rag-top convertibles

[dickbastardly]

Hi all
Just bought a ragtop convertible,
My Question is:
Can I take it through a car wash?
Cheers
Andy

[davepoth]

dickbdly said:

Hi all
Just bought a ragtop convertible,
My Question is:
Can I take it through a car wash?
Cheers
Andy

What does the manual say?

[dickbastardly]

Oh bloody help man, we don't do things like that!!
Will look in the morning.

[Steffan]

I assume this is TinC? If you do car wash a convertible expect major repair bills to the hood, stays, folding gear and covering. Not good.

[CampDavid]

dickbdly said:

Oh bloody help man, we don't do things like that!!
Will look in the morning.

It kind of matters. Metro cabrio: No

997 cabrio: yes

[dickbastardly]

Sorry not TnC serious not really thought about it.
Just bought it and it needs a clean so thought just pop down to car wash in the morning then thought can I do that.

[dickbastardly]

Its a saab 93 if that helps?

[dickbastardly]

Its a saab 93 if that helps?

[dickbastardly]

Its a saab 93 if that helps?

[poing]

Not sure I'd risk a 93 to be honest, it's quite a big hood and I assume it's not exactly new either.

[sherman]

Why not go and use the jet wash beside the car wash. You will avoid getting swirly paint as well.

[Steffan]

dickbdly said:

Sorry not TnC serious not really thought about it.
Just bought it and it needs a clean so thought just pop down to car wash in the morning then thought can I do that.

You could try a pressure washer if you are really brave. I would not be that brave. All hoods leak (well all my 50+ convertibles over 50 years have) to a greater or lesser extent. I suspect a mechanical car wash would literally rip the hood off.

Fabric hoods are not very strong or resilient. Especially big fabric hoods. I would suggest always washing by hand using Meguiars or similar specialist treatments. Never use strong detergents on hood fabric let alone a mechanical washing system. Good luck.

[dbdb]

I did once go through an automatic car wash in a TR6. I got rather wet, but on the plus side there wasn't any random smoke or fizzing.

[rlengthorn]

I look my Mini Convertible through a car wash and it was perfectly fine, didn't clean the roof particularly well though.

[dickbastardly]

Its a 10 plate so fairly new
Will read the manual tomorrow.
Cheers
Amdy

[Dracoro]

Fast track to swirl marks!

[Ozzie Osmond]

Ask yourself, where's the radio aerial?

And then don't be such a div...

OzOs

[Red 4]

Hand wash. Plenty about if you don't want to do it yourself.

If you want to look after the car then do it yourself and use Renovo on the roof. Renovo is the best for convertible roofs - just buy the cleaner if you're not that fussed (there's a 3 stage kit if you want to do it properly).

Edited by Red 4 on Saturday 2nd February 00:20

[iva cosworth]

I have 4 hours at work tomorrow with nothing to do so i will read my soft top's manual

and see if it warns against auto car washes.

My Barchetta has both a new hood and a resprayed body so a handwash at home is the only

way for me.

[littlebasher]

Car wash never bothered my 9-3 cab

No leaks, no damage