Did A Wax Comparison Yesterday, Suprising Results

M

MBZ 500E

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(Please note that I am not affiliated with Meguiars in any way, nor am I making any profit from this post)



Background:



I washed with Megs GC, clayed with Megs Overspray Clay and washed again with the Megs. I applied S100 Shine Enhancing Paint Cleanser to the entire car using a PC with Griots Orange Polish Pad at speed setting 5. I used moderate to heavy pressure to remove scratches. The finish was in good to excellent condition when completed.



The Test:



I then began applying S100 Carnauba to exactly half of the hood. After I wiped it off I was surprised that I could not see any difference with the non waxed area vs the just waxed area.



So I decided to bring out some other products I've had sitting on the shelf. I split the remainder of the hood into two areas to try the other two products. Those products were Megs Hi-Tec #26 and Megs Gold Class.



I applied the #26 in the exact same fashion as the S100 and was surprised to find the wipe on wipe off were just as easy as the S100 and the results were identical as well. #26 did smell better than the S100 :o . Amazing that I finally figured out how to apply this product after all these years.:cool:



Next was the GC. The application was extremely difficult, doesn't spread easily at all. :mad: The removal was also more difficult but not bad. After removal I stepped back and was :shocked to see a deeper finish and better reflective qualities! As I moved my face from the GC side to the S100 side I saw an amazing difference. The reflection and clarity was far superior on the GC side and there was more depth on the GC side. At this point I put the S100 back on the shelf with the #26 and finished the car with the GC. It took twice as long to finish but the results speak for themself.



I know most won't believe me but I challenge you to try the GC side by side vs your favorite product, I'm almost positive it will produce shocking results. Please no flames until you've done this test!



Feel free to post your results.:)
 
Slight Correction:

I did wax the roof of the car with S100 and never did go over it again with GC so I do have a method of comparing the two waxes.



BlackRegal,



No doubt that GC is not as durable as Zaino/Collonite or other sealants, but having used GC and S100 for extended periods I would say they are equivalent. Either way I'm not after durability, I'm after great appearance. Keep in mind this is a garage queen and gets washed about twice a year!;) I will QD in a few days and definitely post an update. BTW why don't you give it a try?
 
I gave my Gold Class away, it is very glossy but lacks depth. Also it is a consumer wax and not meant to be used for a three step process, the cleaners just stip your polish. For me durability is not a big issue due to the fact that I probably wax every two weeks, but this stuff wouldn't even last that long for me in FL. I did find one interesting thing, try mixing GC with #26 50/50. You will get some depth.
 
BlackRegal,



You're response was a good one and definitely not argumentative. You bring up a good point, I think many Autopians are looking for a product that works well and easy to use, GC definitely doesn't fall into that category.



But there are a few out there looking for the ulimate look and are willing to slave over the paint to get it, thats really why I posted this.:)
 
Meguiars Gold Class is by far the hardest wax to buff off. On a black car, it streaks like crazy. It does leave a decent shine, but I think S100 is better. S100 goes right on, comes right off. Durability isn't as good as others, but the shine and depth is unmatched IMO. When it comes down to Meguiars though, I personally like #26 better then Gold Class. Its easier to use, feels slicker and has a deeper shine.
 
Hmmmm a good deal of negative attitude towards GC.:confused:



Thomasfl,



GC Wax can definitely be used in a three step process and doesn't have any cleaners associated with it according to the bottle. Last year Meguiars hosted a "How To" seminar for their products and the rotary buffer. Cars were brought into their detailing bay one by one and everyone was taught how to use the rotary and try the Megs products. In some cases a few cars needed Diamond Cut and DACP to get a nice finish and remove clearcoat scratches. All cars were topped with GC.



Envythedub,



I also noticed streaking when I applied the GC but 4 hours after removal all streaks had dissappeared (No QD applied). I still have to comment that on my paint the GC had better depth and far superior reflection over the S100. As I mentioned earlier #26 gave me identical results to the S100 both in application and finish.



Zilla,

You're right, thats what it says on the can. I guess I've picked up a few tips/tricks on Autopia and it seems with most Carnauba's you can remove them immediately with similar results.:nixweiss







For those reading this and looking for the best appearance, why don't you try it out side by side? Results will obviously vary with different colors, paint types and finishes and I'd be interested in hearing yours. The only way to truly respond honestly is to do a test. Wheres the spirit!:bounce
 
Thanks for the great review, MB. I have #26 paste and like it, but have started using Klasse and UPP and like those better. But for my motorcycles I still use #26 with a glaze, since the glaze doesn't work with polymers. Unfortunately, longevity is an issue for me, since I have 5 vehicels (3 two wheels, and 2 four wheels!) so I can't afford to wax each one every month. But I will certainly give GC a shot in the future based on this review. Maybe I'll even get some S100 and do a side by side like you!
 
MBZ, you are right according to Meguiar's customer service the GC doesn't have any cleaners, I had seen that posted here quite a few times that it did have cleaners making me not want to use it. And they claimed it is their best "wax" for a three step process and that it is polymer based with some carnauba.
 
MBZ 500E said:
...GC Wax can definitely be used in a three step process and doesn't have any cleaners associated with it according to the bottle. Last year Meguiars hosted a "How To" seminar for their products and the rotary buffer. Cars were brought into their detailing bay one by one and everyone was taught how to use the rotary and try the Megs products. In some cases a few cars needed Diamond Cut and DACP to get a nice finish and remove clearcoat scratches. All cars were topped with GC.



