Should I opti-coat/cquartz my soft paint?

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HellDemon

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I have a honda, and as you all know, it has unbelievably soft paint. It is however, white, so it is much less noticable when it gets scratched lightly, but it is my daily driver, so it would get beat up pretty bad if i didn't care for the paint at all.

While OC and CQ are very nice options since it is harder than stock clear coat, I also have quite a few waxes, glazes, etc. And I really don't want all that to go to waste since I know that stuff doesn't stick too well to opti-coat, although it's not like they simply slide off either right?

Since they are both the "end-all" LSP (if I use it, i'd still put waxes and the like on it, but i don't want to put it on if it only lasts say 1 week on it instead of the standard month or so), would it still be worth it to put it on when I have so many products to use? Or should I just wait till I use everything up?

And if you feel I should, should I go for OC or CQ? I have done alot of reading up on it and from reviews as well; OC seems to be more protective, but CQ can be layered and reapplied if I polish out a spot as opposed to OC which requires full removal of the layer.
 
Its all up to you. I have OC but I wouldn't use it on my DD because I enjoy applying sealants and waxes. If you do apply OC I would not apply anything on top of it. It wouldn't last even a week probably. And if I had to pick between OC or CQ, I would go with OC
 
Is there a very noticeable difference in scratch resistance between Opti-Coat and regular paint/clearcoat?

If there is I'm in - rather just wash the car and hit it with Optimum's Instant Detailer than go through the whole wax routine...and it'd probably look just as good as the whole wax routine.
 
They are both excellent products honestly. You really can't go wrong with either. As far as hardness the CQ reaches full hardness a good deal faster.
 
HellDemon said:
I have a honda, and as you all know, it has unbelievably soft paint. It is however, white, so it is much less noticable when it gets scratched lightly, but it is my daily driver, so it would get beat up pretty bad if i didn't care for the paint at all.

While OC and CQ are very nice options since it is harder than stock clear coat, I also have quite a few waxes, glazes, etc. And I really don't want all that to go to waste since I know that stuff doesn't stick too well to opti-coat, although it's not like they simply slide off either right?

Since they are both the "end-all" LSP (if I use it, i'd still put waxes and the like on it, but i don't want to put it on if it only lasts say 1 week on it instead of the standard month or so), would it still be worth it to put it on when I have so many products to use? Or should I just wait till I use everything up?

And if you feel I should, should I go for OC or CQ? I have done alot of reading up on it and from reviews as well; OC seems to be more protective, but CQ can be layered and reapplied if I polish out a spot as opposed to OC which requires full removal of the layer.
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I havent used CQ but I love Opti Guard which is same as OC but flashes quicker . IME if you do OC, it resists dirt so well you may not want to spoil the OC repellancy with a sealant and/or wax. I gave all my wax and sealants away and have no regrets. OID will have a lower surface tension than OCW and will add gloss to OC.
 
shoeless89 said:
Its all up to you. I have OC but I wouldn't use it on my DD because I enjoy applying sealants and waxes. If you do apply OC I would not apply anything on top of it. It wouldn't last even a week probably. And if I had to pick between OC or CQ, I would go with OC
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OC is a urethane substrate, very similar to clearcoat. Wax or sealant will bond to it but will restore the limatations of a wax or sealant.
 
cpa5oh said:
Is there a very noticeable difference in scratch resistance between Opti-Coat and regular paint/clearcoat?

If there is I'm in - rather just wash the car and hit it with Optimum's Instant Detailer than go through the whole wax routine...and it'd probably look just as good as the whole wax routine.
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IME, surface doesnt scratch as easy.. I havent done a Honda but have done 2 Lexus and the owners wouldnt go back to anything else.
 
The newest version of OC can be layered and can be repaired. I have done both with the latest version OG and OC has same features now.
 
I too have a Honda but I got a black one. I chose to opti-coat it as it is too my dd. I so far like it and it made it through a Michigan winter.
 
starjammir said:
I too have a Honda but I got a black one. I chose to opti-coat it as it is too my dd. I so far like it and it made it through a Michigan winter.
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You cant beat this endorsement. Take the plunge, the water is just fine!
 
So really how hard is ThIs stuff? On a black truck, would it get fine scratches easily?
 
Jomax said:
So really how hard is ThIs stuff? On a black truck, would it get fine scratches easily?
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Here is a great video showing scratch resistance...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvCXQ-AwEMs]Demonstration of Optiguard Clear Hard Coating - YouTube[/video]

And one showing not so great scratch resistance..

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFIisOg343k]SCRATCH TEST.wmv - YouTube[/video]

So it looks like it will protect against light marring better than nothing, but against a scotch pad with pressure it didnt offer much protection. I think washing and QD'ing is much closer to the first test than the 2nd.
Also, the 2nd test probably removed the coatings after a couple passes so then it was just rubbing against bare paint.
 
The first video is pretty impressive...but wouldn't steel wool cause more abrasion than a scotch pad? I wonder if the Opti-Guard is just better at abrasion resistance than Opti-Coat?

If I can find a way to get my paint looking real nice (I'm not yet great with the DAorbital,) I may put a coating on...I feel like I scratch the black Camaro everytime I touch it as is without a coating, and it's very frustrating.
 
Well, as the person that took that second video I dont buy the first at all.
Of course maybe OC hardened more by the time they tested that.

I waited one week to do my scratch testing with OC vs CQ which seems more than fair to me. People will wash or touch there car within a week... Later I learned the OC takes much longer than that to fully harden HOWEVER I was also told that it is fully capable and harder than paint after the first week.

I did another scratch test a month or so after that one there with only a dry microfiber towel. I took photots and reversed the color in some photos to show the few scratches that I got.

I never posted it and gave up on that because it seemed most either didn't care or would blame me for showing my findings.

OP, forget about scratch resistance. The main reason you will get scratch resistance from either of these coatings is because both of them will keep the car cleaner. Dirt, contaminants, and water will fall off them both easier and when you wash the dirt will come off easier which helps not to scratch.
 
Let me rephrase. If you have super soft paint it is completely logical the coating CQ or OG will be harder and more scratch resistant than your paint.
 
CEE DOG said:
Let me rephrase. If you have super soft paint it is completely logical the coating CQ or OG will be harder and more scratch resistant than your paint.
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I was going to add that. My '95 Acura Legend has pretty soft paint. Adding OG has made it much more manageable and I'm able to keep it swirl free. Would OG be harder than an Audi, highly doubt that!
 
Hmm so it seems like the general consensus is go for it given the soft paint; awesome! OC is definitely part of my next order!

Thanks for all the input everyone! I'll still be putting waxes over it and the like, since it's just simply something I enjoy and I feel it still adds protection over it; also it makes it look nicer and feel slicker ;)
 
HellDemon said:
Hmm so it seems like the general consensus is go for it given the soft paint; awesome! OC is definitely part of my next order!

Thanks for all the input everyone! I'll still be putting waxes over it and the like, since it's just simply something I enjoy and I feel it still adds protection over it; also it makes it look nicer and feel slicker ;)
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I have OC on my acura TL. Waxes do not last long. You may want to consider using ReLoad spray. This will give you the slick feeling you are looking for on your car.
 
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