Need help choosing pad and polish

When I got my car the dealer had put some scratches in it, and I might have added some myself when I first got it using a cheap wash mitt and cheap mf's. I have polished it twice and they never came out so this time I am determined.

I am using edge pads (I have some lc's but no backing plates). I first started with SSR1 and the edge blue pad, did nothing, so i stepped up to ssr2 with the same pad. Still nothing. Grabbed the green pad and back to ssr1, they faded slightly but not quite to my liking. I didn't quite want to do ssr2 with the green pad, so I grabbed my megs deep crystal polish and but it on the green pad. That was a big mistake, that stuff doesn't apply very well by machine and I started seeing some buffer trails. I decided to give green + ssr2 a shot and it finally removed the scratches but buffer trail is very apparent now. I though no problem, chase it up with blue and ssr1, but it did not help. So now, I am not really sure how to attack it.

First, when going to something more abrasive, do you step up the pad or polish first? Second, if the first application of green + ssr1 doesn't cut it, would a second application be better than going with ssr2? And finally, if I do the whole car with green + ssr2 what would be good to get rid of the buffer marks it is leaving behind?

I tried to take some pictures, but the car is so clean I cannot focus on the swirls or trails because the metallic flake pops out too much. The swirls did not look that deep so green + ssr2 seemed a little extensive, but I want to do whatever it takes to finally make the car perfect.

Thanks in advance.

I don't have Opt or Menz. Just SSR1, SSR2, Megs DC, 360.

Which is more abrasive? SSR1 on a green pad, or SSR2 on a blue pad. Need help with what I have not preferences for products I do not already have or cannot buy locally.

I've tried quite a few things, and if I can't get the car looking good this time, the pc is going in the trash. I won't be buying a UDM or Flex to replace it either. The scratches are so minute, I am the only one that can see them, and only in the right lighting but they are just so stubborn.

Roof:
Hood:
Side:

Wheel:

Reflection:



PICTURES LIE!

The problem isn't doing research or buying locally. Depending which forum you are on different polishes are always recommended. You can research for years and never get an answer to what is best on what car and when. I've done a lot of research and I either have or have gone through lots of products. Menz and Opti are what is popular this week, next week it will change and PB's is highly recommended on the AG site as well as any other detailing site/guide/forum. According to Polish Chart SSR2 is right there with Menz IP and much higher than Opti. I have 2 AG orders in the mail right now, so buying locally or online is not a problem, but I wanted to do all of the polishing this weekend. I planned to have my second coat of WG DGPS on there by now. I asked for help with what I have and what I can use now, not what I can put in my next order and use next month. I'm finished buying polishes because and that can remove even the slightest of scratches. This is my 3rd attempt to remove these swirls, the same products and pads worked on other cars just fine with even more damage. Dumping more money and aggrivation won't fix my problem either, so dumping the pc seems logical. This time I was determined, I spent 18 hours this weekend washing, claying, cleaning and polishing. Tried 5 different polishes and 3 different pads. The car is clean, shiny, smooth, but the swirls just will not, no matter what I try come out and they are not deep at all. You cannot feel them, you can't catch a nail of them, you can't even see them unless you look VERY hard at an angle in the light. My wife and friends think I am crazy and that the car looks perfect, but they ARE there and I will never be at peace until I know they are gone. Less than 350 of these cars made, and I told the dealer not to touch it upon arrival

Reddwarf is the only one that recognized my questions and responded with "I don't know, but you can try...".

Finally got a pic of one of the bad areas.


If I zoom out only a couple inches they are no longer visible. The stuff above the light is not scratches, its a reflection of the garage door opener.