MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

ChiliCooperS · #1 06-12-2005, 10:03 PM

Okay I know I might be asking an obvious question here but...

Why is Zaino So Good?
How much better does it make your car look than NXT perhaps?
Can I see pics of your Zainoed MINIs or any other car for that matter?

Thanks

MIKEY!

kirk · #2 06-21-2005, 06:03 AM

While we are on the topic of Zaino and Good, has anyone used the new Z8 Grand Finale? I'm thinking it would be great for putting on before long road trips to keep the bugs to a minimum. I'd be curious to hear the comparison between Z6 and Z8, especially with the difference in the price.
Kirk

kaelaria · #3 06-21-2005, 06:41 AM

Mine has not come in yet, but from every review I have found, it's a very minimal difference. No one I have read says it's even hard to tell in an a/b comparison.

ChiliCooperS · #4 06-21-2005, 08:57 AM

Die Warehouse is in Kansas!
I'm guessing in Kansas City, but according to my UPS tracker that's where my Zaino was @ 1:51 am, Harmon and I are begining the countdown to a better shine!

ChiliCooperS · #5 06-21-2005, 10:51 AM

Z6: Z2, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!

Wow just to tell you how much stuff I actually got, my package weighed almost 5.90 pounds!

28 hours 'til Zaino gets here!

I'm Nuts

**lotsie** · #6 06-21-2005, 08:53 PM

Seeing as now I can order Zanio from a Canadian dealer, I may give it a try.
My big question is, when it's so cold your eyes can't blink, for months on end, can I still wash twice a week, in a wand wash, and will it last. There are places that charge by time, so I can "top" up the wax.

kaelaria · #7 06-13-2005, 06:01 AM

There are other products that can give as good a shine, but I have not found anything that goes on as easily, drys/cures as fast, and goes so long between treatments, with such a shine. That's what makes it unique to me at least.

IanF · #8 06-13-2005, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaelaria

There are other products that can give as good a shine, but I have not found anything that goes on as easily, drys/cures as fast, and goes so long between treatments, with such a shine. That's what makes it unique to me at least.

Yep - the ease of application is the biggest benefit. Three coats in an hour -

. Plus, it can be put on in full sunshine, unlike most other waxes.

**OctaneGuy** · #9 06-13-2005, 12:50 PM

NXT gives you the same shine and protection in one step. Plus you have the benefit of being able to apply it either by hand or machine. Having done it both ways and with using Zaino, I couldn't ever imagine doing anything by hand anymore, much less using Zaino, when NXT is cheaper, readily available, and so much easier to use.

Tech Wax once every few months--depending on how often you wash/quick detail your car--NXT spray wax as a booster.

Will Zaino do this? (tape line demarcation showing untreated hood on left and NXT on right)

Turn This

Into this??

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanF

Yep - the ease of application is the biggest benefit. Three coats in an hour -

. Plus, it can be put on in full sunshine, unlike most other waxes.

kaelaria · #10 06-13-2005, 01:43 PM

Nope, Zaino does not get our swirls like that. I tried my darndest on my buddies Vette, that looks like that fresh off the showroom, and zaino wouldn't touch it - but then it's not designed to - it's for good paintwork to begin with. I'm very impressed that NXT appears to be able to help paint like that though - I'll recommend he picks some up to try it out.

kaelaria · #11 06-13-2005, 01:54 PM

Looking at thier site, that was not simply done with NXT, it was a detailed project. http://meguiarsonline.com/forums

kaelaria · #12 06-13-2005, 01:59 PM

Here's a good walkthrough of what it takes to do that - and this is exactly what my buddies vette looks like:

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...p?threadid=218

umberto · #13 06-13-2005, 02:09 PM

I think NXT is great.....but only for a short time. it is exremely slick for the first week or two....but by week four, my car is squeaky clean ( which I don't want,...I want my finger to glide across the paint because the paint is slick ) which to me shows that most of the protection is basically gone. This is after claying and applying 2 coats of NXT within 24 hours. CR 04 MC So once this bottle of NXT is gone, it will be Zaino for me

apexer · #14 06-13-2005, 02:20 PM

I have used both and while NXT is OK and cost less $$$, it doesn't last nearly as long as Zaino.
If you want to settle for OK

go with the NXT. If you want the best

go with Zaino.

kaelaria · #15 06-13-2005, 02:37 PM

I go 1 month between coats of Zaino, and it's always a silicone slick finish at every application...lasts a LONG time!

