Is Zaino just a bunch of hype? What's the difference between it and others like Meguiars or Mothers? Whey would I trust this stuff not to hurt my car...after all i never heard of "Zaino" outside of this board. Do they run chemical tests on it to show it won't hurt my paint? (Even if the damage shows up months after the application.)

I seriously would like to get your honest assessment on how good or bad Zaino is but don't reply if:

1. You're just parroting what someone else wrote on this board and you've never compared it to the other brands yourself.

2. You sell, distribute, or otherwise profit from the sale of Zaino.

THANKS

 

Zaino is certainly NOT a load of hype. Keep in mind that many of us, myself included, have come from using many many different brands of wax or polish and are now very happy with Zaino. Z offers superior shine, superior protection, and simplicity to boot, if you follow the steps properly.

The difference between Meguiar's or Mothers is like night and day as far as waxes are concerned. These are carnauba based products whereas Zaino is a polymer, not a wax or abrasive polish. I've used Meguiar's (and some other brands) for years so I know the ins and outs of using carnauba products. First off, carnauba is nowhere near as durable as any polymer. Generally the most protection you'll get out of a carnauba is one month or less before it's time to reapply. Zaino lasts for several months on ONE coat. Second, carnauba will melt off your paint in higher temperature climates; Zaino will never melt under normal conditions. Third, carnauba is nowhere near being optically perfect, thus it distorts your paint's true color to a yellowish tint over time. Zaino is 99% optically perfect allowing your TRUE color to shine through. Fourth, I always found carnauba waxes extremely hard to buff out and apply, requiring a lot of time and effort for minimal results. Zaino buffs out in one easy stroke of the towel, greatly reducing time and effort. That is probably one of the things I appreciate most about Zaino is it's ease of use. I'll never go back to breaking my back over some crappy carnauba wax, unless it's a very high end brand. Fifth, the Zaino shine! Quite franky, no carnauba could ever duplicate the mirror hard shine of Z. Some people prefer the muted effect of carnauba though, so shine is a personal preference. Overall though, ANY polymer i.e. Zaino will outlast a carnauba like Meguiar's or Mothers. I have also found Zaino to not attract dust as much as carnauba, which stands to reason. Meguiar's and most carnaubas are loaded with silicone and other oils which your paint simply does not need. This actually attracts dust, b/c the dust sticks to the oils. If you want an oily shine just use furniture polish on your car, same thing really.

Why would you think Zaino would hurt your paint? It's actually safer than 99% of the other waxes and poishes on the market. Z contains NO abrasives that can wear away your clear coat, unlike most other formulations. People have used Z for years, and I've never heard one incident of Zaino hurting or damaging someone's finish. In fact, I've never seen ANY "chemical test" on ANY wax, so how do you know any of them wont hurt your paint. Zaino contains no harsh solvents or chemicals so it's completely safe. Why wouldn't it be safe?

Zaino really is good stuff. It may or may not be for everyone, but it sure as hell beats the tar out of a carnauba wax i.e. Meguiar's or Mothers any time, any day. Hey, I was a skeptic once too, until I tried it, now I'll never look back....


Oh and for the record:
1) I have used both carnauba products and Zaino, so I feel my descriptions are accurate and fair.
And
2)I dont make a penny selling, distributing, or otherwise supporting Zaino.
------------------
**Mike's 1992 RS 25th**
'92 Camaro RS 25th Anniv. Dark Red Metallic (Brillant Red)/ Flame Red
Flowmaster Crossflow, K&N
JL Audio 3 10", PPI PC2100, Kenwood eXcelon KRC-953 H/U, Kenwood 4x6 Dash, Pioneer 4 way 6x9's
20% 3M Panther Black Tint
Zaino, Zaino, Zaino!

I also love pickin' guitar! My Guitar Site!



[This message has been edited by MikeLS (edited December 08, 2001).]

 

Zaino is worth it IMO. I was a die hard Zymol user for years (not the Turtle Wax stuff found in Wal-Mart) and was very skeptical as to just how superior Zaino was to my beloved Zymol.

