You're going to get swirling if you aren't careful. This means no sponges when cleaning (lambswool washmits++). Rinsing out the wash mit after every panel, drying with a 100% cotton towel (cotton isn't strong, so after some time it will fall apart), or microfiber (the waffel weaves are bigger, and can retain more water, whichever--all very soft and won't hurt your paint. Also using a product like Eagle One Wax As You Dry between waxing will keep it looking good.
Eventually you're going to get swirl marks. The best way is to fill them in by hand. Meguiars #9 swirl mark remover, along with 3m swirl mark remover are both good products. Then top it with a non cleaning wax as to not remove the fillers. You'll have to work the SMR with a terry towel (offers more bite then a foam application) until the product is almost clear--wipe immediately with a microfiber and move on to the next section. Work in back and forth motions, no circles.
This is very important as you want every step to be progessive. "Small circles" may:
1) create swirl marks
2) create a circular scratch if something is on the application (it happens). A scratch that is circular is
a) seen from more angles then a linear scratch, and
b) more difficult to correct then a linear scratch
3) make it more difficult to see if you are, infact, making an improvement or causing a problem yourself.
What's a good retail wax? Mothers has one, Meguiars #16 is very durable, beads well, and is hard to beat for the money, Meguiars NXT is the new hottness in the stores. Eagle 1 has a "nano wax" that people seem to like. If I was buying a wax from a store I'd go with #16--or apply NXT and the following week or two after I wash, apply #16. It could make a good combo.
If I was ordering, what would I buy? Wolfgang, definitely. Very easy to work with product. autogeek.net sells it along with the pre-cleaner. Of course, this switches the plan of action on those swirls to something more agressive with less filling (the pre-cleaner is great for Wolfgang, so using it isn't a must but I love what it does on black). Meguiars DACP #83 is agressive, but if you work it well (and you HAVE to work it well to diminish the abrassives and break it down) then you will get good results. Typically you'd want to do this with a polisher like a Porter Cable 7424 random orbital (easy to use, but about $120 plus foam pads, pricey machine). It can be done by hand. I should really find a car to do by hand and write something up on here. Anyway, the DACP contains zero filling and you'll be polishing out the swirls. Follow up with the Wolfgang pre-cleaner, and then the wolfgang sealant and it'll be very good looking.
How often do you have to wax? I'd go every 4 washes if you are using a booster product like wax as you dry. I don't like the NXT spray booster--you have to spray it on, wipe it, let it haze, and buff it off. You might as well just wax it conventionally after that much work.
And when you're done, well?
places to buy product:
http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink...Auc+index.html
http://autogeek.net
http://pakshak.com
http://properautocare.com