According to Guru Reports Wax test there are cleaners in GC. If you call ten different people at Meguiars and you'll get 10 different answers on the subject. As far as using it in a 3 step process, you could certainly use it ove DACP and Diamond Cut becasue they contain no fillers. You didn't mention that they used any type of glaze in their demos.



I'd really like to know the answer to the "cleaners" question because I'm assuming that it does and that's the only reason I don't use it, so I hope you're right.



I guess the only real test is for someone to try it on single stage paint and see if it deposits any color on the applicator. Anyone up for giving it a try?
Click to expand...
 
MBZ, now that you mentioned it, I thought the same thing about GC. I've never used S100 or Zaino etc so I can't compare. However, much to my surprise, I found GC to be extremely reflective with a deep rich gloss on black. I just recently applied a coat of #26 and I remember the GC giving a deeper, glossier shine. It is a little difficult to buff but I could wax each main panel one at a time in the shade without streaking, hazing etc. I just kind of wrote off the results of GC for some strange reason, but after reading this, I'll have to go back and give it another shot.
 
Seems their are no straight answers on the "cleaners" in GC. I never read the Guru Reports so I can't really comment on that, I'm only basing my information on the back of the bottle. Biff has a good point on the cleaners, hopefully someone with a single step can chime in and get it resolved.:up



When I used the GC yesterday I did use it on the S100 SEPC which I believe is a polish/glaze combo. I didn't notice an increased amount of scratches show through. The only problem with my observation is I'm not sure if I removed the scratches or just filled them?:nixweiss



Jake,



I also wrote GC off mostly because I hated applying it and S100 did a good job. But in the interest of making my car look it's absolute best I decided to try other products and GC had the best results. I'm going to experiment with it to see if I can find better ways to apply and remove it so it's not such a PITA to use.
 
I just did a few searches on reviews for GC and it looks like it may have some cleaners according to a few reviews here. Apparantely some users are getting paint on their applicators when they use GC. I don't know how reliable these are but they are worth checking out to build some type of case.



Reviews
 
From what I've been told, it has no abrasives, but some solvents. That might have been from Meguiar's, but I might also have read it here.



Mosca
 
I like the SEPC I picked some up today at a local harley dealer its nice stuff i applyied it by hand and got out almost all the swirls in no time.
 
Meguiar's GC does have cleaners. From my experience, it strips Zaino. It's possible that the GC's cleaners prepped the paint even more, thus leaving the glossier finish.



Move your car into the sun and tell us what you see. I had a terrible experience with GC - it had a nice finish indoors, but under the sun it was smeary and a PITA to remove.



Silicones, oils, oils, oils...

:eek: :up = first few days; indoors

:mad: :down = few days later; outdoors
 
IMO, GC leaves a clean finish, but not necessarily one that "pops", like Souveran does, or even Mother's California Gold Natural Formula paste (somewhat).



As far as durability goes, many people (myself included) judge durability by how much a wax beads; but Mike Phillips, in his HOF post about #7, specifically states that GC is formulated to sheet rather than bead. That being said, IMO it loses its gloss disappointingly fast; I have no way of knowing if it's still there but not shining, after all.



We use GC a lot here at work (Chev/Sub dealer). We're also the only dealer I've ever seen that use clay on the cars as they come off the truck! I used it for a few years before I went all Autopian on myself, and tried it on my Malibu as part of a 3 step. Believe me, the NEXT 3 step, with Souveran Liquid, was far, far superior. GC is very nice, but IMO there are better.





Mosca
 
That's why I went to the Professional line.. More products strickly for what you need to accomplish. Better to use a polish and a straight wax after. GC is mostlt over-the-counter stuff and not best suited for pro work. There are better claner/waxes in pro lines as well as Meguiars. Not saying it's bad, but it's for more of a consumer level quck on/off and gloss by additives.



Stick with the Pro line and/or look at other mfgs as well: Auto Magic, Clearkote, Poorboys etc..



That's my opinion, but then again, I use Zaino for protection and use Megs DACP for prep work as well as #9 and #34 FI.



Regards,

Deanski
 
You will find (if your GC is the same vintage as ours - we have 3 tins from various years here) that GC does indeed contain abrasives, solvents and fillers.



We have a very specific test regimine for determining whether or not products contain abrasives and fillers. We test on a mechanical level and then we also evaluate the products via a lab to determine if the product is abrasive. There are ways that you can test for abrasiveness on your own - it just takes a little ingenuity and a little thought. :)



My guess is that the GC appeared more glossy due to the rather high oil content and the fact that the surface was essentially being double-cleaned and double-oiled by the GC.



GC is a decent product for what it is and for what it costs. But I wouldn't classify it in the same category as products like Souveran or P21S...GC also has a nasty tendency to stain trim, whereas P21S and Souveran don't seem to. :)
 
Is there a difference between the GC Liquid and Paste? I have possesion of the liquid and based my comparison on this product only.



Steve



It is possible that the oils in GC improved the look but what I don't understand is why that's a bad thing. It's been 24 hours since I applied the two waxes and seeing it now I'm still confident it looks as good as yesterday.







A few of you have mentioned other products which give better depth and clarity. Please be specific which products you refer to as I'd love to try them. Keep in mind I've already compared the GC to S100 and GC looked better IMO. I've also used Zaino Z5 & Z2, Mothers California Gold, #26, Collinite Insulator Wax, Gliptone, #20, Eagle One Carnauba Paste Wax, Megs Medallion, NuFinish and a few others I can't remember. I'm always open to new suggestions but I prefer to make my own judgements rather than rely on others.:D
 
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