TurtleWax ICE!

[ddawson]

Originally Posted by leoindc

Life member of MOPH. But I was only in for three years. USARV May 1970 - June 1971. Welcome Home, sir.

This is me at the Quang Tri Province 'Cadillac Customer Service area' sporting my Accessories Catalog exclusive "Make War, Not Love" headband.


And here I am basking in pride on my 1969 OD green 'SNAFU-series FTA' convertible. I always declined the complimentary wash and wax... but I got a free boonie hat.


Peace y'all.

You were at the DMZ, full of viet cong. I was in country during TET. I never will forget it. Your pictures bring back memories. I hope I don't start having flash backs again. I was also in country during 1970 and 1971. Many, many thanks to you.

[cjackso]

Wow, your car is gorgeous. I really like My Radiant Bronze color, but everytime I see a real clean Crystal Red I am envious. Anyway, I have always found Turtle wax products good and easy to use. They have a detailer polish that I have used on my motorcycles for a couple years now. It is also an excellent product. (and I have tried several others) I am going to give Ice a try.....CJ

[mgm2003]

The only way to remove defects (scratches, swirl marks, and other defects) is to level them out. Do you have a quality-reputable detailer in your area? It's absolutely disgusting how dealerships prep cars and damage the exterior surfaces.
If you are interested in learning how to do this yourself, there are several good detailing web sites: Detailersclub.com, autopia.org, corvetteforum.com --to name a few.

I've detailed cars for 15+ years, and my product of choice (hands down) is Zaino. www.zainostore.com. If you have to pick up something local, then I would recommend Rejex (many Marnine & RV stores carry this product). Zaino is the most durable product (and IMO best looking) on the
market. Many products give an excellent looking "initial" appearance--but the appearance fades quickly in a few weeks.


Here are a few shots of my 2008 CTS DI AWD wearing Zaino.

[NJRonbo]

mgm,

Zaino has quite a few polish products. I own the crystal red CTS and am
deciding between Zaino or Rejex. You seem to prefer Zaino. Which Zaino
polish in particular do you recommend?

I may be wrong about this but the reason I initially did not use Zaino on
my last vehicle was because the product had to be mixed prior to use. Is
this the case? I don't want to do any pre-prep mixing. I just want to open
the product and apply it to the vehicle.

So far I am leaning towards Rejex. If you have a strong reason why I
should consider Zaino instead please let me know.

Appreciate the waxing advice here.

[mgm2003]

Both products work well. I prefer Zaino.

*Looks and durability are the #1 reasons that I prefer Zaino. It holds that 'just detailed' look and lasts longer than anytying I've ever tried (and I've used 30+ detailing product lines).

*Environmentally safe products that will not harm/damage any surface on your car. Many products stain trim, glass, etc... Zaino does not.

*Very easy to use products. Easy on/easy off.

*You have several choices, depending on your needs. If you want the absolute best looking results possible there is a path, or if you want great looking, long lasting results without sacrificing a lot of time there are options here too.

* Customer support = Excellent. If you have a question, the owner will answer you.

*6+ months of durability in daily driving conditions. 2 applications a year + a regular washing regime is all you need. Zaino is also detergent resistant so harsh chemicals used at car washes will not impact the durability.

*Ease of maintenance. Road debris, tar, etc.. don't bond to your paint. I can't remember the last time that I've had to use a solvent to remove tar buildup on my lower body panels. When you drive your car through rain with zaino your car will look better than other vehicles exposed to the same weather conditions.

For best results, the key is prepping your paint (wash, clay, polish to remove defects). You really need to take these steps for the best looking results. Once you have your finish perfect the #1 most important thing is to learn how to properly wash your vehicle. 1 bucket for the body, 1 bucket for the wheels & rims. Buy a few quality sheepskin wash mitts (www.sheepskin.com) Wash top down, and dry your vehicle with a MF or 100% cotton towel--again using separate towels for your wheels & rims vs. the towels you use on your body panels.

