Best Car Care Products?

[weairy]

Hi guys,

I've gotten my new XR6 home, loving the hell out of it. The only thing I need now are some good products to show it some love.

The old RL-18 truck wash and Armorall Protect-Nothing spray aren't going to cut it anymore (hell, the truckwash cuts through clear coat horridly).

I need some opinions on lower-budget polishes, washes, interior cleaners etc.

Any suggestions?

It's not a show-car and I live rurally, so I drive down a dirt driveway every morning.

[Sam_Boss260]

Go to forum sponsor Waxit..... They'll look after you.

[b2tf]

Among the 'lower' budget stuff I would thoroughly recommend the Autoglym stuff - with the exception of their car wash which is junk. I use Meguiars Wash and Wax (the yellow one) and Autoglym Super Resin Polish with a coat of Meguiars Tech Wax 2.0 over the top and Im always happy with the result. It might not be the hip weirdo name specialist super dooper stuff that people love, but its a car, its going to get dirty and for the price I pay for the stuff I use I am more than happy.

[ZA-289]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Among the 'lower' budget stuff I would thoroughly recommend the Autoglym stuff - with the exception of their car wash which is junk. I use Meguiars Wash and Wax (the yellow one) and Autoglym Super Resin Polish with a coat of Meguiars Tech Wax 2.0 over the top and Im always happy with the result. It might not be the hip weirdo name specialist super dooper stuff that people love, but its a car, its going to get dirty and for the price I pay for the stuff I use I am more than happy.

Pretty sound advice if you were to ask me....

[Mechan1k]

I used to live on a rural property with a dirt driveway ... and it sucked.
Could barely keep a vehicle clean due to that.

I have found the meguiars Gold Glass wash is really good for what it is.

I do suggest checking out Waxit too.

They supply a range of products from Poorboys World .... and they have affordable items (cheaper than over the counter stuff) which are high quality as well.

Another good thing ... Waxit delivers to your door ... and absurdly quickly as well. Speak to Antonio, very helpful indeed and can point you in the right direction.

[Cheech]

+1 for gold class wash. Has good lubricating properties which you'll need.

Make sure you can give the car a good hosing first if you can spare the water and use a decent deep pile wash mitt so that any surface dirt goes deep into the pile and doesn't scratch the car.

Autogylm is pretty good in the budget range. Try super resin polish with extra gloss protection over the top. As its an 09 model you might want to claybar and use a paint cleaner first.
For trims and interior (dash, etc) look for a product called Aerospace 303.

[HSE2]

In the same price range as Meguiars is Bowden's own. Developed by the Bowden family, right here in Aust, its around the same price as the low to medium range of products but better for your car.

Many of the wash solutions you buy, imports, use salt to lather. We all know salt is not what we want on our cars. Bowden's spend a lot of time and money making sure the products they endorse not only look good but are good for the car.

I have changed over to Bowden's. The wash solution takes a bit of getting used to simply because its doesn't foam as much as the other products. As far as I can tell the results in terms of ease of use and appearance are right there with the imports with the added benefit of supporting Aust business which should be important to us all.

If you haven't give this product a go or listen or read some of the info of the Bowden's own website its worth a look.
Oh and the most important part. It smells as good as it works too.

[Snake Bite]

Yeah I second Bowdens own, Ive been using it for years and years and figured if they used it on their cars it was good enough for mine.

http://www.bowdensown.com.au/

[GT0132]

Car wash : Duragloss 901, Bowdens Own Auto Body Gel or Meguiars Gold Class
Quik Detailer : Prima Slick or a product called Boost from a place called Final Inspection.
Non Abrasive Polish : Autoglym Super Resin Polish, Poorboys Black Hole or Prima Amigo
Abrasive Polish : any from the Menzerna or Poorboys range
Spray wax: Prima Hydro or Zaino Z8
Sealant: Wolfgang Deep Gloss , or Prima Epic
Paste wax: Chemical Guys Petes 53
Glass Cleaner: Autoglym Fast Glass or Stoners Invisible Glass
Wheel Cleaner: Autoglym Custom Wheels
Tyre Black: Meguiars Tire Shine
Interior: Autoglym Interior Shampoo, or Aerospace 303

[Sam_Boss260]

Originally Posted by GT0132

Car wash : Duragloss 901, Bowdens Own Auto Body Gel or Meguiars Gold Class
Quik Detailer : Prima Slick or a product called Boost from a place called Final Inspection.
Non Abrasive Polish : Autoglym Super Resin Polish, Poorboys Black Hole or Prima Amigo
Abrasive Polish : any from the Menzerna or Poorboys range
Spray wax: Prima Hydro or Zaino Z8
Sealant: Wolfgang Deep Gloss , or Prima Epic
Paste wax: Chemical Guys Petes 53
Glass Cleaner: Autoglym Fast Glass or Stoners Invisible Glass
Wheel Cleaner: Autoglym Custom Wheels
Tyre Black: Meguiars Tire Shine
Interior: Autoglym Interior Shampoo, or Aerospace 303

What Pete said, only to add Duragloss Aquawax to the list of spray waxes.

[jphanna]

is mr SHEEN still used in pre delivery?

[superfly]

I just use Megiuars Tech Wash when I wash it. And I only wax it once every few months with Megiuars Tech Wax 2.0. I have tried to claybar but that was too much effort. The above combo always brings the car up great.

I used to use Gold Class and the wash is ok but the wax was too hard to get off.

And for light scratches I use Megiuars Scratch X. The car always comes up looking great.

Here's a pic of my old car (original paint, daily driver and owned since 2000) and I only washed it for the photo. I haven't waxed my XR50 as yet.

[rancidpunx]

For me and customers of mine,

Car wash : Duragloss 901 to foam, Swissvax Car Bathe or Poorboys Slick n Suds
Quik Detailer : Zaino Z6
Non Abrasive Polish : Poorboys Black Hole, Prima Amigo
Abrasive Polish : Menzerna, Meguiars Pro Range
Spray wax: Duragloss AW, Ioncoat Water Repellant or Zaino Z8
Sealant: Ioncoat Hardshield, CQuartz, Wolfgang Deep Gloss, Pinnacle Souveran Liquid, Zaino Z2pro & Z5pro, Duragloss 601/105combo
Paste wax: Ioncoat Naviwax, Pinnacle Souveran, Swissvax Concorso & Mirage, DP Max Wax.
Glass Cleaner: Trade
Wheel Cleaner: Poorboys Spray & Rinse, Carpro Iron X
Tyre Black: Meguiars Hot Rims, Carpro Perl
Interior: Aerospace 303, Trade APC

[Rodge]

I'm starting to think taking the car through the local touch free car wash doesn't quite cut the mustard

[Lightning Strike GT]

Bowdens Own

[coupecouple04]

go to waxit there help and knowledge is worth the 50 min trip to tullamarine .

[weairy]

Seeing the majority saying Bowden's Own and Meguiars. Might give them a shot. I've got a dark car on a dirt road, so it's driving me mental haha.

[Bunyip04]

Meguiars, wash an wax (yellow one) works really well in combo with
their deep crystal polish and wax for me (dark car), not keen on trying anything else because the results are so good imo.

[falcon01]

I third bowdens

[something wrong]

My tip is to use two buckets one with car wash, one with plain hot water to wash your cleaning mit.As taught to me by obsession detailing.

Meguires have a new car kit on sale at supercheap for $49, has the wash, polish and micro fibre towels as well