#1 wash with meguiars gold class, pretty good shampoo from my experience.
#2 Clay with ClayMagic clay bar, I use a double-triple strength soap solution instead of the spray bottle, cheaper this way.
#3 Apply 3M Imperial Hand Glaze. (I hear that meguiars #7 galze is better, if you use the cheesecloth method).
#4 Apply wax, either meguiars gold class, or meguiars #26, or, when i get it, P21S or blitz wax.
I belive that paint prep is key as to how easy the products will go on. Just doing the clay alone on the hood of your car will show you how much easier the products will go on and how much less product you actually end up using.
The more product that goes on, the longer it takes to dry before buffing off (depending on product, some are wipe on wipe off), and the harder it becomes to buff off. Imperial Hand Glaze takes some elbow grease to get good results, but it worth it.
I should mention that I only wash the car in the direction of airflow, with the exception of the sides of the car, in which case i go up/down. This is the same for which the products I apply, about the only thing I'd put on in a circular motion would be a swirl type remover, or possibly the IHG. Even then, every other product I put on goes on in a back and forth motion, as to prevent swirls.
Oh, and microfiber has made it a whole lot easier to remover the products.