I perceive that the best way to maintain a car with the least effort and expense is to use the two bucket method, plus a foam gun if you can spare the $40 or so for it, and then use a sealant like Griot's Garage Paint Sealant, that lasts 8 or 9 months easily, in my experience in Southern California, and then apply a wax or a spray on wax on top whenever you feel like it and have the time, for extra durability, and enhanced looks. Griot's makes a One Step Sealant that contains polish, which you would use if you have some mild swirls, or any at all, because even by hand, you will get significant improvement. Or Griot's has a sealant without polish. The nice thing about sealants, at least the Griot's and the Wolfgang DGPS that I have used, is that they are incredibly easy to remove, even after hours. The Griot's has a neutral shine, neither warm nor cold IMO, while the WGDGPS looks warm, like a wax. WGDGPS lasts 4-6 months, and looks better.
You don't need to have a pro clay your car. That you can do yourself. Anyone can. Of course, if you make more per hour than the pro detailer does per hour at your job, then have a pro do it. Collinite 845 has been mentioned here, but it isn't really a wax. It is part sealant.
I have never used it so I don't know anything about that, other than it is an excellent product. As far as prep, all you have to do is wash it thoroughly, and then clay if needed, and then you might want to mask any rubber trim with painters tape before applying sealant, because it is a pain to remove from rubber trim. Otherwise, just be careful. If you do need to clay, it is probably just the horizontal parts that need it, so don't waste time on the vertical parts if it's just the horizontal that feels rough. You should be able to get any claying done in 30 min or less, based on how you say the paint is, unless it really needs no clay. Then it will take you 1-2 hours to apply the one step, or 1 and a half to do a pure sealant. (Yes, I know that if the car is swirled, it will take a lot longer than 2 hours to polish with a one step, but it will still look better after only two hours on a swirled car.) You then wait an hour for the sealant to cure, then buff off the excess, which takes 30-60 min. Just make sure the car doesn't get wet for the next 12-24 hours or the durability of the sealant will be compromised.
I would rather spend 3 hours past washing one day and have it protected for 8 months and have that peace of mind, than NEED to redo the car twice a month at 30-60 min each time just to keep it protected. Then, I can add spray wax to maintain if I feel like it.