Double Review: Prima Amigo & Banana Gloss

JaredPointer

COME AT ME BRO
I finally broke down and purchased some of this stuff. I've had my eye on it for a little while, and decided it was time. I'm not sure where I was when this stuff first "hit the boards," but apparently I missed it and there's generally not a whole lot of talk about it. I figured I'd share my thoughts - it doesn't cost anything (usually).

Product: Prima Banana Gloss & Prima Amigo



Price: It depends on the vendor you get it from. It's not readily available from the normal channels I am familiar with, but I purchased it via Amazon direct from the seller - at least I think that's what happened. Amigo ran me $17.95 USD for 16 ounces and Banana Gloss was $18.95 for the same amount.

Availability: See above. I won't spam the forum with non-advertiser links, as that's frowned upon. It's not as easy to come across as a lot of the other things talked about on this forum.

Packaging: It appears that the entire Prima line is standardized with a dark blue bottle with large oval-esque labels. I honestly think the packaging is very classy looking and the bottles are heavy duty. I dropped one from about four feet and it didn't even dent the bottle. :bigups

Appearance/Product: Amigo is a purple and somewhat thick glaze. From the Amazon description: Prima Amigo is amazingly unique. It is a paintwork cleanser...It is a polymer-based glaze... It is even a super-fine polish which levels up to 3000 grit imperfections- when used with a Porter Cable (or similar) polisher. Combine all three properties and you can see why we think it doesnt fall into any currently defined categories of car care products. Mild cleaners in Amigo break up oxidation and remove "dead" paint. Embedded grime is gently lifted from the surface. Mineral deposits from water spots disappear. It is the perfect prep-step for well-cared-for paint that needs a cleansing before wax application. As a polymer-based glaze, it fills slight imperfections, adds stunning gloss while leaving the finish slick to the touch. What's unique about Amigo as a glaze is that it is polymer-based. Although it doesnt provide protection the way Prima Epic will, it does allow you to go directly to your wax step without any bonding or durability issues. Try that with a normal glaze and your protection will simply rinse off. Prima Amigo allows you to fill imperfections, add gloss then seal it in with your wax. No other product on the market gives you what Prima Amigo gives you. If you have ever fought with black paint as you tried to remove the very last bit of hazing left by your polish steps, you will truly appreciate Prima Amigo. Used with your PC polisher, it will remove the lightest of surface imperfections. Black becomes a crystal lagoon of depth and clarity. Red becomes a bright liquidy glow of its former self. Light colors pop with brilliance. Prima Amigo is your last step to perfection. Whether you are cleaning, glazing or polishing, spend some time with Amigo and you will see why we think it will be your new best friend.

Banana Gloss is cream colored and very thin. It is almost the consistency of a spray wax, and I'm not real sure why it doesn't come in a spray bottle. It's that thin. I have some small spray bottles I think I am going to test this out in later. From the Amazon site: Banana Gloss is a premium liquid wax with a deep glossy shine. If you want easy, waxing with Banana Gloss couldn't be any easier. It works on hot paint, cold paint, in the sun or in the shade. It will NOT stain trim or leave white residue. It dries almost instantly, so waxing becomes a quick and easy project. If that wasn't enough, Banana Gloss will actually fill and conceal some of your paint swirls. Do you see "spider webs" when you look at your car in the sun? Try some BG. The improvement will be significant. Banana Gas contains a complex resin that levels the paint while providing protection and durability. There is also a touch of carnauba for added depth. Black paint and other dark colors look like a deep pool of oil and paint with metal flake looks "bass boat thick." There is quite a bit going on here... You get easy application, paint cleaners, no white residue, trim safe, concealing and of course, protection. All that is left is durability. You should see a good 45-60 days on a daily driver, but with a wax this easy, you may not find out. Prima Banana Gloss: Amazingly easy, simply stunning.

Test Vehicle: My evil, unpatriotic 2008 Tundra. It wasn't prepped other than cleaning the wheels/tires/wells traditionally and a Spray & Wipe cleaning of all other surfaces. I'm not sure what I even had on it prior to today - whatever it was felt pretty dead, as the paint was pretty grabby and has felt that way the past few washes.

Usage: I started out with the Amigo. I felt like it would give a pretty decent base, cover some of my marring (spiderwebs, and some pinstriping where I've been "off road going to fish a couple of private ponds). My goal was two applications of Amigo followed by a final application of Banana Gloss. First application of Amigo was with the PC on speed 1 and a black CSS pad. It spread it on pretty thin. I applied to an entire side of the truck, and then went back and removed the residue. Second application was by hand with a microfiber applicator. I applied it a bit thicker then the PC, but applied it the same way - entire side, remove residue. Banana Gloss was applied with the PC on 1 using a blue CCS pad in the same manner as Amigo.

Thoughts: I had pretty high expectations for Amigo based on the reviews and photos I had previously seen. Lemme tell ya - it did not disappoint. It is extremely easy to apply and remove and it covers defects like you would not believe. I applied it via the PC and removed it over the entire paint on my Tundra in less than 30 minutes. By hand, it was a little longer, but it was still just as easy to remove, even where I had "gunked it on" and it dried thick. It looked good enough to me in the garage that I contemplated not even applying the Banana Gloss after the second Amigo application. Amigo does state to keep it off trim and rubber.

