Zaino vs NXT

N

newf

New member
Hey guys, I'm new here. I've been struggling lately with a decision of whether or not I should go with Zaino this year. I had posted this on another car forum, but a lot of us aren't really big on waxes. So I was hoping I'd get a better answer here. I have been searching through the threads here for a while, and I'm getting some good tips and such. Great place for sure.



I have a Titanium Grey Mazdaspeed. The paint is very metallic, and it's 3 stage.



My question is this.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Ok, 127 + shipping Canadian gets me a zaino kit.



60 bucks gets me some Meguiars NXT and all the stuff I need with it.



I usually use Mothers 3 stage, and steer away from meguiar's. Why? Well, Mothers smells better no, j/k but I always found meguiar's doesn't last long. Just washes right off in a few weeks, and it's a SOB to put on.



But i have not tried the new NXt stuff



every year I almost get zaino. but Zaino is still a lot of money for "wax". But the ease of application and the bowling ball shine appeals to me. But for 127 bucks, I'm thinking, am I nuts? I don't usually keep the car beyond two years anyways. I think I will have the msp for 3 yrs this time though.



Anyone got any experience with both?





I do have some minor scratches on the car thanks to old man winter. And scratch X isn't going to work. I already have some. I don't like scratch X as it just washes off in a few days. I was thinking of getting some 3m swirl and scratch remover for the bad stuff with the kit. It's an option on zaino.ca. I'm hoping the cobination of the two will help get rid of, or at least cover the scratches more then just a few weeks like meguiars seems to.







Anyhow, any comments welcome. And if this is the wrong spot to post. I'm sorry.





signature10_bnr.gif
 
That's funny someone posted something very similar over here,



http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=799297



:D :D :D



Also, ScratchX isn't a Lasting Protection Product, it's for removing light scratches. Afterwards, you supposed to apply a coat of wax or polish (if your using Zaino), over it.



I just answered some questions on ScratchX on both CorvetteForum and Meguiar's Online, you can read them here,



http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=709



and here,



http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=799357



Mike
 
thanks mike, I've been reading a lot of your posts here about meguiars. You "almost" got me convinced :) I'm also reading that there's troubles getting NXT in Canada, I haven't checked yet. Tried Canadian Tire yesterday, but never seen it. But if that's the case, Zaino it is I guess.



If I wanted the absolute best shine/protection with my titanium grey Speed, what would be your list of products I should get for it. Starting with the clay, cleaner, wax, polish etc. Meguiars products of course.



Remember that it rains a lot a here :(







Any Zaino users want to jump in here? I'm also getting tired of the effort it takes with some of these waxes. I am VERY picky with my car, but due to a bad neck/back. Spending 7-8 hours waxing is becoming too much for me. Hence, why Zaino is attractive to me.
 
newf said:






Any Zaino users want to jump in here? I'm also getting tired of the effort it takes with some of these waxes. I am VERY picky with my car, but due to a bad neck/back. Spending 7-8 hours waxing is becoming too much for me. Hence, why Zaino is attractive to me.
Click to expand...



Zaino won't get you away from the time .. to do Zaino right you will need to polish first. Zaino isn't magic it, like any wax/sealant, needs a good base to start with. Then its going to be prolly Z5 x 3 and Z2 x 2 .. BTW you don't need the * kit*.



Why not order NXT on line .. and do this



1) Wash

2) clay bar

3) Swirl Free polish to reduce swirls

4) NXT



And you prolly still in well under $60 .. Mike may be able to suggest a better hand applied non filler swirl removing product.



I have used NXT on a few cars now and all looked great still. Easy on easy off.
 
how long does Zaino last? I mean, before feeling you need to apply another coat or two?



Same question for NXT. Although, I seem to noticing through some corvette, and this forum that nobody really knows yet how long it lasts before it gets dull, doesn't bead or sheet water and needs another coat.



I don't really care about how long it takes to do a car. I find it very relaxing. It's just the effort required to remove it I worry about. Zaino sounds really nice in that sense.
 
ZaneO said:
That $127 of Zaino will last you far longer than any Meguiar's supply. Years of protection.
Click to expand...



Certainly NOT my experience. I used Zaino on my Z06 for two years UNTIL I tried NXT. NXT is at least as shiny and is about 4 times easier to deal with.



There are some Zaino product that I will not part with however -- the two leather treatment products are really nice, as is the glass polish.
 
Zaino will outlast NXT .. both are easy off .. Zaino is harder to put on because of the very thin layer needed and the mixing. NXT will fill swirls better.
 
Zaino will bead water longer than NXT, I don't think that equates to protection.



I did some comparative testing with both of these products lately on black paint. (Clear coat over black)



Here's what I noticed.



NXT created a much darker, more clear finish with just two coats compared to two coats of Z2 with ZFX. Actually out of 7 waxes I tested it was the runaway winner, I'll see if I can have permission to post the picture.



