frosty
12-16-2009, 10:49 AM
Waxes quality versus hype
Preface, this thread wasn't started to create a knock down, drag out war of opinions. I know how to test etc and have spent a lot of money buying products to test and part of this thread to educate others down the road and take what I've found so far, start a discussion with others here and hopefully end up with some helpful info for users who only care about a product's quality.
Also, I'm looking for discernable, gaugeable ways of determining difference versus just personal opinions that are subjective.
I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who like to understand everything they do and always have the little nagging "Why" question on everything they do.
I've been experimenting with some waxes. My nagging "why" question is why did I just waste money on these high waxes.
I won't mention the names of the high $ waxes I've purchased here lately and tested. (By test for now it's only been apply and try to notice a difference.)
I will list the "cheap one" I picked up a couple of months ago. It's the Meg's NXT Tech 2.0 wax. I'm not plugging the wax either. There are probably other $15 bottles of wax out there which are just as good. It's just what I happened to have and use that has started this topic for me.
I know some will probably snub their nose but I got it to wax a car I was selling and it was a Meg's product I could pick up at Wally world. While doing my car a neighbor wanted to do theirs. The process was just a simple wash, clay and wax. I was just impressed with the way it went on, came off with little chalky residue and look it left.
I even had somebody that wanted a "quick" i.e cost effective wash/wax. It was on a Blue BMW that was and still is all swirled out. But I got a Daaaayuumm when he came back and there was nothing special done. Again just wash and NXT Tech 2.0 wax. I actually had to send him a link to it to buy.
Cars involved in the above discussion. 2009 White Ford F-350, 2009 Black Mercedes C300, 2009 Atomic Blue Civic, Black Mercedes junk door, Red Mustang Junk fender, Blue BMW 330i, Black Honda Accord, Green Honda Accord, 2002 Silver Nissan Xterra & 06 Silver Honda civic.
Since then I "wanted to do better". I've gotten on forums and read and tested process of making the paint shine. There are absolute methods such as using a machine to get out swirls when can bring out the shine a lot better.
However for waxes, I've purchased $100ish & $200ish bottles of "High End" waxes. Again, I'm not attacking any product, but I'm starting to question, is there really any measurable, tangible values in any of the high $ waxes over this $15 bottle of wax. Or is it hype and build up that catches steam that makes us believe there is a difference for profit.
I'm trying to step back from the marketing I've read and going solely on what my eye sees and the persons I have look at test I've done. I just don't see the difference in the look nor has anybody I've had in my tests. (They don't know which section I've done with what.) These people have a decent eye and can tell a section on a car I've clay barred versus where I haven't etc. I don't ask people that don't have a clue.
I don't notice any difference with the ease in which these different levels of wax go on and come off. The factor I've yet to test is durability but on the one car, the NXT is 5 weeks, sitting outside and it's rained more than usually during this period and it's still going strong. Plus I use a sealant for durability anyway but have been on the quest for the best shine I can get.
Having said that, this is just my opinion. Others will have theirs and it brings me too, is there a way to back up claims of a wax product. It's easy to sit down and do a marketing write up and how exotic this or that is but for all most of us know, a company can dump the same product in a different wrapper, change the color a little and just pad their profit. Also sometimes we fall prey the "it costs more so it's got to be better". There's actually a funny direct TV commercial making light of this.
I'm not saying that's being done with anything I'm talking about but for me I've got to start seeing a tangible benefit or otherwise it's a waste of money. With that lead up, are there shine meters etc that can be used to back up these claims or more scientific methods other than, personal opinions on looks.
This is not only for me but for people I do work for. I realized all I'm doing is just relaying what I've read but honestly, I wouldn't pay a nickel more for somebody to use one of high $ waxes over the NXT I've used based on looks alone. If I find the high wax last 6 month's like a sealant and an NXT starts going away in 6 weeks, then I can consider that a difference. Are there other tangible things out there that people testing waxes have done to justify the costs of these "high end" waxes?
The only thing I can think of is a shine meter but would like to know if there are other ways.
Thanks.
P.S. When the weather gets good enough for me to wash one of my cars again, I think I'm going to pit the $15 wax against the $200ish jar on an atomic blue civic take pix and post for a guessing game.
Edit: Tacking on relavent research I find as I look into this one.
