1st car show..... rookie questions

[jdm]

Hi guys....... At 51 yrs old, I am getting ready to take my 2000 T/A WS6 to my first car show.

The car is all detailed and looking gorgeous, but I have a question. Does Liquid Glass offer any protection to the paint, or is it merely a polish? I'm assuming it's just a polish, and therefore can NOT be applied over the top of any kind of wax. Am I correct?

Also, what do you guys use to get all the weather stripping clean and looking new? I've never been any kind of fan of Armor-all, and therefore am very reluctant to use it on anything.

And..... would someone please tell me what you recommend for a decent tire shine application?

And yes, I know everyone here uses Zaino, but I'm going with Liquid Glass for this show...

Thank you very much...

Jim

[jdm]

any care to offer help or suggestions?

Thanks....

[00 Ragtop Z]

OOps- I use Meaguires Carnuba wax on mine-always have always have always will. Never felt Zaino was worth teh ridiculous cost. As to the black rubber, I have used for years whatever tire dressing I happen to be using. Have used turtle wax tire shine-current using some other brand-can't recall. Spray a bit on a cloth, then wipe down the rubber. Works fine, cleans it too, and have never had a problem (ZERO damage to teh rubber parts). Do the same for the black plastic trim pieces (like the front airdam on my C6 Vette). Looks clean and classy. Also suggest spraying the insides of the wheel wells with the tire dressing. Cleans it up real nice so the judges see a part of the undercarriage that looks well cared-for too.

Good luck. Car shows are fun. Have been doing them since 1996 when I had a custom GMC Sonoma. BTW, I am nealry 57--you're never too old.

[Injuneer]

You don't need "wax" to protect the paint. Any well designed polish system will protect the paint as well as, or better than "wax". I've got nearly 50 years of experience with numerous products, and I use only Zaino. (50 years ago, you went to your local Cadillac dealer and bought "Blue Coral" ) If you think the cost is "ridiculous", you truely do not understand the system and how it works. When correctly applied, you use so little of each product, that the cost per application is no more than any other quality polish system. And it lasts forever. I used Meguiars for many years, and as much as I liked the Meguiars products, there is no comparison.

Weatherstripping and other black areas (other then tires) respond well to Mothers "Back to Black". Im also a fan of Mothers Incredible Billet metal polish. It puts a mirror shine in things like aluminum fuel rails, throttle bodies and alloy wheels that are not clear-coated.

The Zaino tire dressing is very good - a nice balance of deep black and not too much gloss.

[Rob B (shoebox)]

The Zaino tire dressing works well on the weatherstripping, too.

[fastTa]

Wow, I've honestly never heard anybody say that Zaino's cost was "rediculous!" That amazes me.

Like Fred alluded to, Zaino is priced right on par with some of the other professional "polishes" that are out there, yet with Zaino, you only have to use a fraction of what you would typically use with the other products. In regards to cost over the long run, Zaino wins.

The protection, shine, quality, durability, and ease of application just cannot be matched. There is a reason why Zaino is always talked about with a certain swagger.......it's because it really is THAT good.

For the tire shine, it depands on how glossy you want the tires. If you want them super glossy, use Blue Coral Tire Wet or something heavily silcone based like that. If you want just a mild deep black shine, the Zaino Z-16 is perfect. If you do not have time to order the Z-16 before the show, try Meguiar's Hot Shine Tire Foam.

[jdm]

Very good input from everyone. Thank you very much.........

Will be trying Zaino products for next years show schedule, but just don't have the time before this show...

Thanks again to everyone who replied..

Jim