Zaino vs. Megiar's Gold Class

More importantly, hom many former Meguiar's users are now thoroughly satisfied with Zaino?



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Yes, this so called test has been run through the mill. IMO, I think personal bias got in the way of offering any true objective results. If you want opinions that mean something, read those that have used Meguiar's for a while and Zaino too. These people can offer truer more objective comparisons. Testing Zaino one time on a panel is in no way testing it's limits. An accurate test would have been to apply the Z to the entire car over a period of time then compare. Otherwise, how can you state one works any better or worse than the other in real world conditions? I've used plenty of Meguiar's and plenty of Zaino, and plenty of other stuff. As a former Meguiar's user, I know how nearly all of their products function. As far as Gold Class vs Zaino, there is no comparison...



Sure, I'm probably biased now that I use polymers and Zaino in particular for a few years, just like I would have been biased towards carnaubas and Meguiar's 5 years ago. Do I still use carnaubas and Meguiar's? Sure, they do still have a place in my collection, but not on my car. I feel like I'm using better products now, otherwise I wouldn't be using them.



Take these things with a grain of salt....you can make any comparison turn out how you want. After all, would someone who obviously has a bias towards Meg's and against polymers and Zaino in particular choose anything else? The best comparison is trying them out for yourself on your own car and choosing which works best for you!



:)
 
Mike, I understand where you are coming from- I would not choose Gold Class over Zaino either; unlike Greg, I would not be comfortable with giving up the admittedly greater durability and protection of Zaino for a short-lived wax like Gold Class. In any event, it's his car and his business.



However, I must take issue with the way you referred to Greg's comparison as a "so-called" test. What do you mean, "so-called?" Greg's test was objective and somewhat emperical. It was as emperical as any of the other tests we've seen here, at any rate. Actually, it was better than most, because it was a blind test. Greg had his friends observe the shine and tell him which was better. His friends didn't know whether they were looking at Gold Class or Zaino. Just becuase you disagree with the methodology- or the results- doesn't mean that the test was invalid.



How in the world can you accuse Greg of having a personal bias? He tested, and Zaino lost- period. Deal with it. Do I agere with Greg, or the results of his test? No. I would never use Gold Class in lieu of Zaino on a black car, and I think he's crazy to do so. But is there any evidence that the test was rigged or biased? Absolutely not. And would it kill me, as a Zaino user, to think that Gold Class might produce a shine that is equal to- or better than- Zaino? No.



Greg went to a lot of trouble to perform that test. We should be thanking him for his efforts, even if we don't agree with them, rather than accusing him of having a personal bias. Greg went to to a lot of time and trouble performing that test, and we should thank him for it. If we disagree with it, we should criticize the methodology of the test- not the person who performed it.
 
Dude, I agree with you.



However, Mike has a point about the small area in which Zaino was tested. When I switched from S100 to Zaino I could see a MAJOR difference in the way the car shined. I won't go into whether it was better or not, but the difference was huge. Greg would probably have noted this difference if he had done half of the car with Zaino and half with MGC. The test satisfifed Greg and he drew the appropriate conclusion from it, so that's what counts. I know when I applied S100 and UPP right next to one another, there was not much of a difference. However, doing the entire car yields a different "glow".



Anyway, it doesn't really matter. Carnaubas and sealants have different purposes and people will use the one they associate with.
 
Dude said:
Mike, I understand where you are coming from- I would not choose Gold Class over Zaino either; unlike Greg, I would not be comfortable with giving up the admittedly greater durability and protection of Zaino for a short-lived wax like Gold Class. In any event, it's his car and his business.



However, I must take issue with the way you referred to Greg's comparison as a "so-called" test. What do you mean, "so-called?" Greg's test was objective and somewhat emperical. It was as emperical as any of the other tests we've seen here, at any rate. Actually, it was better than most, because it was a blind test. Greg had his friends observe the shine and tell him which was better. His friends didn't know whether they were looking at Gold Class or Zaino. Just becuase you disagree with the methodology- or the results- doesn't mean that the test was invalid.



