I just got my '10 Black Obsidian G37xS about a month ago. I've been reading about how soft the paint is and kind of going in panic mode. I already experienced some light scratches. So after reading a lot of this section I decided to price out some washing/detailing options based on recommendations of products in here. Before I knew it I was well over $150 just to start. These were all "premium" products. My question is, are they all really that MUCH better than things like Meguires and Mothers that I can get at Autozone?

 

yes. absolutely.

/thread

 

oooohh black obsidian requires special products. im sure u could get 8/10ths wow out of the stuff at autozone, but some of these premium products are legit. i love zaino on my blue slate...

 

Got to go Zaino, it is the best.

 

So let me clarify... Please explain why you may or may not feel like there is a difference.

 

^ Just like everything else in life, you get what you pay for. A sealant or wax from Detailed Image is certainly going to be a better product than over the counter Turtle Wax at Autozone. To me, proper detailing supplies are not a cost, they are an investment. But getting quality products is only half the battle, having proper washing/drying techniques is the key. The vast majority of paint imperfections are caused by improper washing and drying techniques. Get yourself well versed on the two bucket method for washing, proper washing and drying equipment (100% sheepskin mitt and dehydrating MF towels) and you will be ahead of the game. Any questions just let me know.

 

Meguiars makes good stuff. Mother's isn't bad either. It's the no-name stuff and Turtle Wax that you want to stay away from. Blech.

Meg's polishes are great, and so are nearly all of their other car care products. I keep Megs #40 for my vinyl and rubber conditioning, and final inspection in my trunk for bird crap and other random stuff that'll get on my car while it's parked outside at work.

I've liked some of the mother"s stuff and tend to buy their clay kit at my local NAPA just because it's close and the stuff isn't bad. Go all out on some nice mitts, good microfiber towels, and start reading about how to wash the car without scratching the finish. That'll get you really far on a black car.

 

That part I get. I can definitley see how waxes and polishes can vary greatly. But something like Meguiars, which I've always heard is a premium type brand... Is it really not as good as the stuff on detailed image? Assuming, as you said, proper washing techniques are observed. Or a chenile wash mitt from autozone? Or a sheepskin mitt?

Right. That's what I mean.

 

haha sorry, didn't mean to come off as short...like GC said, you get what you pay for. Meguiars isn't a BAD brand to use, there are just much better ones (IMO)

I used Meguiars and other Autozone-ish products for a while and shortly after getting my G went through all the detailing things I could find trying to learn as much as I could as well as buying much higher quality products. It made a WORLD of difference

 

Garnet Canuck is a professional detailer. I'd trust his opinions on products over anyone else in the thread. Because he's tried it all and has a basis for comparison from using them. He's never steered me wrong yet.

It's just like anything else on your car. You can buy some no name tires and they will last you thousands of miles. You can put no name oil, spark plugs, and filters on your car too and it will run. But most of us prefer to buy something we have heard of or know to be a high quality product in/on our cars instead, even if ti costs a bit more.

BTW, Meguairs makes the "consumer" type products like you can buy at any auto parts store and also they also make a professional line that's not the cheaper stuff you can buy anywhere. There is a big difference.

 

LOL, my first order from DI was about $600. Not all of it was for the G, e.g. I bought pretty pricey leather restorer for my MDX. But it adds up. Good thing is the stuff from this order will last me for a while.

Look at it this way - you spent 40K on a nice car, so find a few hundred on products to keep it looking good.

 

I bought about $100 worth of supplies from detailed image. It kind of hurts for the initial buy but I've already found it to be worth it. Certainly knowing that the products come well-recommended by others in this forum and the fact that I can get a lot of information from other users was a big help. Initially I was going to a carwash (ugh, I know) so my feeling is it pays for itself after a few washes.

But I also bought the Meguiar's clay kit and interior quick detailer from Amazon. I'm quite satisfied with both of those products. Meguiar's is probably the best of the consumer-grade auto-shop products -- and they sell their better stuff at DI as well.

 

Let me just say I have used Meguiar's Gold class car wash for years and thought it was great. Then I got some Chemical Guys Citrus Wash from detail image...WORLD OF DIFFERENCE...same thing with a Clay magic clay bar vs Meguiar's.

 

get a porter cable too!

 

Are you gonna detail the car for me?