Zaino guy, just bought my first bottle of NXT yesterday

[hirosh]

Matt97GT - yeah, NXT is really easy to apply and remove. try applying a second coat 12 hours after removing the first coat, or at least an hour after removal of the first. i think that is to ensure complete coverage. and your stang is sweet looking!

[STG]

Jimmy Buffit,

A dollar per car is "kinda pricey?" How much do you charge for an exterior detail?

[Jimmy Buffit]

Most exterior details are in the $125 range. Black is extra. (FWIW, most of what we do is 'complete'.)

We do 50-60 cars per month. While the material cost per car is small, $8-10?, why pay more for comparable results?

I see it this way: If we can save just .50 per car, on 60 cars per month, that's $30/month, or $360 per year. Gee, If I save another .25 on wheel cleaner, .15 on protectorant, .20 on polishes, and on and on...

It really does add up... Simply put, I look for the best results, the most efficient results, and the most cost effective results.

It may be several thousand dollars over the course of a year. That's real money.

Jim

[vwguy]

I have been switching between Zaino & NXT all summer, needless to say when I run out of Zaino I won't be buying anymore. Zaino does give you a very glassy look, but after a week or so all your swirls are back. If I had perfect paint, maybe that would sway me more towards Zaino. In the end it would be a lot cheaper for me to wax my car every week w/ NXT than every few weeks w/ Zaino & it will be less hassle as well.

Brian

[BlackSnake2001]

I'm jumping from Zaino to NXT here soon..

Here is what my plan of action will be, please let me know what you think.

I am assuming I don't have the re-clay and re-dawn the car. Car has 6 coats of zaino (3 of swirl and 3 of polish). It doesn't seem like it needs claying again since the car has never seen the rain and sits in a garage most of it's life.

I'm going to use either the NXT car wash or the Meguires Gold class wash (which one do you recommend?)

I'm going to follow that up with ScratchX, then #7 and finished off with #26!

What do you guys think? I've been reading heavily on this site and it seems like the above is the way to go. The only thing I am not sure about is the wash. I have many coats of zaino and it would be nice if I didn't have to re-clay and re-dawn it. Judging by most opinions here, dawning is not needed nor recommended.

Thanks guys!

Shawn

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Shawn,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

For a car wash, either the NXT Car Wash or the Gold Class Car Wash are excellent choices, the Gold Class is our premium quality car wash but both are good choices.

After washing your car, run your clean palm across the horizontal surfaces, if you feel any little bumps, then you need to clay, if it feels as smooth as glass, then you do not need to clay. If you feel just some light drag, or a few contaminants, the ScratchX should remove this safely.

As for your product selection, if you're working on a clear coat finish, I would lean towards either the Deep Crystal Polish or the #81 Hand Polish as sometimes the #7 Show Car Glaze can be a little difficult to remove. If you take your time, and use some very high quality cotton towels and/or microfiber polishing cloths, and apply nice, thin, uniform coat of the #7, then you shouldn't have any problems.

The ScratchX will safely remove any previous applications of Zaino.

So,

• Wash
• ScratchX
• Polish
• Two thin coats of #26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax

Stand back and admire the results!

What are you working on by the way?

Mike

[BlackSnake2001]

Mike,

I'm working on a 2001 Black Cobra

Last time I washed the car it was very smooth, but I will be sure to check it out before moving on.

From what I have been reading, it seems many users recommend the NXT wash to avoid spots since it seems to sheet off better?.. I was set on getting the Gold Class until I read a few posts like that. Being that I have a black car, I thought it would be nice.

Also from what I have read, everyone seems to recommend the #7 as well, that was why I mentioned it.

I will be doing the work by hand and working on a Black car with clear coat that has some slight swirls/scratches... I will definitely listen to someone who has more experience with these products.. So if you recommend one over the other let me know.

So you don't recommend using the NXT and then locking it in with 26?

I'm willing to put some work into the car and I want the best shine and protection while giving ultimate swirl reduction..

Thanks so much!

Shawn

[BlackSnake2001]

I'm hoping to find this stuff local so I can get started this weekend.

