Car Polish

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Why not Autoglym?

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It is silcone based too.

Secretary of our local Club GTI (VW) is a distributor for Swissol his Mk 2 looks the dogs dsnglies. I haven't the courage up to ask the price though. It seems to be the NAIM of car polishes.

Howard

Well, you could try "Supergard" which I had done on my car by the dealership when I bought it. It's a guaranteed application and is good for something like 2 years. Costs a bit mind you and not available through your usual Halford's,etc but I think you can order direct from the manufacturer- look 'em up on the Web.
They also do a product for a car interior as well which I also think's pretty nifty if you have a light coloured interior.
I've had my car for a year now and I don't have to bother waxing it at all - also reduces road grime as it's less likely to stick.

Swissol/Zymol are quality products with proper canumba(? sic) wax. Products with this are a step or two up from the Autoglym type product. However car needs to be absolutely clean/bugfree before application, there aren't any clensers built in (as there are in Autoglym for example).

My current car was Supaguarded, and I have to say I'm not impressed. There was no protection against minor scratches, and it collected dirt just as easily. The aftercare shampoo and polish were quite expensive and didn't do much.

The upholstery "protection" did absolutely nothing to prevent stains and watermarks.

Your experience sounds different, perhaps mine wasn't done right (You can't DIY as they won't supply)
I have deliberately asked for my new car NOT to be supaguarded on delivery.

Swissol look like the Naim of polishes, as you say (actually Nagra is probably nearer), but Zymol do polishes "specially formulated" for individual manufacturers' paints. Not sure of the science behind this claim.

[This message was edited by Rockingdoc on Mon 27 September 2004 at 17:06.]

When I was poor and impoverished I used to clean my car with Mr.Sheen. It was streak free,easy to apply, left no residue and worked adequately enough for about a week or so...

Wash, rinse, repeat until not a speck remains, and apply a 100% carnuba wax. It'll look loooovly.

I don't think anyone sells 100% carnuba? The Zymols are around 39% and Swissol abou 60%, I think. Bear in mind the top of the range Swissol wax is 1280 quid for 200 ml. No really, you read it correctly.

Do you have any more info?

Christ Doc,
£1280 for polish you could buy another car for that sort of dosh!
leave them dirty not only does it protect the paint work ,but it also puts off the local car thieves who wouldn't be seen dead in a dirty car would do their street cred no good at all
oldie.

I hasten to add, that I am looking at their "entry-level" polish at a bargain 39 quid for 200ml, and I'd like someone's experience first before shelling out even that.

But, I guess there will always be a market for ridiclously priced "top-end" items.

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Originally posted by Rockingdoc:

Swissol and Zymol look like the front runners. Anybody got experience of either?

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Not directly but they are damned expensive and from what I've read don't last all that long.

For wax, I'd look at the Meguiars range, cheap and good quality for the "average obsessive" punter.

Also consider a polish, I tried Zaino Bros a couple of years back and it's hard work and not the simplest stuff to get hold of but I've not seen or used anything quite like it, it beads and just lasts and lasts.

Paul

Have a look at Zaino Brothers stuff.

http://www.zaino.ca/

They have a quite extensive product line depending upon your needs....

I have not used these products but everybody on one of the car forums I belong to that has tried it swears by it. Zymol was the favorite among the show crowd, not any more.

more to chew on...

regards,

michael

No I guess you're right- no wax is 100% carnauba, cause they all add some petroleum products, etc. I could've sworn my bottle at home said "pure carnauba!" but I'm wrong.

I second the Meguiar's rec. I never saw the point in the silly expensive waxes unless you're waxing a vintage collectible car.

But what do I know? I only bother washing and waxing my car once maybe twice per year. Speaking of which, with the rainy season around the corner...

I think Supaguard stands or falls on how well it was applied in the first place. Mine's 18 months into a coat now and looking very good indeed. 'Topping it up' every 6 months smmes to do the trick - but I've heard horror stories.

