I recently buffed my car for the first time and thought I'd share my experience since many of the tips I learned about the process were gleaned from others. I own a 2004 Dodge Neon that unfortunately cannot be garaged. I bought the car new as a left over, so after two years sitting in the sun, snow and other weather it was time for a good, deep wax.

Someone recommended to me Turtle Wax's Color Cure Car Polish (liquid wax) and this product works great! Unlike normal wax, Color Cure is available in five different colors so (hopefully) you can pick one that corresponds to your car color. Available colors (so far as I am aware) are: black, white, blue, green and red.

Since my car is black, I found Color Cure to be such a great product. Car wax, by default, is usually white or yellow. If I missed any spots while removing the wax, I'd have white powder on my car for weeks (I'm sure car owners with dark paint jobs can relate). Since Color Cure corresponds to the paint that's already there, it makes for a much more uniform finish.

In addition to the Color Cure Polish, I also used Turtle Wax Terry Cloth Bonnets (5"-6") on my electric polisher. I recommend a two-pack since you'll use one to apply the wax and one to remove it. These bonnets are good for one use, but are relatively inexpensive ($3-$4) so don't worry about having to throw them away when the job is done.

Color Cure Polish can be applied like regular wax, either by hand or with an electric polisher. I recommend using a buffer. Your car's finish will look fantastic when you're done. Put a bit of wax on the bonnet, spread it around a bit on the panel you're going to polish, and get ready to go. The regular rules for an electric polisher apply:

• Don't apply more than slight pressure on the polisher. Doing so can result in swirl marks and then you'll have to take your car to a professional detailer to have it fixed.
• Don't apply and remove wax in direct sunlight or on a hot surface. Work in a garage in you can, otherwise wait until early evening or find somewhere where you can work in the shade.
• Don't rush. Work on only one section at a time. Let wax dry to a haze and remove.

I was terrified to polish my car myself for the first time for fear that I would damage the paint. Take your time and you'll do fine. My first time through took about two hours, but I'm proud to report that there are no swirl marks and my paint looks great.

Hope this has helped all you car wax newbies. If it did, be sure to vote "Yes" at the bottom of this page. Good luck and keep motoring!