Hi Everyone, my VRS (which is a week old) is looking really dusty and dirty, thinking about taking it through the car wash on the way home from work as im rubbish at hand washing.

Just wondered if anyone has any horror stories about VRS's in car washes or if they are ok to be washed this way?

Do NOT take it thru an automatic car wash. For some reason, Skoda paint, especially the black magic paint, seems a little weak for that kind of wash, and you'll get the brush swirls all over it. I made the mistake of doing that when I got my car and I ever so regret it.

Take it thru low-pressure manual wash.

I grab a few buckets of water, bring along a clean spunge, and clear off the worst at least once a week. The back of the Furby gets filthy within days, front is mainly flies splatting into the windscreen and onto the bumper bits.

If only I could have a garden hose, it would be pretty easy, but I dont as we live in a flat. Suppose it kinda keeps me a little exercised walking up/down stairs to get clean water

skoda dealer put mine through a car wash after servicing -i was really pleased they'd washed it (and hoovered the inside) but when i found a trapped car wash bristle under the wing mirror i was a little annoyed -they must know how black magic paint suffers in those things so why do they do it?? would rather the outside came back as dirty as it went in so i could hand wash it.

Let's put it this way - if I found out about a car wash being used I wouldn't be best pleased. Now I must admit I wouldn't expect it from my dealer and they've been excellent so far, so I'd have words with yours.

Car wash is fine for older cars, and I'd use one over handwashing any day for one reason - it's easy

It is not something I'd do to a new car though.

personally i would not use a car wash, but if you really have to why not try the 'brushless' type such as the Tiger wash at Esso stations. I also believe that upgraded Sainsbury's stores have new fangled 'brushless' type :orb_hot:

Why not just go to a handwashing place? Only about a fiver...

Why not just go to a handwashing place? Only about a fiver...

mmm,think i might just do that thanks! Tell me, is the paint really that fragile?

mmm,think i might just do that thanks! Tell me, is the paint really that fragile?

I wouldn't say it's the paint...the "brushes" of the machine catch all the crap from other cars and it's like using sand paper on your paint work.

Wouldn't use a sponge either as they also tend to retain fine grit......I use one of those thick terilyn hand cloths...from Swissol;0....and it works really well.

I saw some woman using the brush at the carwash to scrub the bodywork the other day, nearly died.

Do NOT take it thru an automatic car wash. For some reason' date=' Skoda paint, especially the black magic paint, seems a little weak for that kind of wash, and you'll get the brush swirls all over it. I made the mistake of doing that when I got my car and I ever so regret it.

Take it thru low-pressure manual wash.[/quote']

mmm,think i might just do that thanks! Tell me, is the paint really that fragile?

I've never cleaned my Black Magic Fabia any other way than through the carwash in the 9 months I've had it (not really feasible to handwash at my house 'cos of the parking). I prefer using the jetwash things (cleans better and makes it easier to keep track of stone chips, etc.), but I've also used 'conventional' car washes with both the big spinning brushes, and with these things that look like strips of sponge. I have virtually no swirl, and although there is a short, light scratch down one side, I have no proof that that wasn't caused some other way (I know of a few people being keyed near where I park sometimes)

I certainly have no concerns about damaging the finish of the paintwork (the manual says in black and white that you can put it through a carwash). My only gripes are that roller brush carwashes don't clean under the rear spoiler very well, and sometimes certain marks aren't washed off (there was a sort of skidmark off the handlebar grip of a mate's bike that I had to rub off with a chamois).

When I compare how the paintwork's bared up on the Fabia over 9 months compared with how it was on my old Megane which I only ever handwashed (I lived somewhere else when I had it), the Fabia's paint's in much better nick. Which makes it my opinion (in the minority perhaps) that handwashing isn't really any safer for your paintwork in general. I accept that using expensive concourse products may keep the finish in tip-top perfect condition, but as my car's a 20k per year workhorse, and not a show car, I can't justify the expense or effort when I can't personally see the harm in bunging it through the carwash.

Well mine has never been through a mechanical car wash and won't for as long as I own it. I always chucked my old Fiestas and Favorits through... but then, I couldn't have cared about the finish on those to be honest.

I tend to use the jet wash ones that you pay-as-you-go with. Pressure shampoo, then wash brush thing, then rinse. Simple as that really (the only thing to be careful of is the hose hitting the paint). Then when I get home, the remaining water gets chamoised off prior to waxing or quick detailing.

I too do 20k a year, but I really get a lot of pleasure out of keeping my car looking tip-top!

