tech wax comes in a big bottle and is a great deal
4. FInally...you can only get Zaino online...while NXT you can pickup just about anywhere (or online)...Target, Walmar, Kmart, Autozone, etc etc


If you want an even lazier way to do things...follow what I did tonight:
1. Use mister Clean to Wash down car with water (preferably soft water facet)
2. Do not use the MR CLEAN soap...it sucks and will eat away you wax (I believe it)...so mix up about 2/3 NXT Tech wash (or MEguiars Gold Wash...which is what I use since it is easier to find) and 1/3 soft water (or distilled if you've got it)...put in the soap container in the MR Clean unit and shake up
3. Soap car in sections...using a mit or pad that is 100% chenille...make sure the mit/pad is always clean...wash with the 'wash setting' of the mr clean unit
--it is highly recommended you buy an extra washing pad or mit for doing your wheels...also do your wheels seperately and last but you can use the soap and water just like you did for the rest of the car...if things are really bad you can get a wheel cleaner but I haven't found one that works with the 8's rims...so I just carefully clean out with the pad...probably there is a better way
4. Wash off soap
5. (OPTIONAL) use Mr. Clean Auto Dry to sheet super clean water on the car (this may be a serious waste of time...use if you have really hard water).
6. Dry the car quickly using a lint free %100 cotton (terry or old diaper style) cloth or a Microfiber (the best and fastest but more expensive...buy bulk)
7. (OPTIONAL) If you have crap stuck to your car you couldn't wash out or a stain...bug guts whatever that is above the surface use a clay bar and you can use Meguirs quick detailing spray to lubricate the area you are going to clay...use the clay bar carfully to lift of pieces of gunk...this might be a slow boringprocess but it works great and doesn't damage the car. (or use the Zaino one...I heard they are virtually identical). After done clay barring...wipe off areas where there is detailing spray...with one of the towels listed above
8. Take NXT tech wax...put a small amount on the soft aplicator sponge...spread out on the sponge to fully lubricate it...then put a light coating of the stuff ALL over the paint of the car and the light covers...nothing else (maybe rotary accents if you don't have a metal polisher)
9. Let sit till it begins to haze
10. Now just wipe off with one of the towels mentioned above (microfiber will work the best to pick up excess)
11. Stand back and drool

If I missed something or you recommend changes please post them...I'm always looking for the BEST and EASIEST way of doing things (and fastest too!)

mngpao

What ever you choose, make sure the paint is clean and free of contaminants.

1) wash it with Dawn
2) use the clay bar (keep it wet with a mild liquid soap mixture
3) wash and dry again with the Mr. Clean Auto Dry system to get rid of the clay residue

The paint will then be ready for NXT or Zaino or other high quality product.

NXT or Zaino will protect the paint, make it easier to maintain, and does not "collect" as much "junk" (bugs, dust, dirt, etc.) as wax.

I've used both products - NXT is less expensive, readily available, and is easier to work with.

Good luck with your choice.

cgrx

Crystal Guard

truemagellen

I'm poor after buying my car so waxing it every week is all I can afford...CG sounds great though

loco4rx8

IMO Souveran and S100 (the motorcycle version of P21s) are the most gorgeous carnauba waxes out there. S100 and P21s are the same thing, but S100 is half the price - around $15. Souveran costs $60. Both S100 and Souveran are incredibly easy to apply and buff off. And they don't stain plastic trim.

Neither of these waxes will last long, however. They are "beauty waxes" - you only get a month or two of protection out of them. But they look amazing.

If you're looking for durability, try Meguiar's #16 paste wax or #26 Hi tech wax. Both look good and last longer than your average carnauba - which isn't long.

Lufa

So really what do you all consider tough about Zaino? Once the inital strip/clean/claybar is done, its the same as any other product I have used.

In fact easier to maintain, one coat every 6 months, and dirt just wipes off the stuff so easy normal washing takes a couple minutes.

And I do not know any easier/lazier way to get stuff than on the internet... sitting on your couch, clicking a button and it appears on your doorstep a couple days later.

I don't know, guess I have a different definition of lazy.

loco4rx8

I agree Lufa. I think Zaino is very easy to apply, buff off, and maintain. I think it's all the talk of mixing in ZFX and layering that scares people away. ??

Astor

Love my NXT, love the smell, the ease, the shine, the depth (even on silver), the beading, the way it looks better than any other car when it rains.

JeRKy 8 Owner

Thanksall of you for your advice

SkidPadJunkie

So far, I've been using Maguiar's Gold Class on my black 8. I've been pretty pleased with the results. It's a mix of real wax and polymer. Their website says the mix creates the nice initial results of real wax, while the polymer makes it last longer than traditional, all carnuba waxes. I haven't had the car long enough to really evaluate the longevity claims, but I can say the car looks damn good after I use it.