Like you, I only heard of Zaino once I came to this board. It peaked my curiosity, partly because I did not see one negative comment from anyone who used Zaino. So after literally months of research, I decided to bite the bullet and buy some. As of now, I can't imagine ever going back to Zymol or any other carnauba-based wax. Zymol never did last as long as a coat of Zaino does, Zymol was never as easy to apply and remove as Zaino is, and Zymol never did give my car that deep, wet-looking shine as well as Zaino has. After nearly 2 years of use, Zaino has not harmed my paint in any way either.

Only you can decide if it is worth it to you to make the change. If it seems that a lot of us are biased towards Zaino, it's because we have tried other types of 'waxes' and they can't and don't compare to the performance level that Zaino delivers. But the choice is totally yours, if you are happy with the products you use, by all means, keep using them!

 

My father was skeptical about all the hype about IBM stock in the 50's but he bought a few shares anyway because everyone in the know suggested it as a good investment. I was skeptical about Zaino when I started reading about it on the internet. But after doing 'searches on all the high-end car sites it became apparent that something was up with this product. I brought the Z1,Z2,Z5,Z6 some good 100% US made cotton towels ( a must no matter what type of wax/sealant you use )and like my father's IBM purchases I am extremely glad I did.The gloss, depth and trueness of color,swirl covering, smoothness and slickness of finish, lack of residue, ease of application and removal, and high quality of these products are all superior to carnuba based products. Did I mention durability??
There is nothing like Zaino I have tried over the last 30+years. Yes, there seems to be a lot of hype to the uninformed or non-user. This is not hype. It is the unbridled release of satisfaction by the user because of the results. This stuff is simply AWESOME.
You may not be about to buy IBM today but done miss out on Zaino.
I did the same questioning about Zaino when I first was exposed to the comments so continue to question anything with this type of following. But here the hype is true. You can e-mail me and I will send you some pictures of my Z28 with the Zaino finish. I do not sale this product but I am addicted to its results.

------------------
95 Z28 Convertible - "garage queen"

[This message has been edited by blkZ28Conv (edited December 08, 2001).]

 

Not sure if you convinced him, but you sure convinced me.
Looks like I'm buying myself a Christmas present.
Sure would like to see the Canadian dollar change though.

------------------
1995 Z28
K&N Filter only mod
Made a promise to Mod the **** out of it
And keep it forever

 

That is a great gift for Xmas. Not only for you but your car also. If you are going to keep these great American icon forever you will not look back after using Zaino. Take a before Zaino picture of your car because after applying this stuff there is no way you will ever go back. But just in case you forget what it looked like before Zaino you can always remind yourself. . I'm sure your car looks great now but wait. . And for all the skeptics in the great north you can let them compare the results. What a benefit for winter weather.. wash the car a quick Z6 and your super glossy finish is restored and the original clearcoat is protected from the elements the whole winter. Go to Sal's website and read the proper directions and use the proper high quality accessories he recommends ( towels, applicator, etc).
I don't know how the snow will slide off but if it reacts like rain on Zaino you will be amazed.
Happy Zainoing and Holiday.

 

I too, swore by nothing but MOther's waxes for at LEAST 4-5 years.

I just got my first shipment of ZAINO recently and I am convinced.

Someone said that they have never heard a negative comment on ZAINO so I'll be the first- I now have stacks of USELESS waxes that I wasted money on that will never go near my car again. It's all ZAINO's fault!!!
The only thing better than ZAINO now, is knowing my ZFX is on the way!!

For more great reviews on ZAINO, check out some other boards. I also belong to LS1.com
and so do some other folks here.


------------------
All single F-body girls, please apply within!!

 

I have just experianced Zaino two days ago when me and my girlfriend applied just one coat onto her new Mustang. She was doubting it too until she saw how good the stuff turned out.

If you don't want to trust what a lot of people here and on the actual Zaino webpage, then don't...be happy with Meguairs or Mothers or whatever you use.

