In May of 2002, I began using Zaino on my '95 Firebird Formula. I switched from Meguiar's Gold Class. This was my first experience with a higher end detailing product. My main reason for switching was the product's claimed durability.
I was a little disappointed in the shine at first, but that got better. I loved how the water beaded up, and it did last great. However, my Formula is garaged and not driven in the rain. The few times I've been caught in the rain, the road film has seemed to really cut through the Zaino. Last year, we had an extremely heavy rain, and rain blew in on the back of the car. The car did not bead water on the back, and it was not even all the way out in the weather.
Last year, I switched to Zaino on my wife's '90 Sunbird. It sits outside all the time, and I felt the paint was still in pretty decent condition even for it's age. After the first rain, there was very,very little water beading. It's still like that to this day! I followed the Zaino instructions to a "t" for application. I've used Z1 and ZFX even, and I still get the same results.
Last July, my wife and I purchased a 2000 Grand Prix GTP in excellent shape. After a month, I applied Zaino. I did 2 coats of ZFX/Z5, then 3 coats of ZFX/Z2 2 weeks later. After the first application, the water beaded beautifully even after some pretty hard rains. About a month after the 2nd application, I did a quick coat of Z2 before we left on a trip. I noticed the water wasn't beading very good for some reason, especially on the top surfaces. The next time I washed the car, it didn't bead well at all! I went for 3 coats of ZFX/Z2 a month later, and there was little or no beading before and after.
Since then, I have applied just a regular coat of Z5 or Z2 about every 3 or 4 weeks. I finally decided to strip the Zaino off and try again. I used a 50/50 mix of alcohol/water, and I also clay and dawn washed. Just as an experiment, I used Scratch-X as a polish mainly due to David B's Zaino article. I also had the Scratch-X on hand, Plus, things had been slow at work and I didn't want to spend any more than necessary. The Scratch-X and the clay job left the paint feeling very smooth and shiny as well. I applied 2 coats of ZFX/Z5. I would've gone for 3 coats, but I ran out of time. The car absolutely gleamed! I was tickled to death. This was about 3 weeks ago. We have had few rainy days, and I have been too busy to wash the car since then. The car has been driven very little in the rain. SInce my wife and I work different schedules, I have been unable to observe the beading action until today.
Needless to say, I'm not happy!! We've had some hard rains, but I would say less than 2 inches. I'm still not getting any beading on the top surfaces!! The sides bead incredible until you drive in the rain. You can see right where the road film cuts through the Zaino. Dust and rain cut right through the Zaino. I put product on every 2 to 3 weeks, but that's not the point. There's not anybody around here who works harder on making their cars look good. I get tired of my cars looking like they need to be polished/waxed. It's really hard to swallow when you see the durability claims of other Zaino users!! This is supposed to be some of the most durable stuff around, and it won't last past the first hard rain? A little dust and a little rain cuts right through it??
I have always followed the Zaino prep instructions to a "t." The Scratch-X deal was just an experiment, but I really thought it was going to work this time. What's the deal?? My vehicles look incredible with the Z, but this durabilty issue has me about ready to say :wavey
Plus, I have emailed Sal and every other email address on the Z site several times and I have gotten no response!! :down
Here's some photos that show the "beading.":
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=3665668&uid=158118&members=1
The last three photos were taken today. The others were taken a couple of months after I started using Zaino with about 10 coats.
Sorry for the post length! I just wanted to thoroughly describe my situation.
I was a little disappointed in the shine at first, but that got better. I loved how the water beaded up, and it did last great. However, my Formula is garaged and not driven in the rain. The few times I've been caught in the rain, the road film has seemed to really cut through the Zaino. Last year, we had an extremely heavy rain, and rain blew in on the back of the car. The car did not bead water on the back, and it was not even all the way out in the weather.
Last year, I switched to Zaino on my wife's '90 Sunbird. It sits outside all the time, and I felt the paint was still in pretty decent condition even for it's age. After the first rain, there was very,very little water beading. It's still like that to this day! I followed the Zaino instructions to a "t" for application. I've used Z1 and ZFX even, and I still get the same results.
Last July, my wife and I purchased a 2000 Grand Prix GTP in excellent shape. After a month, I applied Zaino. I did 2 coats of ZFX/Z5, then 3 coats of ZFX/Z2 2 weeks later. After the first application, the water beaded beautifully even after some pretty hard rains. About a month after the 2nd application, I did a quick coat of Z2 before we left on a trip. I noticed the water wasn't beading very good for some reason, especially on the top surfaces. The next time I washed the car, it didn't bead well at all! I went for 3 coats of ZFX/Z2 a month later, and there was little or no beading before and after.
Since then, I have applied just a regular coat of Z5 or Z2 about every 3 or 4 weeks. I finally decided to strip the Zaino off and try again. I used a 50/50 mix of alcohol/water, and I also clay and dawn washed. Just as an experiment, I used Scratch-X as a polish mainly due to David B's Zaino article. I also had the Scratch-X on hand, Plus, things had been slow at work and I didn't want to spend any more than necessary. The Scratch-X and the clay job left the paint feeling very smooth and shiny as well. I applied 2 coats of ZFX/Z5. I would've gone for 3 coats, but I ran out of time. The car absolutely gleamed! I was tickled to death. This was about 3 weeks ago. We have had few rainy days, and I have been too busy to wash the car since then. The car has been driven very little in the rain. SInce my wife and I work different schedules, I have been unable to observe the beading action until today.
Needless to say, I'm not happy!! We've had some hard rains, but I would say less than 2 inches. I'm still not getting any beading on the top surfaces!! The sides bead incredible until you drive in the rain. You can see right where the road film cuts through the Zaino. Dust and rain cut right through the Zaino. I put product on every 2 to 3 weeks, but that's not the point. There's not anybody around here who works harder on making their cars look good. I get tired of my cars looking like they need to be polished/waxed. It's really hard to swallow when you see the durability claims of other Zaino users!! This is supposed to be some of the most durable stuff around, and it won't last past the first hard rain? A little dust and a little rain cuts right through it??
I have always followed the Zaino prep instructions to a "t." The Scratch-X deal was just an experiment, but I really thought it was going to work this time. What's the deal?? My vehicles look incredible with the Z, but this durabilty issue has me about ready to say :wavey
Plus, I have emailed Sal and every other email address on the Z site several times and I have gotten no response!! :down
Here's some photos that show the "beading.":
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=3665668&uid=158118&members=1
The last three photos were taken today. The others were taken a couple of months after I started using Zaino with about 10 coats.
Sorry for the post length! I just wanted to thoroughly describe my situation.
