I'm not suggesting everyone becomes a car detailer. But looking after an asset (even a depreciating one) makes fiscal sense, especially when the outlay (time and money) is much less than the potential return on the car.

 

If fiscal sense come into it, then I'm actually wasting my money washing and polishing a car that will be given back to the lease company in 3 years time, even so mine does get washed (or put through the car wash) every couple of weeks or so, but I have been known to leave the washing to the dealer.

 

On the days between the washing I have a bucket and sponge at the side of the drive (in the shed) to wash/clean the windows, mirrors and lights. This is a practical thing, as lights and windows can need cleaning on a daily basis (I regularly have 200+ mile days).

Edited 3 June, 201412 yr by Miz

I can sort of understand the sentiment on lease cars, and the fact resale in the UK is complete dog ****. It would make a few K difference in oz with a well kept car, vs a dog, and our tax laws mean leases/company cars arent worth it (yay government). If they guarantee a set value for the car on return, I can see why you wouldnt give a toss about washing the car, and just do the minimum service etc as per requirements.

 

OP didnt specifically mention that, just asked "would it be ok". In some cases, the owner may think its fine (and it really makes no effect to resale in guaranteed lease situations), but if you finance it yourself (or through a bank) and comes trade in time or private sale, then it absolutely makes sense.

 

Best part about an online forum is the discussion involved in asking a question, and getting a variety of responses so you can decide what you prefer to do. If everyone just said dont wash it, then that wouldnt be much of a discussion now would it?

 

I'll stick to my 15 min washes each week  :sun: 

Wow. And wow again. In a positive way.

 

Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond in such a fantastic manner. I will re-read again tonight and reply then. Right now, bacon is calling... 

Feel free to DM me for a chat if you like Iain. Advice is free and I may be able to point you in the right direction - there are even a couple of detailers down your way that I would let loose on my own car - and that's quite something for me!

I can sort of understand the sentiment on lease cars, and the fact resale in the UK is complete dog ****. It would make a few K difference in oz with a well kept car, vs a dog, and our tax laws mean leases/company cars arent worth it (yay government). If they guarantee a set value for the car on return, I can see why you wouldnt give a toss about washing the car, and just do the minimum service etc as per requirements.

OP didnt specifically mention that, just asked "would it be ok". In some cases, the owner may think its fine (and it really makes no effect to resale in guaranteed lease situations), but if you finance it yourself (or through a bank) and comes trade in time or private sale, then it absolutely makes sense.

Best part about an online forum is the discussion involved in asking a question, and getting a variety of responses so you can decide what you prefer to do. If everyone just said dont wash it, then that wouldnt be much of a discussion now would it?

I'll stick to my 15 min washes each week :sun:

We're not comparing well kept car vs dog. We're discussing the benefit (or otherwise) of obsessive washing and polishing vs a trip to the local £5 hand car wash every six weeks.

The only benefit you have posted is financial but I disagree (see above) and I would like to see evidence of your "few K difference " in otherwise similar cars.

I get the personal satisfaction bit, but there's no other significant tangible benefit.

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Thanks guys for all the opinions and advice.

 

I think the regular snow foam and rinse idea has a lot of merit. I guess I'll just have to find a big-arse extension lead as my off-street parking isn't directly in front of the house. And I hope I can source a foam lance that fits our pressure washer (Black and Decker I think).

 

I can say with certainty that two buckets will be purchased, and probably another mitt (yes, we do actually own one!   ) I think I can say that the Octavia will be washed more often than the CR-V, but that isn't saying much 

 

I can also say that I still can't see me doing a four hour detail, but at least I'm beginning to pick up the lingo 

Feel free to DM me for a chat if you like Iain. Advice is free and I may be able to point you in the right direction - there are even a couple of detailers down your way that I would let loose on my own car - and that's quite something for me!

 

Cheers Ross. Can see me laying out hundreds on a detailer, but a few quid on products and MF towels is likely That's not to say I won't be asking questions  

Lots of useful comments here on cleaning - thank you!

