Sal Zaino and his wax

[Perfectlap]

Yeah ^ I rememeber this too. I believe it was regarding clear coats and modern paints vs. single stage paint that Porsche used to use. The jist of it was that with
only a clay bar and a decent seasonal wax you can keep the paint looking showroom for a decade with ease. No need to buy 7 different products for the paint.

[Mike_Yi]

That may be, but I can tell you that my Firehawk looks damn fine with several coats
of Zaino on it. Not only that, but it takes me so damn long to polish the car (it took
me 7 hours just to wash it today, and I didn't really do the wheels) that I don't do it
often. So having a product that I can put on every six months makes the cost worth
it. When that car is clean, you wouldn't believe how much attention it gets. Two
years ago I went to the hardware store and on the way back I got a thumbs up
from a guy who much have been 85. I attribute a most of that to the color, but a lot
of the credit goes to the gloss that the Zaino keeps on it.

And I just have to ask, how much did you spend on your car? How much are we talking about for a quality product to protect that investment? It's a bit like the octane argument. Most of us spent a pretty good amount of money on these cars, so why not treat them right?

[Frodo]

No offense, fella (Really! Just curious!), but how does one take 7 hours to wash a vehicle (assuming it's not a 747 or a deuce and a half)??

[chitowndad]

Frodo that was funny.

I can wash and wax my car in 1.5 hours. That's the most amount of time that my wife and kids will give me before they are asking for something or a drive somewhere.

If anyone knows of the place in Aurora that sells Zaino let me know.

Thanks,
-Steve

[Mike_Yi]

Originally Posted by Frodo

No offense, fella (Really! Just curious!), but how does one take 7 hours to wash a vehicle (assuming it's not a 747 or a deuce and a half)??

Well, you start by moving the car out of the garage and into the driveway. Then you get all your stuff ready. Wet the car. Start at the top and begin washing. Wash the top, the windshield, back window, door windows and mirrors. Rinse. Rear spoiler is next. Rinse. Wet car to ensure it hasn't dried and left water spots. Hood. Left side front fender. Rinse. Left door. Rinse. Wet car. Right front fender. Rinse. Right door. Rinse and rewet car. Left rear fender. Rinse. Right rear fender. Rinse. Wet car. Rear deck and tail lights. Rinse. Rear bumper. Rinse. Wet car. Front bumper. Rinse. Front bumper. Rinse. Wet Car. Front bumper. (Does anybody know of a good way to see bug guts once you've started washing a car?) Rinse. Front Bumper. Rinse. Wet Car. Underside of hood. Rinse. Wet car. Engine bay. Rinse. Inside of right door. Rinse. Wet car. Insides of left door. Rinse. Inside of rear hatch. Rinse. Wet car. Rest for a minute.

Jack up the front end. Wet car. Remove both front wheels. Refill wash bucket. Wet car. Left inner fender, suspension and brakes. Rinse. Right inner fender, suspension and brakes. Rinse. Wet car. Left front wheel. Left front tire. Rinse. Wet car. Right front wheel. Right front tire. Rinse. Wet car. Left rear wheel and tire (pull them off tomorrow). Rinse. Right rear wheel and tire. Rinse. Wet car.

Dry the whole damn thing. Keep drying. Keep drying. Keep drying. Put the front wheels back on. Clean bucket and wheel brush. Move hose. Pull car very slowly (to avoid splashing any standing water) back into garage.

My right arm is sore. But she looks brilliant! I still need to clean all the wheels better, clean in the rear inner wheel wells and brakes, wipe it down with Z6, then put on a coat or two of Z5 tomorrow. Then, if I have time, I need to vacuum the interior and clean the inside of the windows. Not sure if I'll get it all done this week.

FWIW, the quickest I've ever washed it was about 3.5 hours, thought that was a pretty sloppy job. I washed the Boxster (with my wife's help) today in about 45 minutes. Needless to say, I didn't take as much care as I did with the other car.

[Rob-00BoxsterS]

^^^^^

Mike,

I'm not trying to pick a fight with you so I hope this does not come out that way but that is the third time that I have seen on this forum that you have talked down about your Porsche in favor of your Pontiac.


It's great to have pride in everything you own. I'm sure your Firebird is very nice. No need to downplay the box to make it better.

Just my opinion.....

Rob

[Frodo]

Quote:

"Well, you start by moving the car out of the garage and into the driveway. Then you get all your stuff ready. Wet the car. Start at the top and begin washing. Wash the top, the windshield, back window, door windows and mirrors. Rinse. Rear spoiler is next. Rinse. Wet car to ensure it hasn't dried and left water spots. Hood. Left side front fender. Rinse. Left door. Rinse. Wet car. Right front fender. Rinse. Right door. Rinse and rewet car. Left rear fender. Rinse. Right rear fender. Rinse. Wet car. Rear deck and tail lights. Rinse. Rear bumper. Rinse. Wet car. Front bumper. Rinse. Front bumper. Rinse. Wet Car. Front bumper. (Does anybody know of a good way to see bug guts once you've started washing a car?) Rinse. Front Bumper. Rinse. Wet Car. Underside of hood. Rinse. Wet car. Engine bay. Rinse. Inside of right door. Rinse. Wet car. Insides of left door. Rinse. Inside of rear hatch. Rinse. Wet car. Rest for a minute.

Jack up the front end. Wet car. Remove both front wheels. Refill wash bucket. Wet car. Left inner fender, suspension and brakes. Rinse. Right inner fender, suspension and brakes. Rinse. Wet car. Left front wheel. Left front tire. Rinse. Wet car. Right front wheel. Right front tire. Rinse. Wet car. Left rear wheel and tire (pull them off tomorrow). Rinse. Right rear wheel and tire. Rinse. Wet car.

Dry the whole damn thing. Keep drying. Keep drying. Keep drying. Put the front wheels back on. Clean bucket and wheel brush. Move hose. Pull car very slowly (to avoid splashing any standing water) back into garage.

My right arm is sore. But she looks brilliant! I still need to clean all the wheels better, clean in the rear inner wheel wells and brakes, wipe it down with Z6, then put on a coat or two of Z5 tomorrow. Then, if I have time, I need to vacuum the interior and clean the inside of the windows. Not sure if I'll get it all done this week.

FWIW, the quickest I've ever washed it was about 3.5 hours, thought that was a pretty sloppy job. I washed the Boxster (with my wife's help) today in about 45 minutes. Needless to say, I didn't take as much care as I did with the other car."

Posted by Mike_Yi.

Wow. You're dedicated, I'll give you that.

If I spent that much time just cleaning up, I'd NEVER get around to claying, polishing, waxing, etc.

...and I'd probably only wash her once every two or three years.

Maybe there needs to be an Olympic event created for guys like you. "Men's Individual Car Wash Marathon", something like that. You'd be our Michael Phelps.

My hat's off to you.

I'll leave you to the task at hand (addressing Rob's comment).

[chitowndad]

Mike,
You're very meticulous - are you an Engineer?

-Steve