The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

[Wolf-Strong]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

APPEARANCE:

For the appearance part, I had to do the UNTHINKABLE. I invited my wife and FOUR neighbors to judge the waxes.

Mrs. 3Fitty

Joe & Linda (think car detailing is insanity - married couple in their 50's).

Steve & Joanne (other neighbors who think "I have too much time on my hands).

This is where it might get disappointing to yall (I think the pics will bare out what they said).

Not a single one of them thought they could see a difference between ANY of the products. Sorry folks, not one!

To me, it was close, but I thought there were two waxes that looked slightly better, making the paint "pop" just a bit more.

To me, I think PB's World's Natty Blue and NXT 2.0 were just a bit better, but this was NOT supported by anyone and I did NOT share my thoughts with them, as I did NOT want to influence opinions.

I think the pictures will prove the hood looks FANTASTIC. EVERY product was killer for looks. (Again, I'll try to get pics out tonight, but its 10pm and I'm running out of time).

In case anyone is interested all photo's were taken with a KONICA MINOLTA A200.

Therefore, my finding is that appearance is a 9 way draw.

Sorry I can't say this looks better than that, but I'm trying to be as fair as I can to all the products and 5 out of 5 people could see NO difference, therefore I call it a draw on looks.

I believe WolfStrong (member here) did a test like this and came to the same conclusion about looks.

Here here!

Yup! We are not the only ones either. There are members on other boards realizing the same thing after actually putting them side by side that there really IS NOT a difference with the VERY small darkening effect some may give if you look at them from a certain angle in a certain light; big whoop! I have learned that the most important factor in buying a wax is:
1) cost
2) ease of application/removal
3) ability to protect the paint

In every single one of these trials, NXT 2.0 has shown to be the unwaivering champion. I am very interested in trying out the Klasse, Zaino, and Ultima products though. Honestly, I am not expecting any of them surpass NXT, though Ultima with its wipe on, walk away is very interesting and something I wanted to test.

[3Fitty]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

Here here!

Yup! We are not the only ones either. There are members on other boards realizing the same thing after actually putting them side by side that there really IS NOT a difference with the VERY small darkening effect some may give if you look at them from a certain angle in a certain light; big whoop! I have learned that the most important factor in buying a wax is:
1) cost
2) ease of application/removal
3) ability to protect the paint

In every single one of these trials, NXT 2.0 has shown to be the unwaivering champion. I am very interested in trying out the Klasse, Zaino, and Ultima products though. Honestly, I am not expecting any of them surpass NXT, though Ultima with its wipe on, walk away is very interesting and something I wanted to test.

Man... I remember reading your test and getting psyched to do one, but that was a lot of work. I took a pen and note pad (also supplied by Porscheguy997 - not joking either) and I was taking notes as I was doing this stuff. I wanted to make sure my info is reliable and honest.

I almost feel bad that the NXT 2.0 performed so well, because I look like such a homer, but if NXT bombed... I would've come here and said, sorry guys, but NXT blew it.

But picture this... NXT 2.0 is $14.99 for 18 ounces and 12 ounces of VWCR is $72.00. I cannot (at this point) think of one good reason to buy it over NXT. Thus far, it does NOTHING better but costs more than 6 times as much.

[jpitt1987]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

Thanks for all the hard work. I know I really appreciate it. It just goes to show that simply because a product costs more, doesn't mean that it is better.

Good job!

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

Thanks for taking the time and effort to do the test. It was really cool that some of our forum members donated the waxes for you. Thanks again for doing this. It just goes to show that "price does not equal performance".

[Bunky]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

In my limited side by side testing, it is not possible to compare two products for appearance using small sections as done in your test. You have to do much larger areas so you can stand back and walk around to catch various angles.

[3Fitty]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

In my limited side by side testing, it is not possible to compare two products for appearance using small sections as done in your test. You have to do much larger areas so you can stand back and walk around to catch various angles.

Bunky,

I would definitely agree that using a bigger area (50/50 hood) would have been MUCH better for judging the appearance. Having said that, if there is a signifigant difference between two products (ie: one looks terrible), I'm willing to bet you would see some small difference even over small spaces.

I will however use the donated products to do some 50/50 comparisons to NXT. I have a LOT of Collinite 845, Klasse SG and PB's EX-P so I would imagine you'll eventually see some 50/50's of these in the future.

[Mikejl]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

3Fitty,

Great post! I can appreciate all the work you put into it. Since I'm a recently recruited MOL and Meguiar's junkie, I have to say I was rooting for NXT to come out on top.

Mike

[SSMUFF]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

Amazing write up! Looks like my next wax will be the 2.0.

