addysdaddy
New member
- Jun 13, 2012
- 980
- 0
I was fortunate to have a new 911S as my test mule for evaluating the new Synergy from Autogeek. This was a new car prep so keep in mind the paint was in excellent condition since the owner refused to let the dealer touch the car and literally just received delivery.
Procedure
2BW with CG Citrus Red stripping shampoo (1 oz/gal)
Iron X Lemon treatment- spray on, wait 5 minutes, lightly agitate and rinse off
P21s TAW spray down, wait 1-2 minutes and lightly agitate
Rinse thoroughly with water
Decontaminant with Nanoskin mitt & Glide
foam gun re-wash with CG Citrus Red
Dry with Microfiber Madness waffle weave towels-note no drying aide used
Sonax Paint cleanser applied with PC & HT Crimson pad
foam gun re-wash with CG Citrus Red
Apply first coat of Synergy - wait 2 hrs - applied second coat. Waited 10-15 minutes for product to haze before buffing off
Used the Mike Phillips "Final Wipe Method" to remove
General Comments
Let me begin this review by saying trying to find that little extra in any detailing product comes down to a game of inches. I've had the opportunity to use many high quality LSPs on a variety of cars & paint systems and I can only think of one time I walked away unhappy. Sorry but I haven't played with any of the coating products since I'm mostly an enthusiast and don't want to kill my hobby with a one and done type of product. Up to this point if you asked me my favorite three LSPs I would say (note that list is dynamic).
Auto Finesse Illusion
BF Crystal Seal
Collinite #845
Note the price points are all over the map and so are the ingredients. I also believe that when it comes to LSPs it's as much about the experience of applying & removing the product as it is about the shine. I get great results with all three of the above and friends & customers never complain regardless of the "wax" I use. Look at all the product reviews AG Staffers have done over the years, in virtually all cases the final results are simply fantastic. So is it the product or is it the detailer? Assuming the products are all top shelf versions of whatever, I'm going to go with the skill of the detailer being the trump card every time. See my last thread on waterless wash smearing and you'll understand why I feel strongly about this.
Application
My instructions were to apply the LSP very very thin so I used Mike's "kiss the paint method" with a P21s foam applicator and then spread the wax via my Flex 3401 with a black finishing pad. In general I've found this method to be the best way to really get a thin coat of wax evenly distributed over the surface. For me it's much easier and cleaner than trying to remove the block of wax out of the pot to then spread onto the pad directly. YMMV. After applying Synergy to the entire car, I let it dry for ten more minutes and then used a MF Madness Yellow Fellow (first wipe) and a Adams double soft MF (second wipe) to remove the "wax" which was a literally a breeze. Only product I can think of that recommends a heavy application is Megs #7 Glaze, so when it comes to applying this or any other wax, thin is to win.
Evaluation
So Synergy. ..let's get the negative out of the way first - the smell. It possess a very "chemical" like fragrance and this is coming from someone who has the documented worst sense of smell on the planet. With all the TLC manufacturers are taking today in trying to create a pleasant olfactory sensation, I can only conclude that the ingredients must be such that it wasn't possible with this product. The other issue I had was removing wax from the edges of the rear stone guards. Some of the wax got caught in the edges and neither towel, brush or plastic razor blades were able to completely remove the residual wax-sad to admit that the TOGW is me this time. Hadn't experience that with other LSPs so I'm not exactly sure what's going on here but my guess is that it's somehow it's operator error so I'm open to suggestions on how to remove that wax. I was not a happy camper since there is as slight yellow discoloration left behind. Also the P21s form applicator I used to apply product to paint couldn't be properly rinsed out so that had to be trashed - next time I'll use the old school cheapie yellow foam pad like the one that's included in the kit since it's clearly a one and done situation.
Observation
The product has a unique look to it, at least on this particular white 911. The finish look is VERY glossy...more sealant-like than nuba looking. Like most autogeeks, I like it when the paint looks wet and Synergy probably does that better on white than anything else I've used. Surprisingly, I was actually able to capture some reflection shots in the hood which is rare for white paint. It really doesn't have that warm carnauba look so if that's your thing, I would stick with a more traditional wax. It's color rendering is more neutral which works better for me -since I don't like it when the LSP shifts the color balance to either to the cool or warm side. I also don't like when the LSP darkens the paint color but I don't detail a lot of black or dark colored cars so I reserve the right to change my mind. Also as Nick predicted, the paint got progressively more slick the longer it cured.
Final Thoughts
Let me begin with a small observation that I really liked the container - screw top worked great and I felt confident that the pot was being resealed properly- the P21s applicator also fit comfortably into the canister. Just a couple of little things that enhanced the experience.
