Well, in preperation for the winter here in NC, I went ahead and did the full detail on the wife's car today getting it ready for the long winter. Here is the process I used:
Washed with Tropi-Care Car Wash, claying using Tropi-Care claybar and TC Car Wash for the lube. Went over some panels with 1Z UPP (The ones that were scratched/marred badly) and followed up with Tropi-Care Swirl Cutter. After that, I applied 2 coats of Tropi-Care Polish (The yellow) and finished it up with a coat of Collenite #476. The tires were done with Tropi-Care Tire Dressing and the rims cleaned with High Temp Wheel Cleaner.
Hopefully this will be the last big job on her car till Spring. From here on out, it's going to be QEW and Eagle 1 Wax As You Dry.
Obligatory photos to follow. Please ignore the crappy looking trim. The trim on her car was ruined by a product I tried last year and I haven't bothered to replace/try to redye it.
You know.. Ive never tried Souveran but I have tried a lot of other carnubas and for the life of me, they all look the same.
Maybe it's because I only use them as toppers with some sort of sealant underneath but I've tried S100, Nattys and a couple of others and I can't tell them apart. That's the main thing that's kept me from laying down the money for Souveran.
Collinite, tho, impressed me for the price. It's a mother to get off and there really doesn't seem to be an easy to way cheat, tho. I tried spraying it down with QD, didn't make any difference. Ended up just putting an MF underneath the pad on the PC and getting most of it that way. It sure does leave a slick surface tho.
I can't tell it really made much of a difference at all. But, like I said above, I've never really been able to tell that any sort of topper had any visual impact on any sealant I've ever used..
I've tried toppers over SG, EXP, 1Z Glanz, Tropi-Care and a few others and they all look the same. I've done half panels before trying to see if there is a visual difference and I just don't see it.
That being said, I always do tons of prep work on all the details I do so maybe that has something to do with it. Rarely do I ever wash and go straight to an LSP. I almost always use some sort of polish in between washing/claying and the LSP.
I really wish I could see a difference. I've been itching to buy some Souveran but for the price, I just can't justify it if it's going to look the same as Nattys, S100, Collinite, etc.
I am detaling the Subaru as I type this (Well, Im taking a break from it) so pictures of it will be forthcoming this evening. The Suby is taken better care of than the Honda so it doesnt need as much work. Mainly a wash, light clay to remove stubborn bugs and then a coat of Collinite. Probably do the glass with Zaino glass polish and a coat of Collinite as well.
I have used the Swirl Cutter on it's on. For light stuff, it works really good. For heavier stuff, it just doesn't have the oomph. I usually go to 1Z UPP or SSR 2.5 when I need something heavier than follow it up with the Swirl Cutter.
The polish I layered about every half hour. Mainly apply, wait about 20 minutes, remove then reapply.
