Car washes: Touchless vs Non-Touchless

[petrolhead611]

I use a hosepipe as my water source, probably wasteful of water I know. I use no soap or cleaner at all, and have three sponges, one for windows and lights, one for bodywork, and one for wheels and unpainted plastic skirts below the bumpers. I dry the car using a silicone blade. Daily use causes far more parking rash damage etc than any wash system would ever do; my current car has minor dents at 3 corners, and 1 in the middle of tailgate, and of course no-one ever lets you know that they hit your car..

[RWebb]

Scott - is that a franchise operation? Do you have any tips for someone looking to find a high quality car wash somewhere else?

[flipper35]

High pressure spray in the touchless can also be hard on your paint as it work like a blaster except the media is already on the car instead of in the sprayer.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

I use Optimum No Rinse on my cars in the garage. In fact, putting a hose on my car seems archaic to me now.

After a little reading on Auto Geek I'm going to try that. Sounds like a good winter garage washing solution, when hand washing in my driveway isn't possible.

Originally Posted by RWebb

Scott - is that a franchise operation? Do you have any tips for someone looking to find a high quality car wash somewhere else?

Beat me to it, I wanted to ask the same thing. I've seen the paint damage that can result from going to Green Lantern, so I never go to the touch washes. During the winter we normally run our cars through a nearby and brand new Laser Wash that does well for a touchless, it at least gets the bulk of the salt and crud off. We have 50s this week, so I'll be hand washing everything before it gets cold again.

[gacook]

Originally Posted by David McLaughlin

I've made the decision that I'd rather take a chance with fine scratches than rust holes from these salted roads.I tried the touchless but anything more than dust stays on the car. I try to look for higher end car washes in better towns in hopes that they will take better care if their equipment.

On a side note, a friend took his custom Dodge Magnum to a touchless. The arm of the machine was loose and took out the entire side of the car. 100s of hours to repaint the graphics probably cost the caw wash owner a heart attack when he got the bill.

David,

It's been awhile since I lived in Mass, so my memory of the geography there is a little foggy. Having said that, there was a really good car wash right off the highway in Natick when I was living there. It's where we always took our government cars to get done.


Personally, MY cars never see a car wash--Touch or Touchless; I do it myself. I know the quality of my work, and I know that when I do it, the person washing my car cares about my car, so they're going to be careful not to screw up the paint

[Nickshu]

Just to followup on this thread, based on some advice here I took my Subaru thru a local, new, foam brush non-touchless carwash this winter 3-4 times. The car is clearcoated black metallic. This weekend I did my spring wash/wax on our daily drivers. I found swirls all over the rear hatch from the carwash. I did not find them anywhere else however. I'll be going back to the touchless washes. While the chemicals may be more harsh I think the potential for visible damage is less, as I've never had a problem before.

Where I live with all the Mag Chloride they dump on the roads I think leaving the Mag on the paint and trim (especially chrome) is more damaging than the chemicals from a touchless wash.

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

After a little reading on Auto Geek I'm going to try that. Sounds like a good winter garage washing solution, when hand washing in my driveway isn't possible.

I haven't used a hose and bucket in years. It leaves water spots, takes longer, and wastes more water. I am a huge advocate of ONR on anything but the filthiest cars out there.

I got in an argument with the tire guy last week as he swore up and down that my car was recently repainted due to how spotless the paint is.