Automatic Carwash.....are they safe for our ride?

[SS_Matt]

For years I've taken my cars through automatic washers with and without brushes etc.

With my last car I only took it to touchless, until my car came out with a scratched wheel from the railing.

Ever since I've only washed it myself. I bought something like this which works really well.

Fill a bucket with lots of soap. First I spray as much dirt off as possible, then get my clean wash glove and do sections at a time, rinse quickly after applying soap (in TX your car will dry before you finish applying soap to the whole car so gotta do it in sections)

When I'm done I have something like a sham wow- the TX sun dries the car pretty quick- going over it with the shammy gets rid of water marks.

When I get my Camaro I'm going to try and make a habit of waxing at least once a quarter. Just such a pain.

[SS_Matt]

Does anyone have any knowledge or opinions on the mobile car wash people?
A guy comes to our office and cleans cars. He uses a steamer instead of water- not sure how that works. He's pretty cheap. I got a wash and hand wax on my old car for like 40 bucks I think it was. He spent about 1.5-2 hours on my car in mid summer in the middle of the day... lol.

Anyway- not sure if his steam system would be alright on a BLACK Camaro...

[Nessal]

I would NEVER even think about using a towel or even touch the paint after going through one of those touchless washes. It does not clean off all the grit and you're just going to drag it all around hitting it with a towel.

[Gigachip]

After it raining a lot here not giving me time to wash my car myself, I think I'm going to get it sent though automatic car wash

[Mysteek]

Originally Posted by Gigachip

After it raining a lot here not giving me time to wash my car myself, I think I'm going to get it sent though automatic car wash

Where? Daddy O's?? I used to go there until I got the Camaro, now I don't, just wash at home!! Good luck!! I haven't washed mine in a while have to drive on a dirt road in and out of work everyday!! Hate it, but will clean for this weekend!!

[Tessa]

I wash my car constantly at a touchfree wash -- 2 years of ownership and she's fine (from the wash anyway).
Sometimes it's just not practical to hand wash and I hate a filthy Camaro.

[BowtieBelle]

^^

[OPP]

Nooooooo!!!!!!!

[Sevn86]

Originally Posted by nyrfan

LMAO!!


Back on the subject. I don't care how dirty my car is, or how many times a week I need to hand wash and dry it myself, my Camaro will never see the inside of a car wash!!

[Archontruth]

I'm confused. I've been using automatic car washes for years on my current vehicle, and the paint looks fine. The only spots on the car that look bad is a few spots on the hood where I think I left some sap or gunk on it too long. Is this thread a kind of "oh my car won't be pretty enough for the car show if I don't hand wash" thing, or does the Camaro have special, more fragile paint than other vehicles?

[SS_Matt]

Originally Posted by Archontruth

or does the Camaro have special, more fragile paint than other vehicles?

I wonder the same thing. This SS will be my first Chevrolet. How does the paint hold up to say an Audi/VW?

[NYJets77]

funny, true story:

I'm driving a 76 Vega in college, I go to a car wash, and some dopey woman actually steps on her brakes halfway through the wash. I"m right behind her.

I got into an accident *IN* the car wash!

[upflying]

I've strictly hand washed for 40 years.
Gives you a chance to bond with your car, get some exercise, note damage and feel positive about your car. A clean car runs better, psychologically speaking of course.
Use a car wash if you want your paint to look like this.

[RubyCamaro]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! Paint is now water based by law on all new cars. It is more fragile. A girl in our club also had her car badly damaged in a car wash & they would not admit it or fix it (destroyed video evidence too). The shape of the car is not good for car washes in addition to the fragile paint.