My review of Meguiar's new NXT Wax and Pictures of my NSX

[matteni]

Nick's wash, wax, and polish on 1991 NSX
Note:  All pictures are thumbnails.  Click on the name of the picture and a large version will appear.

1.JPG 6/20/2004 3:36:25 PM	Well on father's day this year I received one of the best gifts a man could get from his wife - time off on my own to wash, polish, wax, and enjoy my NSX!  (What were YOU thinking?) It has been 2 years since I polished my NSX properly - these days resorting to car wash spray washing and Eagle One quick wax treatments.  Three babies in 4 years and they are all under 6 has a way of affecting your personal life a little (all for the better!) but your pets and your cars tend to get neglected. Back on topic - I am a but Meguiar's fan and had been reading the reviews of the net NXT Tech Wax.  I decided to do a through product review. Products used in this review: Meguiar's car wash Meguiar's #9 Swirl Remover Wash bucket 10" Random Orbital Polisher with several Terry cloth covers Mother's Metal Polish Meguiar's new NSX Tech Wax Costal Glass Cleaner Wet n Protect No Touch Tire dressing Large 100% cotton towels Meguiar's Quick Detail spray
2.JPG 6/20/2004 3:36:25 PM	Here is the back of the bottle of NXT claiming: Introducing Meguiar's Next Generation of Technology...Engineered Synthetic Polymers (ESP) NXT Generation Tech Wax is unlike any car wax you have ever tried before. Nothing even comes close to this amazing product. All we ask is for you to try it. If it doesn't blow you away, send it back and get a full refund. If you're planning on entering a car show or cruise or just showing off, you won't want to be without this product. Here is what this awesome product will do: Your paint will be darker and richer and the shine will be the deepest, clearest you've ever seen. Our new ESP (Engineered Synthetic Polymers) technology creates a tougher, polymer bond to your paint so it can provide extreme protection. Engineered to eliminate those fine scratches so you can have a flawless finish. Glides on and off easily. You'll be surprised how easy it is to reveal your dazzling, new finish. I think I just like the fact that it almost sounds like NSX!
3.JPG 6/20/2004 3:58:07 PM	Here are the other usual subjects.  Condition of the car's paint / etc: Lot's of swirl marks on the hood, top, well everywhere. Wheels have lots of tarnish Exhaust tips are black Glass is filthy The process: 1) Wash car with hose water making sure to get all the debris off the car 2) With a towel and a bucket of soapy water I wash the car as I normally do. 3) Pull into the garage to get out of the sun and dry the car with the towels 4) Put a fresh 10" terry cloth cover on the orbital.  I then put a thin coat of the detail spray on the cover of the polisher.  I then apply about 2 tablespoons of swirl remover as a very thin layer on the cover.  Finally I dollop 2 teaspoons of swirl remover around the cover.  Each new 2 teaspoons will cover about 1/5th of the car now that the swirl remover is all over the cover. 5) Start with the orbital in the off position and place it against the paint.  You always want to start and stop the orbital against the paint.  You also want to make sure you are not applying pressure down against the paint.  If you push the orbital down, you can burn the paint and it reduces the effectiveness of the buffer.  Let the machine do the work.  Also - work against relatively large and flat surfaces and use a small hand polisher for the intricate parts (like the side intakes). 6) Work one section at a time and use as little swirl remover (and wax for that matter) as possible.  A little goes a long way and makes removal much easier!  Also - always work in the shade.  7) I like to do the entire car but some people do one section at a time.  By doing the car at one time I can see where I have missed and/or need to hand polish with the swirl remover. 8) Remove the swirl remover with a large bath towel.  Be sure to turn the towel frequently as you remove the swirl remover. 9) Next is the NXT application of Tech Wax.  The stuff smells pretty nice (I didn't taste it so can't comment on that).  It is supposed to go on very easy, come off very easy, and fill/repair swirl marks.  That said by using the swirl remover #9 and the power of an orbital polisher - most of the swirl marks are now gone anyway.  Still - some remain and we have a good candidate for this new wax. 10) I get a new 10" orbital cover and follow the same procedure to putting the material on.  First the detail spray, a thin layer of material all over the pad, and finally a couple teaspoons of was on the pad. 11) Again - start and stop the orbital on the paint and apply a thin coat to the entire surface of the car, making sure to work perpendicular to the paint on larger surfaces - and finally hand applying with an applicator where needed. 12) The NXT wax went on very easily and thinly.  I then started with a new terry cloth towel and started removing the wax, turning the towel often.  I must say, it came off very easily and I was impressed with the gloss, depth, and the removal/cover up of the swirl marks.  Very impressed. 13) After I finished the paint - I cleaned the windows and dressed the tires.  14) Now for the wheels.  The wheels were very dingy and needed a lot of work.  The exhaust tips were black.  I put the polishing pad I used with the swirl remover back on and put a covering of the mothers metal polish on the pad.  I also put the polish on the very sides of the polisher. 15) This time, starting with the center of the wheel - put a lot of pressure and begin using the orbital to polish the wheels.  I then move the polisher around the wheel such that the sides of the polisher remove the tarnish off the lips of the wheels.  After about 15 seconds my pad was BLACK with the removed tarnish!  I did the same with the tips and they sparkled.  I really love the Mother's Metal Polish! Conclusion: I really like this combination of products and techniques.  The car really shined and I couldn't remember a product that went on as easily, off as easily, or produced as quality of a shine. I have never used the Zaino stuff, do like the Zymol stuff, and would have to do several cars back to back to see what I like the best but I would recommend this product to anyone and you can see the results for yourself.  My car is a 91' with 55,000 miles and a fair number of those occurred on the track.
DSCN3720.JPG 6/20/2004 12:53:14 PM	I went for a drive and stopped to take pictures.  Click on the links to see full sized pictures of the work. Here is the top.
DSCN3721.JPG 6/20/2004 12:53:24 PM	I know what you are thinking - WOW - this guy is loaded.  Well - this is not my house. I stopped some person's house so I could take pictures.  I had to make sure some old man didn't chase me off with the shotgun filled with salt!
DSCN3722.JPG 6/20/2004 12:53:38 PM	Hood
DSCN3724.JPG 6/20/2004 3:46:45 PM	Back
DSCN3725.JPG 6/20/2004 12:54:12 PM	Gosh I love this car.
DSCN3726.JPG 6/20/2004 12:54:22 PM
DSCN3727.JPG 6/20/2004 12:54:32 PM
DSCN3728.JPG 6/20/2004 12:54:38 PM
DSCN3729.JPG 6/20/2004 12:54:46 PM
DSCN3730.JPG 6/20/2004 12:54:52 PM	Check out the wheels!
DSCN3732.JPG 6/20/2004 3:36:26 PM
DSCN3733.JPG 6/20/2004 12:55:20 PM	How about those tips!
DSCN3734.JPG 6/20/2004 12:55:26 PM
DSCN3735.JPG 6/20/2004 3:36:55 PM
DSCN3737.JPG 6/20/2004 3:44:09 PM
DSCN3739.JPG 6/20/2004 12:56:28 PM
DSCN3742.JPG 6/20/2004 3:36:27 PM
DSCN3743.JPG 6/20/2004 3:36:27 PM	Picture of me in the paint.
e4.JPG 6/20/2004 3:40:05 PM
e5.JPG 6/20/2004 12:57:02 PM	Tips again - wish I had taken pictures before and after.

