Jackasssi is absolutly correct. I used to be a car detailer (used to cuz slow business= some of us let go). A buffer in the wrong hands will SCREW up your paint, Since you are asking for advice, I am guessing you have never used one, so do yourself a favor and stay away from it. Clay Bars are for removing surface contaminets, not scratchs. Run your hand over a brand new car piant job...smooth as glass...now over a washed car that is not new....you feel little bumps, surface contaments bonded. A clay bar is used to remove the surface continents and return the paint to that "smooth as glass" feel. I have found that the Blue Automagic clay works VERY well. That's what we use at the shop. But I have no clue where the consumer can get that brand. I am guessing your car could use a clay, so go for it, but it would remove the scraths. There are a few hand products which will hide the scatchs by kind of filling them in/hiding them. Meguire's Scratch X works pretty well in that regard. YOu will see some improvment, but it will require lots of elbow grease, lol. If you deicde to use a buffer...You are more likely to do Damage with a Rotory Buffer than an Orbital one in unskiled hands. A D/A Polisher would most likely be your safest bet as far as machine buffers go. It is possible to remove minor surface scratchs and polish and buff a car by hand with good results, but it takes a LONG LONG time and requires LOTS of elbow grease. My ex-boss tells me he has never seen anyone get the results by hand I do. I know how to use a buffer, I use a rotory one, and it is much quicker. But if you have never used one, do it by hand, it will require LOTS and LOTS of rubbing and buffing, but you can improve the look and hide the scratch some if not remove it. I'd have to see the car to actually be able to tell. Besides scrath ex, Meguires mirror glaze line I beilive has one or two light compounds which can be used by hand. Or you can pay for a complete extiror detail, they scratchs will come out as part of the detail, and you don't have to worry about screwing your paint up not using the buffer correct.