Hayden, you might want to consider the following as a practical strategy for your new car, which I presume is a daily driver:
1) Wash the car using the two bucket method:
Dry with your waffle-weave towel. Some of us also like to first blot the water with an artificial chamois called the Absorber.
2) Clay the car, following the directions given here:
Auto detailing clay. You will only need to claybar the car once or twice a year.
3) Apply a coat of Meguiar's ColorX or another cleaner wax. Gently massage it into the paint. I imagine the paint of your new car is in good condition, so you will not need to rub hard. You are massaging it into the paint hoping to remove light swirls and oxidization. Buff off according to the directions.
Wait 30 minutes.
4) Apply a
thin coat of your preferred wax or sealant. (It is a great time right now to purchase a tub of Souveran.) If you wish (though this is optional), you may apply a second
thin coat, waiting 30 minutes to 12 hours between the coats (the longer the better). If you are using a synthetic sealant, you will want to allow it to cure for 12-24 hours before applying a second coat.
The above represents the counsel I gave to my 26 year old son when he asked me what he needed to do for his Mazda RX8. He was thrilled with the result. For most of us what is needed is a simple strategy that we can execute on a regular basis. Of course, if you catch the detailing bug, you can always expand and complicate your strategy. Like me, you may even eventually succumb and purchase a PC polisher. The important thing, though, is to wash and wax your car regularly.
Good luck.
I'm sure my fellow AutoGeek members will want to correct and expand upon my proposed strategy.
Cheers,
Al
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