After spending Hundreds of dollars........

I agree with what some of the others have said. Since money is no object, invest in a PC and get some good polshes. This will only enhance your lsp of choice(in this case zaino). If you love it now, you'll love it twice as much painstakingly prepped... :up
 
Just a question. If without prep Zaino looks that much better than everything else, wouldn't Zaino absolutley blow eveything away with prep? If from day one when I bought my car I have been properly taking care of it do I need all that prep? I am just asking. Last year I got the bright idea of taking my car to a body shop to get it buffed professionally, when the guy came out he told me to get the f#@k out of here because my car looks better than ones he just painted.
 
Hey good luck with the Zaino, if that is the look you like, ignore the others who are saying XXX wax is better on their car (and in their eyes) and stick with the Zaino you like (it's my favorite too)



The advice already given on using the correct tools to prep your paint is critical. Even with the 'best' LSP out there, you will never see the full potential of your vehicle unless you prep, prep, prep. There is no alternative, no shortcut, no workaround, if you want the best finish possible.



My advice to you is to sell your excess products using Autopia's Abay and invest the proceeds in a PC and pad set. If you think your Zaino looks good now, wait till you see it after you remove any swirls and burnish with Menzerna FP, PB's SSR1 or 3M PI-III-MG; it will blow you away.
 
Thanks for all the help. IMHO I don't think whatever I do before Souvran its going to be better than Zaino. Trust me I have spent countless hours comparing and searching for the right product.

Its Zaino my Z2 pro should be in any day now. From the sound of it factory paint is factory paint.



I will be willing to try the VM and give you MHO, someone trade for some of my products listed.



Listen, I wanted Souvran to be the be all end all, great packaging gold bag I was excited, but it wasn't.

Surluster, Stuf and shining Monkey were all just as good IMHO.
 
It's a good thing that you are trying to learn more here, but I keep reading your posts and it seems like you are just on the verge of "getting it". You are WAY to focused on the last step products. Please, shift your attention to what all the other posters have been saying and read all you can about surface preparation. Only when you have as perfect a surface as you can get will you be able to fairly compare all the products that you have bought. Zaino may very well end up being the product you prefer, but you will like it even more if you have a good surface to apply it to. I hope this helps.
 
I think your probably right. What is your prep consist of?

I don't have PC
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Well, as has been suggested, sell some of your generous collection and buy a PC & pads.



The prep required depends on the condition of your car. Since I haven't seen it, I can't say. How about posting some close-up picks of the paint surface in the sun (if you can find some sun where you are.)



Every car I've seen and worked on, even fresh out of the paintshop, needed some work. Mainly washing swirls and random scratches. If out of a paintshop, always buffer swirls and/or holograms, especially on black. (Just wash off the paintshop applied glaze/camouflage and see.)



On most I gave them the Menzerna duo treatment. That's my suggestion.



Just a question. If without prep Zaino looks that much better than everything else, wouldn't Zaino absolutley blow eveything away with prep?
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Possibly. I've never seen a Zaino result, so I can't speak about that specific product. But you won't know until you've done it.



Alot on this forum are zealous Zaino disciples so it must produce excellent results.



The great thing about this board is that different people like different looks.



Some like the Zaino look, some believe the Souveran look is better. Some like super glassy reflections, others like a deeper oily look. No-one's right...just different.



Whether, after full prep, Zaino will still reign supreme, only your eyes will tell.



If from day one when I bought my car I have been properly taking care of it do I need all that prep? I am just asking. Last year I got the bright idea of taking my car to a body shop to get it buffed professionally, when the guy came out he told me to get the f#@k out of here because my car looks better than ones he just painted.
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That's obviously a tribute to your love of proper car care. It shows why you belong on this board.



So listen to suggestions given to you...we've walked this road before! :D



To illustrate, a friend and fellow Autopian, brought his dark blue '03 Porsche 911 to me to polish. He's as obsessed as I am with a good finish and cared for his baby fanatically. After 12 hours of polishing with the PC, applied Reflections and Souveran.



17477picture_117sm.jpg




He nearly fell over with the look. It looked like pool of water.



17477hpim3303_jpg.jpg




He had a friend over who owned a darker blue '04 Porche 911, also a car care fanatic. He said that by comparison, his friends Porsche looked dull. Now *he's* interested in getting it polished.



To illustrate differently, an excellent unprepped finish starts off at 60% of its potential. With a good OTC wax, it goes to 70%. With a premium wax it goes to 80%. With Zaino (in respect for your observations), it goes to 85%.



Nothing you put on it now will take it to 100%. Only good prep will.



If you're happy with 85% then that's all that matters. But, if your as obsessed as the rest of us (and something tells me you are!), then get a PC and polish/burnish that paint 'till it blinds you. :xyxthumbs



I hope this helps.
 
Excellent post Paul :bow



I like your use of pics to make the point about Prep being required to show the best effect of any LSP.



BTW .. beautiful work on that 911 :cool:
 
Dogma, good luck my friend. As many others have said, if you found a product that you like the most, stick with it. Every person has different opinions, and I know that atleast myself NO sealant can touch even the most humble carnaubas in a red or dark paint. I think we just crave for diferent looks in the paint.



By the way, with those many product you will be left unused, why don't you think about inheritance to your fellow autopians *cough cough* ;) Make a garage sale! :)





Alex
 
As the general consensus goes, PREP is absolutely everything. Mainly polishing though...Polishing is really going to give you the depth you desire and the LSP is just the icing on the cake.



Where in CT are you located?
 
Accumulator said:
That's what I was thinking. If you like the look of Zaino better than that of the others you mentioned, then I'd just stick with that.
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Same here. Personally, I don't particularly care for sealants on my black paint (except for Wolfgang and EX w/carnauba) because I like the paint to look super black and deep. Sealants just look too bright and glassy to me.



What matter is what looks best to your eye. If you like the appearance of Zaino the best, use it. :)
 
Prep is important, but in my experience the quality of a wax will make a difference between a good result and an outstanding one. If you do some experimenting you will find that there are vast differences between good to excellent to exotic waxes.



If you want the best, then yes you should definitely prep, but the finish will ultimately be decided in the WAX.



I've tried Zaino and seen good results from other cars. It is not product for the ultimate in finish quality IMO; However, you will need to do the footwork on your own to come up with the routine and WAX that works for you.



Good luck.
 
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