Best wax or polish for Central Fl

[eagleguy]

For a vehicle kept outside which has a nice paint job what will last. Nothing used yet seems to hold up. NXT,26 all start out nice but seem to break down real fast. When I live up North the products seemd to hold up better ven with the snow and other elements.

[tcope1]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

UV can be much more punishing then snow and rain. The products mentioned should last about 3 month and this is about all your going to get no matter where in the US you are. Many people, including myself, like putting down a coat of NXT, waiting 24 hours and then putting M26 on top of it. But again, this is only going to last about 3 months. It might provide better protection during that time and it might also make it much easier to apply the wax after that time frame.

Personally, I think M16 is a great long lasting wax but it's (usually) a little more expensive and (usually) hard to find. You won't find it locally but it can be found on ebay.

You may also want to look into keeping up the protection by using Ultimate Quick Detailer or something like this after you wash the vehicle. It adds a little ongoing protection between waxes.

[akimel]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

For a vehicle kept outside which has a nice paint job what will last. Nothing used yet seems to hold up. NXT,26 all start out nice but seem to break down real fast. When I live up North the products seemd to hold up better ven with the snow and other elements.

Eagleguy, when you say that NXT breaks down quickly, what precisely do you mean? How long is "quickly"? What changes are you noticing? Are you using NXT by itself or are you topping it with another wax? How often do you wash the car and what car wash are you using? Are you using the shampoo at the recommended dilution ratio? I discovered that the measuring line on my bucket was inaccurate, with the result that I was unknowingly using too much shampoo. Also, have you ever prepped the surface by either claying or applying a paint cleaner?

You might consider a routine like this: two coats of NXT (12 hours between the 1st and 2nd coat), followed by Ultimate Quik Wax after each wash or every other wash. See if that gives you the durability you're looking for.

[Jossy92]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

....followed by Ultimate Quik Wax after each wash or every other wash. See if that gives you the durability you're looking for.

If you don't mind my asking: how long might Qwik Wax extend the life of the wax? Assuming you do your recommended routine maintenance? (Under the conditions of the original poster, Using NXT + M26.)

If you could expand your comment, your experience would be much appreciated.

(Although you might have to kill us if you tell us.)

[akimel]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

If you don't mind my asking: how long might Qwik Wax extend the life of the wax? Assuming you do your recommended routine maintenance? (Under the conditions of the original poster, Using NXT + M26.)

That is a good question, for which I do not have an answer. All I can say is that a lot of people here on MOL are using UQW as a maintenance supplement to NXT, and they are getting good results. They believe that it is helping to extend NXT durability. I do not know, though, how one might scientifically confirm whether it actually helps to extend the life of the previously applied coat(s) of NXT or whether it simply provides additional protection, perhaps even eventually replacing the NXT. In either case, regular use of UQW--and the stuff is so easy to use!--not only keeps the car looking great but provides additional protection. It's a win-win situation.

[Jossy92]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

That is a good question, for which I do not have an answer. All I can say is that a lot of people here on MOL are using UQW as a maintenance supplement to NXT.....

I appreciate your opinion. I am going to give it a try. Hope to get some feedback from Eagleguy, if he gives it a try.
Thanks!

[RamAirV1]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

I am getting about 3 months of durability out of UQW and it retains it's look and slickness very well. And it is the easiest LSP to work with in warm weather that I have seen. I am blown away by it's durability, especially considering the fact it's a spray wax.

IMHO you should definitely give UQW a try. It just may be the LSP you are looking for!

RamAirV1

[jfelbab]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

I spend a good deal of time in Cape Coral, FL as well as the suburbs around Milwaukee, WI. When in Fl, I use NXT2.0 (x2) and apply UQW after my weekly wash. I can easily see this lasting past three months but I usually do a full detail every quarter.

Some of the more challenging FL issues concern love bugs, bird droppings, pollen, dust and acid rain. UQW deems to aid in managing these things quite well. UQW keep the paint pretty slick so the bugs wash off fairly easily. The pollen and dust are a breeze to remove. The UQW slickness also makes the water spots wash right off too. I wipe up any bird droppings with UQD as soon as they occur.

My car always looks freshly detailed and I regularly get lots of comments on it. Give this routine a try and see if it doesn't work for you as well as it does for me.

FWIW, I clay and polish prior to applying the NXT 2.0. I apply two coats a day apart. I firmly believe that this does extend the life of NXT.

[eagleguy]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

The vehile I've referred to maintaing is a mint 2008 wine colored Toyota Highlander which I bought new. It sits in my driveway and is washed once a week. I have only use Meguiars products including car wash NXT and 26 up until recently. I have tried using NXT, 2X and topcoating NXT with 26 another but never get more than 4-6 weeks of protection. You could feel an feel the paint was not as slick and the waterbeading disapears after the above time period.
Sad to say but on a recomendation from a friend I tried a product called "Royal Blue" which used by itself produces the same results with much less effort.
As I still have some loyalty to Meguiars products I was hoping I was either doing something wrong or using the wrong Meguiars product.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

I live on the west coast of Florida. My wifes car is exposed to the elements a lot more then mine. She goes to work and the car sits out in the parking lot 9 hours a day. (I am retired) On hers I use #21 2 coats, Give it a mid week quik detail, on the weekends give it another quik detail, followed bt the Ultimate quik wax. This routine gives me 4-5 months of protection.

So, If I was you I would try this:
Wax vehicle with NXT 2.0, mid week use ultimate quik detailer, then again on the weekends. Also on the weekends follow up the quik detailer with the ultimate quik wax. This should extend your protection for your vehicle.

[eagleguy]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

Wish I had the time!

[tcope1]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

Wish I had the time!

Which is why you see so many detailers in this forum who work ever day.

Good shine and long lasting protection does not come easy. It sounds to me like the vehicle should probably be clayed and then waxed. Claying removes the surface containment and allows the wax to cling to the paint better.

[Jossy92]

Re: Best wax or polish for Central Fl

Nothing used yet seems to hold up.

I tried a product called "Royal Blue" which used by itself produces the same results with much less effort.

Glad you already had found something that seemed to hold up. Which I guess makes this thread an ad.

I googled and found this on ClubSi.

"Went to a carshow and a guy was demonstrating this wax saying that you can use it in direct sunlight that when it hardens it will turn into a nonabrassive powder instead of the typical abbrasive that typical carnuba wax is."

I appreciate your testing out the product and hope to hear the results 6 months from now. I have an older car with a delicate cc. You are much braver than I.