But hey don't belive what you hear...try it out yourself. I got a basic starter kit for under $50 (including the clay bar), so it won't set you back at all.

------------------
1996 Camaro
3800 Series II
Mod list soon

1995 Dodge Stealth R/T
Twin Turbo 3.0L AWD M6,A'PEXi AVC-R boost control, Blitz Blow-offvalve, K&N FIPK, Denso Iridium plugs, 245/40/18 Kumho Supra, and more to come.

 

I've been taking care of my own cars for over 30 years and had tried about everything. Four years ago I tried Zaino and it was by far the best product I'd ever used. It is the only product I'll ever use again.

If all you want is a cheap shine, use furniture polish. Foe the best shine and the best by far in protection and durability, that pretty much leaves Zaino.

Zaino is the hands down favorite on many, many message forums and endorsed by an enormous number of car groups and clubs. It isn't advertised, which is why you may not have heard about it, it isn't needed, it sells itself.

All of us diehard Zaino users used many other products before we found Zaino, there is a reaon we never went back to anything else.

------------------
Kevin Villier, 2002 SS #186 - 6M with Hurst and "short-stick", TT, navy blue, chrome SS wheels, Bilstein suspension, SS grill, STB, SLP loudmouth, Direct-Flo lid with Holley filter and Mallory polished MAF ends.

Louisville, KY

 

Let me say this.

It is better than regular waxes. Especially for it's lasting power.

However, I can say in my case, that it just hasn't been all I hoped for. It hasn't performed the miracles for me that it has for others.

Someone wiser than myself once said, "Expect nothing and you'll seldom be disappointed."

It is good stuff, but if you're happy with what you're using, than stick with it.

Jeff


------------------
1996 Black Z28 M6; Stock.
1994 S10 4X4.

"Forget it buddy, they don't call me Colonal Homer 'cause I'm some dumb-*** army guy."

 

Well my car is not zainoed but I have seen one that is. I honestly don't think the shine is "far superior" to that of carnuba. The durability certainly is however. I believe zaino is an acrylic polymer. There is nothing new about acrylic polymer, in fact meguiars has an acrylic polymer product (the sealant) Anyways, zaino is probably pretty good stuff since a lot of enthusiast use it. I will point out that there is another great sealant/acylic polymer which does (by definition) last as long as zaino, protect just the same and shines like hell. That is Klasse sealant glaze. It too is an acrylic polymer which is unheard of outside of the car enthuiast world... Klasse is a single step unlike zaino which is 5 steps I believe and the klasse can be layered and layered just like the zaino. Anyways, Klasse works great on troubled dark paint - my black z and the haze it leaves is dark in color so it won't leave a bunch of white specs all over your car's hood or bumper (if you've got chips). No matter what you do, it's important to make sure your car's coat is clean before your protect, that means remove any and all oxidation and residue. Some people like the claybar but I think it's just a pain when you can get the same results with a fine cut cleaner (such as that offered by meguiars). Then wash the car with some dish soap to remove any residue left by the clay or wax (zaino especially reccomends this step).

And the fine cut cleaner won't damage your car btw, I know some people favor clay because they think it is non-abrasive... yet it removes the fine layer of oxidation and bonded contaimants on your paint just the same as cleaner wax.. and neither will leave any marks or scraches or swirls (as long as you go back and forth and not in circles! - this applies to both the clay and the wax) or take off any more or less paint... so use whichever you think is easier - cleaner wax if you ask me. Good luck protecting the paint on your car and making it shine like hell.

If you want to talk a little more in depth about zaino, acrylic polymers, carnuba, swirls, oxidation, paint chips etc.. or general detailing drop me an e-mail or my aim is LostAtFSU.

I've used a whole helluva lot of products and I can tell you, honestly, which work and which work even better. Actually, I run a little detailing business when I'm not at school (you should try this in your spare time - it's a great way to gain knowlege and make pretty good money).

Hope this helps,

------------------
~Will
96 Z28
"fastanuff!"

