Well said, cheesemonkhai!!

I wish more people would realise that.

So why exactly are you in this Forum? :think:

Oh dear. Great response. Being a car enthusiast does not mean you have to be a car detailing fanboy like you.

On topic - I used to use an "arc" car wash at the local Asda for my last car and after 2.5 years the paint looked quite mottled. I wondered if the car wash was contributing to this but never realised that "truck wash" may have been used. Would certainly make me think twice about using it again. In fairness one quick application of a basic polish had my last car looking good agin before i traded it in. Dealer told me it didnt really matter about the paintwork as its really only damaged bodywork they worry about as they have in-house valeters who can get any car back to showroom condition anyway irrespective of how the car was treated by the owner. I have changed to using a jet wash now meaning i have to get off my bum and clean it myself, which is a pain, but i kinda thought this might be a little less savage than the car wash. Will probably switch back to car wash once the jet wash becomes far to tedious. My current car has the "supaguard" protective coating applied to it so it will be interesting to see how that stands up to years of general neglect on my part.

I always thought it was the harsh brushes that were the biggest problem at car washes rather than the chemicals used but it does make sense i suppose in the same way that "wonder wheels" is great for cleaning alloys but only because its so flippin acidic. In conclusion - to look after you car, wash it less? Sounds good to me.

Got a bit heated in here didn't it? Everyone likes different things, that's what keeps life interesting! I Detail cars but equally understand the importance of people having a cheapo Hand car wash place they can use if they are simply not bothered about swirls / scratches and the general appearance of the paintwork. To some people, a clean car just means having no mud on it and they're happy with that so let them carry on - Others go the whole hog and enjoy having no swirl marks, holograms etc and love the way their car looks in the sun.

To be honest, half of it is about actually knowing what you're looking for! I've seen cars that in my eyes are a complete state, huge holograms all down the doors from bad machine polishing, swirls all over it but they see a car that looks really clean and think it therefore looks great - They don't even know what these holograms or swirls look like until I show them or do a 50/50 while polishing the car properly....

For example to a lot of people this black car looks perfectly clean and would be happy with it like this

Then you see it with the sun shining directly on it and it looks like this:

Then you start machine polishing it with the right products, pads and experience and get it looking like this

I know how I'd rather my paintwork looked, and for that reason would only ever suggest people don't use these hand car wash type places but at the same time, I do understand why some people do and why there will always be a market for these guys!

I can't help but get a bit frustrated when I see nice 911 Turbos, Audi R8's and what have you going in there though, especially when I see them drive out again catching the sun to look like this above!!

Got a bit heated in here didn't it? Everyone likes different things, that's what keeps life interesting! I Detail cars but equally understand the importance of people having a cheapo Hand car wash place they can use if they are simply not bothered about swirls / scratches and the general appearance of the paintwork. To some people, a clean car just means having no mud on it and they're happy with that so let them carry on - Others go the whole hog and enjoy having no swirl marks, holograms etc and love the way their car looks in the sun.

To be honest, half of it is about actually knowing what you're looking for! I've seen cars that in my eyes are a complete state, huge holograms all down the doors from bad machine polishing, swirls all over it but they see a car that looks really clean and think it therefore looks great - They don't even know what these holograms or swirls look like until I show them or do a 50/50 while polishing the car properly....

For example to a lot of people this black car looks perfectly clean and would be happy with it like this

Then you see it with the sun shining directly on it and it looks like this:

Then you start machine polishing it with the right products, pads and experience and get it looking like this

I know how I'd rather my paintwork looked, and for that reason would only ever suggest people don't use these hand car wash type places but at the same time, I do understand why some people do and why there will always be a market for these guys!

I can't help but get a bit frustrated when I see nice 911 Turbos, Audi R8's and what have you going in there though, especially when I see them drive out again catching the sun to look like this above!!

Definately a big difference in those photos but i still dont care TBH. I couldnt care if people gave my car a second glance due to it being lovely and shiny as it doesnt enrich my life any. Plus im not the one questioning peoples right to be on a forum, that was a car detailing fan.

I assume no-one doubts that detailing a car will have it looking far better. Its the amount of time and money required to achieve this thats the problem and the fact that it doesnt make your life any better is the reason a car wash suffices for a lot of people. Having a clean car with some swirl marks is fine by me as i dont earn money from showing my car and gain no satisfaction whatsoever cleaning it, wasted time IMO.

Edited 16 October, 201213 yr by Jockdooshbag

I regularly use a eastern European wash just down the road from me. I did with my last car and the Octy vRS has been there a few times aswell.

They actually use snow foam, so the car has a shampoo pre-rinse and blast with the pressure washer. Followed by the snow foam which is left for a few minutes to soak and lift the dirt from the paint. That is then blasted off again and the car is washed by hand with lambs wool mitts and grit guard buckets using the same products as in the snow foam - no sign of any TFR in sight!

Don't tar them all with the same brush, some of them do care and use the proper decent products. At the end of the day if they buy in bulk it is just as cheap as buying truck wash or TFR.

If I was to wash my car like they do using the same products mixed in with the water bill I couldn't do it for £5!

didnt some one do a test and unless you were a seasoned pro the best thing was a drive in carwash at Tescos or something stupid as those rollers never touch the floor and less likely to get gritty.

i take mine to a £5 jobbie. they are pretty good although my paint work is like the black astra above but was like that when i bought it 2 years ago.

i do take it home after and then Wax and polish it my self

I change my car every three years, so I wash it approximately every 36 months, whether it needs it or not...

