3 New Cars! Need help with products!

Lyle Beach

New member
Okay, so I have officially been on the computer researching all day! Still in my PJ's! LOL! It may also help to let you all know that I think I am boderline OCD so I take this car detailing stuff very seriously! :2thumbs:



The cars are:



  • 1993 MR2 Turbo - Brand new professional Jet Black Single Stage paint



  • 2010 Lexus IS350 - Starfire Pearl

  • 2009 Honda Civic Si - Dyno Blue Pearl



I just spent $200 on the Grit Guard 5 Gallon Dual-Bucket set (for cars) and another 3.5 Gallon Grit Guard Bucket (for wheels/exhaust)



Now I am on to the waxes and stuff. I am under the impression that a good routine is to:



  1. Polish/cleaner wax/swirl remover
  2. Sealant (for durability)
  3. Carnauba wax (for looks/depth/gloss)



I'm not sure what to use for a "cleaner wax"? I have Megs CW right now, but am open to other suggestions. Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion maybe? or should I just go Z5?



As for the Sealant: I am trying to choose between Z2 or WG 3.0



As for Carnauba Wax: I think I am gonna go the Pinnacle Souveranroute



How does this sound? Keep in mind, I don't have a PC nor would I trust myself using one. So these will all be applied by hand.



Will my SS paint (MR2) require different products than the CC (Lexus, Honda)? Like, should I get Z3 for the MR2?



With all this said, I am by no means a complete Newbie, I have been washing and waxing cars for many years. I am just finding out that there is a "correct" way to do things that will help maintain the cars brilliance for years to come. And I would like to be a better detailer! These cars mean everything to me!



Thanks!
 
My opinion:



Get two/three levels of polish from the same mfg: IE Megs 105/205 or Menzerna lines of polishes. You will probably need a porter cable or rotary if you don't already have one.



Use Klasse AIO for "cleaner wax" if you are bent on getting one. It is useful for many areas of automotive detailing.



Sealant: Pick anything. Opinion is developed by trying product for yourself. I like crisp reflections and don't use waxes. Zaino provides this, but waxing over may lose this.



Wax: I liked p21s myself, but it is awefully weak in longevity.



I am not on the Zaino train; sorry if this wasn't the answer you were looking for. Zaino's product nomenclature alone puts me off from using it.
 
93 MR2 TURBO- Welcome to Autopia!



All those paints sound a bit on the soft side, so I'd be all about the wash/dry regimen. If you can avoid marring them in the first place that'd be best. I'd be looking into a foamgun/BHB combo for the initial passes, and I'd be using the best/highest lubricity shampoo you can afford.



I'd use the same stuff on all those cars.



I like Pinnacle's PCL for some things, but I don't think I'd go that route (not sure if it's compatible with Zaino either, I'd doubt it).



There aren't all that many (mildy abrasive) polishes/swirl removers that work effectively by hand, though the Meguiar's stuff like Scratch-X is OK if you put in the requisite time and effort.



I'd go with Autoglym SRP for the "cleaner wax" and skip the "real sealant". I'd just top the SRP with the wax of your choice, and for me that'd probably be Collinite (I do like Souveran, but only for garage-queens).
 
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