Detailing products

Talk to me about these guys: http://www.griotsgarage.com/

Are they legit?

Have you used them?

They talk a good game, but their packaging is cheesy (which i know should not matter) and they arent carried in ANY chain store?

What do you use?

I'm looking for a replacement for meguires mirror glaze #16 which i can no longer get.

I've always heard good things about them, but I've never bothered to buy any of it, because I'm happy with the stuff I can get in local stores.

I haven't used them, but I've been eyeing their stuff.

I also noticed that most of the "good" detailing supplies aren't available in chain stores, as they mostly seem to stock the cheaper stuff.

I use a fair bit of there stuff. They do stand behind there stuff quite well with their satisfaction guarantee-- I was given one of their fancy creepers as a gift and a wheel failed that they provided an upgrade kit for no questions asked.

Stuff is dependably in stock and ships really fast.

It can tend a little towards pricey, but not quite as bad as "You can buy better, but you can't pay more!"

griott is totally legit. After that, tho, there are so many products out there, its a matter of preference.

I will tell you that preparation is equal to or of greater importance than end product.

I've detailed as a professional job before. I've used everything from Griot's to Tropi-Care to Turtle Wax.

Want to know what's on my personal shelf at home? Meguire's from the local NAPAutoZonePepBoys.

That's my 2 cents.

outstanding folk ... good products ... somewhat pricy but still great quality

Lots of information and opinions on this on the roadfly detailing forum. Generally I like 3M products for prep & Zaino for top coat. Griots does sell lots of neat stuff tho.

I use their buffer a TON. Great machine. Their pads don't last very long, though. I use Lake Country instead.

I love their one step polish/sealant--although it doesn't come close to lasting the year it claims.

I used their Polish (one of the more aggressive ones--can't remember the number) and hated it. PITA to remove.

I plan on buying some other stuff from them this detailing season.

Groit's is available at Advance in my area. It's not terribly more expensive than the other "premium" selections they carry.

See here.

Everything Griots sells can be bought off the shelf elsewhere for usually 1/2 the price.

So what would you guys recommend i used to replace my carnuba wax? The problems with these guys is that they have about a million products with very slightly different aims, i just want too looks, nice finish, protection... and the stuff im running out of lasts a solid 6 months if i clay bar wax and then spray detail with each wash.

bigbens6 wrote: So what would you guys recommend i used to replace my carnuba wax? The problems with these guys is that they have about a million products with very slightly different aims, i just want too looks, nice finish, protection... and the stuff im running out of lasts a solid 6 months if i clay bar wax and then spray detail with each wash.

Meguiar's NXT 2.0--good stuff.

Unless you apply it with a buffer, it rubs off a bit "blotchy", but that can be corrected with a pass of detailing spray. Lasts a solid 4-6 months (way longer with a pass of detailing spray after a wash) and gives a nice shine. A good over-the-counter product.

For the most part, I'm not into the boutique stuff that the detailing elitists tout. The OTC stuff is generally easier to work with and nets results that are damn close to the snooty stuff.

Maybe I am weird but I can't tell one bit of difference between one brand of wax or car wash from another.

93EXCivic wrote: Maybe I am weird but I can't tell one bit of difference between one brand of wax or car wash from another.

You're not weird.

Nutshell--

Carnauba--leaves a nice, even finish, but only lasts a month or two

Synthetics (aka sealants)--less even finish (due to the petroleum distillates that are added), but last longer.

As for washes--some are "sudsier" than others. I like the Meguiar's purple stuff myself.

Wax every 6 months and your paint won't fade and won't eventually burn off of the car. Get it polished once or twice a year if you don't like swirl marks.

It is so uncool, but I've found very few things that can even compete with Meguiar's Deep Crystal.

The stuff is dirt cheap, sold everywhere, looks good, and lasts as long as any of the fancy boutique stuff I've tried.

That includes Klasse, NXT, Meguiar's synthetic, etc.

Someday I'll get around to placing all of them on a car at the same time and compare how fast it all fails.

foxtrapper wrote: It is so uncool, but I've found very few things that can even compete with Meguiar's Deep Crystal. The stuff is dirt cheap, sold everywhere, looks good, and lasts as long as any of the fancy boutique stuff I've tried. That includes Klasse, NXT, Meguiar's synthetic, etc. Someday I'll get around to placing all of them on a car at the same time and compare how fast it all fails.

I'm gonna do this next time, my hood has unrepairable rust in one of the weld seams, so its gonna get replaced eventually so i could do 3 stripes of wax and see how each lasts/looks over time... good call bro...

foxtrapper wrote: Someday I'll get around to placing all of them on a car at the same time and compare how fast it all fails.

Someone did this on autopia awhile back, but I never followed it up.

BTW--I'm a firm believer in using NuFinish on a car that isn't garaged. Lasts forever--and so hated by the elitists.

I was a Zaino enthusiast for years, and I still think it's great for ease of application. The shine is as good as anything (it's all in the prep anyhow), but it never seemed to last that long, even with multiple layers. Last year I tried Meguiars NXT 2.0, and while it is a bit harder to apply (make sure you don't do it in sunlight), it lasts MUCH longer than Zaino. And it's available everywhere. So it's my new thing for now. Until something better comes along.