P21S Car Care Kit for 2006 VW GTI

K

Kirium

New member
Hi folks, my first time back at Autopia in a while...



I'm about to take delivery of a new 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI in Candy White in June.



I have a bit of collected product from the years, the only notable stuff being Megs GC shampoo and liquid wax and NXT shampoo and liquid TechWax. I'm trying to decide if the P21S kit is good enough for the new GTI. It'll be washed usually every 2 weeks, waxed as often as it needs it (once every 4-6 weeks perhaps). I don't need the most stunning finnish in the history of the world, but I do want it looking good and have it protected well at the same time.



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This kit is $99 Aus. If I were to buy the Klasse twins, I'd be looking at $50 each, and still need a wheel cleaner and wash (unless I was to use the Megs NXT shampoo). Decent car care products are pretty pricey down here, and the P21S kit is looking like decent value with shampoo, polish, paste wax and wheel cleaner... All I'd need to add is a few new MFs.



Considering it's a new car, I don't think the paint will need a polish like AIO for a while yet, so i figure the P21S cleansing lotion should be mild enough for light swirls and watermarks for now. But, the car will be a daily driver, and the temperature varys during the year from 40C+ in summer down to -5C in winter, so I need something that will protect it well across temperature extremes...



Should I get the P21S kit? Should I just get some AIO and keep using the Megs NXT shampoo and tech wax?



It's funny how you go thru a few threads on here and think you've got it all sorted, and then you read just a few more and you're more confused than when you started...



Replies will be very much appreciated...



Cheers,



Dylan
 
Congratulations on the new car. The P21S kit is very good. My girlfriend bought it and actually used it. P21S wax is very good on looks, but the durabilty is not great, but if you do it every 4-6 weeks it should be fine.



Cleansing lotion is very nice, but it does not really remove swirls. It s very nice as prep work for the wax.



Shampoo and wheel cleaner are good as well. I say its worth the purchase.
 
Thanks for the comments... :xyxthumbs



Anyone else got any comments or better suggestion than what i'm thinking??



FWIW, i don't have a random orbital, but will probably invest in one over the next 12 months...
 
I think for the money there is no better wax available, I couldn't see any difference in shine or depth between P21, and much more expensive waxes. But like Stoicdude said, every 4-6 weeks you will need to re-wax.
 
Will the P21S provide enough protection through the temperature extremes??



Can I ask what products you use on your Alpine White BM??
 
I'll toss in my opinion, hope it doesn't sound to contrarian.



The P21S stuff is good. No question about that. Here's the "but"-



You'll go through those bottles of wheel cleaner and wash in no time. Buying in small bottles like that isn't economical. The kit is put together to make money off the customers's search for all-in-one-package convenience, not to give you the best value for *your* money ;) Not that the convenience isn't worth something, so just weigh your options.



The GEPC is OK but nothing special (at least it didn't impress me that much) and you'll have a lot of it left long after you've run out of wheel cleaner and shampoo. It and AIO are about the same aggressiveness-wise but AIO cleans better and is far more versatile (more user-friendly IMO too).



I'm not trying to talk you out of the P21s kit but I'd at least give some thought as to finding more wheel cleaner and shampoo. If there are any autobody/paint supply places around your area they can get the Megiuar's professional line (the #62 car wash comes in gallons and is very good).





Oh, and I'd clay that new GTI- rust blooms (from embedded ferrous contamination) look awful on white and once they get a toe-hold they're a [pain] to get rid of. Yeah, nice car :xyxthumbs
 
Clay magic kit was certainly on the cards once I got the car home... :werd:



Thanks for the advice mate... Much appreciated. :thx



I like the idea of the kit. It keeps it all neat enough for it to stay in the car, so I can give it a good wash while away on long trips and so on, without having to resort to a service station carwash... I've got plenty of Megs NXT wash to refill the P21S shampoo bottle with (i should get rid of it, my gf is starting to point out all the half used products laying around) then I'd happily buy larger refils of the shampoo, to refil the containers in the kit.



