Paint Scuffs and Scratches

[mboucher70 at hotmail.com]

I had a few questions on this subject.

 

1.)    I've heard that you can get scuffmarks and minor scratches out of car
paint by using a 'polishing compound'.  I've also heard that Audi uses a
special 'clearcoat' layer of paint that most other car makers don't use to
give it that 'always new and shiny' appearance.  So the question that I had
is, would using one of these compounds all over in an attempt to minimize
the years of accumulated scratches  - is that something that shouldn't be
done on cars with a clearcoat treatment?

 

2.)    If it is acceptable, should I be ok dropping the car at a good
'detailing' shop that offers this as a service for about $100?  Or are there
horrorstories from this that would prompt a recommendation towards simply
doing it yourself?

 

3.)    For the 'do-it-yourself' option, can you recommend any products that
you know of that do a good job on scuffs and scratches without damaging the
clearcoat?

 

4.)    My car gets most of its dings in the garage where I park and share
with the neighbor.  Any ideas on something simple and inexpensive that I
could just put between the cars or drape over the car to minimize scuffmarks
over time?

 

Thanks

 

Charles