Well this weekend I finally found time to give my car a good wash and wax. I haven’t washed my car myself in years so I’ve forgotten how much of a pain in the arse it is. I usually go to a car wash. I got the Mr. Clean Auto Dry Car Wash for X-mas. She was pissed at the swirl marks that the car wash left after the first wash she had done, so I got her the Auto Dry. It’s June, and she hadn’t used it yet, so I decided to use it on the Q. As far as the Nu-Finish, I’ve never waxed the Q, and I wasn’t going to spend $70.00 on 5 Star Shine, so I thought I try the NU-Finish.
First the wash. I must say, this stuff does not suds that much, but it cleaned the car. First you wet the car, and then you soap it. You do it in sections without letting it dry. Get a wash cloth, I got these soft ones from Target that come in a 5 pack and are cheap, and wash over the soapy area. Rinse off the soap, and then you put the Mr. Clean nozzle of filter mode and go over the area with the filtered water. My car took a long time to dry because I was in the shade, but it dried mostly spot free. I was surprised. I got a few spots on the glass, but I also did a little drying myself because it was getting dark and I wanted to do the Nu-Finish.
Now it’s time to do the Nu-Finish. I’m always a little wary about “As seen on TV” claim, but my wife said that she use to use it on her old car and it would leave her car nice. I said what the hell, let’s give it a try. I got a big bottle at Target. It was about seven bucks, better that $70. I used the cloth that I washed the car with, damp, and then I got a fresh cloth and buffed the wax off. It comes off real easy with little effort and left the car nice and shinny. When you’re buffing, you notice all the imperfections and scratches that my car has gotten in the past 9 years. My car gets killed in my job. My Q has gotten hit by my delivery truck, other trucks making deliveries to my business, my fork lift, disgruntled employees, and the #1 enemy, BIRD $HIT!!! Only time will tell how long it lasts. They claim to be the once a year car polish. I’ve already got early returns. Monday, a bird took a crap on the hood of the Q and it rained overnight. When I got to the car in the morning, the bird $hit gone and the car in general stayed fairly clean. I’m impressed. The bottle said to repeat after 30 day of the first application to get best results, so I just might do that. I used about a ¼ of the bottle so I should have 4 years worth, as opposed to the 5 star which, I think, only gives you enough to do the car once. With such a big price difference, it’s defiantly worth considering. I’ll report back to see how long it really lasts.
Review on Mr. Clean Auto Dry and Nu-Finish
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elwesso
- Posts: 30810
- Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
- Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT - Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Great review Louie!
I went over to dollar general the other day to pick up some odds and ends and I saw some there for $5.. Couldnt resist... Put some on that night and it looks good... It leaves a ton of dust and I dont think I applied it real good, im gonna apply another coat here in a while.....
However, if it holds up decent (ie 3months or so) then ill be happy...
I went over to dollar general the other day to pick up some odds and ends and I saw some there for $5.. Couldnt resist... Put some on that night and it looks good... It leaves a ton of dust and I dont think I applied it real good, im gonna apply another coat here in a while.....
However, if it holds up decent (ie 3months or so) then ill be happy...
elwesso wrote:It leaves a ton of dust and I dont think I applied it real good, im gonna apply another coat here in a while.....
However, if it holds up decent (ie 3months or so) then ill be happy...
Yea, the next day, the Q was dusty. I don't think the Nu-Finish made the car dusty. I think it's more like it atracted dust more. Maybe the Nu-finish leaves the car so clean that you notice the dust. Just kidding. Anytime I ever wash my car. the next day the car gets dust. I think that's normal.
I've been using NuFinish since 1997, and my dad used it all through the 80s. My 1988 Nissan Sentra, the wrecked heap that it eventually became (it was my first car, basically training wheels), was always shiny and had a nice clean coat of paint.
I usually apply NuFinish every 6 months -- its lasted a lot longer than Meguiar's and California Gold which seem to fade after 2-3 weeks. And as far as the off the shelf stuff out there, I'd say its the absolute best bang for the buck.
It does seem to attract more dust, so I keep a big red dust brush in the trunk in a black case. A quick dustoff once a day does the trick!
My next step is to invest $70 into Five Star, not because I want to wax less, but to protect myself from bird excretions (I park outside). That seems well worth every penny to protect my clear coat.
-Jesda
I usually apply NuFinish every 6 months -- its lasted a lot longer than Meguiar's and California Gold which seem to fade after 2-3 weeks. And as far as the off the shelf stuff out there, I'd say its the absolute best bang for the buck.
It does seem to attract more dust, so I keep a big red dust brush in the trunk in a black case. A quick dustoff once a day does the trick!
My next step is to invest $70 into Five Star, not because I want to wax less, but to protect myself from bird excretions (I park outside). That seems well worth every penny to protect my clear coat.
