View Poll Results: Do you run your car through an automatic car wash?
Yes - light color paint (white, silver, grey)
29
21.17%
Yes - dark color paint (black, blue, red)
32
23.36%
No - light color paint (white, silver, grey)
37
27.01%
No - dark color paint (black, blue, red)
39
28.47%
Voters: 137. You may not vote on this poll
Automatic Car Wash Poll
10-22-2011, 04:49 AM
#11
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lancaster, PA
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If I leased the car, probably a different story.
10-22-2011, 05:04 AM
#12
AudiWorld Super User
10-22-2011, 05:15 AM
#13
I think he meant there's now way he couldn't* wash the car in the winter...
10-22-2011, 06:28 AM
#14
AudiWorld Super User
When I bring my car to the car wash, the car wash is the one doing the washing, not me. When the temperature is between 0 and 25F, I don't think manual washing is feasible; for people in warmer locations, this is probably not an issue.
10-22-2011, 08:25 AM
#15
Absolutely not. Hand wash only. Even touch-free car washes will generally use acidic detergents to compensate for being touch-free, and these will strip your wax and dull your clearcoat over time.
Mine never goes more than 2 weeks between washes and gets a fresh application of Zaino every 4-5 months at my detailer. I'm actually in the lobby of my detailer right now while my car is in for Zaino, interior and engine bay detail, and some minor buffer trail correction on my newly-repainted rear bumper. I'll have to bring it back again in about a month or 6 weeks to get Zaino and clear bra put back on the bumper after the paint finishes curing.
Mine never goes more than 2 weeks between washes and gets a fresh application of Zaino every 4-5 months at my detailer. I'm actually in the lobby of my detailer right now while my car is in for Zaino, interior and engine bay detail, and some minor buffer trail correction on my newly-repainted rear bumper. I'll have to bring it back again in about a month or 6 weeks to get Zaino and clear bra put back on the bumper after the paint finishes curing.
10-22-2011, 08:44 AM
#16
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I find the opposite, although I sometimes use touchless car washes just to get a couple of layers of salt and sand off. I have left salt spray on my car for months and the shine always comes back in the spring but the micro scratches a regular car wash puts in the paint are really hard to get rid of.
10-22-2011, 09:13 AM
#17
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Location: Victoria, BC
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I'm a bit of a detailer, so I know all the tricks :-) My car had it's first birthday 3 days ago at 15,000 miles and there's zero swirling - people think it's brand new. Swirls are inevitable to some degree but it's all about minimizing the amount you accumulate over time.
10-22-2011, 09:47 AM
#19
AudiWorld Super User
I find the opposite, although I sometimes use touchless car washes just to get a couple of layers of salt and sand off. I have left salt spray on my car for months and the shine always comes back in the spring but the micro scratches a regular car wash puts in the paint are really hard to get rid of.
10-22-2011, 02:00 PM
#20
I have a hard time believing that more than half of us take the time to hand wash regularly. Even if it's someone else doing it. Especially with all of the leasers.
It's just a car. Personally I've found that whatever's available is fine (I do 50% soft touch 50% touchless), and then a six month or yearly full detail keeps it looking great. You can just wax out whatever swirls/imperfections you see, buff/polish if need be, and it will always look like new again. I've actually been surprised what a good polish can do. Maybe if you plan on keeping it for 10 years or more I could see wanting to avoid buffing and polishing for as long as possible to keep the clearcoat thick.
It's just a car. Personally I've found that whatever's available is fine (I do 50% soft touch 50% touchless), and then a six month or yearly full detail keeps it looking great. You can just wax out whatever swirls/imperfections you see, buff/polish if need be, and it will always look like new again. I've actually been surprised what a good polish can do. Maybe if you plan on keeping it for 10 years or more I could see wanting to avoid buffing and polishing for as long as possible to keep the clearcoat thick.