I just spent a total of 8 grueling hours detailing my '99 SE, but it was well worth it!!!

I clay barred it and then used Meguiars Step 1 paint cleaner. is this a necessary step or can i clay it and then polish right away?

Thanks for the help.

 

I did wash>clay>polish>wax with nice results.

 

In a nutshell, you did a clay to polish step without even realizing it. That paint cleaner is considered a form of polish because it contains abrasives to remove oxidation and some paint imperfections. Bear in mind, this product is a very light cutting action but i will do well on a finish that has very minimal oxidation.