No squeaks!

mataku · #16 06-13-2005, 02:41 PM

I've been using NXT as I wait for the Zaino cleaner to come out. I emailed Sal and word sometime THIS WEEK! unfortunately I'm all the way in Durham, NC and wont be back for another 5 weeks, so my baby won't get the treatment just yet.

However from the many hours i've spend reading things up. If you are just someone who likes things really easy with a relatively swirled car and don't like spending money on quality items, then use NXT. It covers swirls really well and is cheap, but it's durability is relatively weak.

then, if you are an obsessed detailer that doesn't mind getting rid of the swirls via DACP instead of just covering them up, then work through the many steps and Zaino that baby for the ultimate protection. Also, I want protection that lasts my weekly washing and through the long winters.

one thing though, pictures really don't do you much. Any car will look nice after a nice wash and wax in a picture. The real difference is in the person and in the durability of the product.

**OctaneGuy** · #17 06-13-2005, 06:20 PM

Actually this was a detailing project that Mike and I did last Wed of this 1960 Corvette. That is, I shot the video, took most of the still pix, and detailed it with him off camera. The paint job was a 30 year old single stage lacquer paint that was all swirled out. Looked great in the garage but not in the sun.

The test spot I showed came off the video I'm editing, and was from test spot we did on the hood. For the rear, we used Scratch X and NXT by hand. For the hood, we didn't use Scratch X, but a DAPC with a foam pad and NXT. #80 which was a cleaner/polish was used before NXT, but using 2 products to get the job done, isn't unlike the multiple Zaino products needed as well.

The final "shiny" coat and final buff out shown here was done with NXT. The pictures I posted were pre #7 Show Car Glaze which was the final "gloss" coat added.

Richard

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaelaria

Looking at thier site, that was not simply done with NXT, it was a detailed project. http://meguiarsonline.com/forums

kaelaria · #18 06-13-2005, 08:26 AM

That's certainly true on my Mini - mine is slick as snot, especially after I clayed the hood - I don't think I have a slipperier teflon pan, serious! BUT I did have a bigazz beetle slam into one of my stripes and has put a nick in it already!!

However, for some reason, our new Beetle looks like euthenasia day at the mosquito farm almost every few days - and no amount of Zaino has helped! Maybe the bugs see a great big Yellow bug and want to mate!

IanF · #19 06-13-2005, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaelaria

However, for some reason, our new Beetle looks like euthenasia day at the mosquito farm almost every few days - and no amount of Zaino has helped! Maybe the bugs see a great big Yellow bug and want to mate!

Maybe it's a VW thing... my Jetta is the same way... I can't imagine how bad the front of my car would look if we hadn't installed a clear-bra kit...

minimonkey · #20 06-13-2005, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tradiuz

The fact that bugs just WONT stick. No matter how hard they try.

Sorry, but I don't find that to be true.

I use the products, I like them alot... BUT they don't stop all bugs from sticking... and I am not one to let bugs bake on there.

What I do wonder is why Zaino has not protected my pepper white Mini from some kind of yellow bug (or possibly poop) that doesn't come off. It seems to have permanently stained the finished. I even tried the clay bar... but nothing seems to get off. A faint yellow stain remains.

Does anybody have any ideas?

Lareina · #21 06-20-2005, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minimonkey

Sorry, but I don't find that to be true.

I use the products, I like them alot... BUT they don't stop all bugs from sticking... and I am not one to let bugs bake on there.

