Pressure washer for cleaning a Boxster?

[argonaut]

...a friend wants to get her Boxster ('98 2.5) cleaned by those hand car-wash places that use pressure washers
to rinse.

Will high pressure water damage or get through the soft-top of the car?

[Don]

I have a pressure washer at home and would not consider using it on the soft-top...although I bet it wouldn't leak. Or the paintwork for that matter...these days...I used to but have come to the conclusion a regular hose has enough pressure for rinsing without the danger of scratching the paint as it blasts off tiny bits of grit etc.

It has a use on the alloy wheels and getting salt/mud/gunk off the underside of the car - particularly during winter....to get the salt off.

Short answer - either have a valet firm clean the car who you trust..or do it yourself.

[Rotaree]

I have a valet firm clean my S and they use a pressure washer with no ill effects. Try to avoid blasting water into the mirrors though as it can go through the seals into the car, apart from that though no probs.

[Nacnud]

A coutionary tale.
I've got a decent pressure washer which I hardly ever use now.....

First problem was my motorbike, trying to remove dead flies it took a bit of gel-coat off the front of the fairing about the size of my thumbnail. Fortunately it doesn't show too much being black gell-coat on black GRP.

Secondly, it took some silver paint about the size of an egg off my Alfa just behind the rear wheel arch while removing horse shit. Fortunately not too bad as silver paint against grey primer doesn't really show.

Thirdly, having relegated the pressure washer to really bad bits like the underbody and wheels, I removed a large chunk of lacquer from one of my alloy wheels. This did show and was really irritating until I kerbed the alloy and replaced it.....

I still use the pressure washer for cleaning paths and things and also (but rarely) on a vehicle. In all cases the washer is held at a great distance and I never use the extra-evil spiral jet nozzle.

[melv]

My advice? Don't...........

Melv

[mightydquinn]

Yes I use a cold water jet wash 1500psi so its not a big one ( she said ) I havn't got my boxster yet but I will use it as I do on all my cars The thing is not too near and keep it mooving You can blow paint of but not if your carefull But you cat get into more awkward places
Its steam cleaners that can do the most damage in the wrong hands
When the car is clean and polished you can just blast the crap of in this weather as I do 2 or 3 times a week OK.....+