I don't even take my Honda to a car wash . It would never take my porsches . Even if the car wash is "touchless" then the detergents are so strong that it wil strip quality wax and the additional wax they use to produce shine for a cheap price is garbage .

 

I take it to a hand wash in Belmont. One of the guys, also takes the wheels out and washes them inside out for an additional $10.

 

The last time I have taken my car to a car wash was a fundraiser for one of the local college's cheer leading squads. At least they did a hand job.

 

Hand job by local college cheer leader is always good!

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What you say? Takes the wheels out?

 

Hand wash place always!!!!

 

To the NJ guys: where's a good hand wash place in central nj?

 

Don't the hand wash places use the same wash cloths and drying towels on all their cars. I wonder if the towels could have micro grains of dirt in them, from previously washed muddy cars, that could put swirl marks on your paint? When I wash at home, I make sure I use cloths/towels have been freshly washed in my washer and dryed in the dryer to make sure that there are no particles that could damage my paint. I also use a different wash cloth on the top part of my car, and I dump the water often. I don't see them doing that at the hand wash places. Am I wrong?

 

Hand wash places aren't much better. Their drying towels aren't always clean and they leave swirl marks. I used to bring my black BMW years ago until I noticed swirl marks and had it all buffed out. You can wash a car this size in under an hour easy.

 

I believe car washes that leave swirl marks on your car would eventually have no customers. Mine never!!!! leaves swirl marks and I'm fussy and so are they!

I have no level of interest in washing my own car but that's just me. I'll leave that to the professionals and, in general, I'm also thinking that professionals can wash a car better than we can too!

I know what I do for a living I do way better than someone that doesn't do it for a living....just logic.

Tom

 

Tommyv,

Where do you take your car? ...I would like a break from washing my black car, so I might try them out. I don't mind paying a little more, if they really are that good.

 

Hand wash only

 

Exactly my situation, live in a condo, don't trust auto-washes. I have to drive 10 miles to get to the coin op. Although I don't bring my own bucket/mit, I use the supplies at the coin-op. First use the high pressure soap (from about 10 feet away) then foam brush, then rinse (again from 10 feet away). Then I squeegee and wipe by hand.

Opinions?

 

While I completely agree with your logic. I don't find it a chore washing my car. Yes, when I get it professionally detailed, they do a better job than I do. That's not my issue, I get a sense of satisfaction from cleaning my car, might sound stupid, but I genuinely enjoy it.

I work in Corporate Finance, I'm sure my car detailer can't do my job, but I don't hold that against him. He can definitely clean a car better than I can, I can easily afford to pay him, I need the time (Busy enough already), but to the point. I wanted a 911 since I was 6, I can more than afford one, or a few, but for me, it just sets me back to my 10 year old me. 10 year old me, saw a 911 and dreamed, like a stupid kid, that's what I wanted. So to complete the car wash story, can't quite let someone else wash my 911.

 

I imagine the soap used at these places is cheap and harsh, so I bring my own. I bring my own mitt and bucket because I won't use the foam brush on any cars paint. Those brushes are usually very filthy, as people use them on rims etc. Never know how contaminated those brushes are, if I recall the coin-op place I go to even warns of that.