the answer really depends on what you're trying to accomplish. If your paint is in great condition then a very fine polish is what you want. If you have a lot of surface defects (swirls, scratches, holograms) you'll want to start with a compounding polish...the worse condition your paint, the more aggressive the compound needed. You'll love the DA polisher, it's a game changer. I think I currently have Meguiars 105 (compound) and 205 (polish) on the shelf...although I've used plenty of different polishes through the years. Griots has some good stuff, kind of spendy, but pretty fool proof.....oh, and look into the new spray ceramic / wax coatings...I've used both Turtle wax and Griot's...I'll never go back to old school wax again.