Consumer Reports ratings on car waxes
OVERDRIVE
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,233
Likes: 127
From: San Francisco
Here's from the online (subscription) version of the review:
When we tested 28 products, including 16 liquid waxes, 5 pastes, and 7 of the spray-on, wipe-off variety, we found that liquid waxes provide the best cleaning and protection. But contrary to conventional wisdom, in our tests they required more effort than paste waxes to apply and remove. As a group, liquids were the hardest to apply evenly, and they took the most work to buff out. In addition, some left a powdery residue that had to be wiped off. Even the top-rated Black Magic Wet Shine Liquid Wax required an extra bit of buffing to eliminate any streaking. And our other best all-around choice, Turtle Wax Carnauba Car Wax T-6, can cause slight scratching or hazing on newer dark-colored finishes.
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CR Quick Recommendations
The age and condition of your car’s finish and how often you want to wax will influence what type of wax you use. Newer cars do not need much wax or polish to shine, and older cars with weathered paint can greatly benefit from the cleaning properties of some waxes. The Ratings rank waxes by performance on gloss improvement, durability, ease of use, and cleaning properties. We also tested to see if any of the waxes left a haze, scratches, or stains on plastic body parts.
Quick Picks
If your car has a weathered finish and needs a deep cleaning; both are CR Best Buys:
Black Magic $7
Turtle Wax $7
Both are all-around cleaner waxes that did well in all of our tests. But Black Magic needs extra buffing to prevent streaking.
For an easy shine and compatiblity with plastics:
Eagle One $6
It does not clean well or last long, but it’s good for a quick shine.
If your vehicle is new or still has a newer finish:
Turtle Wax $6
It is easy to use, is economical, and won’t degrade the existing shine, but you’ll have to reapply it frequently to maintain the protection.
...
CR Quick Recommendations
The age and condition of your car’s finish and how often you want to wax will influence what type of wax you use. Newer cars do not need much wax or polish to shine, and older cars with weathered paint can greatly benefit from the cleaning properties of some waxes. The Ratings rank waxes by performance on gloss improvement, durability, ease of use, and cleaning properties. We also tested to see if any of the waxes left a haze, scratches, or stains on plastic body parts.
Quick Picks
If your car has a weathered finish and needs a deep cleaning; both are CR Best Buys:
Black Magic $7
Turtle Wax $7
Both are all-around cleaner waxes that did well in all of our tests. But Black Magic needs extra buffing to prevent streaking.
For an easy shine and compatiblity with plastics:
Eagle One $6
It does not clean well or last long, but it’s good for a quick shine.
If your vehicle is new or still has a newer finish:
Turtle Wax $6
It is easy to use, is economical, and won’t degrade the existing shine, but you’ll have to reapply it frequently to maintain the protection.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,326
Likes: 6
From: PA
Thought this thread to be a good place to pose this question:
How soon is too soon when waxing a new car ??
I waxed a new, red, 300ZX when it was just two months old (in my younger days) and I believe I took some of the fresh paint right off the car. It started to oxidize before it was a year old.
Don't want to do that either one of my new MC's !! Thanks in advance.
How soon is too soon when waxing a new car ??
I waxed a new, red, 300ZX when it was just two months old (in my younger days) and I believe I took some of the fresh paint right off the car. It started to oxidize before it was a year old.
Don't want to do that either one of my new MC's !! Thanks in advance.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by Chili Red & Pepper White
Thought this thread to be a good place to pose this question:
How soon is too soon when waxing a new car ??
I waxed a new, red, 300ZX when it was just two months old (in my younger days) and I believe I took some of the fresh paint right off the car. It started to oxidize before it was a year old. Don't want to do that either one of my new MC's !! Thanks in advance.
How soon is too soon when waxing a new car ??
I waxed a new, red, 300ZX when it was just two months old (in my younger days) and I believe I took some of the fresh paint right off the car. It started to oxidize before it was a year old.
Don't want to do that either one of my new MC's !! Thanks in advance.
The recommendation is that it's NEVER TOO SOON to apply a few coats of a good wax. Even if the car is new, I'd get a clay bar kit and a good wax and spend some "quality time" with the car. Clay barring will remove any contaminents in the paint (bird poo, bugs, acid rain, road tar) and then waxing will seal the clear coat against future contamination. With only 1200 miles on my garage-kept cabrio there was already enough contamination in my paint (especially on horizontal surfaces like the bonnet) to turn my clay blackish in places, and if I'd simply waxed, all that grime would have been trapped BENEATH the wax , eating at the clrarcoat and the bottom surface of the wax simultaneously.
Every few months, wash the car with Dawn (to strip the wax remnants) and re-clay then re-wax - you'll know when it needs it as the very obviousl "slickness" of the wax will diminish. Most people recommend claying at LEAST twice a year (more if you park outside or drive in harsh conditions) and waxing every 2-4 months, depending on the wax. Synthetics (such as NXT) are usually cinsidered to be longer-lasting than natural waxes (Carnuba), but obviously some of that wisdom is under debate.
