boutique waxes

[paoloporsche]

there are many boutique waxes : Zymol, Swisswax, Pinnacle, P21s and so on, but, this waxes really worth? I say: they don't worth! They are only overpriced and overrated and they are a pure example of car business...a wax as Gold Class can be better of this "fantastic" waxes, but for many entusiasts , more money = better wax

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: boutique waxes

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

If you think that one wax looks better than the other, great, but it's all preference. Some can see a difference between some of the boutique waxes.

Boutique waxes are often hard to find or outrageously expensive. Some advertise the percentage of carnuaba as a feature (with different ways of measuring). Others will be high priced due to supposed materials in the wax.

So, are they worth it? Maybe, if you see it that way.


Personally, I have bought boutique waxes just to compete with a higher end detailer in town. Do they look good in my opinion? Sure. Are they worth the price? Somewhat, but again, that's one person's opinion. However, I still believe that #16 and NXT 2.0 are some of the best looking waxes around.


Also, waxes are only as good as the prep. If you just apply some $200 wax to a car that hasn't been polished in years, it's not going to look great. Why? The prep was horrible, so the look was hardly changed.

[Andy M.]

Re: boutique waxes

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

That really says it all right there. I believe it was Mike Phillips who said, "Find something you like to use and use it often." Something along those lines. Simple fact being, like Chris said if you like the results you are getting from a $25 bottle of wax as opposed to an $100 bottle of wax why waste the money. Prep is just as if not more important than you LSP.

The only real way to tell is to try them for yourself and form your own opinion.

Andy
101impala

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: boutique waxes

I agree Chris. It really does not matter what lsp is applied, if the prep was not done correctly. In the prep work is were the time and money should be spent. imho. If a person believes the boutique waxes are better, go for it. My preference is they are not.

[3Fitty]

Re: boutique waxes

I have a bit of a different take on it...

I think there are two types of LSP's in the world. Good ones and bad ones. I think *most* LSP's look VERY similar, unless you are using a really lousy product (something universally accepted as lousy). Here is where I think it gets interesting...

I once did a detail of a friends car 50/50 with NXT 1.0 vs. another "boutique" brand which is of no consequence to the point of this thread.

I asked him which looked better without telling him which was which. I must tell you I could NOT tell the difference between the two. Both looked great, just one was about 60 bucks less.

After torturing himself for a few minutes, he finally took a leap and picked the NXT side (again I think they looked the same even though I am a Meg's user). When I told him he picked NXT, he said it was "because of the position of the sun" (although the sun was almost down so I'm not sure of the problem with its position - lol).

He has since gone on to tell others about how much better his "boutique" wax looked.

I think this is a simple case of human psychology for many. If you pay a lot, you expect a lot and even when you don't see a discernable difference, you'll CREATE a discernable difference. It's how some people are wired.

For me, I just save the $$$ and buy my 3 year old a lot of neat things!!!

[Holden_Caulfield04]

Re: boutique waxes

I'll say this much...#16 is a product that compares favourably with some pretty expensive stuff. Can't speak to its durability, though.

[acsuppa]

Re: boutique waxes

I love just about all Meguiar's products and use them excusivly. But I do ocationaly wonder how some of the "other" products compare. Some of the Boutique products are ridiculusly prices. Even if it did manage to look slightly better then Mequiar's or more slick, how does it hold up? Will it last or will it just "look Good" for a few days.

[3Fitty]

Re: boutique waxes

Can't speak to its durability, though.

Well, the durability issue always confuses me a bit, maybe you can explain it to me.

I know I've seen (online) someone claiming that his Zaino works for "more than a year" on a Honda Accord. How does he know? If a bird bomb etches his paint, is it still working or what if the same BB would have etched the paint after 1 day of the LSP?

Tell me how you can discern durability?

[Jokeman]

Re: boutique waxes

I like the what Mike Phillips says "Find something you like to use and use it often." Personally, I like the look of the Yellow Hi-Tech wax on my paint. I just hardly ever use it because I find the NXT2 to be more durable. Never tried any of the boutique waxes, I know the Meg's waxes work good for me so I stick with them.

[Jeepster04]

Re: boutique waxes

Ive been torn between what wax to use on my recent detail. According to Mike NXTv2 is the best 'protecting' wax so that always wins me over.

Bought a tin of #16 not long ago and would love to try that... Also have #26 that I really like..

[Sal329]

Re: boutique waxes

P21S 100% is one that I plan on buying. From pictures and cars I have seen in person this product adds a lil wow factor. I think $50 would be the very most I would spend on wax, even them I am waiting for another sale before I buy it at full price.

[3Fitty]

Re: boutique waxes

Well, if someone has a dab of P21's they want to send me, I'm going to do a wax test in the next few weeks, between some "boutique" waxes and NXT 2.0. We'll see what happens.

[Holden_Caulfield04]

Re: boutique waxes

Well, if someone has a dab of P21's they want to send me, I'm going to do a wax test in the next few weeks, between some "boutique" waxes and NXT 2.0. We'll see what happens.

If you want P21S, go visit your local Harley Davidson dealer and pick up something called S100. Near as anyone can tell, it's the same product.

[3Fitty]

Re: boutique waxes

Tyler,

Oh c'mon... don't be so tight! Open up that high powered Markham wallet of yours and hook a brother up with some P21's or S100 and I'll add it to my test.

[new2detailing]

Re: boutique waxes

It really goes to personal preference. I like Klasse AIO for a one step cleaner/protection for some older vehicles. However, I feel that the Klasse AIO leaves the paint with a nice satin finish. To really make the paint "pop" I use either Meguiars GC wax or NXT 2.0. There is another thread where a member broke down the difference between carnuba myths and facts that really punches holes through the boutique wax mystique. However, I recommend using whatever works for you, I have tested (some successfully, some not) numerous different waxes/sealants. Meguiars seems to have many products that are comparable to the boutique brands.