I would recommend one of the Zaino kits or the 'Zaino triplets' if you're pressed for time, and want great results. Check out the website and read this: http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...Code=YOUCHOOSE


Here are a few more shots of my car wearing zaino (after debadging the 'GM' logo's and dealer tag)

[NJRonbo]

It looks like the Z-2 Pro would be the right choice for red.

Still leaning towards Rejex because I don't want to have to mix
and measure the Zaino product prior to use. I just don't want any
room for error. I want to open the product and use it.

Your CTS looks absolutely awesome!

[mgm2003]

Originally Posted by NJRonbo

It looks like the Z-2 Pro would be the right choice for red.

I don't want to have to mix and measure the Zaino product prior to use.

The only mixing of products (and it is optional), is to apply a few drops of zfx into your sealer (Z2 or Z5) and shake it up for 30 secods. Really... it's that easy. zfx is used when you want to apply multiple coats in 1 day (again, an optional step). A single coat of Zaino is all that you *need*.

Zaino is a highly debated product on the internet, and unfortunately some folks that hate it, try to make it look unusually complicated --it's not. It's easy to use, and the results live up to the hype.

[NJRonbo]

Alright, so knowing I will not have to mix any of this,
please recommend a particular Zaino formula for my
Crystal Red CTS.

[ddawson]

I would recommend Z2 and ZCS. The ZCS is a sealant to use after the Z2. You don't wipe the ZCS off. Just let it dry. With that combination you CTS will look great.

[mgm2003]

I would recommend purchasing the Z-TRIP pack (All In One Polish, Clear Seal, Z8 Grand Finale Spray). I think you'll be very happy with this combination. It will take you less than 1/2 an ounce of Clear Seal to treat your entire CTS (paint, trim, glass, wheels, hard plastic molding, interior trim). With Zaino, less is more. A little product goes a long way. 1 bottle of Clear Seal and AIO will last you several years. I also like using Z6 QD spray after weekly washes, and Z10 is one of the better leather care products on the market. Give it a shot and post up your results.

[Southern]

I too am a long time user of Zaino. +15 years.
Won the concours de elegance in Ft Pierce Florida in 2000 with a miata (Over a MeGuiars Vette!) using Zaino.

I don't like AIO for new cars.
It is slightly abrasive and is good if you have slight oxidation, which a new car does not have.

[08CTS]

Originally Posted by Southern

I too am a long time user of Zaino. +15 years.
Won the concours de elegance in Ft Pierce Florida in 2000 with a miata (Over a MeGuiars Vette!) using Zaino.

I don't like AIO for new cars.
It is slightly abrasive and is good if you have slight oxidation, which a new car does not have.

Would the AIO be a good fix for the swirls, in your opinion?

[Southern]

Probably not. Swirls are actual cuts in the paint. The AIO is a mild polish, probably why mgm uses it.
It will lift some minor oxidation, but likely wouldn't touch swirls.
IMO a product that can't cause swirls, can't remove swirls.

You have two choices with swirls.
Hide em, which is only feasible on a car that has swirls that you can see, but not feel......
Remove 'em, which is frankly better left to a professional with an orbital buffer who really knows what he is doing..

If you want to try and hide them, use Zaino Z5. That's all you really need, tho of course you can make it even better with Z6 between coats, etc

I used Z5 on a black (what else?) Thunderbird Super Coupe that had light swirls that could only be seen when the light hit it a certain way......
I want to emphasize that you could see these swirls but they were certainly not bad........
Took 5 coats and looked like a new car.
OTOH, I know people who have put on 5 coats of Z5 and could still see some swirls.
It just depends on how much damage has been done.

If you have swirls, I would try and find a guy like mmg, who has detailed cars for a long time. Let him look at it and see what he says. Z5 is good stuff and will give a great appearance. If he thinks he can do it, give him the job.
OTOH, if he doesn't think he can do it, then your best bet is to talk to somebody at the dealership and see if they have a recommendation for a shop to buff it out.

[mgm2003]

Shoot me a PM if you need a reference for a detailer.

Here's a hammered Buick that I detailed last year using Z-PC via rotary polisher, and topped with Z5 and Clear Seal.

[08CTS]

Thanks Southern. Did the swirls ever "come back" on the SC?