Oh, and one other thing... Detail Spray is NOT a wax (unless it specifically claims to be one). Most detaillers are simply a lubricant and shine restorer. For true protection, always use a real wax and then to touch-ups on that wax with a matching detail spray.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,326
Likes: 6
From: PA
Thanks for the reply, ImagoX !
Good info. That problem with the 300ZX was about 20 years ago so I'm sure new car paints and the processes have improved vastly since that time. But I surely didn't want to wax the new MINIs too soon and have any kind of problem !!
I just ordered some supplies from Griot's Garage... a clay bar among them. I'll give both the twins a good going over with that and then apply a good, quality wax following.
Good info. That problem with the 300ZX was about 20 years ago so I'm sure new car paints and the processes have improved vastly since that time. But I surely didn't want to wax the new MINIs too soon and have any kind of problem !!
I just ordered some supplies from Griot's Garage... a clay bar among them. I'll give both the twins a good going over with that and then apply a good, quality wax following.
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
Wax never hurts. When in doubt (used car that you don't know how the last owner maintained or something), wash the car with Dawn - that will strip off any existing wax, then clay bar to remove invisible but still very damaging contaminents.
Have fun!
Have fun!
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 19
From: Merrick, NY
I have dealt with consumer reports for a couple of years now selling appliances and tv's part time.
They are paid off for one.
"OH NO IT CANNOT BE!" - satan from southpark
Heres one way to tell. They rate kenmore over whirlpool on quality. Kenmore is rebadged whirpool products, or frigidiare products for like the cooking equipment. Kenmore is great for customer service though, but that is not factored into the rating of quality builds/longevity/effectiveness. Frigidiare gets middle of the road quality ratings for the same range as kenmore in the top spot. Hm! amazing!
So, I see how the top products in the world used by detailers paid several hundreds of dollars to several thousands of dollars to detail for shows... yeah those are beaten by 3 dollar can of whatever. I think those peoplewould have tried anything and everything at this point.
Hey, I just noticed something!! griot's paint sealant is rated higher than best of show wax! LOL! this is just about impossible. I have talked with the company and a few users and they all agree that the paint sealant does not give a shine anywheres near best of show or the paste that I bought.
I wish it were so, that would be easy 1x a year application or 2x at best.
Wow, just noticed categories... cleanability? If you apply these high end waxes to CLEAN your car you are introducing something that A, they arent made to do and B. a contaminated car paint/clearcoat cannot be waxed properly. Claybar anyone? Light abrassive polish and a pc? factored in? no. I can just see the swirls and grinding they must have done to their poor car ! :(
They are paid off for one.
"OH NO IT CANNOT BE!" - satan from southpark
Heres one way to tell. They rate kenmore over whirlpool on quality. Kenmore is rebadged whirpool products, or frigidiare products for like the cooking equipment. Kenmore is great for customer service though, but that is not factored into the rating of quality builds/longevity/effectiveness. Frigidiare gets middle of the road quality ratings for the same range as kenmore in the top spot. Hm! amazing!
So, I see how the top products in the world used by detailers paid several hundreds of dollars to several thousands of dollars to detail for shows... yeah those are beaten by 3 dollar can of whatever. I think those peoplewould have tried anything and everything at this point.
Hey, I just noticed something!! griot's paint sealant is rated higher than best of show wax! LOL! this is just about impossible. I have talked with the company and a few users and they all agree that the paint sealant does not give a shine anywheres near best of show or the paste that I bought.
I wish it were so, that would be easy 1x a year application or 2x at best.
Wow, just noticed categories... cleanability? If you apply these high end waxes to CLEAN your car you are introducing something that A, they arent made to do and B. a contaminated car paint/clearcoat cannot be waxed properly. Claybar anyone? Light abrassive polish and a pc? factored in? no. I can just see the swirls and grinding they must have done to their poor car ! :(
Proves once again that consumer reports never has the slightest CLUE about what they are doing.
I've noticed their results with anything technical to always be blatantly wrong.
Yet there are tons of people who still live by them...
I've noticed their results with anything technical to always be blatantly wrong.
Yet there are tons of people who still live by them...
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
I subscribe to CR and think that they do a good job reviewing from the perspective of the general public but they leave something to be desired for the enthusiast. I was suprised to see Griot's stuff in the review. I use the Griot's Best of Show and think that it works great but I decided to try some Black Magic on my '95 4Runner and it wasn't too bad. It was a easy to apply and didn't seem to leave marks on the plastic but it was kind of gooey when removing it. It left a nice "wet look" and seems to have reasonable durability but it had no where near the depth that the Griot's BOS has. The Black Magic applicators are terrible and only lasted one application. The Black Magic will continue to be used on the 4Runner but will never touch the Mini or the BMW. You have to remember that most people don't/won't spend all day working on their care. Around here people barely wash their car let alone wax it.