How in the world can you accuse Greg of having a personal bias? He tested, and Zaino lost- period. Deal with it. Do I agere with Greg, or the results of his test? No. I would never use Gold Class in lieu of Zaino on a black car, and I think he's crazy to do so. But is there any evidence that the test was rigged or biased? Absolutely not. And would it kill me, as a Zaino user, to think that Gold Class might produce a shine that is equal to- or better than- Zaino? No.



Greg went to a lot of trouble to perform that test. We should be thanking him for his efforts, even if we don't agree with them, rather than accusing him of having a personal bias. Greg went to to a lot of time and trouble performing that test, and we should thank him for it. If we disagree with it, we should criticize the methodology of the test- not the person who performed it.
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As a Z lover myself I coulnt have said it better............
 
"Deal with it?"



I think I have dealt with it. I chose Zaino. :) I could care less if Zaino lost in anyone's test, to be honest. I know it's limits myself and I know it's limits compared to dozens of other products. I don't need other people to tell me what sucks and what doesn't, becuase if it's worth my time, I'll find out on my own. Am I mad that Zaino lost? Heck no. I call it a "so called" test becuase of the personal bias towards one side or the other and because IMO I think a test should at least be performed on a whole car not one section. Wouldn't you agree? For instance, if I have an obvious bias towards Zaino, and do a Zaino vs Pinnacle comparison, how would you guess the results would turn out? I wouldn't call the test invalid, but rather biased, that's all.



Fact.....there are dozens of common everyday products that can equal the shine of Zaino, with proper surface prep, including Gold Class. Of course, the shine won't be exactly equal but close. I like to think there is more to car care than shine alone, you know what I mean? Would it kill me to say that Pledge could shine similar to Zaino or Meguiar's? Absolutely not! There is more to a wax than shine alone....



Hey, I went through a lot of trouble using Meguiar's, to name one, myself for years. And, yes, using the 3 step routine with every imaginable wax on top is a LOT of trouble for the lasting power and protection you get. Heck, people go through a lot of trouble to rip other people off every day! I think any real test involves using products "in the wild," or in the real world under real conditions, like daily driving and so forth. Performing a test in the garage under a few lights doesn't mean squat to me....as far as protection, shine, etc.... I like results, real honest to God results.



Also, how fair is any test when you refuse help from one side but want help from the other? Yes, I'd certainly say it's a "so called" test...sorry if you don't like my opinion on the matter. It's the way I see it....





:)
 
Just because you do not agree with the methodology or reasoning behind a product comparison does not invalidate the test.



Every day I read comments from people who dis Consumer Reports and their test results. But one constant is the FACT that the majority of complainants are not engineers, analysts, or professional product evalutors like the staff on CR is. So who's comments and opinions are more valuable, the trained and experienced engineer who tests products for a living, or the goofball with a computer who disses the results?



If you think you have a superior test methodology and can devise better test procedures, then step up and conduct your own test. Maybe ask Greg to divulge his test parameters so you have a baseline to work with. I'll bet you could even recruit a few Autopians to help you. Do it "open book"; show everyone every little detail and explain every decision you make along the way.



It's easy to sit back and criticize a product test you don't agree with for whatever personal reasons. But people like that get little respect from their peers. I have a lot of respect for people who are willing to take a risk and open themselves to public criticism by conducting product comparisons in a open manner. Their efforts cut thru the hype and BS floating around the internet and help people decide which is the best product for them. It's too bad that some people are so narrow minded that they cannot see how these kind of product tests help everyone regardless of personal favorites.
 
I thought the test was excellent. I don't see anywhere in the article that Zaino "loses". He was disappointed with both of them not covering swirls better. He says that he is going to do a long term test of Zaino. He also stresses that this is how it turned out on his car with the paint in the condition that it was in.



I do agree that it might have been a good idea to do the test over a larger area.



Now I want to see a test that compares Meguiar's #20 with Zaino. Unless I'm confused (again) that would be polymer versus polymer.
 
bretfraz said:
Just because you do not agree with the methodology or reasoning behind a product comparison does not invalidate the test.