-Jesda
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Falkdesigns
- Posts: 2738
- Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2004 9:58 am
- Car: 1998 Q45t ~ EXE
- Contact:
I haven't used it in years, but I remember that when I did, I was always impressed.
I just did my car with some Tech Wax from Meguiars that we had samples of at work (we got a box of stuff from Meguiars about a week ago). Awesome stuff!! Brilliant shine, easy to put on and hardly any dust residue. Definitley hid some small scratches too! I also keep a Cali Duster in my trunk and I try to dust it off every day before leaving work.
I just did my car with some Tech Wax from Meguiars that we had samples of at work (we got a box of stuff from Meguiars about a week ago). Awesome stuff!! Brilliant shine, easy to put on and hardly any dust residue. Definitley hid some small scratches too! I also keep a Cali Duster in my trunk and I try to dust it off every day before leaving work.
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nuQ
- Posts: 1659
- Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2003 1:39 pm
- Car: 2003 Infiniti M45
2009 Dodge Caliber SXT - Location: Bethlehem PA
not to keep trumpeting the 5 star system, but, i'm going on 10 months and the shine is still awesome!! when i bought the Q i did an all day wax job (wash, clay bar, polish and meguires top carnuba wax). looked great for a couple weeks, but the cement dust in my town quickly ate the wax away. all i do is take my Q to a self serve car wash, wand in one hand, wash mitt in the other, quick wipe down, spray off, looks like the first day it was applied!!!!! for my money and time, 50-70 bucks, and no more every few sundays spent re-waxing,,,,,,,,,,,well worth it!!
btw---dont think there is ANY store bought wax that could last as long as 5 star/zaino.
btw---dont think there is ANY store bought wax that could last as long as 5 star/zaino.
nuQ wrote:not to keep trumpeting the 5 star system, but, i'm going on 10 months and the shine is still awesome!! when i bought the Q i did an all day wax job (wash, clay bar, polish and meguires top carnuba wax). looked great for a couple weeks, but the cement dust in my town quickly ate the wax away. all i do is take my Q to a self serve car wash, wand in one hand, wash mitt in the other, quick wipe down, spray off, looks like the first day it was applied!!!!! for my money and time, 50-70 bucks, and no more every few sundays spent re-waxing,,,,,,,,,,,well worth it!!
btw---dont think there is ANY store bought wax that could last as long as 5 star/zaino.
I know that there isnt anything out there that last 5 years, but if it last 1 year, then I think it's worth the savings. I just have to see if it really lasts 1 year.
I dont see all the hype in the 5 star system,it uses teflon as its trump card,even though Dupont,the maker of teflon states that teflon does nothing for car waxes.nothing lasts 5 years without reapplication! try KLASSE all in one if you want a long lasting,durable protective coating{lasts 6-9 months}
Miscellaneous Pics of Her, Me, The Q:http://q.spilky.com/myq/P7201538.jpghtt ... 201536.jpg
This is with fresh TR-3 Glaze:http://q.spilky.com/myq/P7061337.jpghtt ... -Front.jpg
This is with fresh TR-3 Glaze:http://q.spilky.com/myq/P7061337.jpghtt ... -Front.jpg
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nuQ
- Posts: 1659
- Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2003 1:39 pm
- Car: 2003 Infiniti M45
2009 Dodge Caliber SXT - Location: Bethlehem PA
"""""""I dont see all the hype in the 5 star system,it uses teflon as its trump card,even though Dupont,the maker of teflon states that teflon does nothing for car waxes.nothing lasts 5 years without reapplication! try KLASSE all in one if you want a long lasting,durable protective coating{lasts 6-9 months}""""""""
like i said, i'm going on 10 months in a town with a cement factory (noticible dust everyday on the paint!!!! ----someone wrote in about the ph factor of cement dust being just about the worst for a car's finish!!!). when i wash the car in the self serve, looks fantastic,,,,,,hand washing makes it look like the day i applied it!!! for 50-60 bucks,,well worth it, IMO!!! if it lasts 12-18 months, i'll be thrilled!jeff
like i said, i'm going on 10 months in a town with a cement factory (noticible dust everyday on the paint!!!! ----someone wrote in about the ph factor of cement dust being just about the worst for a car's finish!!!). when i wash the car in the self serve, looks fantastic,,,,,,hand washing makes it look like the day i applied it!!! for 50-60 bucks,,well worth it, IMO!!! if it lasts 12-18 months, i'll be thrilled!jeff
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Dust N Bones
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2003 6:03 pm
- Car: 2001 I30, 2000 Nissan Altima (Wife's)
Jesda wrote:After I try 5-Star (and it finally wears off) Ill give Klasse a closer look.
I was going to try 5 Star but after reading louiegz's review I think I'll try Nu-Finish first. The price is a lot more reasonable. Has anyone seen Nu-Finish in a paste because I've only been able to find it in liquid. I generally like to use paste wax because when I use liquid was I usually end up with swirl marks.