Originally Posted by
SilvrFoxX
How old is the car? Has it been garaged or left outside? what is the condition of the paintwork? is it a dark colour and does it have many swirl marks?
Without a clear sense of what the condition of the paintwork is it is hard to answer properly the right level of correction and compound required.
If the paintwork is in good condition with no scratches and swirls you may only need a light detail. I would recommend that prior to the detail you clay the car. Post polish you should clean the paint work with a good paint cleaner then apply sealant. The choice to apply wax is more about the finish you want as the sealant will protect the paintwork, the wax is a sacrificial layer which does give a warmer finish.
Sealant is generally quite liquid and can be applied by machine but buffed off by hand, wax however should be applied and removed by hand.