Consumer Reports Car Wax Ratings (July 2006)

[SoapPlant]

LIQUIDS

1. Black Magic Wet Shine Liquid Wax BM48016
2. Turtle Wax Carauba Car Wax T-6
3. Eagle One Nanowax
4. 3M Perfect-it Show Car Liquid Wax 39026
5. DuPont Teflon Ultra Wax CWX1030
6. Meguiar's Gold Class Clear Coat Wax
7. Nu Finish NF-76
8. Zymol Cleaner Wax Z503
9. Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax Liquid
10. Turtle Wax Platinum Series Ultra Gloss T-412R
11. Griot's Garage Best of Show Wax 11171
12. Griot's Garage Paint Sealant 11075
13. Armor All Wax-it-Dry Gel
14. Meguiar's Cleaner Wax
15. 3M One Step Cleaner Wax-Light Oxidation Remover
16. Turtle Wax F21 T-27R
17. Turtle Wax Super Hard Shell T-123R

PASTES

18. Nu Finish NFP-80
19. Turtle Wax Platinum Series Ultra Gloss T-411R
20. P21S Concours-Look Carnauba Wax
21. Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax Paste

SPRAYS

22. Eagle One Wax-As-U-Dry
23. Turtle Wax 1 Step Wax & Dry T-9
24. Turtle Wax Platinum Series Ultra Gloss T-413R
25. Griot's Garage Spray-On Wax 11098
26. Turtle Wax Express Shine T-136R
27. Zymol Detail Z519
28. Meguiar's NXT Generation Spray Wax

[2muchfun]

Ya I saw that too, very interesting. Some of the dye hard Zano or zimol or whatever folks are probably scratching their heads....

[CMasten]

not sure what to think of that.... the top picks from CS are at the bottom of my list. Maybe they are just reading the marketing hype on the side and checking back 24 hours later... over time the higher quality products really win out. There is NOTHING like trying to buff 4 coats of turtle, or Nufinish anything off your car cause now its all yellow.

[Tim]

I usually use Meguiar's NXT which is real easy to come off.

Based on CR's recommendation I picked up a bottle of the Black Magic to try on the lighter colored twin and found it very hard to get it all off without streaking/hazing. (application and removal done in the garage)

not too much fun.........

(noticed Klasse wasn't on the list)

[surferbum]

Overview of comsumer review report

YONKERS, N.Y., June 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Consumer Reports tested more than two dozen liquid, paste, and spray car waxes for the July issue and found two products, from Black Magic and Turtle Wax, that outperformed all the others.

Black Magic Wet Shine Liquid Wax and Turtle Wax Carnauba Car Wax T-6 tied with "Excellent" overall scores. Both products, which sell nationally for around $7 apiece, were also named as CR Best Buys because of their combination of performance and comparatively low cost.

A total of 28 different brands of car wax were tested, including 16 liquid waxes, five pastes, and seven spray-on, wipe- off products. The waxes ranged in price from about $5 to $32.

Full tests and ratings of the car waxes appear in the July issue of Consumer Reports, which goes on sale June 6. The complete report is also available to subscribers of http://www.ConsumerReports.org.

Consumer Reports found that the liquid waxes generally provide the best combination of cleaning and protection. But contrary to conventional wisdom, they required more effort than paste waxes to apply and remove. As a group, liquids were the hardest to apply evenly, and they took the most time to buff out.

In addition, some left a powdery residue that had to be wiped off. Even the top-rated Black Magic Liquid Wet Shine Liquid Wax (BM48016) required an extra bit of buffing to eliminate any streaking. And CR's other best all-around choice, the Turtle Wax Carnauba Car Wax T-6, can cause slight scratching or hazing on newer dark-colored finishes.

Consumer Reports' tests found that pricier waxes favored by auto enthusiasts do not necessarily work better than some less- expensive brands. The two top performers cost just $7, while a product selling for $32, P21S Concours-Look Carnauba Wax, ranked no better than mid-pack.

Among the four paste waxes tested, the Nu Finish NFP-80 ($8) outscored its competitors with a "Very Good" score. Eagle One Wax-As-You-Dry ($6) and Turtle Wax 1 Step Wax & Dry T-9 ($6), tied as the best spray products with "Good" scores. Turtle Wax Platinum Series Ultra Gloss T-413R came in just behind the two top-rated sprays.

