Like many of the other posters, I am a sucker for trying new products. Armor All was offering a rebate if you purchased one of their new wax products good for the purchase of another. (In this case, I bought their Ultra Shine polish and their new Butter Smooth Wax was free).
I decided to compare that to a stalwart of many of our detailing arsenals (Collinite IW845).
Both cars pictured below were given a full detail earlier this Summer. For this comparison. I prepped both vehicles by washing with Griot's Garage Car wash. Followed by claying with Ultima Elastafoam Claybar system. Both vehicles were polished with the Armor All Ultra Shine Liquid Polish.
The first picture is a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. This was followed by Armor All Butter Smooth Wax.
The second picture is a 2009 Toyota Rav4 with a final LSP with Collinite IW845.
(all products applied by hand for this test and allowed the proper cure time)
(both cars were completed this past Saturday with an average temperature of 65 degrees. My area has experienced a slow but steady rainfall for the past several days.(temps in the low 50's to low 60's) Both cars were stationary in my driveway for about 6 hours.)
I immediately noticed that the the beading on the Santa Fe was much larger and in my experience it seems that the bonding of the LSP was already being affected by the elements. Mind you this is using both products from Armor All as a system. (recommended by the manufacturer)
The second picture shows a much tighter beading pattern on the Rav4. This is indicative of my experience with Collinite IW845. While this is not a scientific test by any means, my past experience with Collinite IW845 is standing up to the elements with no breakdown. Generally I can go through a winter season and still have some beading by spring. The beading pattern will be larger by Spring time. (in fact similar to the first picture).
As an aside, I found the application/removal of Armor All's Ultra Shine Liquid Polish to be extremely easy and safe for the average person. It has a very mild polishing ability and the consistency of a thick sun tan oil. Armor All Butter Smooth Wax is an instant flash wax that worked fine in the temperature range, but I really think that it could be very tricky in a hot environment (akin to Eagle One Gel Wax). For that reason, this will not really be in my arsenal.
Applying Collinite IW845 by hand was a joy as long as you apply is sparingly. It wipes off easily after proper cure time and their is a sense on satisfaction knowing that the vehicle will be protected for quite awhile.
I decided to compare that to a stalwart of many of our detailing arsenals (Collinite IW845).
Both cars pictured below were given a full detail earlier this Summer. For this comparison. I prepped both vehicles by washing with Griot's Garage Car wash. Followed by claying with Ultima Elastafoam Claybar system. Both vehicles were polished with the Armor All Ultra Shine Liquid Polish.
The first picture is a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. This was followed by Armor All Butter Smooth Wax.
The second picture is a 2009 Toyota Rav4 with a final LSP with Collinite IW845.
(all products applied by hand for this test and allowed the proper cure time)
(both cars were completed this past Saturday with an average temperature of 65 degrees. My area has experienced a slow but steady rainfall for the past several days.(temps in the low 50's to low 60's) Both cars were stationary in my driveway for about 6 hours.)
I immediately noticed that the the beading on the Santa Fe was much larger and in my experience it seems that the bonding of the LSP was already being affected by the elements. Mind you this is using both products from Armor All as a system. (recommended by the manufacturer)
The second picture shows a much tighter beading pattern on the Rav4. This is indicative of my experience with Collinite IW845. While this is not a scientific test by any means, my past experience with Collinite IW845 is standing up to the elements with no breakdown. Generally I can go through a winter season and still have some beading by spring. The beading pattern will be larger by Spring time. (in fact similar to the first picture).
As an aside, I found the application/removal of Armor All's Ultra Shine Liquid Polish to be extremely easy and safe for the average person. It has a very mild polishing ability and the consistency of a thick sun tan oil. Armor All Butter Smooth Wax is an instant flash wax that worked fine in the temperature range, but I really think that it could be very tricky in a hot environment (akin to Eagle One Gel Wax). For that reason, this will not really be in my arsenal.
Applying Collinite IW845 by hand was a joy as long as you apply is sparingly. It wipes off easily after proper cure time and their is a sense on satisfaction knowing that the vehicle will be protected for quite awhile.
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