NXT vs. Zymol Titanium-A test!

[Lonely Raven]

I'll keep this short since most everyone here knows how to detail.

I was simply playing with what I had around, and I really wanted
to try the NXT after using some Meg's products on my girlfriends
car. I've been die-hard Zymol because it's what many of the
Porsche Club guys use when they do Concourse, so I figured I'd
put a $16 bottle of NXT Tech Wax (Liquid) up against my $62
(8oz) jar of Zymol Titanium.

Both were applied using the Porter Cable after a proper wash,
clay, and paint cleaning. My Scion is only 4 months old, and had
some minor swirling right from the factory, most of which I got out
by hand.

Applying the products, left and right.





Later that day, left, and right:





The Results!! (after 14 hours and second coat of each)



Can you tell which side is which?

Yeah, neither can I. Nor could anyone that happened to stop
and compliment me on my work, or happened to be walking their
dog past my apartment. Yeah, I stopped random passer-by and
asked...they thought I was selling something, but I'm like "no just
looking for an objective opinion".

Later the next day the Scion Club did a Dinner and a Drive-In
movie...nobody there could tell the difference, at least by site.

Here is a nice photo I took when I was playing with water later
on to see if the Zymol or NXT bead/sheet water differently:



My thoughts:

As I said, by sight, the $16 product and the $62 product are
shockingly similar. By hand, the NXT is WAY WAY WAY easier to
apply and remove, while a 52% Carnuba product like the Zymol
Titanium is really a product that takes skill and practice to apply
well. Using the PC to apply both products evens out that field as
the PC helps you get that nice thin, perfectly even coat that's
easy to take off. If you know die hard Zymol guys, they'd faint if
they knew I used the PC to apply the Zymol.

How do I feel about these products?

Looks and protection, both products look the same. Longevity
is obviously up in the air at this point, and I'm going to keep an
eye on everything. I drive 50 miles a day and do car shows almost
every weekend, so everyone is watching my finish closely! LOL
FEEL wise, I think the Zymol has a leg up on the NXT. The Zymol
just feels...well, WAXED! The NXT feels simply clean. Smell is
another thing, the Zymol smells like all it's natural oils for days
and days afterwards, and using any detail spray on it seems to
bring out the scent again! Nifty!

So what are my plans with these products?

I'm going to continue using the Zymol till my $62 jar runs out.
With the PC, it's a dream to put on, and comes off almost as easy
as the Tech Wax. It smells good, feels smooth, and protects well.
At the same time though, I'm using the NXT everywhere I can't
get the Porter Cable into. Like painted portions of the engine
compartment, door jams, inside of the car where metal is painted.
Basically using the NXT where it's easy on easy off really wins out.

Only time will tell if I'll stick with Zymol for the future, but the NXT
products have certainly got a spot in my detailing kit both at home
and on the road!

Thanks for reading! I'd love to read your thoughts and comments!

~Eric~

[Mike Phillips]

Interesting test... thanks for sharing...

[LnkPrkSoldier]

i can't wait for the zymol users to read this and not believe that both the products were used on the hood on different sections.too bad it wasn't zaino, those fans are just crazy. im glad to hear that you liked nxt. maybe later you can get rid of those minor swirls you have left using some #80. unless they are more deep.. well i would suspect you know what to do. you seem experienced. thanks for the comparison test

[Lonely Raven]

I'm a beginner, but I pay attention and use common sense.
So yeah, I try and take care of any flaws effectively. The problem
is, most people in the local Scion club just don't see the difference
between what I'm doing, and a quick and dirty wash. I'm hoping
if I maintain the quality, people will eventually see that there is
a difference in what I'm doing.

As for the Zymol and Zaino guys...yeah, it's like talking religion.

I'm honest and open minded enough to realize what's good and
what's hype. I spent $250 on this Zymol stuff, and currently I'm
only using the Paint Cleaner, Rubber Conditioner (for door seals),
and of course the wax.

If the Zymol didn't really wow me in the feel and protection from
bird droppings (it proved itself with that today), I would have
given the jar to my dad and moved on.

I use what works, I'm not at all concerned with name brand or
cost. Just make it easy to apply, easy to remove, and easy to get
a hold of more!

~Eric~

[Bama]

Looks good, and no you can't tell the difference in the pictures. I think the $64,000 question is durability. Keep us posted on that. But if durability is similar, I can't see paying that much for the Zymol. It is a good product, but to me, it is overpriced.

But as Mike says, "find something you like and use it often."

[Rob66]

Hi Lonely Raven

Great right up. I have a jar of Titanium sat in my Fridge at the moment, think i paid £45 for it, NXT is about £15. I use it occassionaly but have been sticking to #7 followed by NXT recently.

I did a comparison myself on a black toyota (maybe the same paint code as your Scion) and couldnt really tell the difference - i did apply the Titanium by hand though (literally).

Certainly agree with you the NXT makes the paint look really clean and clear the Zymol makes the car look 'waxed', glossy but not quite so clear.

I actually tried topping the NXT with the Titanium but it didnt make a dramatic improvement.

Smell wise the Zymol gets the thumbs up over the NXT.

Which one last the longest? I have no idea as the car gets waxed every other week

'At the end of the day its all down to personal taste. If you think it looks good - it looks good'