The darker the color (usually), the more swirls tend to show up as the contrast between the sunlight catching on the light scratches and the dark paint is that much more apparent.
Polishing the car is done to correct paint imperfections. Usually, this is in the form of light scratches that form when moving something across the surface of the paint. For this post, we are going to assume that's the only flaw your paint has- no paint chips or deep scratches.
The 370z has a very soft clear coat. This means that light scratches will appear very easily as a result of physical contact. I've actually seen them happen from application of detailer using a cheap microfiber towel.
If you've polished the scratches out, there's no need to polish again. Please also understand that many products contain "fillers" which fill in the scratch with materials which will eventually wear down and wash off. Many waxes have these fillers which even out the coat and make your car look more "shiny" because your paint now has a more uniform surface. However, this is all just a temporary solution.
If you have a panel that has light scratches (scratches that you cannot catch a fingernail on), you can buff those scratches out to get that uniform appearance without *any* application of a product with fillers. The process goes like this:
- Wash the car with a detergent-based soap. Dawn or Joy works. This takes the existing wax/sealant and detailing products off of the paint and gives you the raw surface to work on.
- Clean the panel you're going to work on with a 70/30% water/rubbing alcohol (IPA) solution. This will get the remnants of those products off just to make sure the surface is completely clear of product.
- Remove the embedded dirt and debris from the paint using a claybar or other contaminant removing product. Get some detail spray, a bar, and put on a latex or neoprene glove. Spray the deailer on to use as lube for the bar. If the bar catches, you aren't using enough detailing spray. This should be done on a cool panel in the shade. Run your gloved hand over the panel. Feel any dirt? Run the claybar over it until it's smooth.
- Clean the panel again to get the detail spray off
- Buff the panel. This step is pretty involved, so please go to Junkman's youtube to check out the process as well as pick the right pad and product for your scratches
- Once your panel is smooth, you're ready to apply the sealant. Think of sealant as a super-wax. Not only does it last quite a while (perhaps six months or more depending on driving conditions and storage) but it will give your paint that gloss coat that you thought wax did. Apply it by hand and follow the directions on the bottle.
- let the sealant cure. the bottle should tell you how long the sealant needs to properly bond with the paint. 24 hours or more isn't uncommon
- apply your wax. the wax exists for one thing: to protect your paint. apply by hand, wait for it to dry, and wipe off. don't get it on your rubber trim, noob. tape off areas if you need.
use a final detailing spray if you'd like to give it a nice glossy sheen.
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