OK, I should clarify my thinking here, and "my thinking" has got me into big trouble in the past. I have'nt used the red clay before but hear it is abrasive but not nearly as abrasive as 2000 grit paper. Looking at this white paint in direct sunlight, the scratches, marring, swirls (from dragging an already dirty brush over a mud covered paint job) appear to be much deeper than the marring from even the 2000 grit. Having said all that, my thinking is that I am going to clay regardless of which clay I use so would'nt the red clay, (being agressive but not as agressive as 2000 grit paper) remove the contaminates and also begin the leveling of the clear? I am not thinking of trying to polish the paint with the clay but simply take advantage of the fact that the clay would introduce into the clear coat finer scratches than are already there, thus reducing the amount of time I would have to run the polisher to level the clear. Maybe I am overthinking here but it seems logical that I would get more done in less time on this particular job by using the red rather than the blue. I would'nt use it on a job that only had minimal marring. thanks to all who shared their experience on this issue. In the end , that's all I am trying to do is gain more experience, Dave