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If you really want a great long-lasting shine, I would first focus on preparing your paint, no matter if you're using Zaino, Tropi-Care, Sonus, Zymol, Klasse, et. al.
Two related sites to peruse for tips/info/suggestions:
http://www.autopia.org - forums
http://www.guidetodetailing.com - their "how-to" site.
The biggest purchase I made to help my paint prep was a Porter-Cable PC7424 orbital polisher. Unlike a rotary buffer, which, in the hands of a novice, can burn the paint off to the bare metal, an orbital can be used by a novice and you won't totally screw up your paint. In fact, you'll make it a whole ton better.
In the past two weeks I've used the PC on 3 different cars:
a) mother-in-law's black 2004 Chevy SSR she just bought used. Had a bunch of scratches and swirls.
b) wife's 2004 Envoy. No real swirls, but some rock chips, door dings, and a gouged rear bumper where somebody hit her car in a parking lot, then drove off (no note)
c) my black 1998 Olds Aurora (lots of door dings, bunch of swirls, couple of good scratches.
My PC came with the Tropi-Care foam pads (a cutting pad and a polishing pad, along with some cotton bonnets). After washing the cars and claying them, I used the PC along with 3M products.
For the SSR, I hit it up with the foam polishing pad and 3M Foam Polishing Pad Compound for dark-colored cars. I used the foam cutting pad/3M Rubbing Compound on some of the bigger scratches, followed by the Foam Polishing Pad Compound again. Another wash, an application of Zaino Z-5 Pro, and it looks pretty good/like glass.
For the Envoy, I did the same as above, but had to use the rubbing compound more (white shows everything), particularly on the rear bumper. Got all of the red and grey paint off, just showing the areas where the paint is gone. Followed the foam pad/polishing compound with Z-5 Pro and the car looks brand new.
For the Aurora, I used the foam cutting pad and the rubbing compound on the whole vehicle. Followed up with the foam polishing pad but used 3M's Swirl Mark Remover for Dark Cars (which contains filler). That took care of a lot of the scratches and swirls (clearcoat is thicker than most people realize), but some were still visible. Used the Zaino Z-PC fusion w/foam pad and the swirls are virtually undetectable, even in bright sunlight - amazing for a 9-year-old black car. I haven't followed up with any additional Zaino products (want to touch up some of the scratches/dings/chips before applying Zaino), but the paint surface feels as smooth as a baby's butt, and that's what you want BEFORE you apply anything.
I like Zaino products (been using them for 5 years), because they are so easy to apply/remove, the results are spectacular (especially on dark-colored cars), and the longevity is great, but it's really a matter of personal preference what you use. Most of the anguish with Zaino is the whole wash/clay/wash process - something you should do no matter what product you use. Anyone can use a product like Zaino and make your car look good - for it to look great you need to really learn how to properly prepare your paint.
Hope this helps,
--Robert
Two related sites to peruse for tips/info/suggestions:
http://www.autopia.org - forums
http://www.guidetodetailing.com - their "how-to" site.
The biggest purchase I made to help my paint prep was a Porter-Cable PC7424 orbital polisher. Unlike a rotary buffer, which, in the hands of a novice, can burn the paint off to the bare metal, an orbital can be used by a novice and you won't totally screw up your paint. In fact, you'll make it a whole ton better.
In the past two weeks I've used the PC on 3 different cars:
a) mother-in-law's black 2004 Chevy SSR she just bought used. Had a bunch of scratches and swirls.
b) wife's 2004 Envoy. No real swirls, but some rock chips, door dings, and a gouged rear bumper where somebody hit her car in a parking lot, then drove off (no note)
c) my black 1998 Olds Aurora (lots of door dings, bunch of swirls, couple of good scratches.
My PC came with the Tropi-Care foam pads (a cutting pad and a polishing pad, along with some cotton bonnets). After washing the cars and claying them, I used the PC along with 3M products.
For the SSR, I hit it up with the foam polishing pad and 3M Foam Polishing Pad Compound for dark-colored cars. I used the foam cutting pad/3M Rubbing Compound on some of the bigger scratches, followed by the Foam Polishing Pad Compound again. Another wash, an application of Zaino Z-5 Pro, and it looks pretty good/like glass.
For the Envoy, I did the same as above, but had to use the rubbing compound more (white shows everything), particularly on the rear bumper. Got all of the red and grey paint off, just showing the areas where the paint is gone. Followed the foam pad/polishing compound with Z-5 Pro and the car looks brand new.
For the Aurora, I used the foam cutting pad and the rubbing compound on the whole vehicle. Followed up with the foam polishing pad but used 3M's Swirl Mark Remover for Dark Cars (which contains filler). That took care of a lot of the scratches and swirls (clearcoat is thicker than most people realize), but some were still visible. Used the Zaino Z-PC fusion w/foam pad and the swirls are virtually undetectable, even in bright sunlight - amazing for a 9-year-old black car. I haven't followed up with any additional Zaino products (want to touch up some of the scratches/dings/chips before applying Zaino), but the paint surface feels as smooth as a baby's butt, and that's what you want BEFORE you apply anything.
I like Zaino products (been using them for 5 years), because they are so easy to apply/remove, the results are spectacular (especially on dark-colored cars), and the longevity is great, but it's really a matter of personal preference what you use. Most of the anguish with Zaino is the whole wash/clay/wash process - something you should do no matter what product you use. Anyone can use a product like Zaino and make your car look good - for it to look great you need to really learn how to properly prepare your paint.
Hope this helps,
--Robert
