What do you look for in a wax (or LSP)?

[Meghan]

I am always curious, I hear all different responses when people refer to a wax (if you use sealants let us know about your preference). Some like wet look, some like the plastic look, some just want a great reflection. We hear people talk about durability, but do we every really let our cars go longer than a month without a coat of wax??
Some like to see the water bead up on the hood, some say beading means nothing. I am just curious on what you think...
I personally like to see the paint look like a pool of water, reflecting nice and crisp. When it rains I want to see the water bead up on the car... And I really could care less about durability as long as it last a good month or two. One thing to remember is we are all different so there is no wrong answer just your opinion.

You can pick as many as apply to you on the poll.
If you have others choices you want me to add, let me know and I will.

 

[supercharged]

Voted for ease of application. Why? I've noticed that products that are super easy to apply/remove (notice I didn't say easy, but super easy) will always give you wet look, bright and crisp reflections. Pinnacle waxes for instance, and DP max wax. Sure they are not the longest lasting protection (compared to Collinite), but unless it's a harsh winter (snow), I don't really need it to last that long.:cheers:

 

[Larry A]

I voted the Wet Look. I like shiny cars. The look is the first thing you see.

 

[budman3]

All of the above plus slickness!

 

[Mike T]

All of the above plus slickness!

:whs:
I won't except any less out of my LSP

 

[AL417]

Easy, slick, wet look, crisp reflections, beading.
I want it all!
Durability is nice to have during nasty winters but not very high on my list at all.

 

[Brian_Brice]

part of me wants great taste, and another part wants less filling.

 

[CalgaryDetail]

I look for looks. I dont know what look that is, but each wax has its own look. If i dont like the look I wont use it.
Durabilty is an after thought, if a wax lasts me 2 weeks I dont use it, but if I can ge 4 weeks out of it then its worth it to me

 

[dengood1]

Wet, beads, easy, and slick! And no, I'm not talking about Mardi Gras

 

[Jimmie]

Hard to describe. I voted for the wet look. The look I like is where all of the panels and curves seem to run together in an overall glow. You see it more with a glance than a stare.

 

[mixxer]

Wet Look ,Great Reflections/ Crisp Look ,Easy of Application/Removal is what i want form my cars. For my customers beading ,protection and durability.

 

[cbard]

wet look and Slick feel:buffing:

 

[ricka]

I don't mind waxing so ease of applying and removing is key. Durability not so much since I like to wax fairly often. Appearance-wise its a wet look but not overly shiny. Reflections are a bi-product of wet appearance.

When my car looks its best, the paint has the appearance of a calm, glassy pond. All the panels seem to melt into the other. Like it is covered in metallic silver mercury.

 

[ASPHALT ROCKET]

Wet look, depth, clarity, and reflection.

 

[Gary Sword]

On my everyday drivers durability and protection is at the top of my important attributes list. On my toys looks is the most important thing to me.

 

[Detail_Guy]

I like them all, but voted for reflection and crisp look... and to see the crazy total percentage.

The total percentage right now is 210.29% :awesome:

 

[Z06-Goose]

I agree with most of the points made by Meghan. I do like sealants. I like its shine and reflexions and durability
However, durability to me is the time your paint stays protected
Is durability that much of an issue if we all like to wax our car at least once a month?
Well, it depends, I live in cold weather, and sometimes you can go way over a month or two months without a coat of wax if you don't have a heated garage, so durability is important to me

When I do a clients car at his location, I will give them my menu of what I carry and let them decide. The more expensive and exotic the car is the more I have the tendency to offer them one of my high-end carnauba waxes; Pinnacle, or Victoria Concours
If winter protection and good shine is what they want, then I can offer them; Rejex, AJTrigger, Collinite, WPGS, Adams Super Wax, 1Z Glanz Wax, or Prima Epic
If lived in a warmer climate, I'd probablty be using more waxes than I use sealants, but because this crazy weather I'm in, both waxes and sealants have their place in my neck of the woods

 

[zaxjax]

I voted for ease to apply and remove.

Most of the higher end waxes, have this quality, and they have great depth and wet look.

I suggest a wax based on color, and if durability is a factor.

I like sealants personally.

 

[Mr Dream Machines]

I don't use wax anymore so sealant is my thing.
Water sheeting is extremely important, maximum durability (if it dont last 12 months I ain't using it) and complete acid rain protection and good protection from fallout and sap

So far all sap comes off with just a high pressure warm soap at the coin op, I don't get any fallout and paint is slick all year long.

You don't really get a look from sealant, it's just a clear coating
It is all in the prep work really

My maintenance is super easy. I put three coats of Glare on everything, machine quick detail with Driven, a microfibre bonnet and cheap orbital after every wash to keep it slick, increase the protection of Glare and make the paint wetter and clearer and use that detail spray to protect the glass, wheels and interior

 

[Wolf-Strong]

I personally put appearance as my last requirement when I am looking for a wax as I believe the 'look' should come from how you polish the car, not the wax. I see wax as a way to protect the surface that you just spent so long trying to make look good, so protecting the paint comes #1. I also see beading as irrelavent as I look for a wax that sheets water well, so sheeting would be #2. Strangely, waxes like Eagle One Nanowax aren't slick, but tend to sheet really well, while others like Collnite and Gold Class are very slick, but don't sheet well, so for me, slickness means nothing. Ease of application/removal tie in with how long a wax lasts for me because if the wax is super easy to use, like Souveran, I have no problem using it monthly, while other waxes like DuPont's Teflon wax and Collnite I would want to last a long time because they are a PITA to work with.