Revisited an old friend: Meguiar's #20

JustinR32

New member
Some background: I used to have a demo. So I could drive the demo and keep my car in the garage, and I could have someone else keep the demo clean; when it got covered with sap and pollen, I could put it on the cleanup schedule and collect the keys before leaving work.



THAT was cool.



But I knew I was going to quit back in February, so I gave up the demo and leased a new car. Now my drive is about 80 miles a day, so I have to drive the Miata to work in the summer or run the miles up on the leased car. So the Miata used to be garage kept, but now gets driven (but overnights in the garage), and the Subaru sits outside under a tree and gets covered with tree and bird junk all day long.



So since the Sube is outside under a tree 24/7, I have to wax it more often. And I decided that #20 would be the perfect product for this Satin Pearl White car.



Temp today was almost 90*, and it was humid.



I pulled the car into the shade and washed with #62, and clayed to make sure I had all the sap off the car. I then pulled in the garage and applied the product, first with a mf-covered sponge and then with a GC applicator. I much prefer the regular foam applicators; the mf applicators take too much effort to slide over the paint and soak up too much product into the sponge itself. I had a couple fans going as I worked.



I forgot just how easy #20 is to use! It spreads quickly, thinly, and easily. After applying the product to the car, I did the tires and the windows. By that time the #20 had hazed completely.



It comes off as easily as it goes on. I used the Supreme Shine microfibers and the Ultimate Wipes, with the edge by far going to the Supreme Shines; the longer nap works better with the fine residue left by the #20. Total time to apply the product was about 25 minutes, during the 20 minute wait to haze I did the windows and tires, and total time to remove was maybe 10. It really wipes right off with almost no effort!



The finish is very smooth and slick and slippery, and the look is very bright and shiny, perfect for this big ice cream bar of a car. I'd say in slickness it's closest to 4* Upp. I'm hoping for a couple months durability from this product. I've gotten that previously; this should be no different.



I'd take pictures, but they'll look like all the other pictures I've taken of the car. It's really, really clean and white.



I might start putting the Sube in the garage, but I am leery of putting the Miata outside 24/7; it's so well kept for a '97!





Tom
 
Nice write up. I used #20 today actually. Used it on single stage which felt a little different, but all was good. It worked quite well to remove the slight black marks in the white paint. :up
 
I have a bottle of #20 I bust out every once in a while, I just have so many LSPs right now, I kind of forget about it even though it is an excellent product.
 
Scottwax said:
I have a bottle of #20 I bust out every once in a while, I just have so many LSPs right now, I kind of forget about it even though it is an excellent product.



I agree.... I have a bunch of different LSPs sitting on the shelf, but I only seem to find myself grabbing 2 of them consistently - S100 and NXT. I did use some #20 the other day though on a white Aztek that came up from Milford (Detroit area, couple hours away).
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
I agree.... I have a bunch of different LSPs sitting on the shelf, but I only seem to find myself grabbing 2 of them consistently - S100 and NXT. I did use some #20 the other day though on a white Aztek that came up from Milford (Detroit area, couple hours away).



Lately, I have been using EX w/carnauba, EX-P (both the new forumulas) along with Carnauba Moose and NXT Paste, both applied via PC.



I may bust out my bottle of #20 though, I do have the most recent incarnation and it is super easy to use. ;)
 
Yeah #20 is pretty good product. I use it as a one step product for door jambs, engine compartment, and wheels. Problem is Megs Canada only sells it in 64 Oz containers and charges $61.00. I won't be replacing my bottle at those rip off prices.:down
 
buellwinkle,



#21 is a softer, wetter look, #20 is a harder look, if that makes any sense. #21 has the NXT look. #20 has more the Klasse look.



Tom
 
stevet said:
Yeah #20 is pretty good product. I use it as a one step product for door jambs, engine compartment, and wheels. Problem is Megs Canada only sells it in 64 Oz containers and charges $61.00. I won't be replacing my bottle at those rip off prices.:down



I just checked with NAPA. They can get the 16oz. (M-2016) for about $22.00 (CDN). Not as bad a mark up as I had expected (MSRP $18.00 US).
 
I like to use #20 whenever it's a one step type job. Just wash, clay and #20. Fast and easy, with relatively good cleaning power. I still have two bottles of it I use. Most of the time though, I use #20 for the wheels.
 
Nice write up Tom.



If you're looking for added durability since it'll be outside 24x7 you should consider adding Collinite 476s or Insulator Wax as a topper.



I have a 1996 white Honda Civic DX that has sat outside 24x7 for almost 10 years now. Outside of a few supermarket dings and spider-cracked paint on the plastic bumpers, the paint is flawless.



I too could take pictures, but it'll just look clean and clear like white should look!



I use Collinite every 3 months. I do a full detail twice a year prepping first with AIO as I no longer wish to take an abrasive to it as to preserve the clear.



It's something to consider. I have yet to find anything to match its ease of use for the durability it yields.
 
BigLeegr said:
I just checked with NAPA. They can get the 16oz. (M-2016) for about $22.00 (CDN). Not as bad a mark up as I had expected (MSRP $18.00 US).



Thats not bad at all. I bought my 16 Oz bottle a couple years ago. I don't see them around here any more and Megs Canada is selling 64 Oz bottles.



The thing with Megs is there is no consistency in their mark ups. Some products like NXT Wax and buffing pads are insane. They more than double the price and in the case of buffing pads they triple the price. But I can get NXT Metal polish for like $7.00 or $8.00 CDN and thats pretty close to the US price of $6.00. They seem to pick and choose what products they want to rip you off with.
 
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