For the record.... I'm not saying that there are better DAs out there, but PRICE into consideration, and depending on planned used to be given (once a month?), the Harbor Freight 69924 is tough to beat. Sure there are better machines out there (Rupes, Porter Cable, Griot's, etc.), but unless you are planning to make a living out of it, consider the option that best suits your needs.

It takes me a good 6-8 hours to wash, dry, clay (by hand), polish (HF with orange pad), "wax" (HF with black pad) a blue Audi Q5, or a charcoal gray Audi RS5, or a pearl white Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. To pay someone to do a similar job is ±$300 per vehicle, but I'm sure I would find spots they'd miss and not end up looking as good as I know they could.

I have the Harbor Freight unit. Did the grease mod, big difference! Much quiter and smoother running. Also use Chemical Guys pads.

chuckr: for future reference sake, what grease did you end up using? I've seen quite a bit of suggestions on the matter and folks around here tend to be more technically inclined than other places that suggest the grease mod.

For all others, besides the pads from Chemical Guys, make SURE to get their backing plate as well as the one from Harbor Freight is as good as trash.

Cannot remember what grease I used. Pretty sure it was red, I can tell you that when I opened up the unit to add grease, what was in there was shocking. Maybe a ping pong ball size of grease.
There is a electric cord mod I have seen that I keep wanting to do, lower guage wire.