How to Select the Right Car Wax

In its tests, Consumer Reports found that:

-- Liquid waxes are good for cleaning, gloss, and durability. But they can be more difficult to apply evenly and buff out. Most dry to a haze within about a minute, but this varies with wind, sunlight, and thickness of application.

-- Paste waxes are good for ease of application. But overall performance is not as good as with liquids, and it can be difficult to remove wax from the container as you near the bottom. Paste waxes usually dry to a haze within 30 seconds.

-- Spray waxes are good for new cars with excellent finishes since new paint is still shiny and shouldn't be oxidized. They are also good for consumers looking for convenience, plastic compatibility, and spot waxing. They are quick to apply and many can be wiped off without drying. But they are not as good for cleaning and are the worst for durability.

How CR tested car waxes

Overall scores for the waxes are based primarily on gloss; durability; ease of use; cleaning; resistance to scratching, swirls and hazing; and plastic compatibility.

Consumer Reports tested using sample panels uniformly finished with white or black automotive paint, both with and without clear coat. Some were left to weather for 12 months on the roof of CR's National Test Center in Yonkers, NY and others were put into a device that simulates extreme weather conditions. The panels were brought into a lab weekly, where technicians washed and dried them, and applied drops of water to measure beading effect. How well a wax causes water to bead, or repel water, is one way to determine whether wax still provides protection from acid rain and contaminants. To test for ease of use and how well products worked to clean and improve gloss on fading paint, CR used real vehicles, some of which had rarely or never been waxed.

To assess gloss, CR did side-by-side visual comparisons. For durability, CR tracked how water beaded to show how quickly the wax wore away. Cleaning and scratching/hazing tests also relied on side-by-side visual comparisons. For ease of use, CR used cars owned by staffers.

[OCDetails]

...and yet they are still comparing apples to oranges. You can't compare sealants to waxes. You might as well compare tire shine with engine degreaser. The fact that Consumer Reports didn't mention anything about that is just proof that they have no idea how to review waxes. Besides, can you really trust the opinions of people who were reviewing dishwashers last week and will be reviewing DVD players next week? They are experts of nothing. If you want to know what waxes or sealants look best, then you should ask someone who works with them on a daily basis.

[jl_ss]

Originally posted by OCDetails
...and yet they are still comparing apples to oranges. You can't compare sealants to waxes. You might as well compare tire shine with engine degreaser. The fact that Consumer Reports didn't mention anything about that is just proof that they have no idea how to review waxes. Besides, can you really trust the opinions of people who were reviewing dishwashers last week and will be reviewing DVD players next week? They are experts of nothing. If you want to know what waxes or sealants look best, then you should ask someone who works with them on a daily basis.

I bet CR now has the shiniest dishwashers around.......

[jay]

Originally posted by jl_ss


I bet CR now has the shiniest dishwashers around.......

And their vacuums really SUCK!

And I should know. I just bought their highest rated one.

[jay]

Originally posted by OCDetails
...and yet they are still comparing apples to oranges. You can't compare sealants to waxes. You might as well compare tire shine with engine degreaser. The fact that Consumer Reports didn't mention anything about that is just proof that they have no idea how to review waxes. Besides, can you really trust the opinions of people who were reviewing dishwashers last week and will be reviewing DVD players next week? They are experts of nothing. If you want to know what waxes or sealants look best, then you should ask someone who works with them on a daily basis.

So I read your webpage about waxes and sealants. I've used both Meguiar's NXT and Eagle One Nano, and with the NXT, it went in the trash after the first use. The Nano is still on the shelf becauuse it's so easy to use, but Klasse is my latest, best favorite. Why do you diss Klasse, and praise NXT and NANO?

Or is your deal just Multi-level Marketing for 5 Star Shine?

[Bill Balmer]

I admit that I've only used a few of the waxes on the list, so I'm no expert on waxes, but CR lost my confidence years ago when they reviewed a car I owned, saying that the back seat didn't fold flat - which it did, IF you followed the directions in the owner's manual, which they obviously didn't. They don't do their homework.

In the article, it says that one of their two top rated waxes, the Turtle Wax, can cause some SCRATCHING on newer dark finishes! And this is one of their TOP PICKS? Any wax that scratches your finish, no matter how slightly, should have been disqualified from any mention other than on a black list.

[OCDetails]

Where did I diss Klasse? Hell, I've probably used more Klasse than you have ever seen. I use it on my car every winter and have for several years. You'll have to show me where I made it sound like Klasse wasn't a great sealant.