 

Zaino isn't 5 steps contrary to the previous post. It's actually either one or two steps depending on which products you buy. You can either Z1/Z2 (2 steps) or Z2/ZFX (1 step.) Which is exactly the same as Klasse. You can either SG or AIO+SG, same difference. Both systems require dawn+clay+possible SMR...as prep.

I'm amazed that the non-users of Zaino are always the experts. Like I said previously, shine is a personal preference, but if you've never touched Zaino on your car, how can you fairly say the shine isn't superior to carnauba. If you're just judging from pictures on the net, then I dont think you're seening the whole 'picture."

------------------
**Mike's 1992 RS 25th**
'92 Camaro RS 25th Anniv. Dark Red Metallic (Brillant Red)/ Flame Red
Flowmaster Crossflow, K&N
JL Audio 3 10", PPI PC2100, Kenwood eXcelon KRC-953 H/U, Kenwood 4x6 Dash, Pioneer 4 way 6x9's
20% 3M Panther Black Tint
Zaino, Zaino, Zaino!

I also love pickin' guitar! My Guitar Site!

 

I've used ZAINO for the first time, and it is really good! I've owned my '84 since 1990, and have used everything from The Wax Shop, to McGuiars, to Mothers on it. This ZAINO, when used with a good scrub down with a clay bar, made my 17 year old paint look good again. I was contemplating a complete strip & repaint, but I'm now considering using the money elsewhere.

The car looks and feels slick: I bet I took off ten years worth of ground in grime.

I've also done my '95 Jeep Grand Cherokee with great success. After waxxing, The Jeep was literally covered in dried mud from roof to floorboard. I powerwashed it, dried it, then used this spray-on stuff from Zaino: The new car finish came back, with no hint of hazy scratches from the mud. It feels freshly waxxed again.

 

My bad, I never professed myself to be an expert on zaino. I have actually seen a regularly zainoed car IN PERSON however and it did look good but I wouldn't say there was a "striking" difference between the zaino and a carnuba'd car.

I do think the acrylic polymers are superior to carnuba. I was also unaware that the new zaino - the ZFX - was only two steps - I believe that has changed. I mean the old zaino you had to put on the base coat and then the swirl reducer and then the shine (and I think I left one out) AND you were supposed to apply multiple coats of the swirl reducer and shine to achieve the best results (but zaino is easier to apply.. I will give you that). The Klasse All in One product is simply a cleaner wax coupled with an acrylic polymer (baiscally it's the claybar step for zaino) but I choose to use plain old cleaner wax instead of Klasse's hard to find All in One product.

Anyways, you'll probably end up going with zaino since everyone else uses it and since they've introduced this "new and improved" design and they have that cool graphic on the left of the screen right above the "team mail users" login - And that's fine. Zaino is good stuff, why not use it? I'm just pointing out an alternative to zaino - Klasse - which I believe works equally as well and which also has a devoted following. Heck, carnuba works great too as long as you apply it every 30 - 45 days you won't be dissatisfied. There are people who would swear by carnuba even - look at zymol's $100 little can of carnuba wax especially formulated for italian paint (ferreri ) or pinnacle's stuff that sells for $70 or $80 - which has won serveral pebble beach concourse awards btw. Point is, I don't think there's a clear "right" way to protect your car's finish. Whatever it is you end up using keep the car in the garage or in the shade, remove bird stains immediately, wash it as soon as it gets dirty or use a california car duster, that kind of stuff is what will ultimately make the difference in your car's paint - not if you use zaino or klasse or whatever.. just be diligent in your efforts and your car will look nice and stay that way for a long time.



------------------
~Will
96 Z28
"fastanuff!"

 

Yep, I completely agree. Everyone should really use whatever products makes them happy, not what everyone else is using.

Ya know, I've really been meaning to give Klasse a try anyhow, but the problem is that I need another "test subject" to try it on. I'd hate to mess up all those coats of Z on my car just for testing. If I ever get a new car, I may just try it then. I might order some Blackfire anyway and give it a shot just for the heck of it. I guess I should adopt the Lexus slogan, b/c I'm always in "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection." as far as detailing is concerned...

Mike