Griots garage

Brian993 · Brian993's Garage

I am thinking of purchasing the Griots garage kit (239.00) but I would like some imput on there products. I enjoy detailing my car almost as much as driving it. So a kit like this seems perfect. Do they have quality products?

chuckr · 06-22-2002, 04:34 PM

I use their polish and wax and have friends that use some of their other products.First rate products ! work very well on Porsches !

epbrown · 06-22-2002, 05:55 PM

BigB, they've got nice products, but they're just re-packaged stuff from other places. Once you've decided which ones you like, I recommend tracking down the original product and saving a few bucks.

Emanuel

kenny · 06-25-2002, 03:08 PM

I agree with ep brown-- they have a slick catalog but nearly everything they offer can be had elsewere cheaper

chuckr · 06-25-2002, 04:59 PM

Do any of you know what is the equivelent to the griots Fine Hand polish ?

kenny · 06-26-2002, 06:14 AM

I ask my P-car buddy James and his response is below:

Go to Pep Boys (not sure about other stores) and get the 3M line of stuff. The standby for pro shops is 3M Imperial Hand Glaze - I used to have a big industrial bottle - now you can get it in the regular retail bottle from Manny, Moe, and Jack. When you find the Imperial Hand Glaze you can look at their other products if you want something finer.

Don Haney · 06-26-2002, 01:14 PM

Pep Boys ? I do not carry all the products talked about, but check out what we do have ? Good luck either way....

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/DWKS_car_care.htm

Don

kenny · 06-26-2002, 01:33 PM

I didn't mean anything by that just a relay. Additionally, if the car is a dark color, there is a swirl remover.

You can't carry everything, hopefully if there are some tings that are really working for folks you may could add them (like the 303 aerospace protectorant -- for the interior vinal and rubber).

chuckr · 06-27-2002, 05:00 AM

The 3M Imperial Hand Glaze and the Griots Fine Hand Polish have different levels of abrasiveness.I use both along with One Grand Omega Glaze,which has no abrasive properties.The Griots is a bit more abrasive than the 3M,the Omega a bit less than the 3M.I used to use a product called Safe Cut by The Wax Shop, they sold out to Turttle Wax and changed the formula, the origional was a blue color, the new stuff is a beige cream color,and my friends at Pep Boys do not carry it anymore.

JuiceMan · 06-27-2002, 05:42 AM

WHOA

I sway away from most Griot's Garage products. I only use a few of their items. They are rather overpriced for the quality. I have been using these kits: Pinnacle Souveran Kit

For a few years now and haven't found anything better they are incredible. The Souveran wax is amazing on Black!

MarkY · MarkY's Garage

I agree with the Pinnacle Souveran kit, but I've found it cheaper at XVworld .

Also, stay far away from Griot's. That place is a big time ripoff.

Brian993 · Brian993's Garage

I havent received my delivery yet but I dont think it seems like a big rip off. This kit is complete and if you were to do the math with the other companies it not a huge difference. I am not trying to be controversial. I was concerned I might be overpaying but after some comparison shopping its not to bad. Besides who's got time to hunt down everything, its all here..http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L1=L1_1000&L2=L2_1001&SKU=11114!

Oldporsche · 07-02-2002, 05:36 PM

I find Groits a little high on individual items.

I am lucky to live where auto supplies and accessories are an absolute cutthroat business. We are the home of O'reilly Auto Supplies, also very close to the home offices of Wal-Mart.

Autozone came in here about 7 years ago and put up 5 stores, they now have 3. Manny, Moe and Jack have one store and are just making it on tires. They have tire competiton from 3 Wal-mart superstores and one Sam's.

One of the local O'reilly's store is a large Dupont paint and body shop supplies outlet. They also carry all of the 3M body shop supplies.

From what I can find out, a lot of these products have to do with the individual tastes of the user. Some are widely repackaged such as the clay bar products.

In many cases our cars have been retouched by a body shop and the surface of the panels of our cars aren't exactly the same. You may get different results from panel to panel on your car as a result of this.

I say, what ever works for you is the best product for you.

