Turtle Wax Colour Back
Price £3.99 for 375ml
Tel 01695 722161
Rating * * * *
Comments This is almost the same as the Metallic version of Colour Back (below) – the only difference is that it tends to glaze over much quicker. Results on both panels were equally good, and application just as easy. (The less aggressive metallic version is probably safer for coachbuilt surfaces.)

Halfords Colour Restorer (Standard)
Price £3.99 for 500ml
Tel 08457 626 625
Rating * *
Comments This compound was hard work to apply and buff off, and left our deeply oxidised panel streaky. It worked better on our faded panel, though didn't leave a really deep shine. We would be loathe to use it on anything other than the cab paintwork.

One Grand Omega Glaze
Price £11.50 for 473ml
Tel 01706 658619
Rating * * * *
Comments A potential award-winner if it weren't so pricey. Results on both our test panels were excellent, with each having an almost streak-free, deep, shine. It is not as easy to apply as some products, but neither is it hard work. Its consistency is just right and you can use it on all paint finishes.

Comma Top Cut
Price £2.39 for 375ml
Tel 01474 564311
Rating * * * *
Comments This is purely a colour restorer, and has no wax in it. Top Cut worked well on our semi-faded panel, but didn't provide a deep shine on our oxidised panel. It was effortless to apply, and is usable on all paints. Our main moan is its watery consistency.

CarPlan T-Cut
Price £3.65 for 375ml
Tel 0161 764 5981
Rating *
Comments T-Cut made a good job of our faded panel, but left the oxidised one streaky, with imperfections exaggerated. It's abrasive, so avoid using it on coachbuilt panels. There's no spout, either.

Turtle Wax Colour Back Metallic
Price £3.99 for 375ml
Tel 01695 722161
Rating * * * *
Comments Like Halford's Metallic colour restorer (see below) you can also use this on solid colours. Results on both panels were almost the same as the Halford's brew, but this product's superior consistency helps guard against streaking. It contains no wax, though.

Halfords Colour Restorer Metallic
Price £4.39 for 500ml
Tel 08457 626 625
Rating * * * *
Comments Although sold for metallic paintwork, this works well on solid colours, too. Results on both panels were almost as good as those achieved with our ‘Best Budget Buy' (below), but it is harder work to apply and leaves no wax protection. It is slightly runnier than we would have liked.

Turtle Wax Safe Cut
Price £5.99 for 500ml
Tel 01695 722161
Rating * * * *
Comments Safe Cut works on all paint finishes and can be applied as easily as the other Turtle Wax products. It polished our semi-faded panel just as well, too, but didn't leave much of a shine on our oxidised paint. This is the gentlest of the Turtle Wax formulations and the safest of the three tested here, for delicate surfaces such as coachbuilt panels.

Armor All Polish & Wax
Price £5.99 for 500ml
Tel 0845 6021995
Rating * * * *
Comments A good all-rounder which is only really let down by being watery thin, though this means coverage is excellent and little elbow grease is required. Both of our test panels were streak-free and deeply shiny after application. This product also incorporates a protective wax.

Armor All Colour Restorer
Price £5.49 for 500ml
Tel 0845 602 1995
Rating * * * *
Comments Just as with the other Armor All products, we really didn't get on with its watery thin consistency. Its colour restoration is as effective as Turtle Wax's Safecut (above) and it worked well on dull paint, although it was less impressive if the paint were heavily oxidised. Armor All's own Polish & Wax (above) was the better buy in all respects.

Meguiars Clear Coat Body Scrub
Price £6.99 for 500ml
Tel 01208 269746
Rating * * * * *
Comments It's hard to fault this excellent polish, which is why it achieved five out of five points for performance. It gave our semi-faded and deeply oxidised panels a deep, streak-free, shine. Consistency is good, too, being slightly sludgy and the bottle has a proper spout. It's safe to use on all paints but the only slight niggle is that it's not as effortless to apply as some of the others in the test.

*** BEST BUY ***

Autoglym Paint Renovator
Price £5.99 for 325ml
Tel 01462 677766
Rating * * * * *
Comments This was a super product to use. Its consistency is just about perfect, and application was practically effortless. On the deeply oxidised panel, results were as good as those achieved with our ‘Best Buy', but not quite as good on the semi-faded panel. This product is safe on all paints and the bottle has a handy spout. The price is competitive, but you get less product for your money than our ‘Best Buy' (above).

*** RECOMMENDED ***

Comma Top Gloss Car Polish
Price £2.49 for 400ml
Tel 01474 564311
Rating * * * * *
Comments At less than half the price of the other award-winners, this is seriously impressive. Its combination of wax and polish made a good job of our slightly faded panel. But it failed to provide a deep shine on our heavily oxidised one. Its application was not as effortless as some, but no more work than our ‘Best Buy'. Another good point is that it can be used with all paints.

*** BEST BUDGET BUY ***

VERDICT
When researching this test, we were surprised to discover that many motorhome dealers use T-Cut to revive tired paintwork. While this undoubtedly works, it is seriously hard work compared to the newer paint restorers currently on the market. Our ‘Best Buy' was not as easy-going as some compounds, but it made a superb job of removing grime as well as cutting through oxidised paint. Oddly, Autoglym's compound, our ‘Recommended' choice, achieved better results on our panel with oxidised paintwork than our grimy test panel. For light grime, our ‘Best Budget Buy' takes some beating: it is cheap, restores a shine with the minimum of effort and, best of all, leaves a protective wax layer. l–