I did a review/test of a new "wax" (Its not really a wax, but some synthetic)...

The original posts can be viewed here:
http://www.my350z.com/forum/showthread.php...07&pagenumber=8

I'll re-paste my results here, however:

Hi Guys! My name is Aaron... I actually am just Trolling here because a friend from work bought a 350z... I'm a regular on s2000online.com, and have done extensive reports on "waxes" (polishes/sealants/carnuba's/polymers/etc..).

I'm no 'expert', and certainly unqualified by all standards, but I do enjoy cleaning my car(s) to make them look as good as possible.

I've done reports on Zaino, Blackfire, Zymol, etc... (under the wash and wax forum on S2000online.com)... but whatever-- I read this thread and thought I'de go ahead and give Crystal Guard a try.

First impressions:

I spent $49.95 + $8 shipping... I thought I got a 10 or 20% discount from the webpage? Hrrmph.

I received my box after about 1 week.. ($8 bucks for 1 week? Where did it come from china?).

Received a 2oz bottle. Umm... $58 bucks for 2oz? Okay, so I called... spoke to 'Mike'. Explained how I received a bottle about the size of a shampoo-travel-bottle... They said they would send out the 6.75oz bottle. Ok, mistakes happen. Fair enough. They were cool about it. I can respect that.

Okay, down to the nitty-gritty:

Washed the truck (This isn't going on my S2K until I convince myself its somehow superior to Zaino)...

Sprayed it on...wiped it around... sprayed it off.

It seemed to leave 'something' behind as was reacted differently than before-- VERYYYY much like Rain-X on a windshield... u know, that kind of look on thin water when you spray rubbing alcohol on it? Looked a LOT like that.

Its about 70 degrees and night-time, so no sun... I don't know the visual results yet, but I'll post a report tomorrow.. I did leave 1 section un-done..so we can get a side-by-side.

If "LOOKS" like I'm just putting rubbing alcohol+silicon on the surface... I hope there's more to it. But I'm very skeptical-- Momma always said, "If it looks to good to be true..."

Anyway, I'll post further results tomorrow.

-- Aaron
p.s. S2000 > 350z's :-) [Just kidding]



--------------------------------------- NEXT DAY --------------------------------------------

I did a side-by-side comparison of CG against a normal everyday generic wax... (Real Carnuba, not a synthetic).

Pics of the process:

http://lonestar.texas.net/~amartin/CG/

Vehicle: Ford Explorer Sportrack 2001... (I wasn't about to risk trying this product on my S2000), and the truck is left outside constantly, so its more of a real-world-test than a garage queen...
The quarterpanel that is being tested has fine stratches (from washing/drying), and hard-water spots.

Basics of the test:
1) One half of a quarterpanel is CG'd... and compared against the other half (which hasn't been waxed in over 1 year).
2) Inspect CG side for fine-scratch filling, water spots, and residue.
3) Compare CG side to other half.
4) Wax other half of panel and inspect like step #2
5) Compare waxed side versus CG side.


Although its very hard to tell in the pics because (too much reflection), the CG side that was done >still< had WATER SPOTS all over it...
There was no shine "above" the un-waxed side (eg. I couldn't tell a difference from the CG versus untouched side). Furthermore, the fine scratches weren't "filled" by any means.

The side that was just waxed removed all the water spots completely and was considerably shinnier (although, again, thats hard to tell in the pics), and the fine scratches were completely gone.

You can also see the random unmarked 2oz bottle I was sent... Very generic, not that we need pretty print on a bottle, but I sure felt like I was using ma-and-pa's back-yard brew.

In my unqualified opinion I don't care for this stuff... Work in = Work out...

Personally, I'll be staying with the more 'popular' brands that tried and true tested.

-- Aaron

 

I briefly read the site and they suggest a professional detailer do the job; however, if the instructions are read well, anyone can do it (supposedly). It's supposed to be a three part process - a primer, then something else, then the final product. sounds like a Zaino type product. I'll have to look at it more.

 

Crystal guard is not a wax - it's supposed to be a "glass barrier" between the paint and the environment. The car should be in pristine condition before applying the crystal guard, kinda like laminating something - once you laminate it, you can't get back underneath the laminate to make changes. That's my understanding - I'm still researching the product.

There are two types available - the pro stuff, which requires a significant effort to apply, and the consumer stuff, which is easier to apply but is not as durable.

 

There's an enormous thread about this on my350z.com, most people are very pleased with the results. I was just about to order some until I searched and found the review above, now I'm not sure about it. Has there been anyone else that's tried this?

 

i had the stuff put on my car, ppl still talk about how shiny it is. they think i got it repainted! it's amazing stuff, and makes cleaning the car much easier once it's applied. i just hose it down and wipe crud off w/ a wet rag, not even using soap. i don't think my car's been this shiny since i bought it.

 

i helped the importer do a test on his Z8 before we had real instructions and it literally took 15 minutes to do the application.

 

Are you serious?!?!?!?!?! Only 15 minutes? I think I remember seeing something about that on the Crystal Guard website, but found that hard to believe.

 

Guys.. u can take 20-50wt oil and rub it on a new car and it'll REALLLLLY SHINE.

Fact of the matter is, on a NEW car anything looks good. Period.

The CG has no durability, no protection, etc... So, if u just wanna see a brank-new $150,000 Z8 look good... ANY product will get that job done.

How will it look in 2+ years though?

You get what you pay for-- and if you HONESTLY belive you can wash-on then wash-off a protectant in a few minutes... well, best of luck to you.

-- Aaron

 

3 months after an application on my s2000 and people are asking me if I had it repainted. that's the durability, that's the protection. My car looked like complete shit, it was nicknamed "battlebot".

You probably applied it in direct sunlight or on a windy day where the spray didn't even hit the car. That's the only thing I can think of that would make you unsatisfied. Honda dealers, coworkers, friends, neighbors I've met for the first time comment on how shiny my car is and how smooth the surface feels.

And yes, only 15 minutes. I did it on my lunchbreak during work.

Josh

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by amartin
[B]The CG has no durability, no protection, etc... So, if u just wanna see a brank-new $150,000 Z8 look good...