If I want to strip my car to the metal..... what do you recommend?

Big areas

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-1-2-half-inch-nylon-abrasive-wheel-94017.html

Small areas:







What that doesn't get, grab some $.50 small wire brushes, it takes a couple coats, put plastic wrap over the stripper to keep it from evaporating, makes it go 4x as far.