Is expensive wax really that good?

[rapport25]

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.

Thanks for that Bobby G

Has anyone tried

Swissvax? or Collinite? i have heard great reviews about both.

[BobbyG]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

Thanks for that Bobby G

Has anyone tried

Swissvax? or Collinite? i have heard great reviews about both.

I haven't used Swissvax but I've used 2 or 3 Collinite products and in my opinion they're a tough act to follow especially for the price. I did a truck yesterday topping it with Collinite 845 and it simply looked gorgeous.

Collinite 845 sells for about $14 a bottle.

[rapport25]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I haven't used Swissvax but I've used 2 or 3 Collinite products and in my opinion they're a tough act to follow especially for the price. I did a truck yesterday topping it with Collinite 845 and it simply looked gorgeous.

Collinite 845 sells for about $14 a bottle.

Would you say its better or on par with any Meguiars Products?

[k3ith]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I have seen this type of boutique verses commercial thread occur several times. In the end, it always comes around to that, while there are some boutiques that offer specialized looks for a financial investment and feature trade-off, Megs provides the most consistent, cost effective, and readily available waxes that are excellent for the vast majority of people, including enthusiasts.

Even knowing the outcome I still enjoy reading these threads as they typically provide decent reviews on waxes I haven't used. I think it is healthy conversation and appropriate for this forum.

Thanks posters - keep talking, I'm reading!.

[Blueline]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I knew a buyer a few years ago who bought for a large upscale group of stores. This group of stores also had a chain of not so upscale stores. He would buy 500 units of a particular article of clothing and have the seller stitch on the upscale brand on half, and then stitch on the other chain's tag on the other half. In the upscale store the shirt sold for $45. In the other low scale stores, the same shirt sold for 7 bucks. Shirts or wax...it is all in the perception.

With cars, it is usually the higher value vehicle, the higher the price of wax. Similarly, if one is going to a $500 a plate social function, would he wear a $7.00 shirt?

[akimel]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I suspect that those who really love their cars (include me in that category) secretly want to try a more expensive wax. If you qualify, then I think you should go ahead and buy a tub of some boutique wax. Until you do, you won't ever really know whether NXT or Gold Class is as good as the boutique waxes.

Pick one of the following:

Lusso Oro
Chemical Guys 50/50
Pinnacle Signature
Dodo Juice Banana Armour
P21S 100% Carnauba
Victoria Concours Red
Pinnacle Souveran
Dodo Juice Supernatural
Wolfgang Supernatural

Just pick one and get it out of your system. There is, of course, a big price difference between Lusso Oro and Fuzion, but that really doesn't matter. All that matters is trying one and deciding whether it's better than your favorite wax that you can buy at Advance Auto.

Prep, as already noted, is absolutely critical and decisive. But that doesn't necessarily mean that choice of protectant is irrelevant.

[davey g-force]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

This sort of thread comes up often and they are always a good read.

Personally, I'm more than happy with my Meguiars and have never tried a boutique wax. I have no reason to change.

...That's not to say that, as a car enthusiast, I'm not curious though. Maybe one day...

[TimG]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I sleep with my pot of Crystal Rock. :P

[akimel]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I sleep with my pot of Crystal Rock. :P

Haha! I like just smelling my tiny jar of Vintage.

[Calais]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I rarely ever use my Natty's Red, the only reason I bought it is because it can be used in direct sunlight and it does live up to that. Worth $13? Yeah. Should I have bought it? Probably not.

I have many different waxes, mostly Meguiars, but I reserve Pinnacle Souveran for particular cars and I definitely see a difference. The durability is really lacking but the looks are undeniable on a dark car. If you top a super-durable (and somewhat glassy) carnauba favorites of mine like M16 or 476s with it, expect to be blown away. Keep in mind, none of this will be that impressive without properly prepped paint...

Pinnacle Souveran brings a ton of depth and clarity to the table, especially on dark metallics.

A 1964 Corvette I detailed wearing Pinnacle Souveran:

[davey g-force]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

^^ Damn that's nice!

[kiwiatlarge]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

Hmm... the young lad from work who bought my last car was talking maintenance with me yesterday, and he showed me the bottle of Gold Class Wax he had bought, but then started telling me that it is swirling his car.

I asked him how he was applying it, and he said he was using old sheet rags... .. I also pointed out to him that using a soft bristle broom and mutton cloth (possibly known to some as cheese cloth) with the farm hose and no shampoo probably wasn't doing much to help the condition of his paint..

He's even more OCD than me... he is washing his car every second day (I'm just once sometimes twice a week), yet even though it is only a $500 car which is older than he is with clear coat failure on the roof, he is going about cleaning it the complete wrong way... silly boy..

Relating to topic.. I've tried explaining to him (as he asks me if Gold Class is any good) that it doesn't matter how good the wax is if he is using old rags to apply it, and isn't even washing the car gently.. much let alone the fact the paint needs a jolly good correction and clean with something along the lines of Ultimate Compound.. (and I'm not even going to try and explain claying to him)

[Ravi_1992]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

I think its personal opinion , if you have enough money to pay hundreds for a car wax, then why not. Me personally, I would never buy a wax for more then 50 bucks, especially considering how much I make an hour. I only use NXT 2.0 or GC wax on my car and I get compliments on the shine all the time, that's enough for me .

[BobbyG]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

Would you say its better or on par with any Meguiars Products?

The only Meguiar's wax I've used through the years is their Mirror Glaze Hi-Tech Yellow Wax. The only attribute of this product I found somewhat disappointing was its longevity or how long it lasted. This is a good product and a decent value for the dollar.

Many say that the NXT line outperforms the Mirror Glaze line but I've honestly never tried it.

Do I think Collinite 845 is better than the Hi-Tech Yellow Wax? Yes.

[rapport25]

Re: Is expensive wax really that good?

The only Meguiar's wax I've used through the years is their Mirror Glaze Hi-Tech Yellow Wax. The only attribute of this product I found somewhat disappointing was its longevity or how long it lasted. This is a good product and a decent value for the dollar.

Many say that the NXT line outperforms the Mirror Glaze line but I've honestly never tried it.

Do I think Collinite 845 is better than the Hi-Tech Yellow Wax? Yes.

Thanks guys

I have been using nxt tech wax 2.0 and I love it!!!! Have never tried the exotic waxes or collinite.

I love the shine the depth and wetness that nxt tech wax 2.0 gives its just I want more

Is there any tests between waxes out there?