Well, I have seen a lot of guys use these high dollar products like griot's or Prima, etc.. Is it really better than what I use now?

I use Gold Class Meguiar's car wash, Zymol wax with Meguiar's applicator, and Mini cooper interior and exterior surface cleanign products. I also use some Meguiar's trim enhancer if I get wax on it by accident and to brighten it all up. I use an Absorber as well to dry the car and rain-x on the exterior windows.

Everything always works well for me. Any thoughts?

 

I just started using the Prima products over the last month, and have found them easy to use, and they deliver amazing glossy shine. I thought I was happy with other products (i.e. Meguiars, TW ICE) but when I saw Epic on my Mini and Land Rover, I was sold. As for High dollars, A bottle of epic is $22 and Hydro only $12. seems reasonable to me.

 

Use what you choose.
If you're happy with what you are using then don't change. But ...
If you want a superior glossy shine, better and longer lasting protection then you need to upgrade.
Do you still use the earbuds that came with your iPod? They work, you can hear music with them but there are far superior ones available.
Again the choice is yours and yours alone. I would suggest your try some of the premium products like Prima, Griots or Zaino. Give it a shot and if you don't like it then there you go. Otherwise you will always wonder.

 

I went through this question too. I use them now for two reasons...

1) they aren't as expensive as they seem. You use a lot less Mystique car shampoo than say Meg's gold class and I do mean a LOT LESS.

2) They work better. I've been amazed by the results I've gotten. You can get good results with Meg's etc but you get easier, better, longer lasting results with the more high end products.

hope this helps. give it a try and see for yourself which you like better.

 

+1 plus, you can't call yourself a car enthusiast without using Griot's or Prima products.

 

Well not really; you can call yourself anything you want actually.

 

As someone who has tried very few of these products, I find it very hard to discern what to use, and it is a lot of money to spend on wax and stuff that you still have to take a lot of time to use (not that I mind doing it, but not driving for a day or two waiting for stuff to cure is a bit annoying).

But how good really is the stuff being shown here? I mean, a year or two ago everyone on this board was all over Zaino, and now it's all Prima. Are they all just around the same level of quality?

 

I've only used Prima (mainly because of this board) but have like what I've seen on Zaino. Both from what I can tell are great products with Prima being a little easier to use IMHO - why I went with it. I think any of the top line products are probably about the same but there is a marked difference in what you get from them and what you get at the local auto parts store. I go back to what I discovered. You can get good results from the local Meg's and Mother's stuff but you have to work harder and it doesn't last as long.

 

Frankly yes. The differences come from how they shine. Zaino is very shiny while Prima is very glossy. Zaino has very little depth when compared to the wet glossy depth of Prima. I have never used Griots so I can't compare it to the two lines I have used. Others can though and probably will.
So there are about a gazillion posts on a lot of products, but you can read all day and still won't fully appreciate the difference between off the shelf technology and the premium products until you try it or see it for yourself.

 

I think anyone that switches from applying Blue Coral or Turtle Wax Cleaner/Wax with an old washcloth to using any of the premium products with proper cloths/techniques is in for a pleasant surprise.

However, I also think that once you get into the Blackfire/Zaino/Menzena/Prima/Griot's arena, the differences aren't as drastic as some of the posts might make it sound.

People will debate all day about which brand of detailing clay is best, but the reality is that the difference between not using clay at all and using *any* brand of clay is a lot bigger than the differences between the various brands of clay.

Same with waxes/sealants. I've used a *lot* of them, including just about all of the "high-end" products, at least the ones that can be had for less than about $175 per bottle/can. Some of them have more gloss, some of them have more depth, some last longer than others or are easier/harder to remove than others, but the differences in the final results are pretty minor.

The important thing is to get away from any processes that will cause swirl marks and fine scratches ("Sir, put down the 'foaming brush' and step away..."), clay the paint when it needs it, and apply any of the good-quality waxes/sealants on a regular basis. That will get you 95% of the way there, and the last 5% is personal preference.

 

Well, I can say that a heavy, hard carnauba paste that is 30% carnauba based would be better than most high end products. I like DP's stuff, but it isnt as strong as carnauba. Carnauba has some durability issues though that synthetics dont seem to have as much. More weather and temperature prone. However, I have to say that as long as you use a high quality polish system for removing swirls, what goes on top does not matter all that much if it is natural.

I have tried many types of natural waxes. Meg's in can crystal job works well, Griot's paste wax is awesome. Both go far and coat 100% in one layer.

I am using Epic system now because I know that they have Hydro which gives me protection after I wash and while I dry, and Mystique which, when bought in bulk, is very inexpensive when you figure you only need 2 ounces in a 4 3/4 gallon of filling up a bucket. It is nice to buy a system. Some of the nicer cheaper but decent hard waxes I mentioned (cheap when you consider it goes super long way for a few years) have problems in terms of a matching after wash spray or good car soap. I find that most carnauba after wash sprays like SprayWax make the finish attract dust which is 100% counterproductive.

If you had a no swirl car, you had time to get in 4-5 hand waxes a year, I would go the cheap carnauba paste route.

