The "protection" I use is wax. As many layer / coatings as you want. I ran out of light so only did one on whole car but did a 2nd coat on the bonnet ( a horizontal surface that seems to be a target zone for bird poop!) I'll put a 2nd coat of wax on the rest of the Hiux next weekend & maybe a 3rd on the bonnet.
I used this wax, it came with it's own foam applicator which is black so it doesn't get mixed up with the polish applicator.
Again only applied & rubbed off in the one direction, not in circles.
I also have a black microfibre cloth (my 4th) that I use with the wax. This wax is applied then allowed to dry to a haze.
I went around and applied it to the whole vehicle before doing another lap rubbing it of. By this last rubbing of stage it was 6:30 and dark, so I worked under a flood light to finish of.
So approx 3hrs from start to finish. Wash, Dry, Clay, Polish, then Wax.
I bought the brand of products I did based on my reading, but there are many products out there that will probably do the same job. I got all mine from Repco, but again available almost any where. Cost was around $200, which was less than the dealers paint protection, and I have about 80-90% of the products left so I can redo many more times.
As I said at the start, I find water & importantly dust (we have a long, dirt driveway) seem to just fall off the waxed finish, so I have less washing / cleaning to do. And I have protection against Bird poop (I still don't leave it on there any longer than necessary) and bug guts wash of so much easier.
And I can see when I need to re-wax, the car get dirty quicker, the water doesn't bead on the bonnet as I'm driving, and If I hose the Hilux down, the water & dirt just run off.
As I said it was dark when I finished, so the iphone pics I took are not very good. I'll take some more & post them up.
Any thoughts / comments / ideas on better methods appreciated.
OK now it's protected, its time to pull some bits off & add some others .....but until next sunday, work, work,work,work,work....roll on sunday!