Lessons Learned from my Griot's Garage Order - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

ChadG · 03-19-2010, 02:43 PM

So earlier this month I got a catalog in the mail from Griot's Garage: http://www.griotsgarage.com/ . After looking through it I thought some of the products looked really nice and placed a $170 order that consisted of : 3 microfiber polishing cloths, 3 microfiber wax removal cloths, 3 Speedshine microfiber cloths (essentially detailing cloths), 1 large and 1 small bottle of Speedshine, their "dimpled" synthetic chamois with a bottle of chamois cleaner, their microfiber detergent, their mesh "bug jerky" mittens and detailer's handbook.

Lesson 1: The quality of all three kinds of the microfiber towels was very, very good; however, they had TAGS SEWN INTO THE BORDERS! They could be ripped out but could easily compromise the edge of the towel in doing so. I will be sending them back for a refund.

Lesson 2: I've always liked using synthetic chamois for drying my car, but after watching Junkman's videos I became wary about the amount of pressure required when using them. With that said, the dimpled synthetic chamois from Griot's is incredible! Just fold and let it hang and gently drag it against the wet paint and there is no water left behind! I am generally in favor of not letting anything that isn't microfiber touch the paint, is there a downside to using a synthetic chamois like this that I don't know about? If so I'd like to hear it.

Lesson 3, etc.: Their Speedshine, microfiber detergent, and chamois cleaner work as advertised. Their detailing handbook was nothing more than a very nicely bound product catalog so I will be sending that back for a refund (I'm sticking to Junkman's videos!). The mesh "bug jerky" mittens were advertised as microfiber but look like steel wool (I'm exaggerating but there is no way I'd let them touch my car), I will be sending those back for a refund as well.

Overall, some of their products are very nice and others not so much. I just ordered some of the microfiber cloths from Adam's and am looking forward to trying them out.

I hope this is helpful, please let me know if you've got any questions.

SSOOCH · 03-19-2010, 02:50 PM

That's good to know. Their catalog is like a candy store for car geeks like us. I've created a wish list of things I want from them, I just have to pull the trigger. Thanks for the heads up on what's good and what's not.

ApolloWar · 03-19-2010, 03:28 PM

Thanks for the info. That’s what I really appreciate about this forum. SSOOCH nailed it. I planned on the expense of the car. I should have also saved up for all the products I’ve bought from Zaino, Adams, AutoGeek and Griots. I’ve spent a “stupid” amount of money according to my wife. I can recommend the Adams Great White Drying Towel. It’s waffled and works well.

Jferrell88 · 03-28-2010, 12:13 AM

Thanks for the heads up

Ohten · 03-28-2010, 12:58 AM

I use the Adams Great White Drying Towel also and found it to superior to any others I have used.I wet the towel first,wring it out and then dry the car.Sounds dumb but I think that helps prevent swirl marks when drying.

Adam's Polishes · 03-28-2010, 01:11 AM

I'm actually very surprised to hear griots is sewing their tags in... thats a BIG no-no in the detailing world.

2LTRS · 03-28-2010, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan@Adams

I'm actually very surprised to hear griots is sewing their tags in... thats a BIG no-no in the detailing world.

If it has it tag, its not worth a crap except for maybe some inside the house detailing

tjmac49 · 03-28-2010, 02:50 AM

ChadG: Good info!! Nice reporting /review. Thanks.

scythezo6 · 04-26-2010, 08:53 PM

Anyone know if the synthetic chamois from griots has the oil in it?

ChadG · 04-26-2010, 09:39 PM

From the best that I can tell it does not. There is absolutely not streaking when you drag it across the surface of the paint - I have a black car and it does a great job. With that said, I switched to Adam's microfiber drying towel and was equally impressed with it. My only complaint with the towel is that the waffle weave snags on some of the trim of the car and creates pulls of material in the towel.

scythezo6 · 04-26-2010, 09:56 PM

Cool good to know, thank you!

whitehorse · 04-26-2010, 10:04 PM

I thinking about trying some zaino products. Any discounts or deals I should know about?

Stex · 04-26-2010, 10:13 PM

Watch some of the Junkman vids...

ChadG · 04-29-2010, 09:58 PM

I concur, you will learn SO MUCH just from watching Junkman's tutorials - great stuff! I would start here:

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59171

03-19-2010, 02:43 PM	#1
ChadG Drives: 2010 Black Camaro LS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,679 View My Garage	Lessons Learned from my Griot's Garage Order So earlier this month I got a catalog in the mail from Griot's Garage: http://www.griotsgarage.com/ . After looking through it I thought some of the products looked really nice and placed a $170 order that consisted of : 3 microfiber polishing cloths, 3 microfiber wax removal cloths, 3 Speedshine microfiber cloths (essentially detailing cloths), 1 large and 1 small bottle of Speedshine, their "dimpled" synthetic chamois with a bottle of chamois cleaner, their microfiber detergent, their mesh "bug jerky" mittens and detailer's handbook. Lesson 1: The quality of all three kinds of the microfiber towels was very, very good; however, they had TAGS SEWN INTO THE BORDERS! They could be ripped out but could easily compromise the edge of the towel in doing so. I will be sending them back for a refund. Lesson 2: I've always liked using synthetic chamois for drying my car, but after watching Junkman's videos I became wary about the amount of pressure required when using them. With that said, the dimpled synthetic chamois from Griot's is incredible! Just fold and let it hang and gently drag it against the wet paint and there is no water left behind! I am generally in favor of not letting anything that isn't microfiber touch the paint, is there a downside to using a synthetic chamois like this that I don't know about? If so I'd like to hear it. Lesson 3, etc.: Their Speedshine, microfiber detergent, and chamois cleaner work as advertised. Their detailing handbook was nothing more than a very nicely bound product catalog so I will be sending that back for a refund (I'm sticking to Junkman's videos!). The mesh "bug jerky" mittens were advertised as microfiber but look like steel wool (I'm exaggerating but there is no way I'd let them touch my car), I will be sending those back for a refund as well. Overall, some of their products are very nice and others not so much. I just ordered some of the microfiber cloths from Adam's and am looking forward to trying them out. I hope this is helpful, please let me know if you've got any questions.

03-19-2010, 02:50 PM	#2
SSOOCH Camaro SL,UTs Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS #16429 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Jordan, UT Posts: 7,357 View My Garage	That's good to know. Their catalog is like a candy store for car geeks like us. I've created a wish list of things I want from them, I just have to pull the trigger. Thanks for the heads up on what's good and what's not. __________________

03-28-2010, 12:13 AM	#4
Jferrell88 Drives: black 2ss/rs Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Proctorville, OH Posts: 751 View My Garage	Thanks for the heads up __________________

03-28-2010, 12:58 AM	#5
Ohten Drives: Granite Crystal Challenger SRT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: West Palm Beach,FL by way of Akron,OH Posts: 1,406 View My Garage	I use the Adams Great White Drying Towel also and found it to superior to any others I have used.I wet the towel first,wring it out and then dry the car.Sounds dumb but I think that helps prevent swirl marks when drying. __________________

04-26-2010, 08:53 PM	#9
scythezo6 Virologist in the making Drives: 2010 VR SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 2,865	Anyone know if the synthetic chamois from griots has the oil in it? __________________ Victory Red 1SS/RS Ordered - 8/4/09 & Joined Camaro5.com family 6000, Delivered to the customer - 12/21/09

03-19-2010, 03:28 PM	#3
ApolloWar Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boerne Texas Posts: 84 View My Garage	Thanks for the info. That’s what I really appreciate about this forum. SSOOCH nailed it. I planned on the expense of the car. I should have also saved up for all the products I’ve bought from Zaino, Adams, AutoGeek and Griots. I’ve spent a “stupid” amount of money according to my wife. I can recommend the Adams Great White Drying Towel. It’s waffled and works well.

03-28-2010, 01:11 AM	#6
Adam's Polishes Drives: The shiny ones. Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: In the detail shop! Posts: 5,979	I'm actually very surprised to hear griots is sewing their tags in... thats a BIG no-no in the detailing world.

03-28-2010, 02:50 AM	#8
tjmac49 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS, IBM, L99 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 365	ChadG: Good info!! Nice reporting /review. Thanks.

04-26-2010, 09:39 PM	#10
ChadG Drives: 2010 Black Camaro LS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,679 View My Garage	From the best that I can tell it does not. There is absolutely not streaking when you drag it across the surface of the paint - I have a black car and it does a great job. With that said, I switched to Adam's microfiber drying towel and was equally impressed with it. My only complaint with the towel is that the waffle weave snags on some of the trim of the car and creates pulls of material in the towel.

04-26-2010, 09:56 PM	#11
scythezo6 Virologist in the making Drives: 2010 VR SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 2,865	Cool good to know, thank you! __________________ Victory Red 1SS/RS Ordered - 8/4/09 & Joined Camaro5.com family 6000, Delivered to the customer - 12/21/09

04-26-2010, 10:04 PM	#12
whitehorse Drives: 2010 IBM Camaro 2SS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 211 View My Garage	I thinking about trying some zaino products. Any discounts or deals I should know about?

04-26-2010, 10:13 PM	#13
Stex Drives: 67 goat, 69 goat ram air III Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: South texas Posts: 1,443	Watch some of the Junkman vids...

04-29-2010, 09:58 PM	#14
ChadG Drives: 2010 Black Camaro LS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,679 View My Garage	I concur, you will learn SO MUCH just from watching Junkman's tutorials - great stuff! I would start here: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59171

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Did you get an order # or any refernce for your pre-order?	D1BADZ	Camaro Price \| Ordering \| Tracking \| Dealers Discussions	21	05-22-2009 06:39 PM
Answeres to questions I have stumbled on	dieseldave24v	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	13	02-23-2009 07:56 PM
UPCOMING CAMARO IMPORTANT DATES	CamaroScotty	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	125	01-11-2009 01:31 AM
Jay Leno sued over sale of roadster in 'sham' auction	Wm Holden	Off-topic Discussions	4	10-17-2008 03:36 PM
FAQ's	Angrybird 12	Camaro Price \| Ordering \| Tracking \| Dealers Discussions	1	10-14-2008 04:51 PM