I have a Winter Gray III. When I first got it I was using Zaino Z5 and really loved it. At some point I switched tried out Optimum Car Care's Spray Wax. It is a dream to use because it is so easy and quick to spray on and wipe off that it was no problem doing it at every wash. The car was always smooth and shiny. The problem was the optical qualities were very different from the Zaino Z5. I was walking to my recently washed and waxed car a few weeks ago in bright sun and thought to myself it looks very light gray and it didn't look like that when I was using the Zaino. I thought I'd switch back to Zaino Z5 to really see if I noticed a big difference. I can't begin to tell you how much difference there is be tween the look of the car with the two different waxes! The Z5 looks much darker richer than the Optimum. So if you don't really care which gray your car reflects then I'd go with Optimum. If you want the darker deeper gray go with the Z5. There is a very big difference in application with the Optimum being literally effortless. If I had a silver or white car I would be using the Optimum but seeing the gray that the Z5 produces has made me go back to and stick with the Z5.
For the sake of discussion, is this really only an either/or question? Could the Zaino Z5 be applied as a "base coat," -- IIRC, it is a rather time consuming process -- and then Optimum Car Care's Spray Wax applied at each washing for extended shine/protection? There is a rough equivalent in the woodworking world: * Oil-based varnish gives a much richer and brighter tone when applied as base and top coats. Although you can get rapid finish build-up, it is relatively slow to dry and the final surface, no matter how flat and glossy, is subject to damage by abrasion and scratching. * On the other hand, water-based varnishes dry quickly and cure to a much harder and wear resistant surface. Build up is slow due thin coat thickness. Unfortunately, when these are applied directly to the wood as base coats, the wood has a dull, flat, somewhat indistinct appearance. * The middle road is to apply oil-based varnish as the base coats -- usually 4-6 coats as necessary to fill the grain -- followed by a number of water-based coats for surface hardness and durability. Would applying Optimum Car Care's Spray Wax over Zaino Z5 cause any problems due chemical incompatibility? (Best tried on a non-visible painted surface first! )
You can put just about anything over Zaino and have it work. Some combos give a really deep shine, deeper than Zaino by itself. The problem comes when you want to reapply Zaino and you get less than an ideal bond to whatever you have on top of the Zaino. That may or may not be a problem that's big enough to notice.
Let me start backwards. I've talked with both companies as I had this same question before. They both said that compatibility would not be a problem. Zaino said subsequent applications (after the Spray Wax was applied over Z5) might not last as the ploymers might not work their way down to the surface. I might try it for kicks though next wash. I really wish Optimum had a spray wax equivalent to Z5.
Have you tried Optimum's No-Rinse Wash and Shine? I've read rave reviews on it that claim you can use it as a rinsless car wash or a detail spray, even a salad dressing. J/K about the salad dressing.
I absolutely LOVE Optimum No Rinse!!! I have a jug of the old style (they changed formulas recently). I wash my car inside my garage no matter what the weather outside. The new formula is supposed to have even better slickness and added polymer protection. I posted a message to David (owner of Optimum Car Care) on Optimum's forum to see if he had any ideas on the optical qualities. Maybe he can come up with another wax formula that enhances the warmth of Winter Gray.
I have also been using No-rinse for a couple years and love it! I use Collinite 476S wax. Harbor Freight had it for like $7 for a while. You give up some depth but the protection is amazing.
Have you tried it as detail spray...or a cereal topping Sometimes I take 2 day to 1 week plus trips in my other car with a sports car club. The no-rinse sounds like just the thing for parking lot clean-up.:rockon: What is your impression of how much protection the polymers in no-rinse give?
Detail spray yes, cereal topping no (but it sure does smell good). I keep a spray bottle in the garage for quick cleanups. I've always waxed my car so I can't say how much protection just the ONR gives (although the new formula is supposed to be more). Personally I still like the thought of some sort of wax for protection.
So do I, the detail spray is just to keep the shine and protection going longer. And some minor cleaning.
I had been using Nufinish, Turtle, Meguiers and other brands for years, but ran across threads elsewhere that highlighted Collinite 476S, some users even did photo time/tests on the shine. Bought a can a couple of weeks ago and put it on this weekend. Easiest 'quality' wax to wipe off I've ever used. Used some cheapie microfiber cloths to wipe off instead of bath towels which may have helped. The can should last the life of the car. Hopefully the shine will last as long as everyone says it does, though ease of application almost makes it a non-issue.