Well mine has never been through a mechanical car wash and won't for as long as I own it. I always chucked my old Fiestas and Favorits through... but then' date=' I couldn't have cared about the finish on those to be honest.

I tend to use the jet wash ones that you pay-as-you-go with. Pressure shampoo, then wash brush thing, then rinse. Simple as that really (the only thing to be careful of is the hose hitting the paint). Then when I get home, the remaining water gets chamoised off prior to waxing or quick detailing.

I too do 20k a year, but I really get a lot of pleasure out of keeping my car looking tip-top! [/quote']

Be carefull with pressure washers, i've heard they can rip the xenon spray's plastic head off

Be carefull with pressure washers, i've heard they can rip the xenon spray's plastic head off

Everyone's a comedian aren't they!

"Mr Dealer Sir - my xenon washer flew off whilst travelling well below the legal limit on the A14 on Sunday."

"No problem Mr Emmett - we'll get a new one in for you!"

Sorted.

Be carefull with pressure washers, i've heard they can rip the xenon spray's plastic head off

LOL

In order to keep Ross and co happy, I did take mine to a carwash before presenting it at brunters. However, it was one of these places where for a modest

LOL

In order to keep Ross and co happy, I did take mine to a carwash before presenting it at brunters. However, it was one of these places where for a modest

If the cars are pre-cleaned relatively well then it should be fine I must admit. When they're covered in sand and the likes, I'd avoid the things though

I don't get it? What's all this 'washing' nonsense?

I've never cleaned my Black Magic Fabia any other way than through the carwash in the 9 months I've had it (not really feasible to handwash at my house 'cos of the parking). I prefer using the jetwash things (cleans better and makes it easier to keep track of stone chips' date=' etc.), but I've also used 'conventional' car washes with both the big spinning brushes, and with these things that look like strips of sponge. I have virtually no swirl, and although there is a short, light scratch down one side, I have no proof that that wasn't caused some other way (I know of a few people being keyed near where I park sometimes)

I certainly have no concerns about damaging the finish of the paintwork (the manual says in black and white that you can put it through a carwash). My only gripes are that roller brush carwashes don't clean under the rear spoiler very well, and sometimes certain marks aren't washed off (there was a sort of skidmark off the handlebar grip of a mate's bike that I had to rub off with a chamois).

When I compare how the paintwork's bared up on the Fabia over 9 months compared with how it was on my old Megane which I only ever [i']handwashed[/i] (I lived somewhere else when I had it), the Fabia's paint's in much better nick. Which makes it my opinion (in the minority perhaps) that handwashing isn't really any safer for your paintwork in general. I accept that using expensive concourse products may keep the finish in tip-top perfect condition, but as my car's a 20k per year workhorse, and not a show car, I can't justify the expense or effort when I can't personally see the harm in bunging it through the carwash.

Thanks matey, might risk it after all....

The main problem with car washes and the Fabia vRS is the fact you cant remove the arial - or at least i never found a way, and on the one occaision i took mine through, i snapped the tip of the arial off.

Seriously a good handwashing place is the best. You just sit in your car, watch the slaves do it, costs a fiver, and is MUCH better than any conventional car wash.

The main problem with car washes and the Fabia vRS is the fact you cant remove the arial - or at least i never found a way' date=' and on the one occaision i took mine through, i snapped the tip of the arial off.

Seriously a good handwashing place is the best. You just sit in your car, watch the slaves do it, costs a fiver, and is MUCH better than any conventional car wash.[/quote']

That's a good point, although loosening it and folding it flat against the roof has done me OK so far...

I did that, but it still snapped the tip off. Probably depends on the carwash though.

The main problem with car washes and the Fabia vRS is the fact you cant remove the arial - or at least i never found a way' date=' and on the one occaision i took mine through, i snapped the tip of the arial off.

Seriously a good handwashing place is the best. You just sit in your car, watch the slaves do it, costs a fiver, and is MUCH better than any conventional car wash.[/quote']

Right! That's convinced me, lets go and find some slaves.......

That's a good point, although loosening it and folding it flat against the roof has done me OK so far...

I was under the impression that the aerial had a screw tip and you just had to untwist it and it came off. I must admit I havent tried and never really looked, just assumed it would be the same as the stinger aerials found on vauxhall's etc....

I was under the impression that the aerial had a screw tip and you just had to untwist it and it came off. I must admit I havent tried and never really looked, just assumed it would be the same as the stinger aerials found on vauxhall's etc....

It is on mine (2001 car), but I think they changed it shortly after that and it's now non-detachable .... well, you can detach it with a car wash apparently

Chris