Is expensive wax really that good?

[rapport25]

Hi Guys,

As I'm a loyal Meguiar's fan/user. Our these expensive waxes really that good?

[Chris Thompson]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I have never seen any noticable difference other than how much lighter my wallet feels.
Think of it this way, meguiars has been in this business for over 100 years. They have been producing paint care products since before cars were available.
Meguiars carries the best products available. The only.reason that they are not as expensive as botique waxes is because they are so widely used they can be produced in large quantities.
Bottom line: don't waste time or money with fancy stuff. Stick with Megs, they will treat you right.

[ProAutoImage]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

[bimmer330i]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I use Destiny from Zymol. It is about $650 for 8oz. I must say that you use very little and it will last a long time. I do feel there is a difference. Is the difference worth $650 it depends on each persons own opinion and experience. You will get a lot of different opinions but you are the only one who can decide if you are happy with any product.

[ProAutoImage]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

you could use the stuff this guy uses..

[Spidey]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I use Destiny from Zymol. It is about $650 for 8oz. I must say that you use very little and it will last a long time. I do feel there is a difference. Is the difference worth $650 it depends on each persons own opinion and experience. You will get a lot of different opinions but you are the only one who can decide if you are happy with any product.

holy sweet hayyyzooos! hahaha... i am tempted to try autoglym products.. esp their HD wax and resin polish....

[akimel]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

It's probably impossible to answer your question. Some people see a difference between waxes; others do not. I have now tried several different waxes on my black S2K, including Souveran, Fuzion, Best of Show, and Midnight Sun. My car looked great in all of them. Did it look better than when it was dressed in NXT or GC? I think so, but this is a subjective, and unreliable, judgment on my part. I do not know if I would pass a blind comparative test.

But there are other considerations beyond "looks"--easy of application, staining, and durability. In my experience, many (not all) of the more expensive waxes and sealants are superior to the consumer-line protectants in these three categories. Many of the more expensive waxes, for example, are wipe-on/wipe-off (e.g., Souveran and Fuzion). There is no need to wait for for the wax to haze. You apply a panel at a time and you buff off immediately. Many of the more expensive waxes (again, Souveran and Fuzion) do not stain black plastic trim. And many of the more expensive waxes (e.g., Best of Show but not Souveran) are more durable than their over-the-counter counterparts.

If you'd like to take a chance on a boutique wax, I'd be happy to make a recommendation or two.

Al

[kiwiatlarge]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

Well, I'm a bit of a noob on all this... but for my eyes and metallic blue paint which changes tone depending on the angles and sun, I seem to notice the most 'improvement' to the paint after using a decent cleaner (UC on my roof may not have magically taken out the scratches by hand, but it cleaned the paint and seems to have dealt the swirls a beaut) and Sealer/Glaze... rather than the final wax step.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I think the main ingredient to a good looking finish is in the prep work. If a paint is properly prepared, most waxes will look good.

Having said that. It boils done to "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". If you think your paint looks good after applying a $650.00 wax. Then it does.

I will stick to doing proper prep work. There is no magic potent. To me prep is the key.

[rapport25]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I think the main ingredient to a good looking finish is in the prep work. If a paint is properly prepared, most waxes will look good.

Having said that. It boils done to "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". If you think your paint looks good after applying a $650.00 wax. Then it does.

I will stick to doing proper prep work. There is no magic potent. To me prep is the key.

X2 prep work is a big must on any detailing jobs

As for the wax I will stick with nxt tech wax 2.0. Would love to try gc plus. Not launched in the Uk yet

[BobbyG]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

Some are some aren't.

One wax that consistently blows away the competition is one of the least expensive; Collinite 845. A whole bottle of this stuff costs about $12 and provides a brilliant shine and long lasting protection. This is what I use to protect the finish during the winters here in New England.

[SATracker]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I asked Mike Phillips your question and there's logic in his answer. He said something like- you'd think that "boutique" waxes, made in smaller quantities would have better quality control. But as others have said on this and other forums, it's subjective. I'm guessing on some level there is a difference between "boutique" waxes and non-boutique waxes, and maybe a real car guy driving a Maserati would notice. But as J. A. Michaels pointed out, it's in the prep work.

[Chris Thompson]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I think the main ingredient to a good looking finish is in the prep work. If a paint is properly prepared, most waxes will look good.

Having said that. It boils done to "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". If you think your paint looks good after applying a $650.00 wax. Then it does.

I will stick to doing proper prep work. There is no magic potent. To me prep is the key.

Excellent. Couldnt have said it better myself.

[smack]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

+1. No matter what the wax costs, it will look like garbage if there is no prep work. Even with the proper prep work, who wins the MOST awards at the pebble beach concours? Certainly not the overpriced competitors. Thats a fact.

[BobbyG]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

Prep work is indeed sets the base for the final result of any detailing job. Poor or shoddy initial steps will be evident once the wax is applied. No matter how expensive the wax, if the initial steps are performed inadequately they'll become apparent in the final stage.

Wax is just that. It's generally the last or final step in the process that provides both gloss and protection. Many manufactures claim to have their own formulation and process while others are merely relabeling someone else's.

I've personally used a couple of what I'll call "high-end" waxes. Pinnacle Souverän and Wolfgang Fuzion. The typically run between $100 and $175 so they're not cheap.

Wolfgang Fuzion

From what I've read Wolfgang Fuzion is formulated with both carnauba and synthetic polymers plus other proprietary ingredients. It also comes in a nice wooden numbered case with a certificate of authenticity which adds nothing to the quality and only drives up the price but, it does include one refill!

Pinnacle Souverän

Pinnacle's Souverän formulation boasts of formulating a refined grade of carnauba found in no other wax. Pinnacle also adds a special blend of oils which allow it to leave the "wet paint" look once the task is complete. Pinnacle's Souverän is also a wax on wax off product but no refill is included.

Both of these products perform superbly especially on darker colors and they do leave the finish looking wet. They both went on easy and very smooth. Buffing to a high gloss shine was effortless and were a please to use.

Are either of these worth the high initial cost, the answer is maybe because beauty and satisfaction is ultimately in the eye of the beholder. If there wasn't a market for them then they wouldn't exist.