Watch Mike Phillip's how to videos on YouTube for techniques and basic understanding of different products.
A DA polisher is definitely worth it if you want to maintain the paint yourself.
I started with the tried and true porter cable 7424XP which still works great with Lake Country Thin Pro pads
I now use a Flex XC3401VRG forced action DA
For products:
I like lake country pads.
I use a mixture of CarPro, Optimum, Gtechniq, and shine supply products.
CG stuff is one step up from the parts store junk and real detailing products. It's nice and cheap to learn with and they use an easy to follow system for polish and compound abrasiveness.
Imo, correct it, then lay down Gtechniq crystal serum light followed by Gtechniq EXO hydrophobic coating. CSL will give you "Prosumer" level 2-3 year protection and EXO will extend the life of the CSL, boost gloss, and provide an extremely hydrophobic finish that will make maintenance washes much easier and less likely to damage the coatings.
To give you an idea of what kind of gloss we are talking about when done correctly... this was a 2 stage correction on my 17 year old C5 vette paint followed by a wipe down with CarPro Reload sealant. No coating, no gloss enhancers, no fillers.