In the long run, i'd probably buy some AIO once the GEPC runs out, and i'd refill the GEPC bottle with AIO (stealth.... :p ) It'd be so convenient to keep everything in a small little kit tho (regardless of the products in it). Especially if over time the contents of the original bottles are replaced with AIO or the wheel gel...



I can't imagine how many of you are out there smacking yourselves in the head saying "what is this guy thinking" but the convenience of that little kit (and the initial outlay for only $99Aus (the P21S wax is almost $50 a jar here)) is what's keeping me. and then over time i can put better products in the kit as they run out.



Probably crazy, but I guess it makes sense to me... :rofl



Thanks for reply's so far... still keen to hear more opinion... :thx
 
The P21S CW is the only product I have used from there line. The results were great. Not sure of the durability I hope it's longer than 4-6 weeks. Two coats were applied we'll see.
 
Your going to love the GTI, I took delivery without a swirl in sight and mine is shadow blue so it is easy to see imperfections. P21S make some great products and there Wheel cleaner IMO is the best around. There shampoo is also very good, but there not very economical. I'm not the biggest fan of the look of there wax, but that shouldn't put you off. Enjoy
 
This is a great kit - I bought this for a buddy of mine several years ago when he got a new car...



Advantages:

1) Everything all in one convenient package.

2) All products are of top echelon quality.

3) Good pricing judging from your wax pricing.



Disadvantages (and subjective counter-points):

1) Average durability for wax - but as others mentioned above, this would not be a problem if you wax every 4-6 weeks (P21S goes on and off like butter - extremely easy)

2) As Accumulator has said - you will eat through the wheel cleaner and shampoo really, really fast. However, your current stash of NXT shampoo is a high quality alternative car wash. I would only use the P21S wheel cleaner when the wheels are really bad...the other times I would use plain jane car wash soap. Heck, you might want to try your Gold Class wax on your wheels for protection.

3) Do not re-use/re-fill the GEPC bottle with AIO. This bottle kinda sucks...it has no spout, just one big opening. AIO would spill all over the place. I find GEPC to be a mild cleaner and glaze that adds a little bit more depth and wetness - Of course, I don't know what the results would be on a white car, but all of us would be interested to know.



Hope this helps,

MCA
 
If you are buying it only for the case, that's crazy. Wal-mart (do they have Wal-Mart in OZ?) and similar stores sell plastic storage bins of varying sizes that will stash in a trunk/boot with no problems. Another container idea would be a five-gallon bucket with a lid. You can get them new at Home Depot but if you thoroughly clean a used you'd be fine. Keep the products in the bucket during transport and even use the bucket to wash with. I believe Harley-Davidson sells a product like this (wash bucket plus soap, wax, etc) specifically for motorcyclists.
 
If you are interested in the Klasse twins you might want to look at the Poly-lack twins. They are made by the German company Car-lack, who apparently make Klasse. You can get both of them for $55au from waxit.com.au



Len.
 
Kirium said:
I like the idea of the kit. It keeps it all neat enough for it to stay in the car...I can't imagine how many of you are out there smacking yourselves in the head saying "what is this guy thinking" but the convenience of that little kit is what's keeping me...Probably crazy, but I guess it makes sense to me...
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Nah, that's not crazy. I really meant it when I said that the convenience/presentation is one of the things that you're paying for. If you're making an informed decision (and you are) and it's worth it to *you* then OK.



Tip on the P21S: Put it on *THIN* and let it set up longer than recommended. It'll still wipe off OK and it'll look/last a little better. People think you have to wipe it off right away but that's really only if you put it on super-thick (and I dunno even then...).
 
Accumulator said:
Tip on the P21S: Put it on *THIN* and let it set up longer than recommended. It'll still wipe off OK and it'll look/last a little better. People think you have to wipe it off right away but that's really only if you put it on super-thick (and I dunno even then...).
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Well, due to sudden cell phone calls, or my (now) 2-year-old son suddenly demanding my presence in the house while in the middle of wax application, I've never experienced any difference in performance based on *set up* time for P21S/S100, which has varied from panel-to-panel on/off, to at least 40 minutes from application to removal - but that's all basically subjective, anyway.





