I have been told to not wax my new Prius for a few months so the clear coat can season. Is that correct because I want to wax my new silver baby and make her shine.
Wax it, Doug! The paint used now-a-days does not need to "cure". Plus, if you find your "build" date, you'll notice that your car has been completed for some time now, anyway. I highly recommend Zaino!
I Zainoed my Black Prius yesterday and today. Three coats of Z5 yesterday. Three coats of Z2 today. I could shave in the mirror image off of my car now.
Maybe it's just the terminology, but one thing about Zaino and other polishes gives me pause: polish works by removing material, that is, paint or overcoat. Why not just use a wax instead?
Waxed my silver Prius today using good ol' Turtle Wax Carnuba. Came out just great. With regard to Zaino; if you applied 3 coats yesterday and 2 today, how long does it take per coat? Took me almost 2.5 hrs.
The application time is not all that long. In fact, my time/coat on the vehicle seemed to be less than when I waxed. The process for Zaino is to apply it to the whole vehicle, then wait for haze, then remove with a cotton towel. I'm guessing application was around 45 minutes per coats. The removal is very easy. The hazing time varies signigicantly with temperature and humidity. Warmer and drier is better. Temperatures were up to the mid 20s Celsius when I did mine an hazing time was under an hour. The instructions say to not apply more than three coats in 24 hours, hence my delay for the last three coats.
Zaino is not a polish. It is a polymer-based product that is stronger and longer lasting than wax. Many people also believe it provides a superior shine. Probably the best known report on Zaino is from Guru Reports, but a quick Google search for Zaino will show many hits including many favourable reviews.
Did the Z5 take care of swirl marks like it advertises? I've only had my Black Prius for four days and it's had swirl marks since day 1.
The swirls were caused by the dealer detailing it. Especially with black there is no way to get the swirls out without a random orbit buffer. It only takes one improper wash to put swirls in paint. Check out autopia.org for help on the matter and advise. They can get your car as shiny as glass!
Doug, Wax it as soon as you get the car. Modern paints are baked on by the manufactuer and it takes a month to get the car to you anyway (check the manufactured date on the door post) so its most certainly cured by the time you get it. I have a black Lotus that the previous own (an ex-Lotus employee) could not get to look perfect. I did so by calling Malm's and following their instructions. The car is now 28 years old and still turns heads. http://www.malms.com
