How to pick a brand

Hazcat said:
I think if someone offered me Adams products free Adams would make up the majority of my products. I'm sure there would be one or two items I wouldn't like but other than that I would be an Adams rolling billboard.
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+1 At least I'd be using Adams until I found something that out performed it.
 
My preference is Collinite waxes, Menzerna polishes and their Power Lock sealant, Auto Glym SRP(not sold by AG), Meguiars Cleaner Wax and Ultimate Polish, generally find myself reaching for those products more often than any others, no one brand makes the best of everything, each has a product or two that stands out.
 
Meguiars bc it's cheap and works well, is marketed extremely well and is not overhyped. It's easy to go with what everyone else is using
 
I'll get flamed by many for saying this, but Chemical Guys is probably my favorite overall brand. I've been very happy with everything from them I have. You do have to research though because they have multiple of pretty much everything and it's not always simple to know which is better. And they do have some turds
 
Bob, while I'm not going to speak for the OP, I think what he implied was that when he goes into Autozone or NAPA he sees the consumer line (A-line), then when he goes to the local CarQuest paint shop or comes here, most of the lineup is the Detailer or Professional lines (D- and M-lines).

Rather, the Ford analogy should be: I go to the Ford dealer and see the Fusion for $25k, but then I go home and see an ad for the Lincoln MKZ for $45k! That's just shady!
 
Lighten up Bob, wth?

OP, Meguiars has 3 lines of products. A consumer line that's easier to use for noobs, a middle line and a professional line. People with more experience than I can give a lot more details about each but I've used the consumer line, Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish and they were great!
 
I understand your question well, superdave, and was there myself many years ago and there weren't as many products on the market as there are now. In my experience i started here and on other detailing forums and read everything i could. Then began to sample and try many of the brands and products on my cars and eventually found what i liked for results. Yes, that can get expensive however i have found some great info here from many of the more experienced folks who are kind enough to share specific experiences they've had. My suggestion to you is just make an educated and researched guess at what product or method makes sense to you for your vehicle and dig in. Try it out and ask here if you want further refinements. The wonderful character of AutoGeek is that everyone here has, at some time, used darn near every product out there. You will find a subject matter expert right here.

And in my experience, it may be the second, third, fourth etc. product that nails it for you. If your lucky maybe even the first one you try based on your research here.
 
That was close to my experience as well. I had been "detailing" my own cars by hand for decades as a pure pastime. I never got the results I wanted but those were simpler times; without a rotary, an arsenal of pro-only products and professional training, the average driveway detailer wasn't expected to turn out a show car finish. I got the results I expected. Fast forward just a few years ago, after spending countless hours devouring information here and there, I pulled the trigger and ordered a PC and the Meguiars 5" DA Microfiber Correction System. Designed for beginners and duffers, it was almost foolproof and provided instant results and gratification beyond my expectations and anything I'd achieved by hand over the previous 25 years. I've since expanded my arsenal of compounds and polishes, and experiment with different compounds and polishes on the MF pads or using the Meg's DAMF liquids on foam pads, but I've centered my process around the results I know I can achieve with that "beginner's" system. As a result, the major brand in my arsenal is indeed Meguiars, but part of the fun of the pastime has been to try other products from other companies. My next step is to upgrade my main polisher and I'm leaning towards the Flex XC3401, which will open new doors for me yet again.
 
And its a wonderful journey to try different things and with practice you inevitably end up refining your skills. I have always maintained a progressive mind on this stuff and there are always improvements to be made and new products or techniques to try for yourself.

But it all starts by picking something and digging in.
 
Any brand you pick from AG is going to be good! I happen to like DP & PRIMA. But so true. Find something you like and use it often. Problem with that is we all like to try NEW products.
 
pro 4x said:
Any brand you pick from AG is going to be good! I happen to like DP & PRIMA. But so true. Find something you like and use it often. Problem with that is we all like to try NEW products.
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:iagree:I could have saved at least $1,500 from all the products that I used and do not like. I have donated many to people on this site. Pick products that you feel are the best for you. For Compound/Polishing, I like Menzerna FG400 and SF4500. I like Wolfgang products for Trim and AIO. For Spray waxes a different brand AGO does not sell. I could go on but now I am down to 3 Brands that I like. I will stick to them as it is the most effective for me.

I will try new product and that is why the Wolfgang AIO is now on my list. I hate trying new products!!!.....LOL
 
SameGuy said:
That was close to my experience as well. I had been "detailing" my own cars by hand for decades as a pure pastime. I never got the results I wanted but those were simpler times; without a rotary, an arsenal of pro-only products and professional training, the average driveway detailer wasn't expected to turn out a show car finish. I got the results I expected. Fast forward just a few years ago, after spending countless hours devouring information here and there, I pulled the trigger and ordered a PC and the Meguiars 5" DA Microfiber Correction System. Designed for beginners and duffers, it was almost foolproof and provided instant results and gratification beyond my expectations and anything I'd achieved by hand over the previous 25 years. I've since expanded my arsenal of compounds and polishes, and experiment with different compounds and polishes on the MF pads or using the Meg's DAMF liquids on foam pads, but I've centered my process around the results I know I can achieve with that "beginner's" system. As a result, the major brand in my arsenal is indeed Meguiars, but part of the fun of the pastime has been to try other products from other companies. My next step is to upgrade my main polisher and I'm leaning towards the Flex XC3401, which will open new doors for me yet again.
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I've had a very similar experience.

When I started polishing cars, Meguiar's, 3M, and Presta were the only professional products available at the local paint shop.

Fast forward 18 years later, and the options are vast! Meguiar's has been very reliable, and has always performed as expected for me, so I just stick with them. When funds allow, I really want to try some Menzerna products.

Machines are another story. Back in the day I had a Wen rotary, and a Black & Decker 6" orbital. Today I have a couple of Porter Cable tools, a Flex 3401, and Craftsman 5" d/a variable speed palm sander that works well with a 5.5" pad on it. These machines are what I used to dream of. It's been an amazing evolution, and great to witness.

Have fun with it, op!
 
Nice! :xyxthumbs:

I'll also reiterate what someone mentioned above. Take advantage of the frequent sales here, and always get the free sample if you can! That's how I've been able to try all sorts of amazing products like Liquid Souveran, TSR, BF QD and more. These 50 ml samples are usually more than enough to do one large car. In the case of Souveran, even more!
 
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