i don't know if it's already been brought-up, but...

[ToyotaTechGeek]

what kind of waxes/protectants/etc. do you all use for your vehicles? i'm just curious as to what you all have access to, and what you choose to use! discuss!

[rumblebox]

meguiars wax(in the can), black magic tire foam, wesley's bleach white for the tires...

[rumblebox]

ohyea and the "absorber" shammy

[Blacksunshine]

Meguires wax, The Absorber also, best thing for drying your ride. Also the Meguire leather wipes. Sounds kinda cheesy but they sure make the leather ike new

[rumblebox]

believe it or not i have never conditioned my leather. i think i'll try those.

[Blacksunshine]

For a quick shine up. they def. do the trick. It takes about two wipes to do the cobra

[rumblebox]

what color is your leather?

[Blacksunshine]

Black

[Blacksunshine]

Its ten year old leather too. The wipes add quite a bit of moisture to give them a shine and feel thats hard to duplicate with other products

[rumblebox]

mine are 8 years old.

[rumblebox]

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b53/rumblebox/truck/IM000023.jpg

[Blacksunshine]

California dusters are also cool. Takes the dust right off anything

[rumblebox]

and if you dont have clear coat, etching mag cleaner is bad ass

[Blacksunshine]

Nice pic . Yeah, I have to condition mine. the drivers seat is pretty rough if I dont. The rest of the seats look like new though after some good ole Meguires

[rumblebox]

i would never put any kind of armorall type stuff on the dash. just a damp cloth if needed.

[Blacksunshine]

I use a small amount on a damp cloth of the Turtle Wax Platinum series spray. Doesnt leave a high gloss like armorall, plus collects less dust. But i think the coolest product out is the absorber. Damn things work like a champ.

[rumblebox]

agreed on the absorber. i've had the same one for 3 years. haha

[Bulldog Stang]

ZAINO!!!!!! I have ordered some and will be picking it up in SA this weekend... will let ya know how it does...

[ToyotaTechGeek]

very interesting replies so far.

[DropTopDrifter]

Wow....i've gone through sooo many....
Meguirs used to be the wax of choice for me....but it's shelf life just sucked....i would go through the cleaning wax and then the platinum wax tooo quickly....maybe cuz of how easy it was to apply....but they were a good combination.
Now i've been trying something new...and since my paint has gone to shit and i won't bother w/ a polishing wax...i'm just using a cleaning wax, however it is zymol...expensive for a cleaner wax...but wow...does it work....it's a bit harder to work w/.....but well worth it....when i have a paint job to care about...i'll probably try out there finishing wax as well....
Other then that...i use a rubbing compound and then a finishing compound on the bad parts before i wax.
Interior i use armour all cleaning wipes...and the turtle wax formula 1 protectant. I like the protectant...doesn't go on very thick...and it lasts a real good while...w/out getting that evaporation that armour all protectant does. On the top i use a vinyl silicon protectant that i got from a miata buddy from san antonio...good stuff. For the wheels...when i bother w/ it....i use Eagle1 tire stuff....makes it shiny....and since my tires last not much more then a year....i don't worry about long term effects since it is applied only a few times.

[ToyotaTechGeek]

you think the Zymol cleaner wax is expensive...try the actual wax!!! i have bought a tub of the carbon...$80USD for the tub which is about the size of a small grapefruit...good stuff, though! i really find the stuff that y'all are mentioning interesting. as for Zaino...i've had a bajillion debates about this stuff, but that's neither here nor there. i have used EVERYTHING under the sun. silicone= no bueno for paint. meguiar's...well, i can't say too much bad about them. barry meguiar DID sponsor a huge car event that i co-hosted. they gave me roughly $2500 in product for give-aways/prizes. their step program is ok, i suppose, but i found myself working to make it do what i wanted it to do. i have literally thrown-out/given away maybe $1000 worth of car cleaning chemicals and waxes because i've tried so many things and accumilated a bunch of stuff. but, i digress...

do y'all use high speed buffing or orbital? what is your life expectancy for a good wax in the texan sun? how are you finding the rubber/vinyl protectant that you are using holding up to the super UV you are getting down there?
is there a 'good' detail place down there? how much should someone expect to pay for a full detail?

[Bulldog Stang]

Orbital, Life Expectancy is about 6 months on Meguiars, Ruber/vinyl protectant is every time I was the car, good detail place is the Car Wash on N Navarro behind the Shell (by the loop) .. i think last time I checked, a full detail which included cleaner, polish, wax, interior, the works was like $150 or so ... not to sure though

[ToyotaTechGeek]

wow! that's cheap! does your car really stand-up to the elements for 6 months on Meguiars? wow! i've not gotten past a month on it! then again, i am TOTALLY picky!

[blu99sentra]

meguiars nxt tech wax, meguiars nxt spary wax
if there is light scratches or bugs i usually use 3m rubbing compound

[Steeda Snakes]

meguiars nxt tech wax, meguiars nxt spary wax
if there is light scratches or bugs i usually use 3m rubbing compound

+1 :thumbs:

[Blacksunshine]

meguiars nxt tech wax, meguiars nxt spary wax
if there is light scratches or bugs i usually use 3m rubbing compound

+1 :thumbs:


Leedog let me use his nxt wax on the cobra, did an awesome job. Used an orbital also. Probably could have done two coats to really make it shine . The ten year old black paint needs a little extra care to really make it snap. But yeah for ease of use the Meguires nxt is a good choice

[Bulldog Stang]

wow! that's cheap! does your car really stand-up to the elements for 6 months on Meguiars? wow! i've not gotten past a month on it! then again, i am TOTALLY picky!

When you car sits in the parking lot 90% of the time and is not driven .. the wax holds up great ... last time I hand waxed it was back in April .. when it rains here .. the water still beads the same as the day i waxed it ... I used Meguirs 3 step on that one with the Meguirs High Gloss Finish as the last step ...