It's funny how you go thru a few threads on here and think you've got it all sorted, and then you read just a few more and you're more confused than when you started...





Yes - I still experience this unhelpful and unwanted phenomenon even today :doh .



I think the *kit* sounds like a good idea, considering your situation and viewpoint; they're all excellent products- "He who hesitates is lost" after all, eh?
 
Accumulator said:
You'll go through those bottles of wheel cleaner and wash in no time.
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That is definitely true. The bottle of wheel cleaner seemed huge to me when I first saw it, but it's actually just 16.9 oz and seems even smaller than that. I went through mine in no time. If you really like it (and it does do a good job in my experience), maybe consider also getting the 33.8 oz refill.



And congratulations on the new car! Great choice!
 
strat81 said:
If you are buying it only for the case, that's crazy. Wal-mart (do they have Wal-Mart in OZ?) and similar stores sell plastic storage bins of varying sizes that will stash in a trunk/boot with no problems.
Click to expand...



It's not only for the case.. I agree, that would be a little crazy. I'm mostly after decent products, of course (which all the products in the P21S seem to be good-excellent), and the case of a care kit is added convenience.



Like you suggest, I used to have all my products in a bucket with lid, and then in a backpack, but time after time, I'd open up a soggy backpack to find window cleaner or QD with a loose lid on it. The secure housing of the P21S kit (and I've also looked at Autoglym, Zymol and Swissol kits among others, but the P21S kit seems like pretty good value) is worth it IMHO, and looks like it'll be convenient (holding all the products I need) and safe.



I hear the new GTI can be pretty prone to "spirited" driving at times, so the peace of mind knowing everything will be secure and won't leak and force me to buy more bottles of product, is worth a bit extra too.
 
lucaszcpm3 said:
Your going to love the GTI, I took delivery without a swirl in sight and mine is shadow blue so it is easy to see imperfections. P21S make some great products and there Wheel cleaner IMO is the best around. There shampoo is also very good, but there not very economical. I'm not the biggest fan of the look of there wax, but that shouldn't put you off. Enjoy
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The first MkV GTI I saw in Oz was a Shadow Blue, here in Canberra a few days before the official launch last year... Looks great. :bigups



Can I ask why you're not the biggest fan of the P21S? Is it the wax in general or the way it looks on shadow blue??
 
MCA said:
This is a great kit - I bought this for a buddy of mine several years ago when he got a new car...



3) Do not re-use/re-fill the GEPC bottle with AIO. This bottle kinda sucks...it has no spout, just one big opening. AIO would spill all over the place. I find GEPC to be a mild cleaner and glaze that adds a little bit more depth and wetness - Of course, I don't know what the results would be on a white car, but all of us would be interested to know.



Hope this helps,

MCA
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Point noted. Thanks mate. I wasn't sure what kind of lid/opening the GEPC had... If I go for this kit, I'll figure something out...



Cheers.. :bigups
 
Lenard said:
If you are interested in the Klasse twins you might want to look at the Poly-lack twins. They are made by the German company Car-lack, who apparently make Klasse. You can get both of them for $55au from waxit.com.au



Len.
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I'd seen the Poly-lack on there, and figured it was like the Klasse twins, but I hadn't heard of it on here before, so I wasn't sure about it... I might look into it as a replcement for products once I'm out of the initiall fill.



The bloke who owns waxit.com.au is a fellow dubber... He's got a MkIV R32..
 
Accumulator said:
Tip on the P21S: Put it on *THIN* and let it set up longer than recommended. It'll still wipe off OK and it'll look/last a little better. People think you have to wipe it off right away but that's really only if you put it on super-thick (and I dunno even then...).
Click to expand...



Thanks for the tip. does the ambient temp matter with P21S?? I'll be applying it in temps anywhere from around 10C up to 30C.



Thanks all for your comments, It's very much appreciated.

I'm still eager to hear more comment from folks with alternatives to the P21S kit. It seems to be in the lead at the moment, but if there's a good simple solution out there I haven't heard of, that will work well on the new GTI in the conditions down here, I'm willing to hear it. :bigups
 
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