Have you seen some of the headlines around the internet? Some boutique-high-end-only-works-on-amazing-sports-cars detailers say they buy waxes that cost upward up $500.
They claim that there details can range from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on what the customer is looking to get. The waxes they use are directly from a tree in Brazil and it’s of the most purest form.
Let’s not get out of hand, however. The typical professional or hobbyist detailer is not going to spend that much for a wax (and if you do, power to you!)
But for the most part, there are waxes on the market like on DetailedImage and AutoGeek that can cost between $10 and $100.
Does a higher priced wax mean you’ll get better results? Will it last longer? Will it give your car more shine? I’ll try and explain it the best I can…
Mostly Marketing, Just About The Same Results
Most of the hype and talk that’s evolving around the higher priced waxes is simply due to the marketing efforts of the manufacturer. They’ll say that X wax is perfect if you’re in the sun and want a quick wax. And that Y wax is the best option if you’re working in cooler weather with no shop.
They come up with clever ways to make you want to buy the product. But in reality, regardless if you spent $10 or $100, your naked eye can only see so much of a difference.
Is there some type of difference between a high-priced wax and a low-priced wax? I’m sure there is. I’m sure they add some type of chemical/ingredient that will give it some type of superior power.
But how much of that can a consumer actually tell the difference is where things get confusing.
The Pop Is In The Prep Work
If you’re simply going to wax your car without the proper prep work of washing, claying, and removing 85% of the swirls and scratches on your paint, then it’s kind of irrelevant to think higher-priced wax will do you much justice.
It’s the same as saying if I wanted to lose weight, and I bought a burger from McDonalds and a burger that cost me $50. Either way, I’m eating what I’m not suppose to be eating.
And even if you do actually remove 85% of the swirls and scratches from your paint, simply adding a wax will not give you a dramatic difference. Most of the difference will be made when you remove the swirls and scratches.
The wax is more so for protection and not for shine (although yes, I’m sure the wax will bring some type of shine to the paint).
Conclusion
At the end of it all, I don’t believe in buying a higher-priced wax just because. If you want to spend a little more money simply because you like the brand or product or perhaps you like the way it smells, then by all means go for it.
But buying an inexpensive wax will not bring you the most results. That’s not where the magic happens.