Epic is the fastest system possible from wash to wax, or just washing. (for me at least)

 

I've used quite a few products since I started detailing cars (3 1/2 years ago) and alot of them are the higher dollar brands, but I've also used the more affordable brands too. I always get free samples when I order so I always have a option to try something else, and normally do.

Since my car is black, I look for depth and shine, but it has to be easy to use. Wax that doesn't need to set for 2 hours before you buff, and polish that buffs off easily, and sealants that need no cure time, for example. Because of that, I go with the higher end products for my car, but I've found affordable products that give similar results for my customers cars. Yeah, I can see the difference, and it may have been a little trickier to use, but they are just as happy as they would have been if I used something twice as expensive.

There's nothing wrong with what you're using. If you want to try higher end products out, you can get detailing bundles that come with waxes, poliesh, shampoo, wheel cleaner, and some micro fiber goodies, etc for much cheaper than if you bought separatly. If your not sure that it would make a difference in your eye, or want to be sure before you drop a money, do this: go to a autostore, or somewhere online, and buy a quick detailer that cost $10 (a generic brand at autozone/walmart), and one that cost $20 for the same amount (a brand you can't buy in a store). Detail one side with the generic and then the other with the expensive spray. If you can't tell then higher end products are not for you and you will be just as happy with the more affordable stuff. If you can see the difference, then welcome to the hobby

 

I find it interesting, I go pretty crazy on my details making sure the undercarriage is dressed, the paint is swirl free and there are never any water spots. My neighbour pulls out his car Saturday morning rips off a piece of t-shirt, fills up the bucket with ivory and goes to town. I cringe but we both stand back with a beer and admire our work with pride. I think the more you read on here and other car sites or car shows your attend the more obsessed you get at making it look good in your eyes. If you found something you are happy with stick with it. When you want to take it to the next level we're here to help you spend your money.

 

Agreed. Once you get into it, its really fun, but becomes frustrating at times, especially when you are doing it for money. It's kinda like a mechanic and his tools. You never have enough and you never have that special tool for this one job that you will never do again, so you have to go buy it just to be prepared for the next time.

At least with detailing you can experiment with different things for different applications not on the label, where as when working on a car you can't use a standard wrench on a metric bolt.

Also I just started cleaning my undercarriage for shows, but will not be doing it again without a lift. I was soaked when I got finished, and I couldn't clean it as well as I wanted becuase I couldn't see and was under water.

 

you're right, you have all the Prima goodies but yet you are still
an exception.

 

I really like and agree with what ScottRiqui said above.

Overall, yes, there is a big quality (read: application ease, product concentration, and results) jump between the mass marketed brands and the premium brands, in most cases. Once you're at the premium level, then it's mostly all great stuff. The brand variations at the premium level mostly just address variations in personal preference in looks and application, etc.
I do think it's important to note, as cadfael_tex also noted, that most of the premium brands have such higher concentration levels that they are equal to or less than the cost of mass brands per use and/or per year.

With that said, IHMO, THE most important thing is technique and avoiding the few products/tools out there that harm your paint (and other surfaces). For example, proper washing and drying techniques (and to some extent the tools you use to do so) will prevent many of your scratches and swirls in the first place. Thus, does it matter much with is the best swirl-removing polish?? (of course, it does when you do have the swirls, some of which are inevitable... but I think you get my point )

So, I think you will enjoy trying the premium brands because you'll enjoy the way they work and the results. However, I would make sure your techniques and tools are in tip-top shape first and foremost.

Sure, Prima is spoken very highly of here, as is Zaino and Griot's- and all of them for good reason, IMO. That doesn't mean that the mass-marketed brands are bad for your MINI though! So if you like what you already have then don't switch and don't feel badly about it. We can all love our cars in our own way.

The curse of the premium stuff is that it is hard to go back... honestly, it is really a curse! (I curse my husband for getting me into this stuff every day!) So, switch or don't switch... to the dark side.

In summary: Focus on technique and non-damaging tools first!

-Heather

 

^^+1



also, i wish birds would wear diapers...

 

Wow, thanks so much for the help huys. Again, NAM pulls through and helps me with some valuable input. I think that I will make sure that my technique is in tip top shape before getting out to purchase some of these goodies. I am really interested in the prima hydro and prima epic (after my zymol runs out of course) Thanks again for all of the response and I hope this thread may have helped others besides myself! Cheers!

 

P.S.

I wish birds would wear diapers too.

 

yah, but Hydro is a no-brainer, so start with that now. you can use it
over your zaino or NXT or ICE or watever polymer you have...or
people who don't wax their cars. after a wash, just spray Hydro
and wipe down the car. that is PLENTY of protection and looks great.

no need to worry about smearing on glass, no need to worry about
whitening on rubber and plastic bits. just spray and wipe. even
over clean glass.

 

I totally agree. I mean who trained them anyways?

 

And large bugs should watch where they are flying too!

 

 

haha

 

gotta agree with kenchan. I tried hydro for my first time this weekend, and was amazed. Its just easy as heck to use. We'll see if I spring for the other stuff (epic, polishes, etc.) but hydro is awesome stuff, even for the lazy detailer.