I've waxed and looked after my own since new up until my dealer thought it was helpful to start washing my car when it was in for a service. I caught them as they were spraying the TFR on. I nearly lost it. They pressured washed it off and I washed it down when I got home. I've now noticed slight discolouration on some of the window rubbers where the stuff has sat for too long and you can still see it almost etched on the glass too.

Car was still beading but it's all but gone now. I don't obsess over it like I used to but does desperately need doing again before winter. Sure there are a few "swirl marks" but next to nothing compared to what the Eastern Europeans would leave you with. I'd rather never wash my car again than take my car to one.

It's up to you what you do with your car but spending an hour or so giving it a basic clean is normally good enough for most and can be quite relaxing too.

Yes I do thankyou Fatty 5000....Do you?

In answer to drefaldwyns post..It came across as someone who doesnt give a toss about the car let alone keeping it clean

I was not having a go at him, but merely wondering, given his post, why he should frequent this forum?

Because I am enthusiastic about Brisk Skodas!! (Yes mine is just slightly "brisk" - thanks to Shark).

Just to clear up any misunderstanding .... I wash my Octy approx weekly and polish it approx 3 monthly - it doesn't rule my life, it's merely a part of my life ... I valet it when I have the time and inclination.

I accept that others on this forum derive great pleasure from having the most highly polished and best detailed Octy possible but that's fine for them!

We all have different aspirations for our lives and vehicles so should we not just leave it at that?

Best regards,

Dave

Because I am enthusiastic about Brisk Skodas!! (Yes mine is just slightly "brisk" - thanks to Shark).

Just to clear up any misunderstanding .... I wash my Octy approx weekly and polish it approx 3 monthly - it doesn't rule my life, it's merely a part of my life ... I valet it when I have the time and inclination.

I accept that others on this forum derive great pleasure from having the most highly polished and best detailed Octy possible but that's fine for them!

We all have different aspirations for our lives and vehicles so should we not just leave it at that?

Best regards,

Dave

Well said,

I change my car every three years, so I wash it approximately every 36 months, whether it needs it or not...

Seems a bit obsessive. No point washing it if it didnt need it.

I try to be good with my cleaning regime for car but its not always possible or appropriate. I have used machine washes and fiver hand washes :o

Bought car new and had it through a machine wash say 6 times in first 5 weeks got nothing but pure abuse from a friend who ran a detailing firm and took it to him when I was next over visiting his new place and left it in for a few days for the works g tecniq stuff. When he first saw car and inspected it he did not believe it had been through one at all as it was pretty much tip top. Reason it had to go through was was the pollen was starting to fall and it is criminal here these pics were taken 2 hours after car was washed. If like me you have never suffered from hay fever generally speaking you WILL here :( .

Car has since being detailed been through the machine wash 2 times and rest of time painstakingly done properly by my fine self to the best of my abilities with lambs wool mitt, PH neutral shampoo etc some C2 liquid crystal (3 times since) but when I was over home for a funeral in Jan I had to cover the big miles through the night and car needed cleaned it was not in a state fit for the circumstances and it was minging winter weather rural roads etc got washed at a local car wash a friend owns 4 or 5 times. It has stood up to it well and needed to be done on principle. Just a few months ago I was on a mini touring holiday in car and did some of the worst roads in Ireland in it and car was filthy after. I brought it back (since it had been done already) to my mates down the road for my £4.50 wash they do take very good care of the cars 4 stages and 2 lanes well appointed and no truck wash.

This is car after my mini tour and my £4.50 manual wash

Not too shabby all considered but on critical proper up close and personal there is some light swirling but its a price I knew I was paying back in Jan but no real choice.

Here is the way cool machine wash I have used too. I have a card for the place form before I got the car and still have like €60 on my card there so will use it again in thick of winter when the heated kratcher I use is frozen solid at work.

Change to 1080p (cut and converted 3 times so dropped quality a bit.

I try to be good with my cleaning regime for car but its not always possible or appropriate. I have used machine washes and fiver hand washes :o

Bought car new and had it through a machine wash say 6 times in first 5 weeks got nothing but pure abuse from a friend who ran a detailing firm and took it to him when I was next over visiting his new place and left it in for a few days for the works g tecniq stuff. When he first saw car and inspected it he did not believe it had been through one at all as it was pretty much tip top. Reason it had to go through was was the pollen was starting to fall and it is criminal here these pics were taken 2 hours after car was washed. If like me you have never suffered from hay fever generally speaking you WILL here :( .

Car has since being detailed been through the machine wash 2 times and rest of time painstakingly done properly by my fine self to the best of my abilities with lambs wool mitt, PH neutral shampoo etc some C2 liquid crystal (3 times since) but when I was over home for a funeral in Jan I had to cover the big miles through the night and car needed cleaned it was not in a state fit for the circumstances and it was minging winter weather rural roads etc got washed at a local car wash a friend owns 4 or 5 times. It has stood up to it well and needed to be done on principle. Just a few months ago I was on a mini touring holiday in car and did some of the worst roads in Ireland in it and car was filthy after. I brought it back (since it had been done already) to my mates down the road for my £4.50 wash they do take very good care of the cars 4 stages and 2 lanes well appointed and no truck wash.

This is car after my mini tour and my £4.50 manual wash

Not too shabby all considered but on critical proper up close and personal there is some light swirling but its a price I knew I was paying back in Jan but no real choice.

Here is the way cool machine wash I have used too. I have a card for the place form before I got the car and still have like €60 on my card there so will use it again in thick of winter when the heated kratcher I use is frozen solid at work.

Change to 1080p (cut and converted 3 times so dropped quality a bit.

That pollen drop is crazy. Think i would die if i lived there. I suffer bad from hayfever in Aberdeen but ive never seen pollen on a car like that. Would have to chew antihistimines (spelling) like sweets.