You'll also have to show me where I even mentioned Five Star Shine. I've never used any of their products. I don't work for anybody and I'm not compensated by anybody for my opinions. I use what works and I write what I think about it. There are a million places to buy this stuff, but I recomend one particular place because I've had good experiences there. I'm in Utah and they are in Florida. There isn't any connection and I don't get kickbacks. You can check every link on the site. None of them are affiliate links or anything. Buy from who you want and use what works. I'm only offering suggestions and opinions.

[jay]

Originally posted by OCDetails
Where did I diss Klasse? Hell, I've probably used more Klasse than you have ever seen. I use it on my car every winter and have for several years. You'll have to show me where I made it sound like Klasse wasn't a great sealant.

You'll also have to show me where I even mentioned Five Star Shine. I've never used any of their products. I don't work for anybody and I'm not compensated by anybody for my opinions. I use what works and I write what I think about it. There are a million places to buy this stuff, but I recomend one particular place because I've had good experiences there. I'm in Utah and they are in Florida. There isn't any connection and I don't get kickbacks. You can check every link on the site. None of them are affiliate links or anything. Buy from who you want and use what works. I'm only offering suggestions and opinions.

My bad. The 5 Star Shine was a google ad on your site. And I guess I misread the context of one of your earlier posts in another thread about Klasse, which read:

"Give me a week or two to get my Pilot cleaned up once I pick it up next week and I'll show you something that knocks the socks off every product on that list. I've used most of those and compared them to other products that aren't available off the shelf. There really isn't much point in buying many of those products once you have used the finer things in life. And I'm not just talking about Zaino or Klasse. There are a lot of synthetics out there that are very impressive."

The above quote is from your Yay: A Detailing Forum thread. I guesss I read the line "And I'm not just talking about Zaino or Klasse," went to your site, and very shortly thereafter hit the 5 Star Shine Google Ad. I put two and two together and got 6. My apologies.

[mmmmark]

I've always been leary of products that are considered "all-in-ones".

My favorite waxes are from Einszett (Greman for 1-Z). As an owner of a German cars, I got turned on to this excellent set of products and am amazed at its ease AND durability.

They make various "polishes" depending on the condition of your paint and clearcoat finishes. one of these will do as little harm as possible while giving the deepest, richest shine. After all, all all-in-one waxes have some abrasion to them by nature--some TOO much.

Then after the polishing, the sealer wax is applied. It is not carnauba--it is synthetic, but not harsh like NuFinish or similar. It does NOT yellow and removes easily. I've had coats last between 8-14 months with excellent beading throughout this period.

It only recently became more readily available in the states.

Here's the website:
Einszett

[OCDetails]

The only reason I said that about Klasse and Zaino is because for a lot of boards I've been on it seems that people think those are the only two out there. There are a lot of synthetic sealants that (in my opinion) look better than either of them. I don't think anything out there can match their durability, but I'm not interested in a product that lasts for a year without reapplication. I polish my car every three or four months anyway, so a sealant that lasts longer than that is just a waste in my book.

Sorry if I snapped. It wasn't my intention to offend or anything. I've tried very hard not to appear biased in my reviews and articles. I'll tell you what I like, but I try very hard not to portry anything as the best of the best of the best. I'd never be able to put together a rating scale for products I've tested simply because I think certian things look better on certian colors. It might get high marks for durabilty on a light car but get low marks for durability on black. Appearance might be great on blue, but something else might look better on red. Ya know what I'm saying?

[helpless]

Originally posted by OCDetails
The only reason I said that about Klasse and Zaino is because for a lot of boards I've been on it seems that people think those are the only two out there. There are a lot of synthetic sealants that (in my opinion) look better than either of them. I don't think anything out there can match their durability, but I'm not interested in a product that lasts for a year without reapplication. I polish my car every three or four months anyway, so a sealant that lasts longer than that is just a waste in my book.

Sorry if I snapped. It wasn't my intention to offend or anything. I've tried very hard not to appear biased in my reviews and articles. I'll tell you what I like, but I try very hard not to portry anything as the best of the best of the best. I'd never be able to put together a rating scale for products I've tested simply because I think certian things look better on certian colors. It might get high marks for durabilty on a light car but get low marks for durability on black. Appearance might be great on blue, but something else might look better on red. Ya know what I'm saying?

So what polish/sealant do you recommend for black then?