Final inspection vs last touch vs ultimate wash & wax anywhere

[ahooah48444]

I have a classic that hardly ever sees bad weather. What is the best product to use for cleaning and why? It's garage kept, only sees water if it gets caught in rain, and I apply ultimate polish and ultimate wax once a year and clay bar every other year. Will UWWA be a good lube for clay? Any certain areas that one is better than the other? I tried to look at reviews, but couldn't find the comparison between products.

[greg0303]

Re: Final inspection vs last touch vs ultimate wash & wax anywhere

M34 Final Inspection - light dust and fresh dirt on paint surface, great clay lubricant, body shop/ fresh paint safe.

D155 Last Touch Spray Detailer - more lubricity than M34, for claying has to be diluted with water 1:1, can remove more dust and dirt than M34 safely.

UWWA - waterless car wash, true alternative to car washes without using any water, can remove dirt and road grime safely without causing any swirls, scratches.

Vehicles which are seriously dirty (or have been taken off road) should be washed the traditional way - with bucket and water (or foam gun/ cannon).

[Murr1525]

Re: Final inspection vs last touch vs ultimate wash & wax anywhere

You generally dont want a clay lube that is leaving its own wax, polymers, etc behind on the surface.

For just your regular washing, I would think that the #135 or UWWA would be great options for you. Or the Rinseless Wash followed by UQW/GCQW

[ahooah48444]

So what products are available at local stores? I bought in bulk and didn't use as much as I thought I would. Will the UWWA be fine to use in place of final inspection flight cleaning as well, or stick to two products? Will last touch need diluted to do light cleaning or just for clay lube?

[ahooah48444]

Oops, for for light cleaning......darn phone.

[Murr1525]

Re: Final inspection vs last touch vs ultimate wash & wax anywhere

So what products are available at local stores?

It can be hard to find everything in one place. But the UQW/QD, UWWA, and the UQW/GCQW should be available.

The Pro/Detailer Line products would be harder to find.

Will the UWWA be fine to use in place of final inspection flight cleaning as well, or stick to two products?

Both would be fine for light cleaning. The UWWA would be able to do heavier dirt safely. I havent compared the prices though, so see how things work out. Probably wouldnt want to use a more expensive product for a light dusting.

Will last touch need diluted to do light cleaning or just for clay lube?

Last Touch would be diluted for clay lube.

[ahooah48444]

What consumer product is comparable to final inspection/last touch? Would I need to dilute those for clay? I hate ordering online and paying shipping unless the professional series is better. Sorry for all the question, just overwhelmed by all the products out there.

[Murr1525]

Re: Final inspection vs last touch vs ultimate wash & wax anywhere

Well, the Pro line isnt necessarily better. Just different, or bulk sizes.

Only the LT would be diluted for claying. The rest (Final Inspection, Quick Detailer) would be used full strength.

Quick Detailer would be comparable in the Consumer Line. Not the Ult. Quick Detailer.

[ahooah48444]

What's the difference between quick detailer and ultimate quick detailer?

[Murr1525]

Re: Final inspection vs last touch vs ultimate wash & wax anywhere

The QD/LT/FI are just a duster, gentle cleaner.

The UQD/#135 is a light duster that also leaves a bit of a polymer coating on the surface. Not exactly a wax, or as durable, but it does look good.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Final inspection vs last touch vs ultimate wash & wax anywhere

Let's break down the original post and it's multiple questions, looking at them individually and then see if we can't come up with a good plan of attack for you.

I have a classic that hardly ever sees bad weather. What is the best product to use for cleaning and why?

The best product to use for true "cleaning" in this context is Ultimate Wash & Wax Anywhere since it's the only one really designed for "cleaning". More on that in a minute.

It's garage kept, only sees water if it gets caught in rain, and I apply ultimate polish and ultimate wax once a year and clay bar every other year. Will UWWA be a good lube for clay?

We've actually played around with UWWA as a clay lube and were both impressed and surprised by how well it works. Surprised because the product was never intended to be a clay lube, and impressed because it not only gave excellent lube for the clay but the surface was silky smooth (as one would expect following a clay treatment) but also very glossy.

Any certain areas that one is better than the other? I tried to look at reviews, but couldn't find the comparison between products.

"Better" can have a lot of different meanings, depending on how you're looking at things. UWWA is horrible as a clay lube from a financial perspective; Last Touch is far more economical for that task since, once diluted 1:1, you basically get 2 gallons of product for $20 versus just 26 ounces of UWWA for $15.00. Final Inspection plays here too, but you don't dilute it, it doesn't give near the gloss that Last Touch or UWWA gives, and price wise it falls between the two at roughly $28/gallon. Honestly, for what you're doing, we would take this one out of the mix completely and not even worry about it.

