I have a Jazz Blue, might as well be black. I use very unusual tricks and techniques and probably going to get flamed, but it looks great and no swirls, so I could give a rip. Just trying to help another brother here.
1. I use an adjustable pressure washer and can dial it up to 3500 psi.
2. Since it don't see rain or worse (if I can help it), I simply take concentrated soap and spray the dry car. Then I get out the washer (quickly) and add water to get a nice foam all over. Then simply spray clean. I use nearly full pressure but don't get close enough to blow away paint. I do however give the chrome dipped wheels all she has and it will rip anything off that chrome. After air drying the wheels, they don't need much at all.
3. Take the good old lawn leaf blower out. Yes, I have heard all the static about those pouring oil out. Doubt it! Before the Hellcat I had an award winning custom bike with a paint job cost that still makes me wonder what I was smoking. Used the same technique for years and still use it on my HD which has a bunch of chrome, and now the Cat, never seen oil. Alright so don't bother to tell me my leaf blower won't work, and I need to spend a hundred for an electric one.
4. I use Groit's products, period. After blowing off as much as I can I get out a couple of their microfiber drying towels. Ever so lightly, I pull them over the paint to get it all dry. If there are any streaks or marks, I'll get out their Speed Shine and their Speed Shine blue microfiber towels, and done!
5. It sits out the winters in a heated garage (so I can torture myself each day seeing it all covered up and no place to go), BUT, come January I do a cycle of clay-polish-wax with the best of their products. I use a random orbital. If I see the slightest swirl or scratch under my 1000 watts of work light, I have every number of polish they make, their Complete Compound, and Complete Polish. I don't care how much time I spend on the Polish step, because that is the way any imperfection that I see will disappear. After that it is covered with their Best of Show Wax.
I have not used a wash pad on it but maybe 2-3 times since receiving the car in March 2015! Also, depending on how much time I may have, this car has been through a local touchless wash a few times. I also, would like to know how a touchless car wash swirls paint, because that and the technique described above are nearly identical.
Last month after the documented wash above, with the OEM wheels (just blew them off, notice the water on them) because it was ready to race, she looks like this...
