No automatic car wash?

[Serban]

Hello,

I've tried to take my car to an Esso petrol station, they've got a static car automatic wash, but before I bought a "ticket" to use it from the reception, this guy told me I should avoid them as someone else with a similar car had water inside, broke in from behind "the spoiler" or whatever, couldn't quite make it with his indian accent and suggested I should manual wash it perhaps with a jet.  

Anyone familiar with this situation? 

21' Toyota Yaris Hybrid MK4 Icon

[TonyHSD]

Auto washes are best to be avoided even if they are offered for free. These cause nothing but troubles and the cleaning is not that good. Simple hand wash only its so much better. 

[Roy124]

The auto washes invariably miss bits, rare to find one that does an underbody wash and can take your rear wiper too.

I have a particular Soapy Joe that I use, comprehensive and rarely miss anything.  That said, just pressure washed mine to get as much cr^p from the wheel arches out.

Just having a coffee before doing the trim with gel.

[152bobby]

If people don't value their car and the exterior bits on the outside of it being ripped off and it missing parts of the car to clean, then automated car washes are fine, but I'd never use one.

To be honest, I've even stopped using the hand car wash places a few years ago.  Can't imagine the grit and crap on their wash mits etc !!! I'm sure there are very good places, but if my car is accidentally scratched by dirt or grit, I'd like to scratch it myself and then there's nobody to blame but myself.

[Bper]

Personally I wouldn't use them as they do not clean the car properly and do not do any favours to the paintwork. If it's not possible to wash the car yourself then take it to a hand wash.

As far as a similar Yaris had a leak that cannot be attributed to all Yaris cars. Many that choose to take their cars to these washes never have a problem. 😄

[jcps001]

I've never used them. I don't look for 5 stars auto detail services. I really don't mind the car to be dirty sometimes. But I wash frequently with a jet and that's it. I don't even dry it. I only dry it after washing it once in 4 months, before I apply Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Si02 whatever-something. A good protection product. And that's it.

On the interior, I use a product to clean the seats very lightly, and APC to clean the plastics and windows, and after that a good vacuum cleaning also inside the boot.

And that's it. Happy so far.

Those machines are too scary for me, and the amount of dirt on those things, scratches will appear. Certainly.

[hind]

41 minutes ago, 152bobby said:

Can't imagine the grit and crap on their wash mits etc !!! I'm sure there are very good places, but if my car is accidentally scratched by dirt or grit, I'd like to scratch it myself and then there's nobody to blame but myself.

If the weather allows I'd rather wash and clean my car myself too - especially that my local law allows me to wash my car on the driveway (using biodegradable car shampoo). But in winter I'd rather pay extra for the car detailing service than freeze myself 😄 search for the company that does it's job well, ignore the price - you can visit less frequent but keep the car undamaged. 

[APS]

Automatic car washes are great if you are short on time or don't have the space to do it yourself. But you should be aware that they give your paintwork a distinctive satin finish. Without fail.

[Primus1]

I’d sooner leave my car dirty than take it to an automated wash..

[Dezzer21]

The first and last time I used an automated wash was in 1988 on my new vw golf, it came on the roof like a ton of bricks and scraped it quite deep. Wouldn’t polish out so the owners of the wash paid to have it resprayed at a place I chose, so it’s bucket and microfibre mitt for me whilst I’m still able.

[jthspace]

Two bucket car wash...

Use two buckets when hand washing a car

[Mjolinor]

1 hour ago, Primus1 said:

I’d sooner leave my car dirty than take it to an automated wash..

I'd sooner leave my car dirty than wash it. 🙂

Not washed a car for 40 years.

[Rhymes with Paris]

Yes, like the others say, don't go to an auto wash.

I took my Vauxhall Carlton to one in 1995 I haven't got over it yet, the brushes nearly took it down to the primer on the boot lid.

Ruined the car,to make the rest of it match, I would have had to go over it with a wire brush on a drill.

Still not as extreme as an otherwise extremely bright chap I knew from Hull,who slathered his light blue bodywork with used engine oil to prevent rusting, and never washed it.

It certainly stopped anyone accepting a lift, so maybe that was the plan.

[bathtub tom]

I had a neighbour (he worked in a car factory) who insisted the best way to wash a car was to do it with paraffin. Had the dullest/matt paintwork you've ever seen. When I was using T-cut on mine one day to remove a minor scratch, I did his petrol filler cap. It stuck out like a sore thumb. He never said a word, but must have noticed it.