You're right to be concerned about the buffer. It's the fastest way to burn through paint and make a grown man cry.
You should use a random orbital. I just bought a Porter Cable Orbital from
http://adamspolishes.com/ . He sells premium detail products and has online videos showing each phase of the detail process and why.
If you want to enter shows or just have a beautiful ride, this site is for you. The orbital makes waxing and polishing easy in about a quarter of the time.