BTW, Consumer Reports did a review of a bunch of car waxes back in 2000, their view was that nothing really lasts effectively beyond about two months, even those all polymer waxes like NuFinish that are supposed to last a year between waxes. So don't believe the hype on longevity, just wax the car regularly to keep it looking great. There are no shortcuts here, unfortunately.

loco4rx8

Zaino absolutely does last at least 6 months if applied correctly.

Xyntax

Check out Crystal Guard Quick. You can spray bits on your wet car, rub it on, rinse it again and dry it. It's about as shiny as Zaino, but maybe lasts half as long as Zaino. I think it's great for those who don't want to spend time shining a car, but still want a shine.

diamond jim

check out these links from others who have used CG Quick

http://g35driver.com/forums/showflat...sed&sb=5&part=

http://www.crossfireforum.org/forum/...pic.php?t=2349

truemagellen

the other forum you linked to is a bunch of unscientific idiots spewing their loyalty...CG sounds interesting but it is expensive and I like to wax my car whenever I can...Zaino and NXT let me do that...

I have decided to stick with NXT since it is less expensive and goes on like melted butter...I did a comparison of Zaino to NXT by putting on half and half...the results? Looked identical (NXT a tiny bit darker...may work better with the darker shade cars...mines silver and no complaints) but I noticed one thing after it rained...Zaino beaded well but NXT beaded so well that it was like a mist had formed on the car in the form of tiny beads of water...NOW I dont know what is better in terms of protection but I know one thing is for sure...the Zaino side had many more like colored rings from the minerals depositing after evaporation then NXT did...

Things to know about my test...this was after the first application of NXT and several applications of Zaino (I did clear the wax before hand though)...no 'booster wax' was used on the NXT side...I have yet to use that product yet as I find it very easy to apply a new coating of NXT tech wax after each time I wash the car...plus it is inexpensive remember...I'm already poor from buying this car I don't need to waste cash on irrelevant additions or products for the car

But lets hear from others

red_rx8_red_int

I bought the NXT this morning and applied it to half the roof and spoiler just when the sun was going down. I applied it over 6-7 coats of Zaino. In the kind of dim light at that time I could not tell a difference. I am waiting until tomorrow morning hoping to see if there's a difference with full sunlight. I will say NXT went on very easy and came off easy also. Zaino is also easy but not quite as easy coming off as NXT was. Remember the NXT was on top of the Zaino so that could have some effect. Also as posted above Zaino does last at least 6 months, I don't think anyones tested the NXT yet.

Nubo

LOL, lazy bastards don't want an 11-step procedure :D

diamond jim

And Zaino addicts are scientific geniuses? All I ever read is how loyal Zaino users are...same thing, isn't it? Not trying to bash on Zaino or NXt, but that's a bit harsh, isn't it?

And when you break down expenses, we're not that much compared to Z1 thru Z12...You don't have to constantly repurchase all the products...but to each their own, I guess...

truemagellen

ok I revise that...CG and Zaino are expensive...NXT is a great deal (I was trying to sound nuetral instead of sounding like the loyal NXT fan I am : )

flatso

You don't see many wax adds where the selling point is waxing your car for 6 hours, but if thats how you want to spend your Saturday more power to ya. I would rather occasionally get laid or something.

For me I don't need 12 steps to get a good shine just NXT and once in a while some claying and of course a willing partner afterwards.

truemagellen

I like to take a hot steamy dump on my car...the spread it out with a sponge aplicator and then buff it off with a nice microfiber towel...

for me to poop on biach

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

While I do agree that the Zaino is fantastic (and I have yet to try NXT, but it is probably great because the latest generation of Meguire's stuff is all pretty good), I'd like to know how you could substantiate such a claim.

While there may be "evidence" of the wax still "functioning" - like water beading (which will occur on an un-waxed vehicle if its paint is clean) - you will need electron micography of the surface to quantify the resilience of the Zaino or any other product.

I doubt you have the equipment at your disposal.

loco4rx8

No, I don't, but I think I know from experience what a protected and unprotected surface feels and acts like. Unprotected surfaces do not shine like glass, are much more difficult to clean, tend to not bead water after 7 months and an entire winter with mud, snow, rain, and road salt.

Incidentally, my mother's '91 Accord never beaded water unless it had just been waxed. After two coats of Zaino was applied, it beaded like crazy for six months. Something was going on there.

truemagellen

**** beaded?