Good luck,
David Duffield

kenny · 07-03-2002, 05:41 AM

you mentioned something about the clay products. So let me guess

use a chemical cleaner

use the clay products

clean the clay of with ???

rewax?

My 951 is nearly 16 years old and most of the paint is original. It is in great shape but looking just a wee bit dinge (I would have prefered Porsche used Gran Prix white rather than the Alpine, which IMHO has too much brown in it). I was thinking of doing a complete restore on the paint -- any tips -- or should I start a new thread?

Don Haney · 07-03-2002, 08:12 PM

I have used the Clay Bar system several times now and like the results. It was the first thing I did to the Porsche after I bought her, and with this car it bad a big improvement. I only tried it after several people told me about it and assured me that it would not damage my paint. I'm thinking, rub a clay bar on my paint ? Yeah Right ! What could that possible do other than screw up my paint.
The Clay is used in conjunction with detail spray. The Detail spray is the lubricant to keep the Clay sliding across the paint. The clay removes the contaminants that get imbedded in the paint. After you do a section, its smooth as glass. You don't have to rub, just slight pressure and a back and forth motion. Now your car is stripped of contaminants, you have to wax it too. I can easily spend half a day, washing, cleaning, clay baring, waxing, treating the rubber....And I cant figure out why Im single..haha
Anyways, great stuff and if/when you try it let me know what you think. btw-I would think a cleaner type wax would do the same thing, but with more elbow grease...
Don

Brian993 · Brian993's Garage

I just wanted to let you guys know I have received my kit. I am completely satisfied. Everything I need is right there. I have not used all of the products yet, however, what I have used I am impressed with. I cannot disagree with those who think their are products of equal quality available for less, but as with everything if you choose to seek it out you will find it. I am pleased though, money well spent for me.

chuckr · 07-14-2002, 07:19 PM

I just got off a two week 1000 mile road trip home to visit the family in north Louisiana.It rained just about every day,in my hast to get out of town(Austin Tx.) I forgot any car care items !!
I got a t-shirt and wiped my car down when needed and washed it with no soap and wiped it with the t-shirt then used my Absorber to dry.I use the Griots Fine Hand Polish and Best of Show Wax, I had waxed about three days before I left, the car still has a very impressive shine, I have to admit I am very impressed with this !

MarkY · MarkY's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by chuckr
I just got off a two week 1000 mile road trip home to visit the family in north Louisiana.It rained just about every day,in my hast to get out of town(Austin Tx.) I forgot any car care items !!
I got a t-shirt and wiped my car down when needed and washed it with no soap and wiped it with the t-shirt then used my Absorber to dry.I use the Griots Fine Hand Polish and Best of Show Wax, I had waxed about three days before I left, the car still has a very impressive shine, I have to admit I am very impressed with this !

You wiped your car down with a T-shirt? Big time danger. That is a great way to introduce major swirls. I hope your car isn't black or red.

chuckr · 07-16-2002, 04:43 AM

Yep, I did get swirls and it is a red car.It was a choice of a dirty car or a clean car with swirls.The swirls do come off with the Griots Fine Hand Polish ! I love this stuff !

SKIDMRK · 05-22-2003, 02:50 PM

Just a bit of an FYI. I have been to their facility and toured around in my past. Griot's does all of the manufacturing and bottling of the car care products at their facility in Tacoma WA. Yes, other retail outlets might offer similar items at a reduced price, but the quality standards that they hold is greater. A great example is their wire rack shelving system. I inquired about purchasing this and found that there were similar products available. The difference I found out is that their shelves have a higher weight capacity and the chrome finish after I received them is incredible. One incredibly important thing to also consider is that they offer a lifetime guarantee on all of their products. If you have something you don't like, if it breaks on you or for any other problem you might have, just return it to them and they will either send you a replacement of offer you a refund. I had one of their low profile jacks that I purchased and had an issue with a bad seal and leaky hydraulic fluid. I just returned it to them and they sent me a new unit. I only had to pay for the return shipping and they paid to get the new unit out to me. In my opinion, you can either pay for lesser quality items and poor customer service, or pay a bit more and be assured that you will always be taken care of. Griot's gets a big thumbup from me.