57gman

I haven't cheated yet but sometimes the house projects list is never ending and I'll spend a whole day working around the house on a weekend. PS Not retired.

I know you never ever take your car through a traditional car wash for obvious reasons, and I never would but what about the touch less car washes. I take my DD there when I'm crunched for time or too tired.

Taboo?

540i 6spd

I would worry about scratching the rims or if the rims would even fit in the tire holder.

SaxyVette

face the facts..your car will forever tainted using such an impure technique..

57gman

These are very popular in PA. Your tires/rims never go into a track, it's like driving into your garage. Computer "senses" car, nothing ever touches your car. And there's a 1 minute blower at the end to dry it. I understand people are buying blowers now instead of drying with a towel.

I would still hand dry after the blower, where necessary. Saves some time before date night!

momo20

I would never take my vette through any type of automatic car wash to much can go wrong when it really does not need to happen...it take 30 mins to spray off you car at a car wash and dry it,

SaxyVette

Just joshin' of course..but I agree I'd never go near one with tracks in it..

MSG C5

The problem I have with touchless car washes is that if you car is dirty the blast of high pressure rinse water will push the dirt further into your clear coat finish. That's why most detailing shops recommend a soft rinse of water followed by a foam bath which then lifts the dirt prior to your top-down soap cleaning.

Since I now live in Florida, I don't have to worry about this however I did use to cheat with my daily driver when I lived up in Chicago. There were a few winter days that I just wanted to get rid of the road salt, etc. and I used to drive my DD through a Super Kiss touchless car wash. It was better than nothing, however every spring I would need to perform a very detailed cleaning with a clay bar.

JR-01

I don't see any problem with using a touchless care wash. I wash my truck with one all the time. It's just high pressure water, however I would not take my convertible through one.

540i 6spd

I've never seen one like that in IL. I would use that in a pinch without a doubt.

JR-01

They first gently spray the car with a special detergent solution. Then it soaks for a minute or two before the power blast of water. They don't do a great job but in a pinch they don't seem to do any harm. Used one for ten years on my truck and the finish still looks good.

209TIME!!!

I use them with my Vette, never had any type of problem, they work good unless your car is really filthy...most Vette owners worry to much, oh yeah and my car is a convertible also.

strand rider

I guess it comes down to that age old question, "would you trust a robot".

I think it would be prudent to check the machine for fit and function first. I have a machine at the local Chevron station that would be trouble if you punch the wheel clean button. Three stiff brushes rotate against the wheel, almost in the correct position. I was freaking when in a Ford explorer while this was going on, there is no escape once things start happening. At least it didn't hit the paint. I guess somebody tripped over the laser guide, something was off with the aim. The wash gets a lot of use, I have seen a repair tune up guy once. It also eats antennas, is the report.

I favor the coin wash for speed cleaning. You do need to dry a little, but with a heavy distilled rinse it's not too big a deal if you speed through the drying. It an easy shape, and smaller than any SUV, so no sweat. I like high pressure on the wheels, followed by a distilled rinse. I get a lot of salt in the air , so a fresh water rinse is always good.

Vetteman Jack

I have never taken my C5 to an automatic car wash, but I regularly take mine to a self serve wash. It gets the car, including the undercarriage very clean. Never had any problems with the paint using the self serve washes either.

Corvette_Ed

I never use water, period. The water we have in this country is acidic and can etch a clear coat easily.

Lee DeRaud

We don't seem to have any issue with trusting robots to build the bloody things...

Lee DeRaud

My only real issue is that the Corvette leaks enough without subjecting it to high-pressure water at odd angles.

Even my Porsche, which was as leak-free as a convertible can get, ended up with drips inside after one of those. The factory admitted out that the various vents/channels/whatever that handled exterior water flow were not intended to make the car truly water-tight, they were designed around the normal angles that water hit the car driving and parked.

JR-01

That's one of the downsides to burning fossil fuels. Acid rain.

memmer

I haven't washed my 01 convertible in 5 years and most likely never will.I might hose it off If for some reason I wound up getting it muddied up.I have never heard of or seen a automatic car wash up here in the Pacific Northwest.
Fred

jrose7004

I'll go to a pay and spray every now and then but never an automatic car wash.

troyguitar

The PA touchless automatic ones are fine. They don't do a great job but they don't do any harm either.