$150 Zymol Porsche Wax?

I recieved a California Car Cover catalog, (I think that is the name), and they had some special wax in a crystal case for $2200!!. Lifetime refills, how many would that take to make out? But later on there was a special Porsche formulation wax for $150 for 8 oz. Does anyone use this? What justifies the price? I seem to get a pretty good shine from Turtle Wax carnuba for about $5, although I know from numerous topics that you all use P21S, Rejex, and other stuff. But not near the price of this. Both of these are Zymol. There was also a small can of the really special stuff, non refillable I suppose for $440. I just am in disbelief that peopel would pay any of these prices. I am I wrong? Bill

If people will pay an extra $500-$1,000 for a Porsche PSE exhaust over aftermarket, $200 to get their oil changed, then they will pay that for car polish. Rational minds do not prevail when it comes to cars.

I would caution you on the Turtle Wax. I have a black car, so I've been doing some research about how to take care of the paint. On autopia.org and other websites, some of the detail guys will caution you from the inexpensive all in one products like Turtle Wax, as they have an abrasive as an ingredient. I don't know how long it would take, but many will tell you that you'll eventually damage your paint. If you run a search here on "auto detailing", you'll get some really good information. Also, there is one guy on the 997 who has some great threads. I think he's a little obsessive about detailing steps, but he provides some great guidance.

There are a number of excellent waxes out there - from conventional ie. Zymol, Griot's Best of Show, Meguires, etc. I like Griot's the best and have used it for years on my cars - easy to use, lasts, and leaves no residue. You can find it at www.griots.com . There are also a number of excellent polymer coatings including Zaino and Finish First (and I'm sure lots of others). To pay $150 for the "Porsche Zymol" is just throwing your money away - I knew someone who worked in their CT factory, who told me that their formulations were pretty much the same, but different in terms of coloration and fragrance. Zymol is good stuff, but it's a rip-off.

The carnuba Turtle Wax I use has no abrasives and is high content, not tops. I know it may not be the best, but I just fail to see that the results could be much different. I am certain it does no damage and I have used it, a paste wax for years. I would not defend this product as the best or anything, but there is nothing wrong with it. I have som Rejex, see no point in using it. Put it on my wheels, they are slick feeling but the dust sticks just the same. I won't put it on my car I don't think. I don't like it as well as the Turtle Wax. (Go ahead, hit me!). I will use clay and clear coat polishes as in the past and then a carnuba wax. Maybe I'll step up from Turtle Wax, but I ain't going to Zymol Porsche stuff for $150! I see others might agree this is a bit much. Bill

Brick - sounds like you're probably fine, as you already knew what to look for - you know your results better than I, and I'm not a detailing expert. I just didn't want a fellow P-car owner to run into a problem if it could be avoided. Until a few years ago, I never owned anything nicer than a VW Passat and probably killed my cars' paint jobs for years at car washes. I agree with you, however, that there is probably no reason to spend $150! You can have a pro detail the car for that kind of money.

I take everything told me on this forum as positive friendly advice and it is appreciated. I have certainly messed up a couple myself. A long time ago I was told dish washing liquid was the best soap. Took evrything off. Yup, sure does! I also used a bit more abraisive polishing compound on the hood of an earlier Porsche right near the crest to remove a couple scratches. Boy oh boy, I had a heart attack when I removed the polish. Fortunately the clear coat polish and then a polish/wax then my favor old paste fixed it perfect. So I have done my homework somewhat, and paid my dues. I really think I want to get some regular Zymol paste, the $40 kind or P21S that I hear a lot about and see if I can tell a difference. I don't drive the car but about 2-3K per year and it stays in the garage so the time it lasts or the effect of the elements are hard to guage. I just have to look at the shine! Welll anyway, I hope to have enough money one day to just buy the $440 stuff, just for bragging rights but until then, the above is my limit. And unless I become rich and loose my mind at the same damn time, I won't be going for the crystal cased $2,200 jar! Will you? Bill

Koo Koo for Cocoa Puffs.

There are tons of messages with advice on this, and yes, some of the fellas are pretty obsessed in their detailing rituals. Wish I had the time and energy myself. However, one experience I will share quickly on the Zymol: the blue liquid stuff that you can buy at the local part shops is really pretty abrasive. I used it for years on my white 964 cab, and it looked great (that paint was awesome, like bathtub enamel!). When I got the 996 I used the same bottle, and presto!...hairline/spider streaks everywhere I am now looking for a pure wax with no polish compound whatsoever to apply after complete buff-out with the Porter Cable. Of course, none of the locals carry this. Geert BTW: the Meguiars NXT is a magnet for dust and particles...I know.

I am with Phil G, in the end, it's natural wax. It looks great, but does not last as long as the Rejex, Zanino,etc. I used a $70 tub of Zymol once, and the car looked great. However, you need to do it over again in a month or two, sometimes sooner. I use the Zanino stuff, seems to work.

same reason why some people buy armani suits for $2500 vs a standard suit for $500.. that feeling you get knowing you are using the best in the world, even though the difference for most people that see the car is minimal.. you are paying for that extra 5% of prestige in using the best polish out there, with minimal extra results.. same goes for diamond quality standards, etc.. a standard wax with a professional can do a much better job than a novice with the best wax in the world... it's up to you if you want to pay for the results.. but don't expect night and day with a $40 quality wax vs a $150+ wax... especially if you don't know the ins and outs of detailing a car to perfection... there is an art to it.. (which i do not know) and i've seen people with the cheapest wax in the world, make cars look better than new..

Geert, My favorite is P21S after using rejex, zaino, NXT, etc. I still come back to P21S.

I've used P21S also, and like it. Finish First is a product very much like Zaino. It's purely synthetic and leaves a mirror-like finish. I used it on my S4 and will use it on my C4S. Very simple to apply - put it on, let it cure for an hour and gently wipe off - no swirls and no residue on rubber/plastic. You can find it at www.finishfirstpolish.com

Gratiot's Best of Show.

I always use the Autopia forum as a reference for checking car polishes & waxes. www.autopia.org

Hi All, This is my first post on the renlist site. Ive had my first porsche (a Black 996 C2) for about a year now and still have a permenant smile on my face. Anyway, I bought a zymol kit which included the standard Carbon wax which was about �45 (the total kit including the wax was �120). I was amazed with the results in comparison to the previous off the shelf zymol i had used (at �12). I think Zymol is expensive, but the key thing is, you dont need to use much of the wax. I have waxed my car about 4 times now and have hardly used any of it, at this rate I think the �45 wax should last about a year and a half, which seems pretty good value to me.

I've had great luck with the Zymol kits as well. Do the full Zymol "treatment" and the car looks stellar. Forget the blue liquid Zymol at the Autozones of the world as I believe it is a very similar product to Mequiars Cleaner Wax, in otherwords abrasive. I used the "Creme" for my white 951 and the "Carbon" on my black S4 and shortly on the 996.

Zymol is good wax but not worth what they charge for it. There are several carnuba waxes as good or better that are less expensive, P21s, natty blue by poorboys, mothers california gold, etc. IMHO Zymol can also be a PIA to remove, as it tends to be streaking and react to humidity. Depending on color of car and look you are going for a synthetic polymer maybe a better choice then carnuba especially on dark colored cars in the summer where the sun can heat the paint hot enough to melt a carnuba based wax.