09-10-2006, 06:23 PM
Well, that's a good question. Of course, the best thing to do first is correct the imperfections of the paint. By this I mean a proper clay barring, polish, sealant, then wax. The clay barring and polishing is on average recommended every 6 months. I don't know if you know any of that stuff, and I'm not trying to sell myself, but the best thing to do in regards to "minimal effort" is to get a pro detailer, like me, to correct your paint, and from then on, with proper wash techniques, you can keep your car looking good. If you don't want to correct anything and you just want to keep the car looking good with minimal effort, get Poorboy's spray and wipe (poorboysworld.com). This is basically a waterless wash that you can use to remove dirt and stuff without sratching the paint because of it's lubrication properties. Then just use a good quick detailer to keep the car clean. Prima Slick, which is found on decocarcare.com is pretty good stuff I think. For a long-term wax, which I think is what you want, Collinite 476S is supposedly super long lasting and it beads like CRAZY!! I used it on my Dad's CTS-V. I don't know the longevity personally though, since it's my first time trying it, but other pros say it's perfect for sealing in the car for the winter.