By nature I'm skeptical of most product claims both within the detailing world and out, since differences between similarly priced items are generally very close. But I believe Synergy actually delivers on that visual extra 10% - the Porsche white glistened and actually looked wet which is not an easy feat. The prep I utilized was my go to routine that I always use for a full detail so I've gotta give that extra little bit to the product itself. The 911 has great lines and Synergy helped to accentuate the curves with that high gloss finish.
White paint is great for hiding defects but it also excels at hiding the shine. Living in south Florida you get a lot of "experience" doing white cars. I've found that I constantly have to use an inspection light to see what's really going on whenever I detail white vehicles. After the second coat of Synergy and the "final wipe" all I could see was a pool of color. There was absolutely no cloudiness or streaking in the paint whatsoever. This thing looked and felt like glass. To the touch, the surface was very slick as mentioned earlier so hopefully Synergy doesn't turn into a dust magnet like so many other LSPs, especially those carnauba based. For me the ability of a product to repel dust & dirt is critically important, especially on my personal cars since that cuts down on the number of waterless washes & detail spray cleanups that I feel required to do. The less I have to touch the paint the less micro marring that occurs. Again everyone looks for something a little different in their last step product. Of course it's got to deliver in the shine department which Synergy does in spades-but honestly I/we all expected that. Personally speaking longevity is not critical to my personal detailing world but rather shedding/repelling dirt & dust are the features that matter most...so for that I'll have to wait and rate Synergy's overall performance once I lay down a coat on one of my own vehicles. Hopefully I'll report back on this feature in the near future.
Is it better than some of the other high end traditional carnaubas in the looks department? I would say yes by a small margin and give it that 10% extra that Nick discussed in his initial press release. But as always there are other considerations to be factored in. Is longevity important, do you prefer to apply the wax by hand instead of machine, is smell something that matters, how much are you willing to spend to get 10% more...so there is no simply answer. Does Synergy deliver on those few extra inches - from this initial experience I believe visually that it does. IMO, the paint looks sensational but look at the photos and judge for yourself. Should you opt in? If ultimately you answer yes, then I'm confident you won't be disappointed with the results.
If I could make one recommendation though it would be for AG to package a small "tester" size similar to how Fuzion & some of the Dodo waxes are packaged in order that more people would be willing to give it a try. The leap of faith at $195 is pretty substantial. However Synergy is an interesting product with a unique combination of ingredients; and if you can justify the expense, I would suggest giving it a try.
Procedure
2BW with CG Citrus Red stripping shampoo (1 oz/gal)
Iron X Lemon treatment- spray on, wait 5 minutes, lightly agitate and rinse off
P21s TAW spray down, wait 1-2 minutes and lightly agitate
Rinse thoroughly with water
Decontaminant with Nanoskin mitt & Glide
foam gun re-wash with CG Citrus Red
Dry with Microfiber Madness waffle weave towels-note no drying aide used
Sonax Paint cleanser applied with PC & HT Crimson pad
foam gun re-wash with CG Citrus Red
Apply first coat of Synergy - wait 2 hrs - applied second coat. Waited 10-15 minutes for product to haze before buffing off
Used the Mike Phillips "Final Wipe Method" to remove
General Comments
Let me begin this review by saying trying to find that little extra in any detailing product comes down to a game of inches. I've had the opportunity to use many high quality LSPs on a variety of cars & paint systems and I can only think of one time I walked away unhappy. Sorry but I haven't played with any of the coating products since I'm mostly an enthusiast and don't want to kill my hobby with a one and done type of product. Up to this point if you asked me my favorite three LSPs I would say (note that list is dynamic).
Auto Finesse Illusion
BF Crystal Seal
Collinite #845
Note the price points are all over the map and so are the ingredients. I also believe that when it comes to LSPs it's as much about the experience of applying & removing the product as it is about the shine. I get great results with all three of the above and friends & customers never complain regardless of the "wax" I use. Look at all the product reviews AG Staffers have done over the years, in virtually all cases the final results are simply fantastic. So is it the product or is it the detailer? Assuming the products are all top shelf versions of whatever, I'm going to go with the skill of the detailer being the trump card every time. See my last thread on waterless wash smearing and you'll understand why I feel strongly about this.
Application
My instructions were to apply the LSP very very thin so I used Mike's "kiss the paint method" with a P21s foam applicator and then spread the wax via my Flex 3401 with a black finishing pad. In general I've found this method to be the best way to really get a thin coat of wax evenly distributed over the surface. For me it's much easier and cleaner than trying to remove the block of wax out of the pot to then spread onto the pad directly. YMMV. After applying Synergy to the entire car, I let it dry for ten more minutes and then used a MF Madness Yellow Fellow (first wipe) and a Adams double soft MF (second wipe) to remove the "wax" which was a literally a breeze. Only product I can think of that recommends a heavy application is Megs #7 Glaze, so when it comes to applying this or any other wax, thin is to win.