Going to call around to your dealers to see what's up.

Let me know what you think Mike.

Shawn

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by maguzma
I came across this forum by chance when I was on the MBWORLD.NET. Some guy tried to solicit participation in the Meguiar's car care product demo (or something like that).

Hi magazma,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

I don't get over to MBWorld.net to often, but perhaps the thing you heard about, or read about was an upcoming detailing clinic here at Meguiar's in Irvine,

On October 16th, 2004 Meguiar’s will proudly host a hands-on detailing “How-To” class for members of the Long Beach And South Bay Mercedes-Benz club here at our Irvine location.

There is a contact person on the link above that you can contact if you're interested in attending. We try to limit these classes to a maximum of 25-30 people.



Mike

[vwguy]

Originally posted by BlackSnake2001

From what I have been reading, it seems many users recommend the NXT wash to avoid spots since it seems to sheet off better?.. I was set on getting the Gold Class until I read a few posts like that. Being that I have a black car, I thought it would be nice.

I have using my GC wash and never have any probs w/ water spots, but I suppose it all depends on how you wash & dry your car. I do one panel at a time for each and that works out well for me.

Brian

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by BlackSnake2001
Mike,

I'm working on a 2001 Black Cobra

Cool car and a fairly easy car to detail.

Last time I washed the car it was very smooth, but I will be sure to check it out before moving on.

From what I have been reading, it seems many users recommend the NXT wash to avoid spots since it seems to sheet off better?.. I was set on getting the Gold Class until I read a few posts like that. Being that I have a black car, I thought it would be nice.[/b][/quote]
Both car washes have their own special characteristics. Gold Class is Meguiar's premium car was and offers more conditioning agents that add gloss and slickness.

NXT Car Wash is part of a system in our newest product line, the NXT Generation product line. NXT Car Wash offers what the chemist refer to as a sequestering agent that works through Chelation to seek out mineral deposits, then attach to them and force them to sink to the bottom of your wash solution, or prevent them from sticking, or bonding to your car's finish as your rinse your car off.

It can be a tough decision to try to choose between the two because the both clean safely and effectively as they are both premium quality car washes.

Also from what I have read, everyone seems to recommend the #7 as well, that was why I mentioned it.

I will be doing the work by hand and working on a Black car with clear coat that has some slight swirls/scratches... I will definitely listen to someone who has more experience with these products.. So if you recommend one over the other let me know.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been using the #7 Show Car Glaze since it was introduced sometime in the 1930's or 1940's, and there is a reason. It makes medium to dark colored cars look rich and glossy with a wet-look shine. Since you sound like you really want to take your cars finish to it's maximum potential, then I say go for the #7 and take it for a test drive. When you apply it, first shake it up very well before using and during use. Then, use a clean, soft foam applicator pad and apply and work in a very thin coating. Because this is a new product for you, only apply to a section or a panel at a time and them remove. For example, apply to one half of the hood and then remove. Use a combination of your softest terry cloth towel, or microfiber polishing cloth if you have these items, or if you don't have one or the other than use what you have. If you apply a thin coating, and after working it in remove it, you shouldn't have any problems. Take most of the product off with the first wipe, and then switch to a clean new polishing cloth, or fold the one you're using over to expose a clean side to make your final wipe. Wipe your car's finish with care, don't get all aggressive with your wiping motion.

Then move around the car. If you're going to apply a wax after the coating of #7 Show Car Glaze, I wouldn't be super concerned about getting it all off. Just remove most of it and any residue polish will be remove when you remove your coating of wax.

So you don't recommend using the NXT and then locking it in with 26?

It's not that I don't or do recommend it, that's your choice. What I recommend is two thin coats of your primary wax. If you're using NXT Tech Wax then apply two thin coats of NXT Tech Wax. If you want to top it with something else, then first read this,

Topping NXT or other products

I'm willing to put some work into the car and I want the best shine and protection while giving ultimate swirl reduction..

Thanks so much!

Shawn

I think you'll be happy with the results... have fun... If possible, take some before and after pictures.

Mike