2001 Sunfire with Pinnacle Coating (mini review)

[richy]

I have been using my mother in law's 2001 Sunfire as a test bed for products for a few years. Since Optimum has decided to do a 2nd price increase within a year on the OG, I have decided to drop it from what I offer. I used to offer both it and CQF but now it would need to be priced too closely to CQF. I am looking to offer a coating to my customers for a lot less $ than the CQF so the budget conscious can still get something decent. I am going to try CQ UK next. I am thinking either it or the Pinnacle coating to replace the current OG choice. I ordered in the Pinnacle to use it on my mother in law's car as a test bed. My requirements for the coating is that it looks good, is priced well and lasts at least a year with 18 months being even better. The decision will be whether it's CQUK or the Pinnacle.



I did not shoot any before shots of the car or the process because, quite frankly, it was too damned cold. Once again I got great use out of my Seal Skinz waterproof (and they really are!) gloves. The paint was compounded with Flex 3401 or rotary with 4" pads depending on the location + TB black wool + M105. That was followed up with white B/S pad + Opt Hyper Polish. A Squeaky Clean application by hand followed the polishing. A mf dampened with ONR preceded the application of the coating.

My thoughts using the Pinnacle:

1) Really easy to use. I played with different curing times before wiping it off. I had the heater going in the garage but it was not as warm as it should have been, so I wanted to make sure it was properly bonding prior to wiping it off. As long as you didn't wait too long, it was effortless. You can tell when it's at the end of the product on the pad as the pad got grabby. You can sure smell the solvent carrier in it upon fresh application. I don't care about that, I just want it to work. Besides, that's why God invented cigars!

2) Very slick. This is where it scores A+. I have used many different coatings and this one is the winner on slickness. Even more slick than CQF and it was the current winner. Slickness is a nice-to-have but not need-to-have feature. The next one is what is the most important, factoring in price too.

3) Durability? Obviously this is a new product and I have not had the personal experience of testing its durability. I don't care what other people find or report on, I only want to see how it stands up with my application so I can truly and fairly compare it to OG and CQF and CQUK too. If I get 18 months out of it, I'll be thrilled. 12 months will be the minimum acceptable duration period.

4) Looks. Very pleased with how it looked. The flake was not muted whatsoever and it had a very nice glow & shine to it. Another high performing category for it.
So, let the duration testing begin!!

Also, the tires were first dressed with Forever Black gel as they really looked old and tired. The next day they were shot again with DG Wet Shine via air gun and leveled thereafter.

All glass except windshield was done with the Pinnacle as well. Windshield was done with DP windshield coating. Don't let that stuff sit the 2 minutes the instructions say or it will be a bear to remove. 1 minute max. This stuff flashes very quickly. The wheel covers were also done with the Pinnacle coating.



http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2706.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2706.jpg.html)


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http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2729.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2729.jpg.html)


Using DG's beta Trim Coating with a different (and better applicator). I love how even it looks:


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2730.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2730.jpg.html)


Inside was vacuumed, glass done with CArPro Fast Glass/KD cloth, and plastic cleaned with knock-off AG pad + Opt Power Clean at 1:10.


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2731.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2731.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2732.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2732.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2733.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_2733.jpg.html)


Thanks for looking. Comments appreciated.

[The Guz]

That is the cleanest looking sunfire I have seen. Looks better than new.

[kinger]

Goes to show you how good an average car can look with proper care. Great job. Best looking Sunfire I have ever seen as well.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

[CWallace]

Hey Richy, did you use the all surface or the paint specific coating? I also asked on L2D forum! Sorry for redundancy!

[supercharged]

Nice! I got a bottle of this stuff too, it applies and removes effortlessly and is very glossy. Looking forward to see durability.

[BeachZone]

Good work on the sunfire, it looks great... Probably the best looking one in the country lol.

I will be following this thread for sure. I am also looking to offer a lower end coating to people that cannot pay for Finest. For now, I have just offered CQ original, which is the bees knees IMO, so i'm interested in how PBL coatings hold up to the test of time. CQuartz is great, though I still need to try UK. What are your thoughts between UK and original?


-Beach

[richy]

That is the cleanest looking sunfire I have seen. Looks better than new.
Thank you very much!


Goes to show you how good an average car can look with proper care. Great job. Best looking Sunfire I have ever seen as well.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
Thanks! It's funny you guys say that. A few years ago, it was hit from behind quite badly about a week after I had detailed it. The body shop successfully argued against the insurance writing the car off after the adjuster came to see it. He agreed it was worth fixing. I'm sure he wouldn't have if it wasn't kept pristine.


Hey Richy, did you use the all surface or the paint specific coating? I also asked on L2D forum! Sorry for redundancy!
Hey, no worries. No, I just bought the paint coating. I was already angry enough having bought the DP coating to have this one come out so closely afterward and claiming to be so much better. No idea what to do with the DP one now. I don't know if it will prematurely fail before the Pinnacle or what?


Nice! I got a bottle of this stuff too, it applies and removes effortlessly and is very glossy. Looking forward to see durability.
Me too Sergei. Ease of application is definitely its strongpoint.


Good work on the sunfire, it looks great... Probably the best looking one in the country lol.

I will be following this thread for sure. I am also looking to offer a lower end coating to people that cannot pay for Finest. For now, I have just offered CQ original, which is the bees knees IMO, so i'm interested in how PBL coatings hold up to the test of time. CQuartz is great, though I still need to try UK. What are your thoughts between UK and original?


-Beach
I had dropped the original CQ for OG when the CQ wouldn't last as long as the OG (original Pro version). I just stayed with OG for years. I haven't tried the CQUK yet but I hear it's more finicky. I need to try it for myself and see. I haven't tried the UK yet but will in the Spring. Then I will decide what to stock. For now I've got the Pinnacle bottle and an unopened bottle of the DP paint coating.

[Romans5.8]

I love stuff like this because it's close to my heart. Proof that even an old daily driver deserves love an can have the results to show for it! Looks brand new.

[CWallace]

I know how u feel!! I have the DP coating as well and am still a little miffed about the timing of the "newer, better" Black Label!!

[Zelfiris]

That is the cleanest looking sunfire I have seen. Looks better than new.

+1 I have to agree. Never seen a better looking sunfire in my life

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Looks great Richy!

[richy]

I love stuff like this because it's close to my heart. Proof that even an old daily driver deserves love an can have the results to show for it! Looks brand new.
My friend, paint is paint. As long as there's enough to work with, it doesn't matter the car, year or whatever.


I know how u feel!! I have the DP coating as well and am still a little miffed about the timing of the "newer, better" Black Label!!
That was not nice at all. Just be up front, you'd sell the same amount in the end without pissing people off!


+1 I have to agree. Never seen a better looking sunfire in my life
Thanks very much!


Looks great Richy!
Thank you Sir!

[noslef]

That is one clean Sunfire! I'm also interested in knowing how the Pinnacle coating holds up. I'm lucky I held off on purchasing the DP coating while I waited for the black Friday sales.

[Desertnate]

+1 I have to agree. Never seen a better looking sunfire in my life

Ha! My thoughts were the same while looking at the pictures. "It has to be the best looking Sunfire in North America."

[HateSwirls]

That Sunfire would draw my attention if I was to see it next to me at a light.
Super clean.

Makes me say WOW:)