Do you Hand Wash or Auto Car Wash?

[Zoidz]

I have PPF and my installer recommended no automatic washes, so I hand wash, 2 bucket method. I'm used to that because our BMW ragtop has always been hand washed. Ragtops don't like automatic car washes.

Sponsored

 

[Dark-Fx]

Washing removes the protective layer of dirt.

 

[COdogman]

When we say "automatic" washes are we referring to the ubiquitous membership car washes where you drive up, put your vehicle in neutral and it pulls you through while spraying you with various liquids and giant soft "brushes" clean you up?

Or the ones where you pay, then slowly drive through while spraying your vehicle (touchless)?

 

[Scottski]

When we say "automatic" washes are we referring to the ubiquitous membership car washes where you drive up, put your vehicle in neutral and it pulls you through while spraying you with various liquids and giant soft "brushes" clean you up?

Or the ones where you pay, then slowly drive through while spraying your vehicle (touchless)?

The full on, touch me in all the right places brushed experience.

 

[COdogman]

The full on, touch me in all the right places brushed experience.

Ok me too...but not the same one that you go to. That would be awkward.

 

[Dark-Fx]

The full on, touch me in all the right places brushed experience.

Maybe even like the one from cool hand luke?

 

[Scottski]

Ok me too...but not the same one that you go to. That would be awkward.

That's right. Head down, knowing quiet nod as we send our prized possessions through the Swirlmaker 9000.

 

[Luxus]

I don't have a Rivian yet but on my vehicles I always hand wash. I like to detail my vehicles and the best way to reintroduce spider webbing in the paint is to run the car through a car wash. Touchless is not much better as they must use harsher chemicals to get the car clean as there is no touching or wiping the dirt off. Also I have found that car washes never get the car as clean as even a quick hand wash. There are always a couple spots that get missed.

If you don't detail your car, car washes are fine. All cars have imperfect paint from the factory and a car wash won't really make the paint any worse than it already is.

 

[Scottski]

I feel like paint is getting softer and softer, and the auto manufacturers charge more and more for "custom" colors. I miss the days when they used to put glass reinforced asbestos clear coats on cars.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Hand washing when I have time. Regular maintenance wash, I do brushless machine wash only. I also have full PPF with ceramic.

Ultimately don’t overthink it. Wash it however you want. Anything is better than none. And no matter how much effort you put in, some random asshat will inevitably come along and damage your car.

 

[dj200]

I have full-coverage PPF on all my cars and run them through the auto full-brush car wash. Never had a problem with scratches or PPF peeling/lifting etc. I also follow up with a sealer (CarPro Reload).

 

[SANZC02]

In SoCal there are a lot of handwashing car was places, I use those. I do not find them much in other parts of the country.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

In SoCal there are a lot of handwashing car was places, I use those. I do not find them much in other parts of the country.

I tried one and afterwards I thought I could have done better in same time.

 

[SANZC02]

I tried one and afterwards I thought I could have done better in same time.

I agree, I could do better, not in the same amount of time though, I’m slow.

With all of the droughts around here causing restrictions on washing in your driveway, taking it to the carwash is just a habit I got into.

 

[1stPlace]

I go full automatic, club lights, brushes, and a new random person every time hand drying it for me.

I've owned for 2.5 years, 75k miles, and I go 2-3 times a week. My Rivian looks fine. I need the vehicle to look clean from a distance for my job. I'm never going to hand wash twice a week, especially in Winter. Michigan is a heavy overcast state, so the vast majority of the time, whatever paint defects people are looking for are not even visible. Swirl marks might show up in direct sunlight if you are 5 feet from the car and specifically looking for it. I don't care.

Ultimately, it is up to the owner's level of concern. If this was a sports car, I might treat it differently. No one is measuring paint thickness during resale for these vehicles.

Sponsored