Every day I read comments from people who dis Consumer Reports and their test results. But one constant is the FACT that the majority of complainants are not engineers, analysts, or professional product evalutors like the staff on CR is. So who's comments and opinions are more valuable, the trained and experienced engineer who tests products for a living, or the goofball with a computer who disses the results?
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Again, I never said the test was invalid, but BIASED. This will affect the outcome no matter what test is done.



Who's comments are more valuable? Those that have used the product on their own cars for LONG PERIODS OF TIME in REAL WORLD conditions. To me, this is content. Was Zaino ever used in real world contexts in this test? I think not! If you're trying to say I have no experience with Meguiar's you are sadly mistaken. Why do I offer my opinion? Been there, done that....I know how it works. I don't sit around waiting to diss other's results. MY experience tells me otherwise, and likewise I offer up my thoughts. Besides, is there ANYONE here who is a product engineer, analyst, or professional reviewer etc for any of the products we talk about, except for forrest? So, what's your point? Is CR the only source that's correct or accurate on things they test, or how they test? Sorry if you think so....



Hey, I'm not blind. I don't blindly follow tests just becuse they are conducted. Does this then make my opinion less valuable, because I choose not to follow the crowd and what they think? Like I've said, do your own comparisons....draw your own conclusions. I drew my conclusions from the fact that I've used BOTH product extensively in the real world. I am not saying Meguiar's is bad here. I'm saying I see flaws, in MY view.





blkZ28,



When trying new things, I try to remain as open and objective as possible. Sure I'm gonna draw direct comparisons to my current favorite, regardless if that's Zaino, Meguiar's, Blitz, you name it. In the end, I stick with what works. I was able to overcome my bias towards Meguiar's years ago in favor of Zaino, and would probably do so again, if the right thing came along.....
 
O.K. guys, I am going to say this only once. This thread is not going to turn into a flame war or a product war thread. We have had enough of those. So, keep the comments in check.
 
Taxlady said:
I thought the test was excellent. I don't see anywhere in the article that Zaino "loses". He was disappointed with both of them not covering swirls better. He says that he is going to do a long term test of Zaino. He also stresses that this is how it turned out on his car with the paint in the condition that it was in.



I do agree that it might have been a good idea to do the test over a larger area.



Now I want to see a test that compares Meguiar's #20 with Zaino. Unless I'm confused (again) that would be polymer versus polymer.
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This is also my take on the test. :up



I've always liked his tests and how thorough they've been. I try to be just as thorough and objective in tests I do, like my CD scratch test (man, that was a bear to write!). This is probably also why I haven't reviewed much of anything else I've used yet - because I don't like to compare or rate something without some point of reference and control groups.
 
JustinTRW said:
I know when I applied S100 and UPP right next to one another, there was not much of a difference. However, doing the entire car yields a different "glow".
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I had similar results when testing Zaino against Pinnacle Souveran. It's hard to tell any difference when doing a side-by-side comparison on a single panel, but when done to the entire car, the difference becomes quite obvious.



Dude said:
How in the world can you accuse Greg of having a personal bias?
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Now, I heard that Greg, when doing this test, had a Meguiar's rep present but refused to have a Zaino rep present when conducting this test. I don't know if this is true or not...maybe Greg can chime in if he wishes to clarify this.
 
ShowroomLincoln said:
O.K. guys, I am going to say this only once. This thread is not going to turn into a flame war or a product war thread. We have had enough of those. So, keep the comments in check.
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I know, I was getting flashbacks about some "other" hotly debated topic..... :(
 
bretfraz said:
It's easy to sit back and criticize a product test you don't agree with for whatever personal reasons. But people like that get little respect from their peers. I have a lot of respect for people who are willing to take a risk and open themselves to public criticism by conducting product comparisons in a open manner. Their efforts cut thru the hype and BS floating around the internet and help people decide which is the best product for them. It's too bad that some people are so narrow minded that they cannot see how these kind of product tests help everyone regardless of personal favorites.
Click to expand...



I couldn't have said it any better! :bow :up :up
 
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