I have this old 1992 Toyota Camry that basically has been sitting outside since new. Nobody really took care of it and it was eventually taken off the road for a couple years. The motor runs good and all, but the paint looks horrible. It's a white car, but when you look at it, it looks so dull and when you touch it, it feels almost like primer paint. It needs some major work, if not a new paint job (which I don't think is worth it).

Now would you clay bar a car like this? Or just go straight to the most abrasive polish I can find and work my way up from there? I really should take before and after pics just in case it does turn out half decent. The paint is really that bad.

I'm planning on using a PC 7424 with the following

Sonus Restore Polish (SFX-1)
Sonus Enhance (SFX-2)
Sonus Final Finish (SFX-3)
Klasse AIO Sealant
P21S Carnauba Wax to finish it off

 

Often, a clay bar job is all that is needed. If you have a PC ROB, Griot's Garage sells a clay bar holding pad that works very well. It has a foam outisde rim around the pocket which holds the clay, and this makes the lube spread very well. Would take 15 minutes to clay your car. After that, it may be necessary to polish with the ROB in certain areas. Use the mildest abrasive polish and, if needed, do an area several times. Then apply a sealer/glaze with a soft foam pad on the ROB. The apply a carnauba with no cleaners.

 

based on your description, clay and the sonus process that you suggested would be fine. you could skip the clay but it would not hurt.

 

Thanks for the advise guys...I just ordered a TON of things from autopia-carcare.com and autogeek.net. I'll take some before and after pics. Hopefully I can learn on this car, then do my daily driver, then finally possibly touch the s2000