[nsxsimon]

looks nice..

watch for streaking as NXT has that awful trait

[matteni]

Originally posted by montoya
looks nice..

watch for streaking as NXT has that awful trait

Yeh - I heard that too but that wasn't my experiance. I think the trick is applying a very thin coat. I thought it was much better then other waxes I have used in terms of ease of removal and streaking FWIW.

[PHOEN$X]

Looks great Nick! Nice job!

[Tantheman]

Impressive review.

[KGP]

Nick raises the bar again with a DIY type review. Very nice, Nick.

[NetViper]

I really liked the NXT on my car, but being white it is hard to see how great it really is.

[Casper91]

VERY NICE

We just had a demo from the guys at Meguiar's at our latest NSX meeting in So CA.

The hot tip now is to go only with micro fiber towels.
I just started using them - what a difference!

I agree, the Tech Wax is Awesome Stuff!!!

[Brian2by2]

I was just about to say that Gill Terry cloth's number has been met. Microfiber is much safer for the paint, doesn't leave behind a lint trail, holds alot more product in its weavings and is great for just about anything on the car (paint, dash, leather, and streak free windows!!)

As far as NXT streaking: that is for one of two reasons I would presume: 1) you're using too much product 2) you're not applying it properly.

NXT must be applied to the WHOLE car and allowed to haze on the car. NXT is one of the only waxes that is ok to apply in direct sunlight/heat.

As for not applying pressure on the polisher, I've found that on my high-speed cyclo, it is best to apply pressure in order to increase the effectiveness of hte machine. What actually removes the swirls is the combination of a mild to light abrasive and the friction/heat created by the machine.

Car looks tremendous man!! You did a great job!! Although, some before pictures would have been nice

Oh and one process you forgot (especially if you neglected the car for 4 years): Clay.

[coolnsx]

Great review Nick, I also have enjoyed the results on my black car also, Thanks

[Soichiro]

Nice report Nick, thanks.

I've been impressed with NXT too. The shine is superb, but I've found the wax doesn't last as long as others. Anyone else notice this?

[mr2jzgte]

Very nice car. But even better house entrance.