I am confused which product/s to use on my new car

[calapso]

Hi

I have just joined the forum so apologies if i am asking a question which may have been covered already.
I have just ordered a new Honda CR-V (2007 model) in Black. The dealer offered me a treatment (Diamondbrite) which sounds good but I am not too sure.
I looked on internet and came across Meguires and Autoglym products and cannot decide... perhaps you guys and guide me.
Having looked at Meguires product range (so much choice) I don't know what to go for from the range. Gold class, NXT, professional ...etc ...etc.. Please help.
Also in what way is Meguires better than Autoglym out of interest?

Thank you and looking forward to your replies.

[TrufflePig]

Re: I am confused which product/s to use on my new car

Hi

I have just joined the forum so apologies if i am asking a question which may have been covered already.
I have just ordered a new Honda CR-V (2007 model) in Black. The dealer offered me a treatment (Diamondbrite) which sounds good but I am not too sure.
I looked on internet and came across Meguires and Autoglym products and cannot decide... perhaps you guys and guide me.
Having looked at Meguires product range (so much choice) I don't know what to go for from the range. Gold class, NXT, professional ...etc ...etc.. Please help.
Also in what way is Meguires better than Megs out of interest?

Thank you and looking forward to your replies.

WELCOME TO MOL!!!

To answer a few of your questions i'll start here.

MEGUIARS is the same as MEGS. So I do't know how to answer in what way is Meguiars better than MEGS out of interest as you asked.

Second, congratulations on the new car.

Here I have provided some links for you to read and help you better understand Meguiars systems and product choice and use.

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle
How To Remove Swirls By Hand
How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX
Using the G-100 to remove swirls with the Professional Line

How to locate Meguiar's Professional & Detailer products in your hometown
How to tell when a Meguiar's wax is ready to remove - The Swipe Test
What are the Differences Between Meguiar's Waxes
Rotary vs. PC vs. Regular Orbital Buffer
NXT Tech Wax Cure Time
Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car
PC + #83 not "Cutting" it! - The Limits of the Dual Action Polisher
What it Means to Remove a Scratch
Why Meguiar's Recommends Polishing Paint

Well, next, in terms of product choice. it all depends on what you want to achieve?

will you be working by hand?

is this a daily driver?

will you be getting a machine such as a G-100 or Rotary?

do you want to have a show car shine or just weekend wax job here and there?

all sorts of questions you need to answer before getting your products.

if you want a show car shine. then you most likely are taking the longer route to wards achieving your results. Most guys on here want a show carshine. i know i do myself and have put in the time and effort to achieve it.

for products you need some that will you'll use as a Paint Cleaner, followed by a Paint Polisher and then followed by a WAX of your choice.

so for you, if you say have light swirls then you might do the following.

WASH - NXT Soap
Clay
Paint Clean - Deep Crystal System #1
Paint Polish - Deep Crystal System #2
Wax of your choice - NXT or Gold Class with TWO EVEN COATS
SIT BACK AND ENJOY!!!

here below is a good link that you should read. covers all the basics about first washing your car and getting it clean. it all starts with a a good clean.


Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Step 1 Wash

Step 2 Clean

Step 3 Polish

Step 4 Protect

Step 5 Maintain

With all this you'll need to grab a few products. Below is a list of some basics.

Supreme SHine Microfibres - Get one towel per panel of car just go be safe so you have extras
Wax - NXT is a popular choice. That's what i use and its awesome. nice wet look.
Applicator pads if working by hand
DC1 or M80
DC2 or M83
Two 5-Gallon buckets with TWO GRIT GUARDS

cheers

[calapso]

Re: I am confused which product/s to use on my new car

Hi Trufflepig!

Thanks for warm welcome and your prompt reply with the info you have provided...Iwill be reading it in due course.
I will be working by hand and will be a daily driver. I would like to have my new car looking good and shiny but wont have too much time..probably a weekend here and there.The weather in England is unpredictable so I try to take advantage of any dry spell amongst other things.

BTW my mistake about "is Meguires is better than Megs"....what I meant to say was in what way is Meguires better than Autoglym.
A lot of people seem to be raving about it and wondered what the Meguires camp thought of it.

Cheers

[TrufflePig]

Re: I am confused which product/s to use on my new car

Hi Trufflepig!

Thanks for warm welcome and your prompt reply with the info you have provided...Iwill be reading it in due course.
I will be working by hand and will be a daily driver. I would like to have my new car looking good and shiny but wont have too much time..probably a weekend here and there.The weather in England is unpredictable so I try to take advantage of any dry spell amongst other things.

