[sohlman]

I think what some of us are trying to say is that your expectations of buying a second hand car may be a little high and thus why you are a little disappointed. A photo would help as one persons view of damaged scratched paint and another may differ.

Be that as it may

A good detail should sort the car out. This is something you can learn to do or get in a pro. When I do my car I do the following.
Snow foam
Carefully two bucket clean
Clay
Polishing compound with rotory polisher gradually getting finer so that no halo can be seen.
Hand wax preperation
2 coats of wax.

Wheel clean
Hand polish
Wheel wax

Interior Hoover
Wipe plastics
Leather cleaner
Leather conditioner
Window clean etc

Takes me about 2 days to do a good job on a new to me car. One day to do the outside assuming car is clean

Where are you based. I know a good detailer in middle England and another down in Hampshire.

Apologies for the double post earlier I don't know what happened there