Who will win the battle of the bug-shifters?

NEWCOMER

Gtechniq W8v2 Bug Remover

Price: £8.99 500ml

Rating: ★★★★

Contact: www.gtechniq.com

WHEN we tested this new product’s predecessor in 2017, it fared well in the rinse-only elements, but couldn’t match the best when wiping was introduced. It also was relatively expensive.

The price is still towards the upper end of the range, but the difference between it and its rival here is the same. Our rinse-only tests suited W8v2, because it’s designed to work with a pressure washer, with wiping only in extreme cases.

It needs to dwell for three to five minutes, and goes on in a slightly frothy, thicker spray than Revenge, yet could be left for the required time despite the warm test day. It was a close match for our champion, and it was only over several tests that Revenge got the edge. It worked well even with our gentle rinsing, proving the worth of the new formula.

JUST in time for the insect hordes of summer, Gtechniq has launched a new version of its bug cleaner – W8v2. The sealant specialist promises an enhanced formula that can be left longer on bugs, allowing them to be pressure-washed away.

We tested its predecessor a few years ago and it fared well in the no-contact tests, so we were keen to see how this new version performed.

To do that, we put it up against our current winner, multiple champion Angelwax Revenge.

On a suitably bug-splattered grille, headlights and mirrors we performed a series of side-by-side tests to find the winner, using just a low-pressure spray to rinse. Finally we took the two products’ prices into account.

Revenge just had the edge, plus its lower price helped it keep its crown. But W8v2 is excellent, and good for those who just want to spray and power wash.