I've just washed my shabby car as usual but beforehand I used a product called Safecut on it. (This is like a weaker version of t-cut).

Anyway, after using lots of this and loads of elbow grease and ruining loads of cloths (they're all blue now) I ended up with a flawless 'flat' finish. It even had a wet look to it.

Isnt this the same 'final result' I would get if I had used a clay bar?
I really cant see how it could be any smoother. After a coat of cheap GT wax its like a teflon finish.