Med, very good summary from the Zaino site.

Some notes: If you decide on using Zaino, the key to getting an outstanding result is the prep work. Z2 is 99.9% optically clear and if the underlying paint is not free of swirls and contaminents, they'll just be highlighted because Zaino doesn't cover. Z5 does a little, but Z2, no way. For example, in the last two weeks I detailed both my car and my wife's F-150. I probably spent several hours doing prep work and about an hour between the two cars applying and taking off the polish.

Pete has a good list. I'll explain what I did to both of my dark cars.

1) Wash with dawn to strip off all old wax and dry with one of those Fieldcrest bath towels.
2) Use a clay bar - I like Zaino's and it is pretty cheap for two bars.
3) Wash again with Dawn or Z7 - I just rinsed it off since I came right from previous step
4) Polish it - I used 3M Swirl Mark Remover (SMR) and liked the results. My wife's truck is a 99 model and it needed help, despite the use of Z5 last summer. 3M SMR is relatively mild abrasive so it's pretty hard to screw up. It also takes a while when used by hand.
5) wash another time
6) bonus step use some Z6 on it to enhance the shine
7) now apply Z1 but do not remove (skip if using ZFX)
8) Apply Z2, Z3, or Z5 as appropriate. All Contiques have a factory clear coat but some other cars do not. If you plan to use on other vehicles, choose the products wisely or just use Z5.
9) After waiting for it to dry (see Zaino site for the test), wipe off the polish. I say wipe because it comes off so easy, there is little buffing.
10) hit it with Z6 again

If you do all those steps following some of the tips on the Zaino site, you will probably have the best looking car in the parking lot and in your subdivision. It sounds like a lot of work and can get confusing, but after a little experience, it's not so bad. The only real effort is the SMR or similar polishing. Everything else is going through the motions.

This process I plan to use once a year while I apply additional coats through the summer. Additional coats are so easy. After a hand wash with Z7, use Z6, then slap on a coat of Z2/Z3/Z5. Then move the car into the sun and it will dry in under an hour. Remove dried polish and more Z6. Total effort under one hour except dry time. Lots of other litte things here and there that I picked up since my newbie time last year.

Z5: use it whenever you want. You can use it in place of on top of, or under Z2. Either can be the final coat. It doesn't have to be always Z2.

Martin re: what to get multiple items
Z6. I love the stuff and use it inside and out. I could use up 4-6 bottles before one of Z2. Smells good, keeps the dust down, and holy shiny and slick after use! As a newbie, I only got aboout 6 coats with a bottle of Z2. Well, I should double-tripple that with my second bottle. You really wnat to put it on as thin as possible. 1) it dries quicker and 2) any extra is wasted. Remember, we are not filling in scratches and buffing them out, we are applying a thin sealant to the paint. Some people have gotten 50 coats with a bottle of Z2. So, keep this in mind. One way to help get those thin coats is to quirt a little Z6 on the applicator so less soaks into the applicator. Z7 wash s similarly concentrated. 2-3 capfulls per wash bucket is all you need. Put the wash in first, then add water and you'll foam up the bucket quickly. And it smells so nice too.

Sorry for the long reply. I think I've sniffed too much Z6. But I admitt that I have to get up a couple times a day and walk to the window to admire my car.

Aaron