Quote Originally Posted by Y33TREKker View Post
Then again, if you're considering selling, it may be just as cost effective to take both vehicles somewhere to be professionally detailed and roll that cost into the purchase prices, because when you consider the cost of purchasing detailing supplies (it sounds like you'd actually have to buy a buffer) plus the time involved...
That's why I recommended to not even bothering with the polishing step since he is just putting them up for sale. Unless they have some pretty significant scratches all over the whole car, a good cleaner wax with another coat of a nicer wax on top will make it look great without the need to get buffing stuff if you are only planning to use it for the pre-sale prep. If it does have some small localised blemishes you want to fix a hand applied compound will work as a cheap alternative.

I like to use Meguiar's cleaner wax if I'm doing a detail that doesn't involve polishing and then after that cures for a day, put a coat of nice wax on top. Here is a picture of my dad's truck that I did. No polish, just a wash, clay, cleaner wax and then Meg's NXT 2.0 for a final coat. The clay had the biggest affect on it I think. Polishing it is on my list of things to do though, but its a daily driver and work truck so its racking up new scuffs and scratches all the time.



Here is our old Blazer right before we sold it. I did the same, just a good clay bar and only one coat of wax for this one and it looked great for the sale and the new owners were really happy with it.







I don't think a professional detail is worth it for a private sale IMO. For a dealer its to be expected, but for a private sale as long as its clean inside and out to a reasonable level, its good enough.