carpediem

I've read all this great stuff on Zaino wax and that $2000 stuff Jay Leno uses. I really don't see much difference between them and some of the cheaper stuff.

*puts on flame retardent suit* Sorry for the ignorance but I just washed my car (not an 8 - a 2000 Mustang GT) with Dawn, claybarred, then washed again with rain-x car wash. I usually wax with Meguiars Gold Class but I never get the shine I usually see people get. This time I used Zymol wax and it looks just as good as the pics I see of you guys with Zaino. I used 2 coats and the car looks almost new.

What I want to know, is there something else going on there that I can't see? Some chemical thing I should know just in case I should get that wax off there and stop being a cheap-***? I'm a RX-8 wannabe and I will have mine soon. I want to do the right thing for my Mustang and for my soon-to-be new 8.

-B

ps. I'd post before and afters but 1. No digicam and 2. my car was indistinguishable before.

NavyDood

If I didn't use Zaino, Zymol would be next on my list.

Pics don't do Zaino justice. Compare Zaino next to other brands up close and personal and then you will see what all the hype is with Zaino. If Zaino isn't done starting with step one, then your wasting your money on Zaino.

SLiM8

If you really want to get a shine that you see on car shows look more into surface preparation. Putting a wax on a non prepped paint is a waste of time. Here's some procedure that would help you get the shine you want.

1. Feel you're paint. Wash your car and dry. Put you're hand inside a plastic bag and glide it lightly on you're paint. If it feels bumpy or gritty. You should clay bar your paint. This will remove all the contaminants on you're paint. You're paint should feel as smooth as glass when you're done.

2. Compounding/Polishing. Compounding/Polishing will remove defects from you're paint such as swirl and scratches, water spots, etc. and will also increase gloss on your paint.

3. Sealing/Waxing. This will protect your polished paint and will give you a long lasting shine. It'll give you're paint a better gloss, depth and smooth finish.

carpediem

Ok, I guess I wasn't too clear. I did all that already for like 5 hours today. What I want to know is, is Zaino really all that much better than the cheaper stuff like Zymol? I used Zymol today on my car and it looked just like the Zainoed pics i see on this board. Is there something that I can't see that makes Zaino better than Zymol?

carpediem

So, of all the opinionated people on this forum, nobody wants to flame me for this or give some useful advice? I'm open to either, really.

Ninja

I've done searches on the web about Zaino, and found one or two comparo articles on different wax/polishes. The one or two I found: Zaino won in longevity and if I remember right looks was either not compared or it was right up there.

After reading those I went for Zaino and haven't been sorry.

NavyDood

Don't even need a bag for this. Just use your hand.

draco067

Let me just add that I used Zaino for the first time this week, and DAMN, I love this stuff.

markd

I think the reason they tell you to use a plastic bag is that doing so doesn't allow your hand to pick up any dirt as it's moving and, thus, avoids scratching or micro-marring. At least with the bag, you can feel the dirt and the dirt doesn't move on the paint.

Carpe, I don't know if it helps, but check out this thread for a comparison of different waxes. It doesn't include Zymol, but it matches up Zaino against a number of other good waxes/sealants, including NXT Tech and EO Nanowax. I reserve comment on Zaino since I have never used it, but I have heard other people say that waxes such as NXT (which I do use) bring very comparable shine/gloss, though they are not as durable as Zaino, which can last for months.

BTW, if you do a Zymol search here, I think there is supposed to be a few much more expensive Zymol waxes that you cannot get at Wal-Mart or other such discount or auto stores and which are supposed to be even better than the over-the-counter version. This is one that Ralph Lauren used on his car, although I don't know if I would pay $823 for any wax!!!! Or try this one at over $1500. A more realistically priced one, if you just want to stick with their brand, is their "hand-crafted" wax at around $50.

terbeaux

I use Zymol HD-Cleanse and Zymol Japon on my black 8 and Miata. Looks as good as Zaino IMO.