What I do wonder is why Zaino has not protected my pepper white Mini from some kind of yellow bug (or possibly poop) that doesn't come off. It seems to have permanently stained the finished. I even tried the clay bar... but nothing seems to get off. A faint yellow stain remains.

Does anybody have any ideas?

By now you may have resolved the bug problem, but I had the same thing happen! It seems to be bug poop and amazingly, the yellow disappears after the car has been in the sun for a few days. I asked the same exact question on another board and the person who responded (another PW owner) told me to just wait patiently until the sun did it's magic! I have no idea why the poop stains right through the wax, but it does!!!! And I'm such a fanatic that I carry an emergency kit equipped with Speed Shine to wipe off bird droppings even BEFORE I get home from work!

BradB · #22 06-13-2005, 04:48 PM

Lots of reasons as posted here. I like the slickness of feel and the ease of how you can maintain that slickness. And of course the shine. All this with durability that is unmatched. We're talking months.

Many other brands can achieve a great shine, I don't dispute this. But they can't maintain it for months like Zaino can. If you don't mind re-doing it, no problem, but with Zaino you don't have to.

I have other cars that aren't Zaino cars, but two of them are because I want them looking fantastic without all the hassle or effort.

**OctaneGuy** · #23 06-13-2005, 06:30 PM

Well for those of us that like to keep our cars clean, even a few days of dust isn't acceptable, so that's a lot of touching of the paint--with Quick Detailers and MF towels. That'll quickly wear down any wax/polish.

If you like to buff out your car once a month or once every couple months, and do in between with a Quik/Speed Detailer and Spray Wax, NXT works great! I normally do clinics where I won't have time to do my own car--but work on others--so it's several months before I get a chance to work on my own. Daily maintenance with Speed Detailer is what I do.

Anyone that knows me or has seen my MINI knows that my finish is always slick, dark, and shiny.

Both Zaino and NXT will give you that--but NXT gives you the added benefit of fine scratch removal especially when using a DAPC.

Kaelaria---for new MINI paint that's in good condition but is swirled out, NXT is normally all that's needed, although using #80 or #83 can be used for further swirl removal. We do this monthly at our detailing clinics with just Tech Wax for the most part.

Full treatment would consist of clay bar, #83, NXT Tech Wax for a MINI in bad condition.

Richard

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradB

Lots of reasons as posted here. I like the slickness of feel and the ease of how you can maintain that slickness. And of course the shine. All this with durability that is unmatched. We're talking months.

Many other brands can achieve a great shine, I don't dispute this. But they can't maintain it for months like Zaino can. If you don't mind re-doing it, no problem, but with Zaino you don't have to.

I have other cars that aren't Zaino cars, but two of them are because I want them looking fantastic without all the hassle or effort.

kaelaria · #24 06-13-2005, 07:42 PM

My point is, all the work to get that damage out wasn't due to the NXT - it was all the steps before it - and frankly, that's the same thing you'd have to do regardless of polish choice - NXT, Zaino or others. Crediting that kind of repair to any polish isn't accurate. If you were to simply put Zaino or NXT over a finish like that - it's still going to look crappy, just a little shinier.

**OctaneGuy** · #25 06-13-2005, 11:53 PM

Well that's where I disagree with you.

These are pictures of a black MCS. This was buffed out with a Dual Action Polisher using only NXT Tech Wax. The reason that Zaino won't give you this kind of results is simple. Zaino is a pure polish. NXT Tech Wax is a synthetic wax & paint cleaner which means it'll give you that shine AND remove the swirls when applied correctly.

How long did it take to buff out this hood??? Well around 10 minutes tops.

BEFORE

AFTER

SIDE BY SIDE

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaelaria

My point is, all the work to get that damage out wasn't due to the NXT - it was all the steps before it - and frankly, that's the same thing you'd have to do regardless of polish choice - NXT, Zaino or others. Crediting that kind of repair to any polish isn't accurate. If you were to simply put Zaino or NXT over a finish like that - it's still going to look crappy, just a little shinier.