Evaluation
So Synergy. ..let's get the negative out of the way first - the smell. It possess a very "chemical" like fragrance and this is coming from someone who has the documented worst sense of smell on the planet. With all the TLC manufacturers are taking today in trying to create a pleasant olfactory sensation, I can only conclude that the ingredients must be such that it wasn't possible with this product. The other issue I had was removing wax from the edges of the rear stone guards. Some of the wax got caught in the edges and neither towel, brush or plastic razor blades were able to completely remove the residual wax-sad to admit that the TOGW is me this time. Hadn't experience that with other LSPs so I'm not exactly sure what's going on here but my guess is that it's somehow it's operator error so I'm open to suggestions on how to remove that wax. I was not a happy camper since there is as slight yellow discoloration left behind. Also the P21s form applicator I used to apply product to paint couldn't be properly rinsed out so that had to be trashed - next time I'll use the old school cheapie yellow foam pad like the one that's included in the kit since it's clearly a one and done situation.
Observation
The product has a unique look to it, at least on this particular white 911. The finish look is VERY glossy...more sealant-like than nuba looking. Like most autogeeks, I like it when the paint looks wet and Synergy probably does that better on white than anything else I've used. Surprisingly, I was actually able to capture some reflection shots in the hood which is rare for white paint. It really doesn't have that warm carnauba look so if that's your thing, I would stick with a more traditional wax. It's color rendering is more neutral which works better for me -since I don't like it when the LSP shifts the color balance to either to the cool or warm side. I also don't like when the LSP darkens the paint color but I don't detail a lot of black or dark colored cars so I reserve the right to change my mind. Also as Nick predicted, the paint got progressively more slick the longer it cured.
Final Thoughts
Let me begin with a small observation that I really liked the container - screw top worked great and I felt confident that the pot was being resealed properly- the P21s applicator also fit comfortably into the canister. Just a couple of little things that enhanced the experience.
By nature I'm skeptical of most product claims both within the detailing world and out, since differences between similarly priced items are generally very close. But I believe Synergy actually delivers on that visual extra 10% - the Porsche white glistened and actually looked wet which is not an easy feat. The prep I utilized was my go to routine that I always use for a full detail so I've gotta give that extra little bit to the product itself. The 911 has great lines and Synergy helped to accentuate the curves with that high gloss finish.
White paint is great for hiding defects but it also excels at hiding the shine. Living in south Florida you get a lot of "experience" doing white cars. I've found that I constantly have to use an inspection light to see what's really going on whenever I detail white vehicles. After the second coat of Synergy and the "final wipe" all I could see was a pool of color. There was absolutely no cloudiness or streaking in the paint whatsoever. This thing looked and felt like glass. To the touch, the surface was very slick as mentioned earlier so hopefully Synergy doesn't turn into a dust magnet like so many other LSPs, especially those carnauba based. For me the ability of a product to repel dust & dirt is critically important, especially on my personal cars since that cuts down on the number of waterless washes & detail spray cleanups that I feel required to do. The less I have to touch the paint the less micro marring that occurs. Again everyone looks for something a little different in their last step product. Of course it's got to deliver in the shine department which Synergy does in spades-but honestly I/we all expected that. Personally speaking longevity is not critical to my personal detailing world but rather shedding/repelling dirt & dust are the features that matter most...so for that I'll have to wait and rate Synergy's overall performance once I lay down a coat on one of my own vehicles. Hopefully I'll report back on this feature in the near future.
Is it better than some of the other high end traditional carnaubas in the looks department? I would say yes by a small margin and give it that 10% extra that Nick discussed in his initial press release. But as always there are other considerations to be factored in. Is longevity important, do you prefer to apply the wax by hand instead of machine, is smell something that matters, how much are you willing to spend to get 10% more...so there is no simply answer. Does Synergy deliver on those few extra inches - from this initial experience I believe visually that it does. IMO, the paint looks sensational but look at the photos and judge for yourself. Should you opt in? If ultimately you answer yes, then I'm confident you won't be disappointed with the results.
If I could make one recommendation though it would be for AG to package a small "tester" size similar to how Fuzion & some of the Dodo waxes are packaged in order that more people would be willing to give it a try. The leap of faith at $195 is pretty substantial. However Synergy is an interesting product with a unique combination of ingredients; and if you can justify the expense, I would suggest giving it a try.
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