Being lazy (cleaning a car is tedious) I use a hose brush, which is not good on modern, rather soft paint - it leaves a lot of micro-scratches.  I'd buy a jet washer if I were convinced that that would enable me to clean my car quickly and easily without also having to go round it with a brush / rag / mop / sponge / mitt / leaher as well.

As for colour: this may upset some people (and is of course always a matter of personal opinion) but I always find that white cars look as naff Essex girls in white shoes or blokes wearing white socks with shoes and jeans / trousers.

Almost any colour is better than black or white for keeping clean.  Silver is easy but not a very conspicuous / safe colour.  Yellow is the safest (according to official statistics, and why contractors' plant is yellow and why 40 years ago I chose yellow for my Reliant Scimitar GTE which still looks good).  Red is close to yellow for conspicuity, and both are reasonable to keep clean.

If it is a sports car (like my MX-5) then, of course, being red makes it go faster.  Red sports cars always go faster, handle better and have better-looking passengers.  Well-known absolutely proven scientific fact.

If I were to buy a new estate car as my "sensible" car, not sure if I'd go for grey (looks smart, doesn't show the dirt) or red (more conspicuous and therefore safer, but might clash with my red sports car or - if it matched - look as though I had some stupid "team colour").  Unfortunately Skoda don't offer 4WD diesel Octavia estates in yellow. 

 

Edited 4 June, 201412 yr by Stuarted

We're not comparing well kept car vs dog. We're discussing the benefit (or otherwise) of obsessive washing and polishing vs a trip to the local £5 hand car wash every six weeks.

The only benefit you have posted is financial but I disagree (see above) and I would like to see evidence of your "few K difference " in otherwise similar cars.

I get the personal satisfaction bit, but there's no other significant tangible benefit.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

Sorry the way you were talking, to me it sounded like you were proposing not washing at all, vs me saying 15mins with a pressure washer and foam lance will net a tangible benefit over no wash at all. Especially in a cold country that grit/salts the roads.

 

Sounds like a little confusion over what I was advocating (And for the record I agree a 4hr detail is crazy - 15 mins with the pressure washer is > no wash at all, even the 5 buck hand wash every few weeks will reap benefits over no wash) versus what it sounded like you were advocating (no wash at all except when the car is serviced by the dealer).

 

The tangible financial benefit is seen - used cars aren't all the same price. How they are looked after, the miles, options etc all have a bearing on how much the car will sell for down the track. Keeping the paint in reasonable conditions is one of those things that can affect resale. Remember log books/service can be fudged - and if the cars exterior appearance is one of neglect, then I would be suspicious about the log books. If the car looks in reasonable condition (and this doesnt mean mirror finish paint, using a dozen virgins to wash it twice weekly, never driven in the rain kind of cleaning) and it has books, they are things that go together with proving a car has been properly looked after.

 

In the end, its up to each owner - and like you said if yours is a lease car that has a guaranteed price at the end, then sure ignore it. I buy all my cars myself (not on lease) so resale is important, and 15-30mins a week (or every second week) is worth it for my circumstances.

Sorry the way you were talking, to me it sounded like you were proposing not washing at all, vs me saying 15mins with a pressure washer and foam lance will net a tangible benefit over no wash at all. Especially in a cold country that grit/salts the roads.

 

Sounds like a little confusion over what I was advocating (And for the record I agree a 4hr detail is crazy - 15 mins with the pressure washer is > no wash at all, even the 5 buck hand wash every few weeks will reap benefits over no wash) versus what it sounded like you were advocating (no wash at all except when the car is serviced by the dealer).

 

The tangible financial benefit is seen - used cars aren't all the same price. How they are looked after, the miles, options etc all have a bearing on how much the car will sell for down the track. Keeping the paint in reasonable conditions is one of those things that can affect resale. Remember log books/service can be fudged - and if the cars exterior appearance is one of neglect, then I would be suspicious about the log books. If the car looks in reasonable condition (and this doesnt mean mirror finish paint, using a dozen virgins to wash it twice weekly, never driven in the rain kind of cleaning) and it has books, they are things that go together with proving a car has been properly looked after.

 

In the end, its up to each owner - and like you said if yours is a lease car that has a guaranteed price at the end, then sure ignore it. I buy all my cars myself (not on lease) so resale is important, and 15-30mins a week (or every second week) is worth it for my circumstances.

