How many here feel the waxes and other so called paint protection products are more hype than reality?

[Hellcat Cuda]

There are certainly some waxes that are better than others and some more expensive than others. I just wax mine every few months and keep going. My neighbor has a couple people come and give his 1/2 dozen, high end cars the full monty quartz job for about $3,000 each. Ridiculous!!!

 

[Lize]

I've had a few coatings done, only one of those products has been any good, another seemed non-existent when washing and the third deteriorated about a month in and looked dirty and was a hell of a job to remove by hand. The good one was supposed to last a couple of years but in fact was much less effective before the end of the first year. Think all that claim to be long term are over ambitious.

 

[ChargerChallenger]

I do think a lot of the waxes out there are more hype than help. I've used top shelf ones and average ones. It really comes down to a couple of things:
1. How much time you want to devote to the process
2. How much skill you have in detailing
3. How much joy it brings you in seeing the finished product
I am like most in that I enjoy seeing the finished product but obsessing about having the paint being perfect or near perfect all the time does take away from the joy of experiencing the car. When ever I sell a car, the new owner marvels at how great it looks and can't believe how it looks vs. other "like" cars they have seen and as they drive away in it, I question "why didn't I enjoy that car a little more and detail a little less"? Trying to change my behavior a bit before it's too late.

Great points and what gets me is the so called trade value and even retail value does not increase by thousands and thousands of dollars Either.

 

[1971demon]

I do think a lot of the waxes out there are more hype than help. I've used top shelf ones and average ones. It really comes down to a couple of things:
1. How much time you want to devote to the process
2. How much skill you have in detailing
3. How much joy it brings you in seeing the finished product
I am like most in that I enjoy seeing the finished product but obsessing about having the paint being perfect or near perfect all the time does take away from the joy of experiencing the car. When ever I sell a car, the new owner marvels at how great it looks and can't believe how it looks vs. other "like" cars they have seen and as they drive away in it, I question "why didn't I enjoy that car a little more and detail a little less"? Trying to change my behavior a bit before it's too late.

Cause thats probably why they bought it...kinda like women and makeup.....you took the time to make it look good...image is everything...

 

[1971demon]

I've had a few coatings done, only one of those products has been any good, another seemed non-existent when washing and the third deteriorated about a month in and looked dirty and was a hell of a job to remove by hand. The good one was supposed to last a couple of years but in fact was much less effective before the end of the first year. Think all that claim to be long term are over ambitious.

Are you talking about your car...or the men in your life

 

[Grape Ape]

I would use this before I would even dream of a clay bar these days. It's a whole lot quicker and easier with this and a machine polisher to remove paint contaminants.

 

[Lize]

Are you talking about your car...or the men in your life

Is it bad to say I'd rather have cars

 

[1971demon]

Are you talking about your car...or the men in your life

Sorry.... but i just couldn't resist that one...ya see my point thou....

 

[1971demon]

Is it bad to say I'd rather have cars

Not at all....as long as it's a HC

 

[Lize]

Not at all....as long as it's a HC

1 of 9, would like 10 to be a 68 Charger

 

[1971demon]

1 of 9, would like 10 to be a 68 Charger

The 68 Charger...I could stare at that car for days...timeless design...you sure you ain't a bloke ????

 

[Lize]

The 68 Charger...I could stare at that car for days...timeless design...you sure you ain't a bloke ????

Postive

 

[Magnified]

I've had a few coatings done, only one of those products has been any good, another seemed non-existent when washing and the third deteriorated about a month in and looked dirty and was a hell of a job to remove by hand. The good one was supposed to last a couple of years but in fact was much less effective before the end of the first year. Think all that claim to be long term are over ambitious.

I got mine with a five year warranty... did they bake yours?

 

[Magnified]

View attachment 27949
I would use this before I would even dream of a clay bar these days. It's a whole lot quicker and easier with this and a machine polisher to remove paint contaminants.

Interesting

 

[vortecd]

If anyone wants to test a wax, you can wax my car and I will tell you how it stood up

 

[Lize]

I got mine with a five year warranty... did they bake yours?

No, they were are all sort of glorified waxes. The better one - Supagard (UK product) had a warranty which I think was 3 years but I never bothered trying to claim on it as they'd just worm out by saying I'd used the wrong shampoo or some such.

 

[B5Cat16]

In my opinion it starts with clay bar. You NEED to clean the surface. Once it's clean, I use Evercoat finish wax 100056. Goes on easy, comes off easy, looks amazing. 6 out of my 7 cars are garaged. My rainy day, train station, who cares where I park it, beater 95 Honda is 25 years old and it sits outside. NEVER garaged. Clay bar and Evercoat. Enough said.

 

[ChargerChallenger]

If anyone wants to test a wax, you can wax my car and I will tell you how it stood up

You drive too damn fast nothing will stick

 

[EricG]

I got mine with a five year warranty... did they bake yours?

Yeah but try to use that warranty without proof of using Reset shampoo for washes and a coat or Reload every 6 or so months and you will likely be denied. It probably will be on there for 5 years but for these coatings to keep their true luster and shine you do have to do much more than just washing the car from time to time.

 

[Magnified]

Mine is different. Post up somewhere here. No need for any special treatments or BS like that. If it develops problems, take it by and my man will fix it. Already had them redo the deck lid. (this is the place where they had three Ferraris and other lesser cars on the floor being worked on and when we pulled the Charger in they guys all congregated around it and ohed and ahhed.... - they can't own those Itai star cars, but can get in the similar performance envelope with this Dodge.) My problem is its in Houston and I'm not. But if it got bad (and it may have under all the dirt on it now) I'll make the trip (lots of other reasons to go down there too).