But all of this doesn't really tell the full story here. If all you're looking to maintain is this one classic car, then the difference in money spent over the course of a year when selecting between these two is pretty minor when put into the context of overall maintenance. You said you don't like to pay for shipping, and that's understandable. But even factoring in shipping for a gallon of Last Touch it still comes out cheaper than UWWA. And really, since this car never actually gets dirty, Last Touch should be more than sufficient to remove the dust accumulated during a day's outing, when used undiluted of course. UWWA, fantastic as it is, is really overkill when used as a quick detailer. And we can only assume that since you clay only every other year you're following that process with a light polish and wax, which is also part of your routine. So a gallon of Last Touch, a spray bottle of it at full strength for removing the dust from a drive or just sitting for a week in the garage, plus a spray bottle of it diluted 1:1 for clay lube should have you covered. We'd guess that, given the limited exposure this car gets, when it does get clayed it's just starting to need it, so a 32oz spray bottle of 1:1 LT should last you quite a long time!

Now allow me to throw a wrench into the works (and this is purely personal on my part, please understand that): UWWA, when used lightly as a quick detailer, flat out rocks. It is amazing stuff - period. Kind of pricey as a QD, I'll admit, but wow.

[ahooah48444]

Got a 26 oz bottle of UWWA and should last a season since I use the QD that comes in the clay kit. I have a gallon of final inspection that I bought a couple years ago and have some left. I figure UWWA is more expensive, but also use a bottle per season and keeps from having products break down. Final inspection is only used on the classic and everything else I use on other things. Can I use UWWA on chrome and glass as well? I use final inspection on them now. Any issues doing UWWA, then playing car, then ultimate polish, then ultimate liquid wax, followed by UWWA for wiping down between washing? Well, other than probably overkill like said earlier, but I figure for the classic its worth it.

[ahooah48444]

Oops, claying......smartphone

[yuriko]

Re: Final inspection vs last touch vs ultimate wash & wax anywhere

Let's break down the original post and it's multiple questions, looking at them individually and then see if we can't come up with a good plan of attack for you.
The best product to use for true "cleaning" in this context is Ultimate Wash & Wax Anywhere since it's the only one really designed for "cleaning". More on that in a minute.

We've actually played around with UWWA as a clay lube and were both impressed and surprised by how well it works. Surprised because the product was never intended to be a clay lube, and impressed because it not only gave excellent lube for the clay but the surface was silky smooth (as one would expect following a clay treatment) but also very glossy.

"Better" can have a lot of different meanings, depending on how you're looking at things. UWWA is horrible as a clay lube from a financial perspective; Last Touch is far more economical for that task since, once diluted 1:1, you basically get 2 gallons of product for $20 versus just 26 ounces of UWWA for $15.00. Final Inspection plays here too, but you don't dilute it, it doesn't give near the gloss that Last Touch or UWWA gives, and price wise it falls between the two at roughly $28/gallon. Honestly, for what you're doing, we would take this one out of the mix completely and not even worry about it.

But all of this doesn't really tell the full story here. If all you're looking to maintain is this one classic car, then the difference in money spent over the course of a year when selecting between these two is pretty minor when put into the context of overall maintenance. You said you don't like to pay for shipping, and that's understandable. But even factoring in shipping for a gallon of Last Touch it still comes out cheaper than UWWA. And really, since this car never actually gets dirty, Last Touch should be more than sufficient to remove the dust accumulated during a day's outing, when used undiluted of course. UWWA, fantastic as it is, is really overkill when used as a quick detailer. And we can only assume that since you clay only every other year you're following that process with a light polish and wax, which is also part of your routine. So a gallon of Last Touch, a spray bottle of it at full strength for removing the dust from a drive or just sitting for a week in the garage, plus a spray bottle of it diluted 1:1 for clay lube should have you covered. We'd guess that, given the limited exposure this car gets, when it does get clayed it's just starting to need it, so a 32oz spray bottle of 1:1 LT should last you quite a long time!

Now allow me to throw a wrench into the works (and this is purely personal on my part, please understand that): UWWA, when used lightly as a quick detailer, flat out rocks. It is amazing stuff - period. Kind of pricey as a QD, I'll admit, but wow.

Hi Michael,

Great explanation.

I currently use QD after I finish cleaning and wiping down my car.

One question is, would Last Touch or Final inspection be good to replace QD? What I'm wondering is would I be able to use Last Touch or Final inspection instead of using QD as it is expensive here in NZ and was thinking of buying Last Touch or Final inspection by bulk instead. From what I've read you've recommended Last Touch as a clay lube, would applying Last Touch after cleaning and wiping down my car be the same as QD?

I also see that M135 Synthetic Spray Detailer is a direct replacement for UQD, would this be better? Price for this is also more expensive. Last Touch seems to be the best option if it can replace QD.

Cheers.

[Murr1525]

Re: Final inspection vs last touch vs ultimate wash & wax anywhere

One question is, would Last Touch or Final inspection be good to replace QD? What I'm wondering is would I be able to use Last Touch or Final inspection instead of using QD as it is expensive here in NZ and was thinking of buying Last Touch or Final inspection by bulk instead. From what I've read you've recommended Last Touch as a clay lube, would applying Last Touch after cleaning and wiping down my car be the same as QD?

Sure, both would be good.

I also see that M135 Synthetic Spray Detailer is a direct replacement for UQD, would this be better? Price for this is also more expensive. Last Touch seems to be the best option if it can replace QD.

UQD/M135 has the water repelling polymer in it. Just up to you if you need that or not.

Or one of the spray waxes for after washing.