[Joe's detailing]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

IMO. you selected the wrong color car for demonstration red or black or even dark blue, would of made this test achievable..
Silver, or white just doesn't make test relevant...

[Wolf-Strong]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

IMO. you selected the wrong color car for demonstration red or black or even dark blue, would of made this test achievable..
Silver, or white just doesn't make test relevant...

If you are testing for looks, I completely agree. I did my test on a black car after polishing it out, and I can confirm what he is seeing though; the difference a wax makes in terms of 'looks' is just too small to really even consider arguing about.

It goes back to what has been mentioned on this board time and time again. The amount of wax being left behind is just so small, that it really has a limited ability in UV blockage, protection, hiding ability, and looks.

[Kooz]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

I took a pen and note pad (also supplied by Porscheguy997 - not joking either) and I was taking notes as I was doing this stuff. I wanted to make sure my info is reliable and honest.

I can't imagine why your neighbors think you have too much time on your hands.

Anyway, I've been getting anxious waiting for you to conduct the test and I love the way you did it. Excellent write-up sir. Did anyone on this forum doubt NXT 2.0 would do so well? Actually I wasn't sure if it would win but I'm thrilled that it did. Meguiar's puts a quality product in every bottle.

It makes me giddy knowing that I have such a fine wax in my arsenal. I waxed my car with NXT 2.0 several weeks ago and I'm STILL getting compliments. And the thing is dirty and hasn't been washed. Believe it or not the shine is noticeable under the dirt and grime.

Thanks for this awesome test 3Fitty and thanks to the gents that provided the waxes. Will there be a follow-up in a few weeks to tell us which wax is still holding up the best?

[Joe's detailing]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

The only thing this test proves is there's not enough (dramatic) difference to say one's, better than the next...

[3Fitty]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

IMO. you selected the wrong color car for demonstration red or black or even dark blue, would of made this test achievable..
Silver, or white just doesn't make test relevant...

Joe,

You may or may not be right, frankly I don't really know enough to debate the issue, but seeing as I only own a white and silver car, I did it on what I own and was not about to buy a new car to do a wax test.

However, if you really believe this to be true, go read Wolf-Strong's test and you'll see that we came to remarkably similar conclusions...but I will tell you this... I did some research before responding to this post and googled some searches on "wax" and "silver paint" and various variations thereof... and I can tell you I found more than a handful of places where "experts" were advising people to buy "this wax or that" based on "superior looks on silver".

So, if my test is not relevant, I guess what your are saying is all of these so called "experts" or full of soup (which might be the case), in which case you'd be supporting the thesis of Mike Phillips (which I happen to agree with - if it looks best on black, it will look best on everything).

[3Fitty]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

If you are testing for looks, I completely agree. I did my test on a black car after polishing it out, and I can confirm what he is seeing though; the difference a wax makes in terms of 'looks' is just too small to really even consider arguing about.

WS,

After starting my test, I went back to read your results and can confirm almost EVERYTHING you found. It's just one of those things you have to see to believe.

[3Fitty]

Re: The Great 9 Wax Shoot Out!

I can't imagine why your neighbors think you have too much time on your hands.

LOL... I guess I need some detaling nuts to move in to make me feel "normal".

My wife says to me... "who the hell takes notes when washing a car"?

I'm not crazy, just misunderstood.

Anyway, I've been getting anxious waiting for you to conduct the test and I love the way you did it. Excellent write-up sir.

Thank you.

Did anyone on this forum doubt NXT 2.0 would do so well?

I didn't doubt it would do well, I doubt that it would CRUSH a $72 (for 8oz) wax though (at least on the feel).

Actually I wasn't sure if it would win but I'm thrilled that it did.

Well, I'm still going to test how they hold up (maybe for two or three months).

Meguiar's puts a quality product in every bottle.

Quality company = quality products.

It makes me giddy knowing that I have such a fine wax in my arsenal.

Ditto.

I waxed my car with NXT 2.0 several weeks ago and I'm STILL getting compliments.

I wrote this in a thread about NXT about a week ago (my wife said to me, why does my car always look clean, even though you never wash it anymore?)

Thanks for this awesome test 3Fitty and thanks to the gents that provided the waxes.

All class acts... and I'm going to "amend" one thing I wrote to one of the members (lecchilo) about one of his favorite products, you'll read in the next post.

Will there be a follow-up in a few weeks to tell us which wax is still holding up the best?

Depending on weather, weekly updates, plus video to show "beading", "sheeting" and durability. Stay tuned, I'm hoping this test to be pretty thorough (and maybe even an eencie weencie bit relevant).