Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics FAQ: Detailing Recommendations

=On a Budget=

Shampoo: NXT ~$7.95 64oz
Cleaner/Polish/"LSP": NXT ~$14.95 18oz
QD: Clearkote Quickshine ~$37.50 128oz (.29 p/oz)
Compare to: Meguiar's QD $6.00 16oz (.375 p/oz)
Microfiber mitt: Wal-Mart ~$5
Microfiber towels: Wal-Mart under $10 for a bundle

Comments:
-NXT wash is the best bang for the buck shampoo. You get a lot of a very good shampoo for $8.
-NXT is a very nice "all-in-one" product. Cleans paint and hides swirls fairly well and adds a decent sealant for protection. Once a month application is most likely, but can be stretched further with more washes and maintenance with a good QD.
-Clearkote Quickshine is simply amazing stuff. up front it's more, but per ounce it's cheaper than almost any OTC QD. You'll have enough to last a long time. Currently my favorite QD. Super slick, great shine.

=Frequent Detailer=
If you like / enjoy detailing your car frequently...

-Option #1-
See above "On a budget"

-Option #2-
Shampoo:
NXT ~$7.95 64oz
Meguiar's #62 Carwash Shampoo & Conditioner ~$25 for 128oz

Cleaner:
Klasse All In One (AIO)
~$15 for 10oz, ~$25 for 17oz, ~$30 for 33oz, ~$65 for 101oz

Polish/LSP:
Klasse Sealant Glaze (SG)
~$20 for 16.9oz
~$28 for 33oz

QD:
Clearkote Quickshine ~$37.50 128oz (.29 p/oz)
Compare to: Meguiar's QD $6.00 16oz (.375 p/oz)

Microfiber mitt: Wal-Mart ~$5
Microfiber towels: Wal-Mart under $10 for a bundle

Comments:
-AIO is great cleaner and when used in conjunction with SG, gives you great results. Because the user likes to wax frequently, you can keep adding coats of SG.

-For light or dark colored cars, great shine. Drawback for dark colored cars is that you don't get the depth and color you can with an LSP. It's the sacrifice you make since you can't layer coat after coat of an LSP.

-Clearkote Quickshine is simply amazing stuff. up front it's more, but per ounce it's cheaper than almost any OTC QD. You'll have enough to last a long time. Currently my favorite QD. Super slick, great shine.

-Option #3=
Shampoo:
Zaino Z-7 Car Wash $8.95 for 16oz

Cleaner:
Klasse All In One (AIO)
~$15 for 10oz
~$25 for 17oz
~$30 for 33oz
~$65 for 101oz

Polish:
Klasse Sealant Glaze (SG)
~$20 for 16.9oz
~$28 for 33oz

LSP
Zaino Z-2 $14.95 for 8oz

QD:
Zaino Z-6 $9.95 for 16oz
Clearkote Quickshine ~$37.50 128oz

Comments:
- IMO, the best shine - period. The best durability - period. Leaves paint very, very slick. Many professional/enthusiast detailers on various auto detailing sites agree that Zaino gives the best shine and durability. Because it's not a carnauba, it wont give the depth or color, but that's not why you use Zaino. You can add coat after coat.

=Maximum= -depth & color w/ carnauba LSP-
If you want the most depth and color from your dark colored car, you have to spend a little money to achieve it.

Shampoo:
The waxes for maximum depth and color are more expensive and you want to use a high quality shampoo. The following products are PH balanced so it wont strip away any wax, contain oils/vitamins that help lubricate while washing away debris to help prevent scratches.

-Four Star Ultimate Auto Wash ~$10 for 16oz
-Meguiar's #62 Carwash Shampoo & Conditioner ~$25 for 128oz
-Menzerna Auto Shampoo ~$9 for 16oz
-Optimum Car Wash ~$8 for 32oz, $23 for 128oz
-P21S Bodywork Conditioning Shampoo ~$10 for 16.9oz
-Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo ~$18 16oz, ~$50 64oz, ~$70 128oz
-Poorboy's Super Slick & Suds ~$15 for 32oz
-Wolfgang Auto Bathe ~$13 for 16oz

Cleaner
-Clearkote Moose Wax ~$20 pint
-Four Star Iltimate Paint Cleanser ~$15 for 16oz
-Klasse AIO
~$15 for 10oz, ~$25 for 17oz, ~$30 for 33oz, ~$65 for 101oz

Polish
Gets a bit tricky here. To get optimal results you really want to apply the following products by PC and not by hand.

-Clearkote Vanilla Moose Wax ~$12 pint
-Four Star Ultiamte Swirl Remover ~$18 for 16oz
-Klasse Sealant Glaze ~$20 16.9oz, ~$28 33oz
-Menzerna Polishes ~$14 16oz
-Optimum Polish ~$13 for 32oz
-Pinnacle Polishes ~$18 for 16oz
-Poorboy's Swirl Removers (SSR1, 2, 2.5, 3) ~$13 16oz

LSP
Any of the following will give a dark colored car more color, depth and gloss.

-Clearkote Carnauba ~$18 pint
-Four Star Ultimate Paint Protection ~$23 for 16oz
-Menzerna FMJ ~$40 for 16oz
-Optimum Car Wax ~$13 for 17oz
-Pinnacle Souveran Carnauba ~$50 for 8oz
-Poorboy's Blue ~$15 for 16oz
-S100 (same as P21S) ~$16 6oz

Other brands of note
Chemical Guys
Collinite
Finish Kare FK1
Sonus
Tropi-Care

=Maximum= -shine, slickness and durability w/ synthetic LSP-
If you want the most shine, slickness and durability from your car, you have to use a synthetic and spend a little money to achieve it. Synthetic provides the best shine, slickness and durability - period. But you sacrifice color and depth from the carnauba. It's a tradeoff.

Shampoo:
High quality synthetic waxes and you want to use a high quality shampoo. The following products are PH balanced so it wont strip away any wax, contain oils/vitamins that help lubricate while washing away debris to help prevent scratches.

-Four Star Ultimate Auto Wash ~$10 for 16oz
-Meguiar's #62 Carwash Shampoo & Conditioner ~$25 for 128oz
-Menzerna Auto Shampoo ~$9 for 16oz
-Optimum Car Wash ~$8 for 32oz, $23 for 128oz
-P21S Bodywork Conditioning Shampoo ~$10 for 16.9oz
-Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo ~$18 16oz, ~$50 64oz, ~$70 128oz
-Poorboy's Super Slick & Suds ~$15 for 32oz
-Wolfgang Auto Bathe ~$13 for 16oz

Cleaner
Klasse All In One (AIO)
~$15 for 10oz, ~$25 for 17oz, ~$30 for 33oz, ~$65 for 101oz

Polish
Zaino Z-PC Fusion Dual Action Paint Cleaner Swirl Remover

LSP
Zaino Z-1 Polish Lok $9.95 for 8oz
Zaino Z-2 PRO Show Car Polish $14.95 for 8oz


I've used and tested many products and have not found a combination that shines as much or last as long as Zaino.

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