Just picked up our beautiful, Barcelona Red ORP and wanted to pick up a good, long lasting wax to keep her looking her best. Any recommendations for something kind to Toyota's paint?

Gyeon Wet Coat.
Google it.
It is the easiest, longest lasting, spritz on and spray off "coating" that I've ever used.
Shine is amazing!!!
Waxing by hand is old school...

I've detailed vehicles for over 25 years out of my home. I just retired last year as the lead detailer at a medium sized Toyota dealership. That said, I've been there and done that with Barcelona Red and just about any other Toyota color.

First off, congratulations on your new T4R. Barcelona Red is one of the sexiest colors available on a T4R - and it's also fairly easy to take care of. Your desire to protect it immediately is admirable. Here are a few things you might want to think about.

1) Protecting your paint is only half the battle. The other half is not doing things that will damage your paint. How you wash and dry your vehicle is right on top of the list. Lots of good information on what to do (and not do) on places like Autogeek.com.

2) For protection, you basically have three choices: 1) Traditional wax, 2) Synthetic sealants, and 3) Ceramic coatings. Wax is the least expensive, but doesn't last very long. Figure a couple of months tops. My favorite is still Collonite 845. Sealants last longer, and go on / come off easier. Figure 3-4 months tops. My favorite is still Menzerna / Jescar Power Lock. Ceramic coatings are the most expensive, but properly applied, last much, much longer. They also provide a much richer / deeper shine. A good, professionally applied coating can last years. BTW: Do not fall for the "spray on / wash off "ceramic coatings. They look great - for about 2 weeks.

I could go on for hours on this topic, but I'll stop here. Hope that helps.

Thanks Stoked! I always hose my truck off before the soapy brush/mitt/sponge touches it and let it blow dry by driving it a little, but used to use a chamois. But in the last few years we've been driving older vehicles who's paint wasn't worth the time and effort to wax.
What's the difference between a sealant and wax?
Is the ceramic coating that's worth a s**t the kind a shop puts on, costing hundreds of dollars?

Ceramic is all in the prep. There's a YouTube channel that tests all the common one's over a year or two. Worth a watch.

I'm no pro detailer but I am meticulous about keeping my vehicles looking as good as can be

I've used meguiars paste wax after a good wash for a few years now. I recently purchased the new turtle wax graphene to give that a try as well. don't forget to touch up any stone chips too. a clear bra might be a worthwhile investment too. had mine from toyota for 10 years, no yellowing or peeling. can hardly tell it is there

When you say bra, do you mean the paint protection film?

Let me see if I can answer all of your (good) questions. First, the difference between a wax and a sealant is that waxes are (generally speaking) carnauba based. Sealants are polymers. Many folks think waxes give a "warmer looking" shine while synthetic sealants give a "Saran Wrap" looking shine. Personal preference there. Personally, I'll take easier to apply and lasts longer - which is the sealants.

Your washing routine is not bad, but I'd recommend the "two bucket method" (Google it) and ditch the chamois for some high-quality microfiber towels. I'd also dump the brush and sponges for anything but wheels and use nothing but microfiber mitts on any painted surfaces.

Finally, the only ceramic coatings I recommend are applied by professional detailers and yes, they cost quite a bit. As somebody else has said, the biggest component of a professionally applied coating is the hours of prep work required to coat a vehicle correctly. Done correctly by a competent detailer, they look awesome and last years.

I recently lost a potential customer when I quoted him almost a thousand dollars to correct and coat his vehicle. (It was a roach.) He laughed and said he could buy the coating at Walmart for $3.99 a bottle and do it himself in less than an hour. I wished him well. (At least he was a happy idiot.)

Thanks for the advice on what not to use.
I'll call the local, highly recommended detailer here and get a quote and see if ceramic is in our budget.
LOL on your Walmart shopper! I love people that assume they can do something a Professional does for 4 bucks!
What do you think of the Suntec self-healing film for the leading edge of the hood, mirrors and bumper?

Although I don't have any personal experience with that particular product, I'm assuming it's a paint Protection Film (PPF). That said, generally speaking, those products work pretty well if applied properly. Again, not cheap though.

Correct, it's a type of PPF.

yes I think it's the 3M brand that toyota uses

Is that all applied by the local dealers, or at the port?

I'm not a professional detailer either, but have been using Zaino products for years now, and am very happy with the results. It's all mail order, and first application can take the better part of a day, but I think the feel and shine are worth it. I've also had good luck with the Griot's garage equipment, and some of their products.

Gyeon WetCoat. $19 delivered from Amazon, and one bottle will coat a 4Runner a half a dozen times. Glass, paint, and wheels safe. It takes five minutes to apply it once every 3-4 months. It literally doesn't get easier than that. If you won't trust my opinion, research it. Tons of professional detailers use and recommend it.