Where to detail car in London

[Chubbyross]

My dilemma: I’m a detailing obsessive living in central London. I have a car that I park in a nearby secure parking area. I could never leave the car outside my house for fear of it being vandalised or nicked. However, every few weeks I need to give it a maintenance wash. I don’t like doing this outside my house as it draws attention to the car (I’ve had experience of being spat at by hoodies in hot hatches - I live on the edge of a highly dodgy area with drug dealers and gangs doing their stuff).

My question is this: are there any areas in London where there are pressure washers and spaces to hire on an hourly basis so car owners can spend time working on their cars? I’m not talking about the standard do-it-yourself cleaning areas attached to petrol stations. I’ve tried that before but the cars start queuing up and you get aggro from drivers for spending too long.

Once on a road trip last year I found a spot up in Yorkshire that had several pressure washers operated by coin slots and drivers turned up with their two buckets and could spend as long as they wanted. I’m wondering if any of you know of something similar in London. I’m guessing that land values around here make such a thing unlikely.

[Chubbyross]

Cheers for the replies. I actually have a pressure washer that I can run outside using an outside tap. It’s the standing there for two+ hours when there’s kids on scooters slowing down to gawp that worries me. It’s a shame there’s nowhere where detailing obsessed petrol heads can go to in London to spend a relaxing few hours with their toys, chemicals and brushes. I’d happily fork out a decent amount of money to do so.

[Chubbyross]

Haltamer said:

What side of London are you on?
Maybe someone in a nicer area with a tap will let you borrow their drive
http://www.detailsdetails.co.uk/our-workshop.html Is in Southend if you're in the east and don't mind a drive.

Now that’s exactly what I’m looking for in London. It’s a bit of a trek but if I can’t find something closer I’ll certainly be paying them a visit. I’ll just need to ensure the weather’s good. I can imagine spending a quality afternoon working on the car only for the heavens to open on the 1.5 hour’s drive.

[Chubbyross]

poo at Paul's said:

One of the saddest things I have ever read! How do you ever drive your car? How do you get to it, bus, train tube?
If you can physically wash it at your home, why not just do that, then drive it to the secure parking? If it really is not safe to wash it at your won house, seriously, why do you live there?
If you cannot sort that issue out, maybe find a decent mobile valeter that will come to your secure parking area?

I suspect you like doing it yourself, but to say you don't feel safe doing so, is sad in the extreme. 2018 Britain.....! well London at least!

I’m not sure if you live in London or not but there are good areas and dodgy areas. Often a few hundred yards separate the two. I live in my house because it’s a great house, but to spend two hours outside polishing my car (relatively expensive and desirable to some) is inviting trouble, whether it’s just a snidey comment or something more sinister, such as keys and car stolen at knifepoint. Such things are happening all over but particularly in London of late. It’s simply better to be safe than sorry.

[Chubbyross]

130iTrack said:

Hi,

I'm currently just fitting out my workshop/yard to be able to offer this just off the Old Kent Road. Send me a private message with your email and I'll add you to list of people interested in the space. Hoping to have it ready in the next few weeks.

Tom

Hi Tom,

I’m sure you’ll be kept busy! Your profile doesn’t allow PMs. If you sort it out I’ll drop you an email.

[Chubbyross]

130iTrack said:

Chubbyross said:

Hi Tom,

I’m sure you’ll be kept busy! Your profile doesn’t allow PMs. If you sort it out I’ll drop you an email.

Apologies, have changed it. Should be able to send me a PM now.

Tom

Hi Tom,

This damned modern technology. I still can’t see your email me button.

[Chubbyross]

coldel said:

Chubbyross said:

Cheers for the replies. I actually have a pressure washer that I can run outside using an outside tap. It’s the standing there for two+ hours when there’s kids on scooters slowing down to gawp that worries me. It’s a shame there’s nowhere where detailing obsessed petrol heads can go to in London to spend a relaxing few hours with their toys, chemicals and brushes. I’d happily fork out a decent amount of money to do so.

The hydroshot doesnt need an outside tap, it works by just sticking the hose in a bucket and it draws from that. So you can drive the car anywhere you like i.e. away from the hoodies and out the way of anyone and park up and just wash the car. It also works off a battery so doesnt need a power point https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaEk0Uiue4s

It looks a good bit of kit but the reviews do say it’s no substitute for a pressure washer.

[Chubbyross]

coldel said:

Chubbyross said:

Cheers for the replies. I actually have a pressure washer that I can run outside using an outside tap. It’s the standing there for two+ hours when there’s kids on scooters slowing down to gawp that worries me. It’s a shame there’s nowhere where detailing obsessed petrol heads can go to in London to spend a relaxing few hours with their toys, chemicals and brushes. I’d happily fork out a decent amount of money to do so.

The hydroshot doesnt need an outside tap, it works by just sticking the hose in a bucket and it draws from that. So you can drive the car anywhere you like i.e. away from the hoodies and out the way of anyone and park up and just wash the car. It also works off a battery so doesnt need a power point https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaEk0Uiue4s

It looks a good bit of kit but the reviews do say it’s no substitute for a pressure washer.

[Chubbyross]

coldel said:

Schermerhorn said:

Ahbefive said:

I do wonder why anyone would want to live in the sthole that is London. High wages I guess.

Surely it all levels out though with high living costs?

I was in London last week and found it a complete nightmare to navigate, jumping on and off trains, high cost of everything, rude people and too many restricted driving zones.

I couldnt wait to leave and wouldnt be upset if I never had to go there again.

To be honest comments like calling a place a sthole and questioning people for something like living there are just moronic comments. People visit London and go see all the sights then come away saying they couldn't live there, that's just daft. Thats like a Londoner going to watch Liverpool at Anfield get a train there and back and then come to the insightful conclusion there is nothing much there the people are rude and couldnt live there. Living and visiting are very different experiences for a start, also the majority of Londoners in London during the day in the week do not actually live in London, they commute in from places like Herts/Hampshire/Surrey/Kent etc. Additionally the majority of people who live in London do not live next to Kings Cross/Victoria/Waterloo station, most live out in the outer zones which are very affluent and picturesque. There are bad places as per the theme of this thread, but every city has them, whether you are in Birmingham, Manchester, London, Paris, Munich, whatever.

This exactly. It’s all too easy to bash London - and there have been many threads on this very topic - but living here can be an amazing experience. The choice of bars, restaurants, theatres, museums and schools is astonishing (not to mention work possibilities). If you’re not interested in any of those then fine. Leave London to those who love living here.

Right, back to the theme of the thread...