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Can you give me your opinion about after sales car care products - EG MotorOne?

1. What is the difference between the car polishes / sealants / protectants / clear coat ?
EG. Wax, Teflon, Glassplexin ? Which is best ?

2. Pros and cons on window tints?

Thanks

Rich

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 14 December, 2009

We have never carried out tests on the products you mention.

I bet if you asked ten different people to recommend a car wash / polish, you would get ten different answers also.

I don't believe there are really any bad products on the market, it quite often comes down to personal choice and in some cases cost.

What do I use? - normally what I get as a Christmas or Birthday present from the kids and its normally purchased from the Repco stores or the like. Works fine and the kids love it too!!

Modern cars have a paint system called clear over base, which holds its colour as opposed to the old paint systems which tended to fade after a couple of years and needed a good coat of polish to help protect the paint from the sun and to retain their shine.

Car wash products normally give a car a good finish if they are chamois dried. A polish is normally only a twice yearly exercise.

There are products which can be applied to the paint surface which are claimed to keep the car cleaner by providing a surface where rain water can more easily run off the vehicle taking the dirt and grime with it. These products are normally sold at the time of a new car purchase and do seem to work reasonably well.

I guess a good wax every 6 weeks or so would do the same job.

Same for the interior fabric protection which is sold. Works well in helping to avoid stains, but the biggest market is at the time of new car purchase.

Re the window tinting;

There are regulations regarding the application of aftermarket window tints. This can vary on the type of vehicle and the windows being tinted.

The two main reasons for tinting are to reduce the UV level and increase the security of the vehicle.

Be aware this is part of a Warrant of Fitness inspection check, so make sure you have followed the regulations.