Which polish?

[JayDub3]

Hello all-

I bought a 2008 CR-V EX the first week of July '08. The color is green tea metallic. Like most of you, I'm one that want to keep my vehicles looking sharp as much as I can (tough in PA with the winters!). I love this color as it has a lot of metallic in it and really sparkles in the sunlight.

With all that said, I started right away trying to protect the brand new finish. I started with 2 applications of Deep Crystal polish and then finished it off with an application of NXT 2.0 Obviously most places such as Walmart, Auto Zone and Advance Auto Parts don't sell Meguiars Professional line. I like how the Deep Crystal polish works but is there a better one in the Professional Mirror Glaze line? I thought the Body Shop Prof. hand polish would be the way to go. I know how important is it to keep that clear coat in pristine condition which requires keeping it well moistureized like our own skins.

How does #5 and #7 compare to the body shop prof polish? Based on such harsh elements in the atmosphere these days, I want to be using the absolute best polish I can. Also, I apply everything by hand, not machine.

Thanks for any advice that can be provided!

-jason

[Murr1525]

Re: Which polish?

#7 is top of the line. And you only need one coat of a pure polish, but 2 thin coats of the wax is best.

Though with it being winter and all, the car is likely getting a bit dirty. Going over the car with clay and a mild cleaner like the DC1 would also help.

[Kickin Griffin]

Re: Which polish?

IMHO providing your supplying dealer hasn't covered the finish in swirl marks for you, then you'll be just fine with the Deep Crystal polish as this to me seems to share a lot in common with Meguiars #7 - certainly in terms of real world performance.

They key to keeping you car looking good will be to get a couple of layers of wax on there after the polish as mentioned above - this will not only afford the paint some protection but will also make the car easier to clean. Ensure your wash technique is spot on too, and this will help maintain the car looking at its best.

[akimel]

Re: Which polish?

Jay, take the following comment with a grain of salt, since I do not have the experience with which to back it up.

But since you already have DC2, I wouldn't worry about buying another "pure polish" until you have used it up. Given that your car is pretty new, you probably will not see any difference between the two products. (I'm glad to see that Kickin Griffin agrees with me on this.)

A pure polish like DC2 or #7 does not offer your car any protection whatsoever. Its benefit is purely aesthetic. Don't push the hand lotion analogy too far. Paint is not like human skin. As Matt (Murr 1525) has noted above, you do not need to apply a pure polish more than once per wax session. For protection add a coat of NXT once a month.

Probably the most important thing you to do is to wash your car properly. If possible, avoid automtic car washes. Instead, wash your car yourself using the two-bucket method:

How to Wash Your Car Show Car Style

Once the weather warms up, you will then want to do a full external detail: wash, clay, paint-cleaning, wax. The MOL gang will be happy to offer their counsel on both methods and choice of products.

Good luck and have fun!

Cheers,
Al

P.S. You may find this recent post of mine helpful: Your Daily Driver.