delinquent543

Who here uses drive in car washes? It's hard (to find the time) most of the time to hand wash my car, especially in the winter... I mean, ill finish it off myself to get rid of specs and stuff... but what are everyones thoughts on drive-though car washes. are they bad for the car? (only gripe is the leaky t-tops). Who else uses them. perticularly those of you who daily drive ur cars.

Mike02Z

iTrader: (13)

I use them on my leased cars but never on my Z. Don't trust them for that car. My leased cars I could care less about.

bboyferal

iTrader: (9)

On a lease it's fine... Who cares? On YOUR car, expect swirls to pop-up later, or if it's a "touch-free," expect the car to still be dirty afterward.

00badSScamaro

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I actually work at a car wash, and most of the cars come out real dirty still. The other thing you have to look out for is the size of the track that carries the car through, because I've seen some that were too skinny for my tires, and mine are just the stock 275's.

BlackBADaSS02

iTrader: (17)

I never go through drive in car washes. I dont trust them, and they dont clean your car like a good hand washing does.

WADDISME

iTrader: (4)

From experience I can tell you that the pressure from odd angles will eventually wear your weather stripping around the window and maybe your t-tops and your car will leak. Plus the towels they use to hand dry have the potential for swirls. I doubt they are the high quality terry or micro-fibre. That used to be the only way I would do my first TA, but never on the second. Even the high pressure washes are risky in that it can grind dirt into your clear coat. Just best to do it by hand with TLC!!!

JDP

iTrader: (21)

i use to work at a car wash and i will never take my car to one again.

some of the soaps will strip off your protectants, and if they dont clean anything you will have some dirty *** cloths smacking your car (would you wipe your car with a dirty rag)

and power sprayers can press the dirt into your paint and can cause the dirt to scratch your paint

evilbadz

iTrader: (1)

I made the mistake of going through a really fancy exxon carwash once in my last camaro, it's the kind that has the one big L shaped wand that rotates around your car.

Yeah well, 10 minutes and 10 gallons of water in my car later, I was soaking wet and had stripped off half my clothes trying to dry the seats and everything else

I will point out that this was the ONLY carwash that ever gave me that much problems. The usual ones I went through had some drips but never the torrent of rain inside my car that that one caused.

00firebird

iTrader: (3)

you mean swirl tunnels? yeah i avoid them at all costs.

rxmxsh

iTrader: (1)

It's my DD and I HATE dirty car. I usually hit it once week if it gets too dirty. I only do touchless though. It's not 100% clean, but usually if my car is waxed up good then it looks pretty good.

Z2K_MrJ

The New car auto carwash i live near works Great. its all JET blown water to get a good cleaning tho you would have to expect to pay like 7$ thats with he wax hehe

Z28_DAD

iTrader: (18)

i took my camaro through one once, then wrecked my car the next day. now im not supersticious (sp?) but i think that was a good enough of a sign for me.

now my avalanche on the other hand is usually hand washed. but if i get it REALLY muddy, then i go through the drive through car wash.

TUMBLRws6

iTrader: (1)

Doooont Doooooo It!!!!!!!!!

Gipraw

iTrader: (10)

just bring it to my house, and I will polish it with a Brillo Pad .. the final result will be the same.