Regarding the Banana Gloss, I am still not 100% sure I am able to decide whether or not I like it a whole bunch yet. I can't tell that it added a whole lot to the look over the Amigo. However it was easy to apply and remove, and a little goes a loooooooong way. As I mentioned earlier, I think I might try and use it like a spray wax because it is just that thin. I don't expect it to last too long, as the directions on the back state to expect re-application every 45-60 days. It's definitely more of a beauty wax than it would be one to put on in the winter.

I didn't stop to take time and make before or during photos. I seem to always be in a rush these days when it comes to keeping my vehicles clean - my son isn't really old enough to help or to be trusted to sit and watch Thomas the Train long enough for me to really get down into things like I used to. :) So it is really nice to have an alternative like this that makes it look like I spent all day polishing. I'll attach a couple of photos so you can see what I mean. I'm not sure my truck has been this deep and reflective since I've had it.

As always, I'll try and answer any questions that I can and comments are welcomed!
 

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Nice! Thanks for the reviews. Perhaps a follow up will be forthcoming as some time passes.

Too bad you couldn't put their claim of removing mineral deposits to the test ;)
 
Nice! Thanks for the reviews. Perhaps a follow up will be forthcoming as some time passes.

Too bad you couldn't put their claim of removing mineral deposits to the test ;)

I'll state that I have good intentions to update my thoughts as time passes. :)

And I may try and use it on a test panel if the opportunity arises to see if it has any sort of correcting abilities.

It sat in the garage Saturday & Sunday, and when I pulled it out this morning, it looked really deep and wet. Not sure if I was imagining it or what - but it looked better than it did in the photos. I'm not sure why there's not more play (at least about the Amigo) on various forums. It appears to be really good stuff.
 
Banana Gloss is super thin, but I think you'd be wasting a lot spraying it. A little goes a long long way.

Also make sure to shake that sucker up good, it separates quite obviously in a clear container.
 
I think I wasted quite a bit using a foam applicator on my PC! :) It is super thin stuff, for sure. Looking at the bottle and then thinking how little you have to use, BG seems like it would provide many, many uses.
 
I'm not sure why there's not more play (at least about the Amigo) on various forums. It appears to be really good stuff.

I think there is a lot of good products out there so there is only so much that gets talked about. It helps to have a product sold by multiple sellers so they can be discussed especially since some sites restrict products discussed. People have their favorite sellers so not like some would buy a product on a chance to just try one item.
 
Thanks for the review the truck looks great, really like that color.
Amigo is a great product, Swirl is an excellent polish, Hydro works great as well.
 
Coming up on three weeks without a wash, S&W wipedown, or come to think of it any rain that the trucks been out of the garage for.

Banana Gloss seems to "hold onto" dust, which isn't real surprising considering it's a heavy filler product. I hope to give it a wash sometime this weekend to see how well it washes and to check on the filling effects after a wash.
 
Thought I would give a brief update of my thoughts since I washed the truck yesterday. Washed with TW Ice Shampoo, so that ought to rile up some of you product snobs. :D

Initial beading during the rinse phase was very nice. Tight and tiny beads, even with a layer of dust attached. I feel like the BG rinsed pretty clean, although I don't have a way to really measure that other than to say that my rinse buckets seemed fairly clean when the wash was done.

Slickness - seemed fairly slick during the wash and during the drying phase. I did not use a drying aid (such as S&W), so I feel that I am still feeling the slickness of the product instead of some type of Quick Detailer. Slickness during the wash phase could be attributed to the shampoo, but the mitt seemed to glide effortlessly over the paint.

At the three week mark, it seems the BG is still hanging in there. As mentioned earlier, the vehicle has seen no rain but it does sit outside in the sun and elements each day at my office. It was dusty, and I feel that the BG may have held onto the dust as I mentioned earlier.

Hiding effects still seem to be in place, if not somewhat diminished after a wash. I think I might can see some of the major spiderwebbing on my truck trying to shine through. I do plan to do a multi-step polish at some point in the fall, so all you perfectionists don't write me off yet.

All-in-all, I am pleased with the Amigo and the BG so far. I don't see any reason why I wouldn't recommend them to anyone on here or anywhere else. Fantastic looks and very little work. A hard combo to beat.
 
Here is where the logic gets fuzzy with the banana gloss. I have used both amigo and banana gloss. I like both very much. The results are outstanding. But.... banana gloss, as stated by the good people at Prima contains cleaners, ok cool but if you use Amigo as a pre wax prep followed by banana gloss, the cleaners in banana gloss will remove the filling/hiding abilities of the Amigo, no ? Banana gloss is chock full of petro distillates and petro naptha, both will remove any leveling resins laid down by the amigo.

So today after applying amigo on the hood of my truck, I followed with some old Pinnacle paste glaz ( which is no longer made) because this wax has NO cleaning ability. Of course the outcome was outstanding.

If anyone can explain that my logic is fuzzy concerning the banana gloss removing the amigo...I am all ears....

Dave
 
I used banana gloss tonight on my 05 clk500. The car is in pristine condition and to be honest, no difference. Victoria wax is nice, the car is light blue silver.
 
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