I currently use 303 Aerospace Protectant on my car’s interior, and CarPro PERL on my car’s tires (undiluted) and exterior trim (3:1). 303 claims on the bottle, “SPF 40 for your stuff.” CarPro says, “It protects against high grade UV degeneration while maintaining the supple feel and original color of treated surfaces.” Things I like about 303 AP: 1. Nice satin finish – it’s not dull or matte, but not too glossy either. Just right IMO. 2. Neutral scent – I don’t like using scented products on my interior. My car is 11 months old now and passengers still get in my car and comment on the new car smell. I’ve avoided products with a citrus scent like 1Z Cockpit Premium for this reason. Things I dislike about 303 AP: 1. It leaves my leather seats, steering wheel, and shift selector knob feeling slightly slippery, even if I wipe with a clean dry MF towel after application. I’m going to try PERL at 5:1 on these interior surfaces for this reason. 2. I don’t use 303 on exterior surfaces, but I’ve read that it will run off in the rain and sometimes stain exterior surfaces. Other notes on 303: 1. SPF 40. Is this accurate? If so, is that the best/strongest UV protection available? 2. FWIW, I recently bought a gallon of 303 AP. 3. Depending on how you dilute PERL, where you buy 303, and in which volume container 303 is purchased, 303 can be more expensive. Things I like about PERL: 1. It’s hydrophobic and beads water nicely on my tires and exterior trim. 2. Undiluted, it is the highest gloss tire dressing I have tried so far. 3. In my experience, it hasn’t run off or stained any surface in the rain. Things I dislike about PERL: 1. No gallon size. Ok, PERL is made in Korea. No 5 liter offering? 1 liter is the largest available container. Other notes on PERL: 1. On my car’s exterior plastic trim, 3:1 is a little too shiny for my tastes and has even left an uneven, almost blotchy finish in some cases (such as on the windshield wipers). I’m going to try PERL at 5:1 to hopefully rectify this. 2. I’m going to try 5:1 PERL on my leather seats to see if it leaves a slippery feeling like 303 does. 3. 303 recommends reapplying AP every 3-5 weeks. What does CarPro say about reapplying PERL for optimal UV protection (I don't have my bottle handy)? My questions: 1. Has anyone real world tested these (and perhaps other) detailing products for UV protection? 2. How does UV protection of PERL compare to 303 in terms of strength, longevity, etc.? How do other products compare on UV protection?
