Stupid question but who here takes their car to a car wash vs washing it by hand at home?

I'm thinking about getting my car washed today at this place: http://www.majorcarwash.com/home.asp

where I take all my family cars, and am not sure if it's a good idea to take a "nicer" like a Porsche there if I want to baby it.

 

I normally wash mine by hand ... if u do take your P to car wash just be careful of tire/rim size ... car wash in my town will not let it go through because of concerns with rim damage. I go to a place Gus N Bucky in bedminster NJ ... they are great and handle tons of high end rides.

 

I take mine to one but it is a "hand wash" place that does not use machines. Any place that uses machines for the washing would be for "any" car were you do not care too much about the paint or swirl marks.

Here is the place I go to as an example...

http://www.ajautodetailing.com/

David

 

I wash by hand only.

 

I would do it at home if I could, but I live in an urban area in a condo. I have to get it hand washed, but I love doing it myself. I wouldn't ever let machines do it and I always worried about those metal rails you put your car in with my low profile tires. Hand wash only for me.

 

I'd highly recommend a wash product called Optimum No Rinse. Lots of videos on this product on the web.

Really does a great job with 2 gal. water and a few microfiber towels.

 

I rarely have, but then only at touchless car washes. I'm sure that is bad enough.

 

I get mine at the eco friendly waterless carwashes. Heard from a good amount of people that it's better on black paint. Last time I took it there, no swirl marks...holding up great.

 

i take mine to hand wash on route 46 on buddlake

 

Great idea. When you take it through make sure you video the whole experience, start to finish, and post it here for all of us to enjoy. If you could get sound with the video that would be extra special. And don't forget to tip the guys who dry it off and do the inside windows.

 

, harsh.

 

I use Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine, this stuff is amazing! I wash my car in the garage and dry with an extra large microfiber towel. I have never worried about swirl marks when I moved to this method. It takes me 15 minutes to wash and dry.

 

+1 on optimum no rinse. One 5 gallon bucket of water and a few cap fulls of the ONR and it is an easy wash. Even in the winter in the garage with some nice warm water it is no sweat. If the car is really cruddy a quick rinse off with a hose first is good just to be safe. If you are going to a car wash, just go to one that your car sits still and the spray moves past your car with no spinning or waving rags to rub the paint.

 

I am in a condo as well and have taken my past car to a coin-op with my own bucket, soap, mitt and water for the wash bucket. I haven't had a need to wash my current car yet, but will do the same.

 

the only car wash place (rail&chain) wouldn't let my M3 go through either due to the same concern over the width of the tires/wheels. I take it to touch-less car wash during winter season and try to hand wash the car as i can when the weather gets better.