[hcvone]

Originally Posted by Frost

I'm an old detailer/waxer/cleaner from way back (Meguire's Disciple) and I don't do it for a living. I do it 'cuz I like a nice, clean, sanno'd car to drive and be seen in.

I think that at some point in all of this "which is best" stuff, the question must come up "How shiny is shiny?" and "When is enough, enough?"" When you have sweated through 2 days of applications of products, getting ready for a car show (as I have, for my '72 mustang coupe), sooner or later you start to wonder if the products you are putting on and wiping off are really doing anything more for the gloss factor. After washing, light cut cleaner-ing, swirl remover-ing, glazing and hi-tech yellow waxing, just how much benefit am I getting by squirting the "Instant Detailer" on the damn car all day at the show? Not too much, I'd wager.

I bought the Meguire's poly sealant for the first time this year and tried it on my Caddy (daily driver). I bought it more for it's claim of "easy on and easy off". than for any other reason, and the fact it was made by Meguire's - it had some pedigree to it. And it performed flawlessly. It gave me a great shine, was extra-easy on the arm/shoulder and certainly appears to last longer than Meguires Hi-Tech Yellow wax as far as beading up, etc.

Yes, Meguire's can be expensive, but not as expensive as the Zaino treatments or some of the other hi-end solutions on the market today. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a good, diligent shine that someone has laid down on their chariot - it shows they care about their ride and are proud enough to show it off. But at what point do we say we have gotten the maximum shine and protection out of a product? When it blinds us from 20 feet away? 50 feet? When it lasts for 6 months? A year? 5 years?

I've been inhaling the fumes of waxes and cleaners since the old Simonize days and I've tried just about all of the more established cleaners and waxes and polishes and miracle cures. They all more or less got the car clean and laid down a protective layer on the car. They vary as to strength and longevity; you also get what you pay for - up to a point.

After applying Meguiar's products for 10 years at our 36 shops I have to disagree about the cost factor, I know many people including myself that can get 30 plus applications on a Vette from a $13.00 bottle of Zaino polish, for that price I usually get no more than half that many applications from any other wax that I have used. I can even got 20 applications on the Escalade, under a dollar a application is pretty cheap.