Is a clear coat really needed when doing a paint job?

Depends on the type of paint you choose and how much elbow grease you're willing to put in.

If you go with a stand alone paint like a urethayne you wont need a clearcoat...Just gotta know the best way to get the shine out of it when painting it....But after recently just doind my first clearcoat job on a customers truck...I love how it lays down and looks...But no you don't need it, my car is in Oxford White Urethayne 1 stage, I did it last spring cause thats all I knew how to do!