Recommend a wax upgrade - back to Carnuba?

[Jaguar steve]

Finally given up - after a year and two bottles - trying to get a smear and swirl free finish with Meguiars Gold Class wax, and gone back to Autoglym SRP on my Carnival red metalic paint.

Difference is staggering, first polish of the year (on a car that lives outside) was a quick clay and paint clean using Meguiars step 1, then wipe over with SRP and at last I have a flawless streak and swirl free finish with less than half the effort and time I've previously been putting into the Meguiars step 1 clean, step 2 polish and finishing off with Gold Class.

Only problem is - as anybody familiar with SRP will have already guessed - is I've now got a very cold, glassy shine that's killed the richness in the finish. It's technicaly perfect but there's no warmth or depth to the colour, rather like the difference between flourescent and halogen lighting or playing around with the colour temperature on Photoshop.

So, any suggestions for a durable Carnuba wax that's as quick and easy to use and reliable as SRP, but has the richness of, or maybe even better than Gold Class?

Over to you Chaps

[m3todd]

have a try of one of the dodo juice waxes, you won't be dissapointed

[retrorider]

Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection.

[johnS2000]

As above SRP followed by EGP followed by HD Wax ( if your feeling flush )

Use Aquawax after every wash before you dry ( couple of squirt's on roof and bonnet )

[peterzoom]

This might be worth a try, if maybe an expensive option!
I have been using any number of products over the last 30 years. From Simoniz ( that came in a large tin like shoe polish and was sooo hard to polish off) through Autoglym (every product they make, and very good too) and including, Mer, Megs, Dodo and Turtle.

But, beyond any doubt, I have found Swiss wax to be a world apart. Easily the best ever.
I have been using their `Best of show` for the last 3 years and I am so pleased with the finished shine ( very deep, looks wet all the time and lasts for a couple of months easily)

I find it works best of all on my dark blue Jag, but is also outstanding on my light blue metallic BMW Z3 and dark green Volvo T5. I also use it on my bikes and it`s great on the multi coloured panels there too.

I always get asked what I use on my vehicles, even by various mobile valeters!

The only downside is the cost, but in balance, the fact that you end up using so little of the products and that they last so well. It probably balances out over a few years of use.

I would also second the Autoglym, it doesn`t last as long but is still very good.
I used to start with the standard polish then after a couple of hours add a coat of their Ultra Deep plus a final coat of Extra Gloss. So, it takes longer, uses more cloths, gives a good result but never lasted as well as the Swiss.
Hope this helps.

[Ti22]

SV best of Show is great, if your budget does not go that far, try Dodo purple haze (£30) or Swissvax Onyx (£48)

both fantastic waxes, easy to apply and will give you your warm glow back! I'd avoid AG HD or EGP, HD wax is a nightmare to apply and neither last more than a couple of washes really. both the waxes above should coat your car 30ish times a tub, so should last 2-3 years - good value in my book.

[johnS2000]

I've only just started using HD wax after reading review's from detailing world where it outlasted most other wax's by a significant margin .

However , from reading all these review's and test's I have come to the conclusion that whatever you use come's down to personnal preference and is purely subjective .

The thing that make's the most difference is the prep , I.E. how well you clay /prep the paint before you apply sealer / wax .

Edited by johnS2000 on Sunday 6th June 22:48

[Jaguar steve]

retrorider said:

Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection.

Tried the SRP then EGP a couple of years ago before I changed to Megs 1/2 then Gold Class. On both BRG and Carnival red metallic paint it seemed to make no difference to the warmth of colour when used on adjacent panels as a comparison but it certainly improved durability.

I really do like the Megs. clay and step one paint clean - I've only recently realised how important surface prep is and have never used anything as good (yet) for surface prep to get a glass smooth finish, but finding a polish that's as quick and easy to use as well as being smear free like SRP with the warmth of colour that Gold Class gave is the tricky bit.

[Jonny671]

Could try;

Claying
Lime Priming - http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/dodo-juice/dodo-...
Waxing - http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/dodo-juice/dodo-...

Dodo Juice quote that the Orange Crush is good for Yellow & Red cars.

[autoglym]

johnS2000 said:

As above SRP followed by EGP followed by HD Wax ( if your feeling flush )

Use Aquawax after every wash before you dry ( couple of squirt's on roof and bonnet )

It's not necessary to use both EGP and HD Wax, just one or the other. There is no benefit to using both. But good tip on the Aqua Wax, designed to be simple.

[HarryH]

For Red mate, there is only one wax i'd recommend,and thats vics concours, great wax at a good price

if you have swirly paint and don't want to get it corrected, use poor boys black hole

First you need a cleanser, or clay
then poorboys black hole
then put 2-3 coats of vics concours, you wont be dissapointed
it will give you a lovely deep gloss finish
top this up after washing with vics QD, works very well with the vics wax

Edited by HarryH on Sunday 13th June 19:39

[Cactussed]

I just bought some AG HD wax on the weekend. Have to say I am v happy with the results. No comment on durability yet obviously, however in terms of finish, it's lovely.

Had been using Nattys blue paste wax and find the AG much nicer.