Simoniz

[artekna]

I am to pick up a new GS300 this week. After placing the order last week, the salesman at the dealer tried to sell me on a Simoniz paint protection finish. I have been a Lexus owner since 1992, and have bought my last 3 from the same salesman as this. I have never had a dealer applied protection on any other Lexus and am quite skeptical about the need on this car. Frankly, I am somewhat taken aback that the Lexus dealer is descending to the level of pushing such a product. Any feedback or advice to give me?

[silvermate]

what the heck is simoniz??

never heard of it.

[SW03ES]

Simoniz is maybe one of the oldest brands of car care products around. Simoniz used to be so synonimus with car care that the act of waxing used to be called "Simonizing" (ever read or see the play Death of a Salesman?) Just a fun factoid.

Nowadays Simoniz mostly sells products on the professional end, powedered soaps to carwashes and bulk car care items to dealerships and such. No doubt the dealer was trying to cash in on the relatively worldly (nice way of saying pretty old) Lexus purchasers that remember what "Simonizing" is.

Don't buy it, don't buy ANY dealer paint protection program. All they do is apply some sort of polymer sealant for $400 that you can do yourself with $25-30 worth of Klasse or Zaino. There's no such thing as a "forever" car wax. If you wax your new car every 6 months it will be far better protected than with this paint protection package.

[HRP]

Amen to SW03ES!!!

When you take delivery, wash it,clay it, then apply a quality sealant. My favorite is Zaino. Check it out at www.zainostore.com And if you aren't into detailing, find a reputable detailer to do it for you. 40+ years ago, I used the old yellow can Simonize which was the ne plus ultra back then. Don't pay for a dealer applied "paint protector". If you are looking for a detailer in your area, go to

http://autopia-carcare.com/ This website is full of information and their discussion groups are a blast.

[silvermate]

learn something new everyday :D

[artekna]

Thanks for everyone's assistance. Your feedback confirmed my suspicions.

[VBdenny]

And that Simoniz stuff was had to apply and even harder to get off.

Even though the car is new, clean the paint before you wax. I use Collinite #845 Insulator Wax and have had excellent results. I detail cars for people and they have all be happy as well. Whatever you use, do the prep.

[SW03ES]

Yep, and "the harder it is to take off, the longer it lasts!"

[TOGWT]

Quote: Simoniz is maybe one of the oldest brands of car care products around. Simoniz used to be so synonimus with car care that the act of waxing used to be called "Simonizing" (ever read or see the play Death of a Salesman?) Just a fun factoid.

~One mans opinion / observations~

I’ve been detailing vehicles for five decades and this was the ‘wax de jour’ back then

“My first detailed car was a 1929 Bentley that belong to my Fathers friend Brigadier John Dix of Kensington, London. It has always been a relaxing past time for me and while at college I had a part-time business detailing classic vintage cars. I have tried virtually every top product on the market ever since using the arm-breaking Simonizâ as well as Chelseaâ leather cleaners.” I published this back in ‘55

I totally agre with SW03ES don't buy any 'paint protection system' from a dealer, its just a way to part you fromyour money.

~Hope this helps~

Knowledge unshared is experience wasted

justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ Jon

[HRP]

If "the harder it is to take off, the longer it lasts!" is true, then my daddy's '57 Buick Roadmaster 75 still has paint protection. I Simonized the whole car in 1960, then let it dry, and thought I'd never get it off. I think that's when I started reading and following all the directions, fine print and all.