After washing 3 to 4 times with Gold Class, both areas looked pretty much the same in appearance. Now remember that, both areas looked the same in appearance.. Or let me put it to you like this, neither area jumped out at you as being different.



After these multiple washings, NXT fell the furthest in appearance because it took the finish to a higher level to start with.



Most people would read these results like that's a negative for NXT, but it's actually a statement for it's strength. It will take your finish to a higher level with just two coats. Neither products will maintain any level of appearance they previously achieved after 3-4 washes with a safe, gentle wash.



Washing your car micro-abrades your coating of wax, or polish from the surface. Thus the reason your car's finish will look it's best immediately after you wax it, then each time you wash it, if you don't re-apply another coating of wax or polish, to restore the finish to the previously achieved plateau, (some call this layering), the finish will tend to diminish in appearance quality, not increase in appearance quality.



Does that make sense?



As far as protection goes, it's all hype and speculation. That's why I never make claims for Meguiar's products, and question those that do for other companies products.



Here's what mud puddle water did to multiple coats of Zaino, (the owner wouldn't tell me how many, but he laughed when I asked because I think it was a lot)



2500_WaterEtchingSpotOrignalC2Raw.jpg




2WaterEtcingSpotOriginalC1RawCloseUpCropped.jpg




If you look closely at the close-up of the water etching, you can see where the sides of the etching are radiused, almost 3D. This is the RAW photo taken with a Cannon Digital Rebel with a Macro lens. (6.8 mega pixel I think)



Notice how I don't say that, had he applied a Meguiar's wax, that wouldn't have happened, because I don't know that.



Plus, you can't prove protection, that's why there are no ASTM standards for testing both durability and protection of automotive waxes.



Food for thought...



Mike
 
Mike right now I have NXT x 2 on my hood and 2 x SG on the rest of the car ( not Z ) the NXT is close to 3 weeks old and the last Klasse was 1 week. The NXT beads and looks as good as the Klasse * until* you get in the sun and get right down close and you see the fine micromaring in the NXT your speaking of.



The car is washed at least every second day so the NXT has at least 10 washes. The Klasse has 2 washes.



Basically confirms what you say.



BTW this has been my NXT test .. the hood was never fully polished out after winter and the NXT has filled minor imperfections rather well.



Edit :: I should add that I am seeing this with a 1000w halogen and without the light ... NXT has it hands down.. and unless it was pointed out most would never notice the washing induced maring and I am sure Klasse will pick them up too.
 
I have had NXT in my hands since mid January and while it isn't super slick after a few weeks, it maintains its appearance pretty nicely and still beads well, even on black.



Odd thing though, I washed that single stage white Accord again today (AIO/NXT on January 22nd) and not only does it still shine like crazy and bead well, but it is still noticably slick to the touch...as slick as most waxes are upon initial application. Maybe it is the specific combination of AIO and NXT?



Any thoughts Mike?
 
Scottwax said:
Any thoughts Mike?
Click to expand...



At 10:45pm, I'm all out of thoughts...



at least good ones...



Here's my salvation,



I've rented North by Northwest with Carry Grant, hopefully it won't require any thinking...



Mike
 
Gret imput guys. Of course, NXT is a waste of time to consider if I can't get it in Canada. And I'm not shipping a bottle of wax from the USA to Canada. My luck, they ship UPS/ or Fed Ex, and my 20 US dollar bottle of wax turns into 60 dollars CAnadian.



Here's one other concern, and another reason why Zaino appeals. We have LONG winters here. I like to layer as much wax as possible to try to get as much protection throughout the winter as I can. Come November, snow hits, and doesn't stop until April. Washing the car is next to impossible. forget about waxing. I steal my dealers garage sometimes to do a quick touch up, but really, that rarely happens.



So, over the winter. Will either Zaino or NXT last at all? I guess, there's really no answer to that yet. At least not for NXt since it's only new, but for Zaino, most guys around here say a few coats last a LONG time.
 
does NXT leave behind any white paste at all? Another reason why I hate "typical" off the shelf waxes. With mothers, even a week later, I'm finding little white streaks on the car. Drives me nuts. And then there's that slight white powder over the car for the first few days.
 
newf,



If your road-crews use salt on the roads during your long winters, I'd suggest sticking with Zaino. I tried NXT late this winter, and after a couple of weeks of wet and salt: no beading, no slickness, and dirt seemed to stick to the surface more tenaciously than with other sealants and waxes I've tried (washing the car after those couple of wintry weeks was pure hell, much moreso than "normal" for how dirty the car appeared).



In my experience, NXT was a little dusty, but not much in the way of white residue if applied thinly. I did, however, get smearing when removing it from a dark colored car (a couple of others mentioned having this problem, but most don't seem to . . . dunno why it happened on this particular car).



Tort
 
I'm a "Zaino Zealot". You will get a great initial appearance with almost anything if you do the prep right. But I think Zaino is the longer lasting. Read the Autopia Reviews on Z-2 and Z-5 (both with ZFX). Since you are trying different products, give Zaino a shot. See for yourself. But do the prep right.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top