Ok, so I'm trapped at home today waiting for the sprinkler guy to come work on my sprinkler system. I thought I would try out the sample of NXT Tech Wax I got at the Dragon. I was going to use it on my '01 PT Cruiser. I have only used Zaino on it up until this point, but it will soon be my son's car and I doubt he will have the funds to keep it Zaino'd, much less the time. The car has been garageless since the MINI arrived, so I'm sure there is no Zaino left on it.
Can I just wash and used the NXT? The little sample bag doesn't have much in the way of instructions, and I'm not even sure if it is enough to do the entire car?
My other option is to use Mother's California Gold Carnuba Cleaner Wax, which I won at some raffle.
I really am stuck here for the day, so have to use something I have on hand so those are my choices other than Zaino.
Annette

 

Yes you can use the NXT on your 01 PT Cruiser. According to Meguires it's safe for all automotive finishes. Your PT Cruiser has a base coat, clear coat paint system just like the MINI does. Happy waxing.

 

i would claybar it before you apply that NXT...especially on cars that are not
garage kept.

 

That's very good advice. One thing that many people do not realize is that the quality of the final finish is highly dependent on how well you prep the paint.

That is, if your paint is rough to the touch--if it sounds like sandpaper when you rub your fingers over it, then don't expect that wet, glossy, slick look from a wax.

Claying is definitely in order, as would be using a paint cleaner. Meguiar's Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner or ColorX would be a good place to start, although I realize you want to use this NXT sample and probably don't want to purchase anything else.

Finally, NXT Tech Wax can be applied over older single stage paints or modern clear coat systems. I made a How-To DVD on polishing out a 1960 Black Corvette and we used NXT Tech Wax on that single stage lacquer finish and it was beautiful!

You can see the car, and both me and my partner Mike, working on it (I'm doing the video of course)

http://www.showcargarage.com/

Richard

 

I did some spot claybarring, but just wanted to get something on the car ASAP. It had been claybarred and 2-3 coats of Zaino put on it around Thanksgiving (also been claybarred and Zaino'd regularly most of it's life)
Anyway, I did the hood and roof with ICE (had a sample of that, too) and did the sides and back with the NXT. I didn't love the ICE, it went on like baby oil, never hazed and I finally took it off after about 30 minutes. I'm not sure if there is any on the car, will have to see if it beads up tomorrow. The NXT was much easier to use, hazed up as expected and buffed off beautifully. My biggest issue was the grey plastic bumpers. They had white on them, which I always assumed was Zaino that I had carlessly gotten on them. But now that the car has been out in the elements for 6 months, you could see that the white had a perfect "tape" pattern, even with creases in it. I decided it was leftover from the manufacturing and was to protect the plastic during some part of the build, maybe the clearcoat application. Anyway, I used some 303 and it helped on most of it, but some areas still look the same. I'll take pics to describe it better.
I'll probably go out this weekend and buy some NXT and do another couple of coats to get the car through the summer. In the fall when the humidity is lower I'll strip it, claybar the whole thing and probably do NXT again.
Annette

 

You can get the white out with rubbing alcohol and a shop rag. I like to use Meguiar's #39 Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner. A little spritz of that on a shop rag, and the wax is removed.

The trouble with 303 or any other dressing is that you're only hiding the wax residue. You want to remove it first, then dress it with whatever you like.

I used to love NXT Tech Wax, but have since switched over to Meguiar's #21 Synthetic Sealant. It goes on and comes off easier than NXT, and best of all, doesn't turn plastics white. It tends to be more durable as well.

A good source for all of these Meguiar's products is www.AutoDetailingSolutions.com in Arizona. While #21 comes in a 64OZ bottle, ADS sells them in smaller bottles like NXT and a little goes a long way. It offers a shine and protection like Zaino, at an NXT price.

Richard

 

Thanks, I'll try that tomorrow after I take a couple of pics. I don't think it's wax, though, it had my husband and me baffled. From a distance it looks like masking tape on the bumper, even has fold lines in it and everything. Hopefully the pics will show it. I'm not too concerned about it, if I can hide it then I'm happy! The way I figured out that it wasn't Zaino (other than the pattern thing) is that it is on the rear bumper and goes under the bumper pad I installed the week I got the car, before the first coat of anything was put on. Plus, I always open the hatch to put Zaino on the back just because it's easier, so Zaino has never been near that part of the back bumper, but it has the same wacky pattern.
I'll definately order some of the #21, sounds like a better solution for us, at least for this car!
Annette

 

If you don't see the smaller bottle #21 on that website, call them up--Rick Myers is the owner, and a really nice guy. Tell him that Richard sent you. LOL. Ok, it's just brownie points for me--he's a retailer for my detailing DVD, and it's nice to send him customers.

That paint thing sounds odd. Could the dealer have painted the bumper before you picked it up? I've seen really bad paint jobs where you could clearly see masking tape residue marks in the paint--as if the paint was soft, and masking tape was removed.

Richard