 

Whilst we're tending towards meeting in the middle, which is a good thing, I need to pick you up on two issues:

 

1. I did not say that mine was a lease car with a guaranteed price at the end, and I don't think that's entirely true anyway - the GFV is dependent on the car being in reasonable condition.

 

2. You are still focussing on this being a matter of future value - it is not, it's a matter of preference only. Resale is dependent on so many factors, the least of which being the method and frequency of the current owner's car washing regime. 

 

Right, I'm off to the local £5 car wash.

Rallye Green doesn't seem to show the dirt until I decide to wash it. Or water marks when it does get washed.

Only noticeable dirt is on the rear bumper top surface as it gets washed off the estate tailgate as you drive.

Plus its easy to find amongst the large rows of grey,white & silver cars in the carparks, especially when its dark.

Rallye Green <snip> easy to find amongst the large rows of grey,white & silver cars in the carparks, especially when its dark.

:-D

The pictures have looked better than I'd have thought, but I don't think I'm brave enough ;-)

I saw another Race Blue non vRS estate today, and I am still properly torn. It really is a fabulous colour.

:-D

The pictures have looked better than I'd have thought, but I don't think I'm brave enough ;-)

I saw another Race Blue non vRS estate today, and I am still properly torn. It really is a fabulous colour.

 

^^ in bold - Race Blue is no longer the colour it once was.

Well, I have a Fabia vRS Estate in Race Blue at the moment and the replacement non-vRS Octavia Estate is also Race Blue.  Wifey questioned this concept, but I really do like the colour (I used to hanker after an early Scooby in the very similar blue but that's an itch yet to be scratched as circumstances have never worked to get one).

 

Makes a change from the black I normally choose - and wifey's last 2 cars have been "champagne silver" (Citigo is Silver Leaf) as she likes silver but not the harshness of the brighter silvers.

 

Each to their own, I guess!

^^ in bold - Race Blue is no longer the colour it once was.

 

I'm guessing it was a vRS only colour originally? Now devalued by every man and his soot-chucker??

It might just be me, but race blue seems to lack some of the vibrancy and intensity that it used to have.

Here it is, Rallye Green, the new Blue. But only until everyone orders one then it will be another colour that seems to be rare on the roads.

The front picture is after a day at work with a nice coating of dust over it. I did have to rinse some bird c**p off the roof, but only with water. :sun:

I like the way it matches your windows.

May get them as well........

Nice plate..

Should have said. May get them tinted as well..... That went a bit flat didn't it....

I've just hit 14k in mine in 5 months (total now 18k) and I try to wash weekly. I can do it quickly in less than an hour and 3x that if I'm feeling fussy.

Rinse, wheels, foam, rinse, 2 bucket wash and dry. Then spend 2 hours fretting about the gallons of water trapped in the bloody mirrors lmfao.

I left the wife's Megane for 2 months and it was minging. 4 hours and sorted, inside & out and a quick coat of gtechniq C1.5 and the paint's got some protection back.

Having traded in at least 5 cars with over 100k on the clock I'm pretty sure that cleanliness doesn't make a blind bit of difference to the dealer. Lack of service history most certainly would!

Too much BS has crept into "detailing" over the last 10 years. And that's coming from one of the 3 chaps who founded Detailing World lol.

Edited 7 June, 201412 yr by Andy205

I keep thinking a white combi, with sunset glass, and the Hawk alloys, which are slightly darker than the normal silver, would look pretty darned good.

 

Here it is: http://kepfeltoltes.hu/140617/IMG_0339_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg

 

http://kepfeltoltes.hu/140617/20140616_154439_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg

 

Hawk looks much better in real life than on pictures.

Edited 17 June, 201411 yr by gszigethy

I like those alloys! Nicer than the Terons that are on my car!

dont like them alloys .... sorry

That looks great, gszigethy. 

 

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to give the Hawk alloys a miss. As mine's going to be a MY15 build, I've been told you can only have them if you select one of the two styling packs. And I'm not paying £390 for some stuck on black plastic!