What is the best method and products for removing swirl marks? Is Meguires 3 step method the best, or is there something else out there like Scratch X that can do the job better? What result would be better if the job is done by hand or a buffering machine?

Yeah, I want to know this too!

some people swear by that scratchx stuff....others hate it.

i prefer the meguiars 3 phase personally....but i also haven't had too much of a problem with swirl marks

Any 3 phase wax system will greatly reduce swirl marks. Rubbing compound and/or 3M 'Swirl Mark Remover' will do it too.

Mother'* have a swirl/scratch remover that'* really good.

Also TurtleWax has color matched lipstick / paint / wash combos that are supposed to work really well. I used the "lipsitck / chipstick" on my 97 just before I put the final coat of wax on her and it turned out really well

what he said... make sure you claybar the area first!!