Happy New Year to you.
I have a 2010 White Toyota Corolla this weekend. It has not been driven much, but sat outside most of the time. Never been detailed. It's oxidized for sure, could barely see my inspection light in the paint.
It's a "for sale" detail.
Question, after a good wash and iron remover(if even that), would YOU clay the paint, or go straight to machine polishing with an AIO?
I have the time, but don't want to waste it on claying if it's not necessary.
Goal is to bring back the shine and gloss.
Good question.
The common sense answer is to just do a
slam job on it, get your pay and move on. Is this
single stage paint? I know Toyota is one of the few, if only car manufacturers, that still uses a single stage urethane for their white colored vehicles.
Here's the deal, someone like you washing and machine polishing with an AIO like 3D Speed, BF One Step or Meguiar's Polishing Wax, is going to do a visual miracle to the paint. I have no doubt about it. Polish the glass while your at it and dress the tires and the car will look like new again.
For the person selling it and the future new owner, it's likely they will think you painted the car they will be so impressed. The majority of people on Earth only look at their car as transportation, so if it's this type of person that buys the car they won't know what the Baggie Test is so they won't even think to do it to the shiny paint you create.
So if you want to keep if fast, keep it simple and as profitable as possible then skip the claying.
Me?
I would wash the car thoroughly and then while it's still wet, run a
Nanoskin Towel or Mitt over the paint and glass and then rinse and move forward. It won't take that much more time. It shouldn't cause enough wear to your mitt or towel to be a concern and you'll definitely amp up the gloss. If the paint is oxidized single stage paint, the dead paint will come off and load up your clay. If you use a clay towel or mitt, the dead oxidized paint will come off and onto the rubber surface but you can clean this off.
One of my favorite articles....
Gloss starts first with a smooth surface...
Either way, I'm sure the car will look fast-sell ready when you're done.
Would like to see a few before and after pictures if you can swing it.