BTW my mistake about "is Meguires is better than Megs"....what I meant to say was in what way is Meguires better than Autoglym.
A lot of people seem to be raving about it and wondered what the Meguires camp thought of it.

Cheers

well I can't speak for the entire MEGUIAR'S camp, but I can say that the guys that read the forum and surf it are here because they truly love and believe in MEGS products.

but at the end of the day, its all personal perference. I know some who hate Meguiars and they've told me, whereas I love their products. Don't get me wrong though, there are some good products out there by some other companies. But you know, i've found something that works, and works really well and produces some awesome results, so why change right!!!

If your car is a daily driver, a personal recommendation then everytime you wash it, would be to clay your car's finish to get it looking nice and feeling smooth like glass. I clay my car everytime I wash and I swear by it. It helps in keeping your car looking fresh and shiny giving it that wet look you want.

Try and keep a Quik Detailer bottle and MF in your car since its a daily driver. Just in case of bird **** and stuff like that, that can etch into your paint and ruin your finish.

Take one Saturday every month or two, depending on how bad your finish becomes and give your car the full detail.

Wash
Clay
Paint Clean
Paint Polish
WAX x 2

then when you don't have that much time just do the following. in both you're getting cleaner/waxes that will help keep your car shining.

Wash
Clay
Colour - X

or

Wash
Clay
Quick Detailer (#66)
NXT or M21


at the end of the day it all depends on what you want to achieve. personally, i always want my car shining so i don't mind do the full detail all the time. its worth it once you see the results.

cheers

best of luck

[ViperCrazed]

Re: I am confused which product/s to use on my new car

Don't mean to hijack the thread. But Trufflepig, I'm not sure where I read this but I have heard that claying monthly can dull the clearcoat? Can you shed some light on this?

[Murr1525]

Re: I am confused which product/s to use on my new car

If you used a very agressive clay, or clayed and used no lubrication, then yes, claying can leave marring behind. Bur if you use a mild clay with plenty of lubrication, turning when it is dirty, all will be well.

[TrufflePig]

Re: I am confused which product/s to use on my new car

Don't mean to hijack the thread. But Trufflepig, I'm not sure where I read this but I have heard that claying monthly can dull the clearcoat? Can you shed some light on this?

the consumer brand clay is not very aggressive at all.

if you were using as Murr stated, that Agressive Red, then you'd be in trouble.

plenty of lubrication and you're okay.

if you don't feel comfortable doing it, then just do as needed.

i know my paint always feels smooth. but there are reasons for that.

weekly washes, QDs in between, garaged when not driven, maintained daily etc...

[rahsoft]

Re: I am confused which product/s to use on my new car

well I can't speak for the entire MEGUIAR'S camp, but I can say that the guys that read the forum and surf it are here because they truly love and believe in MEGS products.

but at the end of the day, its all personal perference. I know some who hate Meguiars and they've told me, whereas I love their products. Don't get me wrong though, there are some good products out there by some other companies. But you know, i've found something that works, and works really well and produces some awesome results, so why change right!!!

If your car is a daily driver, a personal recommendation then everytime you wash it, would be to clay your car's finish to get it looking nice and feeling smooth like glass. I clay my car everytime I wash and I swear by it. It helps in keeping your car looking fresh and shiny giving it that wet look you want.

Try and keep a Quik Detailer bottle and MF in your car since its a daily driver. Just in case of bird **** and stuff like that, that can etch into your paint and ruin your finish.

Take one Saturday every month or two, depending on how bad your finish becomes and give your car the full detail.

Wash
Clay
Paint Clean
Paint Polish
WAX x 2

then when you don't have that much time just do the following. in both you're getting cleaner/waxes that will help keep your car shining.

Wash
Clay
Colour - X

or

Wash
Clay
Quick Detailer (#66)
NXT or M21


at the end of the day it all depends on what you want to achieve. personally, i always want my car shining so i don't mind do the full detail all the time. its worth it once you see the results.

cheers

best of luck

trufflepig.
following your routine that you suggested, surely you would have to wax every time you clayed like you would for paint cleaner ?

also for the in between routine
Wash
Clay
Quick Detailer (#66)
NXT or M21

sorry don't know what the NXT or M21 is ? top up wax?

what would you suggest for windscreen and other windows ? as i find the nxt glass cleaner only cleans but does not leave a smooth windscreen