Which LSP is better for light colors? - Car Care Forums: Meguiar's Online (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4657)
Preface, this thread wasn't started to create a knock down, drag out war of opinions. I know how to test etc and have spent a lot of money buying products to test and part of this thread to educate others down the road and take what I've found so far, start a discussion with others here and hopefully end up with some helpful info for users who only care about a product's quality.
Also, I'm looking for discernable, gaugeable ways of determining difference versus just personal opinions that are subjective.
I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who like to understand everything they do and always have the little nagging "Why" question on everything they do.
I've been experimenting with some waxes. My nagging "why" question is why did I just waste money on these high waxes.
I won't mention the names of the high $ waxes I've purchased here lately and tested. (By test for now it's only been apply and try to notice a difference.)
I will list the "cheap one" I picked up a couple of months ago. It's the Meg's NXT Tech 2.0 wax. I'm not plugging the wax either. There are probably other $15 bottles of wax out there which are just as good. It's just what I happened to have and use that has started this topic for me.
I know some will probably snub their nose but I got it to wax a car I was selling and it was a Meg's product I could pick up at Wally world. While doing my car a neighbor wanted to do theirs. The process was just a simple wash, clay and wax. I was just impressed with the way it went on, came off with little chalky residue and look it left.
I even had somebody that wanted a "quick" i.e cost effective wash/wax. It was on a Blue BMW that was and still is all swirled out. But I got a Daaaayuumm when he came back and there was nothing special done. Again just wash and NXT Tech 2.0 wax. I actually had to send him a link to it to buy.
Cars involved in the above discussion. 2009 White Ford F-350, 2009 Black Mercedes C300, 2009 Atomic Blue Civic, Black Mercedes junk door, Red Mustang Junk fender, Blue BMW 330i, Black Honda Accord, Green Honda Accord, 2002 Silver Nissan Xterra & 06 Silver Honda civic.
Since then I "wanted to do better". I've gotten on forums and read and tested process of making the paint shine. There are absolute methods such as using a machine to get out swirls when can bring out the shine a lot better.
However for waxes, I've purchased $100ish & $200ish bottles of "High End" waxes. Again, I'm not attacking any product, but I'm starting to question, is there really any measurable, tangible values in any of the high $ waxes over this $15 bottle of wax. Or is it hype and build up that catches steam that makes us believe there is a difference for profit.
I'm trying to step back from the marketing I've read and going solely on what my eye sees and the persons I have look at test I've done. I just don't see the difference in the look nor has anybody I've had in my tests. (They don't know which section I've done with what.) These people have a decent eye and can tell a section on a car I've clay barred versus where I haven't etc. I don't ask people that don't have a clue.
I don't notice any difference with the ease in which these different levels of wax go on and come off. The factor I've yet to test is durability but on the one car, the NXT is 5 weeks, sitting outside and it's rained more than usually during this period and it's still going strong. Plus I use a sealant for durability anyway but have been on the quest for the best shine I can get.
Having said that, this is just my opinion. Others will have theirs and it brings me too, is there a way to back up claims of a wax product. It's easy to sit down and do a marketing write up and how exotic this or that is but for all most of us know, a company can dump the same product in a different wrapper, change the color a little and just pad their profit. Also sometimes we fall prey the "it costs more so it's got to be better". There's actually a funny direct TV commercial making light of this.
I'm not saying that's being done with anything I'm talking about but for me I've got to start seeing a tangible benefit or otherwise it's a waste of money. With that lead up, are there shine meters etc that can be used to back up these claims or more scientific methods other than, personal opinions on looks.
This is not only for me but for people I do work for. I realized all I'm doing is just relaying what I've read but honestly, I wouldn't pay a nickel more for somebody to use one of high $ waxes over the NXT I've used based on looks alone. If I find the high wax last 6 month's like a sealant and an NXT starts going away in 6 weeks, then I can consider that a difference. Are there other tangible things out there that people testing waxes have done to justify the costs of these "high end" waxes?
The only thing I can think of is a shine meter but would like to know if there are other ways.
Thanks.
P.S. When the weather gets good enough for me to wash one of my cars again, I think I'm going to pit the $15 wax against the $200ish jar on an atomic blue civic take pix and post for a guessing game.
Edit: Tacking on relavent research I find as I look into this one.
Which LSP is better for light colors? - Car Care Forums: Meguiar's Online (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4657)