Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

[rossmeister]

Greetings one and all! I am a proud owner of a '12 Honda Fit in White and have just recently gotten REALLY serious about detailing my car and have found many top quality MF towels. But there is only one probem: I am afflicted with "Champagne on a beer budget" syndrome. Cobra, Meguiars, Pakshak MF products are among the best from what I've read from online reviews. Problem is none are available at local retailers, thus I must rely upon online dealers like Amazon. The shipping costs in some cases are ENORMOUS and I can't justify blowing a huge hunk of $$$ on just a few towels. So my only other alternative are the retail stores:

Target: Vroom (and the recently added My Ride) brand MF
O'Reily's: Viking brand MF
Autozone: Autozone (duh!) MF
Pepboys: I forgot the exact brand names, but they do carry about two or three different brands.

I've read many threads/postings regarding Vroom and Viking in this forum, but all were posted two to three years ago. Does anyone have any recent experience of these brands vs Cobra, Pakshak and Meguiar's MF products? Product descriptions on the above retail locations are very vague and don't specify if the edges are satin or silk lined. If they are not, will they still seriously mar the surface of my car's paint?

I'm just a relative 'newbie' to auto detailing, and I hunger for your opinions.

[Murr1525]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

The blue Costco ones seem decent for use on paint. I think they are similar to the bulk ones sold by ADS for a good price. If you get up close to the shipping limits, the prices work out pretty well.

I only have the smaller Vroom ones, and they seem a bit thin, and small for exterior use, but good size for interior or trim.

Haven t seen 'MyRide' yet, I'll have to check them out.

[bmrfan]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

@Murr - blue Costco MF towels?? I haven't seen the blue ones at the Costco's here in CA - just the fluorescent yellow MF towels in bundles of 30 or 36 towels.

The Costco MF towels are a great deal and work just fine.

To the OP - Honda's are notorious for paint that is easily marred (even with high quality MF)

[Murr1525]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

Well, they were blue here a couple years ago... seem quite thick and plush. Think they were sold in a pack of 10 or something.

[bmrfan]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

Murr,

Sounds like blue ones you have are nicer than the yellow ones!

[h_bomm]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

everything i've read says cobra are the way to go. i ordered a pack of 10, the microfiber towel combo, for 49.99 and for shipping to me is 11.99. i always go by the "you get what you pay for" philosophy, my wife hates it!

[Murr1525]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

I'll have to look again to see if I notice the neon yellow... they may be the more thin Target type.

[walletless]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

I bought the Viking Waffle Weave from Amazon and really LOVE it. Its a huge towel, $10 shipped if you have prime membership. Worth every penny IMO. I use it for drying the car - they are not appropriate for wax/polish removal.

[mswerb]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

I use both the Vroom MF from Target and the Viking from O'Reilly's and both are great products. The Vroom MF's I use daily and love them. I do use the Viking MF drying towel but like the Meguiar's Water Magnet a little better. you don't have to spend a ton of cash on products, just go with what you like. Most of the detailing products I use I get at Auto-Zone, Wal-Mart, O'Reilly's or Advance Auto Parts. Buy something once, if you like it stick with it.

[Murr1525]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

Yeah, between my Dad and I, we probably have 8 or so Water Magnets in a pile that we just use whenever, and get rotated a bit that way. Havent bought a new one or thrown any out in 5 years or so.

[rossmeister]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

The blue Costco ones seem decent for use on paint. I think they are similar to the bulk ones sold by ADS for a good price. If you get up close to the shipping limits, the prices work out pretty well.

I only have the smaller Vroom ones, and they seem a bit thin, and small for exterior use, but good size for interior or trim.

Haven t seen 'MyRide' yet, I'll have to check them out.

I think that Target is slowly replacing 'Vroom' products with 'MyRide'. I've looked at their autocare section lately and have seen 'clearance' stickers galore. Since I work at a Target I should get together with one of the Team Leads and get the real scoop. I'll be sure to keep you guys updated.

I think the smaller ones you mentioned are the green ones and probably dedicated only to glass cleaning. Only six months ago I thought all microfiber products were the same. I've since found out that there are numerous specialty mf's available for a wide variety of tasks.

It's all in the 'details'. LOL

[rossmeister]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

everything i've read says cobra are the way to go. i ordered a pack of 10, the microfiber towel combo, for 49.99 and for shipping to me is 11.99. i always go by the "you get what you pay for" philosophy, my wife hates it!

$60+! Yikes! That's a tad bit pricey for my budget. Once upon a time in my younger, carefree days, when I was still single and had a great paying job, "Only the best" was my motto. But now that I'm married and have financial responsibilities, "Whatever I can afford" is my credo.

Funny how life can be sometimes, huh?

[rossmeister]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

I use both the Vroom MF from Target and the Viking from O'Reilly's and both are great products. The Vroom MF's I use daily and love them. I do use the Viking MF drying towel but like the Meguiar's Water Magnet a little better. you don't have to spend a ton of cash on products, just go with what you like. Most of the detailing products I use I get at Auto-Zone, Wal-Mart, O'Reilly's or Advance Auto Parts. Buy something once, if you like it stick with it.

Thanks for the quick and informative reply, mswerb! I think I'll pay a visit to the local O'Reily's and take a second look at the Viking 24 pack. I think the price was around $20 or so. And since I work at Target, I can check out the auto section and give you guys a more detailed description of the products we now sell.

I've visited several other forums dedicated to auto detailing, and lemme tell ya, some of those guys are hardcore! Just mention OTC from Autozone or Pepboys and they go completely bonkers and think I'm crazy insane for not wanting Cobra, Pakshak, or Chemical Guys products.

Oh well. To each his own, I guess.

[Murr1525]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

I think that Target is slowly replacing 'Vroom' products with 'MyRide'. I've looked at their autocare section lately and have seen 'clearance' stickers galore.

Sounds like I had better stop by for a look.

I think the smaller ones you mentioned are the green ones and probably dedicated only to glass cleaning. Only six months ago I thought all microfiber products were the same. I've since found out that there are numerous specialty mf's available for a wide variety of tasks.

I was thinking of the white/gray mix pack.

[Shawn T.]

Re: Vroom MF, Viking MF and other budget MF towels....

I have used the yellow Costco microfibers with great success and no micromarring. The only problem is that after a few washes they begin to lose their softness. I like the Vrooms a bit more for their durability.