Anyone thinking of using T-Cut and Polish to restore faded paintwork should maybe think again . . . . both are abbrasive and on today's paint finishes (usually water-based paint protected by a clear top coat) they can leave fine scratches.

At the weekend I washed my car then used 'Meguiars Quik Clay Detailing System' for the first time and boy was it good!

It did exactly what it said it would do on the box - it safely removed all the bits of muck from the clear top-coat leaving it as smooth as glass and allowing the actual paint colour underneath to shine through.

All those black specs of tar (I guess) and other marks that washing alone couldn't remove all came off before my eyes! and the benefits I couldn't see I could feel as the treated areas were so much smoother than the un-treated areas.

I followed up with Meguiars NXT Generation WAX and finally Turtle Wax Gloss Guard and the results were impressive.

It took me all day to do (you must WAX after using the clay bar) so I won't be using the clay bar that often (maybe every 6/9 months?) but it has to be worth it and I thank those people on here for pointing me in the right direction.

Yep, works a treat but as you said you need to take your time to get an even finish, as with all things the preperation is 90% of getting it right