Cheers

Harry

Supaguard is a big earner for car dealerships, and ive seen mark ups in the region of ten times the cost of the kit itself... There would not be enough money in just selling a kit... the money is in the 'professional' application!? hence its not available separately.. I dont dispute that there is some benefit, but as has been pointed out the application does play a part in the final result.. Kits however can be applied by valeters being paid less than £5 per car! so you can imagine how its applied!?!? Of course it goes with out saying there are good and not so good dealers out there but If it was my money id spend a fraction on a bottle of a scotchguard type product and spray it on myself...

As for the polish, the good quality wax products mentioned are probably best for long lasting shine. Id recommend you treat products that are badged as professional with a little caution though as the priorities for use are sometimes more about quick application and removal than ultimate longlasting shine.. Im not saying thats a bad thing, just be concious of design and purpose verses what you actually want yourself. Whilst in the showroom they get constant applications of 'mr sheen type' anti dust sprays as well... so i wouldnt knock that either!

cheers

Neil

"Our guy" selling the Swissol products says in his spiel apply once a month. At thoses prices and a monthly application I think I'll stick with Mer, Autoglym or Turtlewax.

Howard

Call me sad if you like, but I,ve found hand-washing and waxing the car (with my Etymotics on) very therapeutic. It also gives me a much needed weekly upper-body workout which my daily cycle commute doesn't. I'm unconvinced that pulling on levers in a sweaty gym is a better alternative.
As I am now spending a couple of hours most weeks doing this, I thought I'd investigate some superior polish. The cost of the wax doesn't really compare to the time investment for me.

[This message was edited by Rockingdoc on Tue 28 September 2004 at 9:43.]

If you want a work out use the "old" wax polishes I always thought it took some effort to remove.
I hope you are listening to "legal" sounds.

Howard

Hi,


My mate across the road whos car just won best paint at a car show swears by Blitz wax from Frost.co.uk.

pete

Pete Mad Bad & Dangerous to Know

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I don't think anyone sells 100% carnuba?

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100% carnuba wax is not usable to polish a car, it's very hard (considerably harder than a bar of soap).

I've never had experiance of Swissol directly myself but I know several people who think it is excellent. With a regular car washing routine like yours Doc I would have thought it was wortha try.

SWissol here - great results

Music should be 'original' and played 'live'. No more overpaid Karaoke singers.

Well, I've been doing a bit of research and this car polishing lark seems to be a bit more complicated than I thought.
The Swissol/Zymol brigade are natural plant oil based waxes. These are good at covering blemishes but wash off easily and don't offer UV protection.
The Zaino/Autoglym/McGuires brigade are synthetics/silicon based. These offer great UV protection, don't wash off BUT exaggerate scratches and swirls.

Don't know what to do now.

Also, I've discovered that the car polishing web-sites (there are many) advise a dark coloured car for the polishing fan. Damn, I've just paid the deposit on a new silver one.

Don't get red VW Tornado red or "Brothel Pink" as it is becomes is a real pain(guess which colour Howard has?). Reds are the worst for absorbing UV apparently. Black again next time!
FWIW MER or Autoglym don't stop the UV hazing/clouding.

Howard

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Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
Don't know what to do now.

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Basically get something carnauba based if you want a deep "I could jump into this" shine but don't mind re-applying wax often, at least once a month usually, or get a polymer/acrylic if you want more of a mirror/glass shine and want to be doing it about every three months.

Basically I'd say it comes down to how much work you want to do, and trust me, trying to do any of the "three step processes" doesn't get you fit, it just makes your arms ache.. a lot

If you've not been there, www.autopia.org is worth a look, they have some posts that refer to places in the UK that sell the more exotic stuff.

cheers,
Paul

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Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
Damn, I've just paid the deposit on a new silver one.

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No problem there - I had a beautiful midnight blue Golf and it was a total pain. Looked superb washed and waxed (Autoglym ) but soon always looked as though it needed a wash.

Next one was silver - no regrets !!

Yup, Autoglym here, the wife swears by it for her 'Blue Silver' Motor. Mine just gets run through the car wash before the MOT so I cannot really comment for myself

Cheers

andy