Automated Car Washes
Discussion
What's the consensus on automated car washes? I'd never used one until yesterday, when I finally rolled the dice and took my Polestar 3 through one of the Kascher washes at my local Shell station. I picked that particular one because the Shell station is generally well maintained, and I thought I probably had the best chance of it doing a decent, damage-free job.
I was pretty impressed, especially for the £7 it cost me. It did quite a decent job of getting the grime off, and was actually pretty fun.
Am I missing something? Are there any recommendations for even better car washes? I could be a convert (until summer, at least).
I was pretty impressed, especially for the £7 it cost me. It did quite a decent job of getting the grime off, and was actually pretty fun.
Am I missing something? Are there any recommendations for even better car washes? I could be a convert (until summer, at least).
it'll look fine from a distance, but get up close in the sunlight and there will be a myriad of swirl marks and fine scratches.
for a car you're going to give back to a lease company in a few years, it'll be fine. for a car you actually care about and might be keeping long term, you're better off taking it to a decent hand wash place (or wash it yourself)
for a car you're going to give back to a lease company in a few years, it'll be fine. for a car you actually care about and might be keeping long term, you're better off taking it to a decent hand wash place (or wash it yourself)
brillomaster said:
it'll look fine from a distance, but get up close in the sunlight and there will be a myriad of swirl marks and fine scratches.
for a car you're going to give back to a lease company in a few years, it'll be fine. for a car you actually care about and might be keeping long term, you're better off taking it to a decent hand wash place (or wash it yourself)
I suspect a handwash place would cause just as many swirls to be honest. for a car you're going to give back to a lease company in a few years, it'll be fine. for a car you actually care about and might be keeping long term, you're better off taking it to a decent hand wash place (or wash it yourself)
I've only ever washed cars by myself, but you won't stop swirls developing in your paint regardless of what you do. I tend to machine polish all the cars around once per year
Cyder said:
I love a trip through the swirl-o-matic, keeps the kids entertained and makes the car look acceptableish.
I can't be arsed with the toothbrush two bucket clay bar method, life is far too busy and interesting to spend hours being obsessive about the car.
This. I get my car washed by the chaps with a gritty sponge or an automated car wash once it becomes impossible to get in and out without getting myself dirty.I can't be arsed with the toothbrush two bucket clay bar method, life is far too busy and interesting to spend hours being obsessive about the car.
I foolishly fell into the trap with a brand new car of ceramic coating and toothbrushes and two bucket washes, and it STILL ended up swirly so now I just drive them and enjoy them.
brillomaster said:
it'll look fine from a distance, but get up close in the sunlight and there will be a myriad of swirl marks and fine scratches.
for a car you're going to give back to a lease company in a few years, it'll be fine. for a car you actually care about and might be keeping long term, you're better off taking it to a decent hand wash place (or wash it yourself)
User name checks out.for a car you're going to give back to a lease company in a few years, it'll be fine. for a car you actually care about and might be keeping long term, you're better off taking it to a decent hand wash place (or wash it yourself)
Anyway, OP, coming on PistonHeads, extolling the virtues of carwashes and EVs. Brave man. Bravo.
Skodillac said:
User name checks out.
Anyway, OP, coming on PistonHeads, extolling the virtues of carwashes and EVs. Brave man. Bravo.
I've been here a long time, my friend Anyway, OP, coming on PistonHeads, extolling the virtues of carwashes and EVs. Brave man. Bravo.
Times are a changing. I find it strange to drive the other ICE cars I own now... I fear they are not here for much longer.
Or maybe I'm becoming old, can't rule it out.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 15th January 14:55
Cyder said:
I can't be arsed with the toothbrush two bucket clay bar method, life is far too busy and interesting to spend hours being obsessive about the car.
There is of course a middle ground. i.e. not using automatic washes but giving it a quick pressure wash, shampoo and dry to keep it looking nice - no toothbrushes needed. Each to their own of course.Funkstar De Luxe said:
Skodillac said:
User name checks out.
Anyway, OP, coming on PistonHeads, extolling the virtues of carwashes and EVs. Brave man. Bravo.
I've been here a long time, my friend Anyway, OP, coming on PistonHeads, extolling the virtues of carwashes and EVs. Brave man. Bravo.
Times are a changing. I find it strange to drive the other ICE cars I own now... I fear they are not here for much longer.
Or maybe I'm becoming old, can't rule it out.
Agree with that. Unless it's a ripsnorting thing where the inherent compromises of ICE are a feature then EVs make every ICE car feel as hopelessly outdated as a steam powered traction engine.
The only reason to have some modern silly little engine/hybrid turdbox over an EV is if you need the range. In terms of driveability an EV powertrain is closer to a V12 barge than a 4 pot farter.
The only reason to have some modern silly little engine/hybrid turdbox over an EV is if you need the range. In terms of driveability an EV powertrain is closer to a V12 barge than a 4 pot farter.
My car is old and full of dents and scratches but perfectly sound otherwise, I wanted to use one that also cleans the underside after all the salts on the roads from snow after a trip to W Yorkshire but near enough every time I go looking for an Auto wash, 90% of the time there out of order, this is in NW London.
Funkstar De Luxe said:
Honestly, I’d never pressure wash a car. It’s so aggressive
But an automated car wash is ok? I rarely use a car wash, I generally opt for a Bilt Hamber snow foam, stand back for 5 then blast it off again... gets them about 80% clean, which given mine all have zero fancy paint protection and it's winter, is good enough to keep the worst off. Though I probably prefer that option as I tend to be more interested in cleaning out under the arches, under the sills and so on more than the paint so it's not unusual to see several kilos of mud being dislodged. That said, it's now cold, windy... horrible... and my nearest IMO car wash now has an underbody option so I might do that periodically, ie when my wife starts whining that the back of her trousers are getting covered in mud.
This has just opened near us, may be a better option than the swirly whirly type, but presumably must use some pretty potent detergent as pressure washers on their own can't shift everything;
https://www.intelijet360.com/rugby-touchless-car-w...
https://www.intelijet360.com/rugby-touchless-car-w...
Edited by Andy86GT on Wednesday 15th January 16:16
GeniusOfLove said:
Cyder said:
Yes
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