Is it just me? or am I visually challenged?

[Jaretr1]

Ok,

Now that I have some high quality waxes in my arsenal, I decided to try a few out on a few different cars to see if I could notice a difference compared to what I was using in the looks department.

On my dark blue 350Z, I did half the hood with Souveran. The other half had been done a month or so ago with Megs M26 high tech yellow wax. I honestly could not tell a difference. I loved the way Souveran went on and off and it smells so good, but at the same time, M26 smells good to and is equally easy to use.

Then on my white Camaro, I tried half the roof with Collinite 845, and the other half with Dodo light fantastic over white diamond (both of these would be over the previously applied layer of M21 a few months ago). Again, I could not see a difference between the two, or a section of the roof I didnt apply anything additional to (just M21).

So what does this mean? Is my eye for detail not that good? Or does a LSP really offer little in the way of look enhancement on a well prepared polished and corrected surface?

Oh, and both the Dodo juice waxes also smell incredibly good, which would be reason enough to use them. Collinite 845 has a putrid smell, very chemically. Its not so pleasurable to use, but obviously its reputation for durability is what its all about.

[Flash Gordon]

I don't use waxes that smell like anything other then wax. Thats why I like the 3 M's, Mothers, Meguiars & Menzerna

[timaishu]

You're not the only one. I too cannot see a difference between waxes.

[Waxmax]

On well prepped paint, it is difficult to tell the difference between LSPs....particularly carnuabas. IF there is a difference it's very subtle. You are not alone for sure.

[FUNX650]

I'll confess...After a "proper-prep"...It's hard for me to tell the difference between LSP's.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Magoo.jpg (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/42561)

:)

Cheers...

Jim Backus

[wgilles]

I can't really see a difference between 2 waxes, I can only tell when my car looks great (if that makes sense)

[LegacyGT]

It depends, most of the time the paint prep is what 'makes' the shine. That said, however, I was doing some product testing between Opti-Coat and CQ, and it was night and day to me (one side is OC, the other is CQ)

http://www.billmorton.com/Detailing/OnlinePosts/Kyles-Subaru/i-S8VZh9F/0/XL/IMG5821-XL.jpg

http://www.billmorton.com/Detailing/OnlinePosts/Kyles-Subaru/i-mXsrvGB/0/XL/IMG5822-XL.jpg

[Ted S.]

Sounds like ya'll need to adjust your vitamin A intake and do some eye exercises!Im the MAN

I've never done a side by side, so I cannot comment further on the topic...

[tw33k2514]

The only LSP I have noticed a difference in is BFWD. Could be why it's my favorite.

[Hoytman]

Did you list them in order as shown, left to right Bill?

[Beerwulf76]

It depends, most of the time the paint prep is what 'makes' the shine. That said, however, I was doing some product testing between Opti-Coat and CQ, and it was night and day to me (one side is OC, the other is CQ)

http://www.billmorton.com/Detailing/OnlinePosts/Kyles-Subaru/i-S8VZh9F/0/XL/IMG5821-XL.jpg

http://www.billmorton.com/Detailing/OnlinePosts/Kyles-Subaru/i-mXsrvGB/0/XL/IMG5822-XL.jpg

So the left is OC and the right CQ?
Which look did you prefer?

[LegacyGT]

So the left is OC and the right CQ?
Which look did you prefer?

Correct (OC left, CQ right), the CQ darkened quite a bit which surprised me.

It's hard to say on the look, I am waiting to see how the durability stacks up.

[Beerwulf76]

Correct (OC left, CQ right), the CQ darkened quite a bit which surprised me.

It's hard to say on the look, I am waiting to see how the durability stacks up.

Based on the predicted durability of both products seems like you'll be waiting a while before one starts to "give" I wouldn't have the discipline not to spray wax it on a regular basis!I imagine to test durability you'd have use a pure quick quick detailer with no protection abilities.

[LegacyGT]

Based on the predicted durability of both products seems like you'll be waiting a while before one starts to "give" I wouldn't have the discipline not to spray wax it on a regular basis!I imagine to test durability you'd have use a pure quick quick detailer with no protection abilities.

Oh, it will be pretty easy, this is not my car, I got one of our Subaru club members to drop by so I could so some side by side testing. It doesn't see a lot of love which is specifically why I chose it.

The strange thing was the CQ only darkened on the door that I believe to be re-painted due to the orange peal and how the polishes were acting (up) on me compared to the others. This is why I don't want to render an opinion on it yet, because it seems to be an outlier result, but it proved for an interesting example on some LSPs looking different.

This is the condition of the car before I prepped a few doors for the product testing:

http://www.billmorton.com/Detailing/OnlinePosts/Kyles-Subaru/i-q6qrSzn/0/L/IMG5810-L.jpg

50/50
http://www.billmorton.com/Detailing/OnlinePosts/Kyles-Subaru/i-qQ3bLtw/0/L/IMG5814-L.jpg

[HotWhipT/A]

I agree that Cquartz does make a considerable difference in depth and wetness look for a LSP. I don't notice a difference at all between various waxes. Which begs the question, why do some people have so many waxes? Also, why on earth would someone want to buy a $1000 or even $200 wax when a $50 or less wax will look and perform exactly the same? I don't get it. Even if the application of a more expensive wax is slightly easier, it sure isn't worth the price difference.