Hello

 

I have a Mk3 VRS Hatch and was wondering if there would be a problem if I decided to take it through a supermarket / IMO car wash.

 

I have been hand-washing it so far (because I love it so) but sometimes I wish for convenience (and because I can be a lazy git) that I could pop it through a car wash.

 

Does anybody know if I do use an auto-wash if I am chancing any damage to, for example, the rear spoiler.  I have not had a car with a rear spoiler before so I have never had to think about it.  I didn't bother with the Autoglym/Lifeshine that dealers try to up-sell so using a car-wash wouldn't matter from that perspective.

 

 

You won't lose your spoiler - I had a Alfa Romeo with spoiler which must have been a foot high and it was fine.

 

If you aren't into cleaning your car yourself or bothered about swirl marks etc etc then just do it.

Edited 8 September, 201411 yr by JamesVRSmk3

Hello

I have a Mk3 VRS Hatch and was wondering if there would be a problem if I decided to take it through a supermarket / IMO car wash.

I have been hand-washing it so far (because I love it so) but sometimes I wish for convenience (and because I can be a lazy git) that I could pop it through a car wash.

Does anybody know if I do use an auto-wash if I am chancing any damage to, for example, the rear spoiler. I have not had a car with a rear spoiler before so I have never had to think about it. I didn't bother with the Autoglym/Lifeshine that dealers try to up-sell so using a car-wash wouldn't matter from that perspective.

I wouldn't take it through a car wash if you love it! Wash with 2BM and a wash mitt at the least

Thanks James / Toxic

 

Its not that I am not into cleaning it myself, it was just that with winter coming I was more concerned about salt and crap on the road and if we get days of rain I wouldn't be able to get out and 2BM wash it.

OMG......Please dont!!

Where are you?

Thanks James / Toxic

Its not that I am not into cleaning it myself, it was just that with winter coming I was more concerned about salt and crap on the road and if we get days of rain I wouldn't be able to get out and 2BM wash it.

The car wash is just dragging that across the paint! Probably best jet washing it down first

Thanks James / Toxic

 

Its not that I am not into cleaning it myself, it was just that with winter coming I was more concerned about salt and crap on the road and if we get days of rain I wouldn't be able to get out and 2BM wash it.

 

I hand wash mine myself but only because it's a new car and I've actually got the time to. Previous car's I haven't as they have all been second hand.

 

Its a personal thing and won't make any difference to the resale value. These aren't classics.

Edited 8 September, 201411 yr by JamesVRSmk3

 

Interesting food for thought before people jump down your throat for suggesting you use one of these.

 

Could potentially be better than a crumby £5.00 drive through IF a decent machine.  I can certainly see the logic.

 

But we are talking a lesser of evils scenario, ideal is a good technique wash that you do yourself, at the end of the day, unless you pay someone experience, noone else will take more care with your car than you.

 

link to Shine On detailing http://shineondetail.com/ fully insured 'Swissvax Authorised Detailer'

My advice. Get a pressure washer and a foam lance. You could do the car in 10-15 or so minutes with that. It will get most of the gunk off, and buy some more time until it's OK to 2bm wash it (after using pressure wash & foam gun). I can do the wife's jazz in ~30-40 mins doing pressure wash, foam lance, pressure wash, 2bm then pressure wash and microfibre towel dry. I do that every second weekend, and just foam lance and pressure wash every weekend. I apply synthetic sealant/clay bar every 4 months or so. (4hrs). Overall, stuff all time and my paint is immaculate.

I'll second that GTR27

However......You can always make time to wash your car, even in the rain, IMO

When people say they cant, they really dont want to.....in most cases

I hand wash mine myself but only because it's a new car and I've actually got the time to. Previous car's I haven't as they have all been second hand.

 

Its a personal thing and won't make any difference to the resale value. These aren't classics.

Really? I know if I was looking at two similar cars second hand and one had been looked after, whilst the other had been 'butchered' in a car wash, or ruined by sponge monkeys at a hand carwash... Well it's a no brainer. So it does make a difference to selling. Although the price tags maybe similar.

 

It always puzzles me when people think I am slightly odd washing my car every other weekend. As if it's some kind of geeky thing to do. It often tells a story to me about people who spend thousands on a car and then NEVER look after it, and it seems nowadays that this is a very high proportion. They simply have too much money and absolutely no sense. 

I will say, people seem to turn their cars over a lot more in the UK than in australia (they are a lot cheaper there too!). And you have salt/grit to deal with in winters, which we dont. Ours generally die from the sun (ozone layer is pretty **** over much of australia) - the interior plastics all turn to ****, and the paint on a lot of cars (especially red) will fade, clear coats come off etc.

 

So if you turn your car over lots, then to you, it may not be worth it.

 

If you plan to keep it, then it definitely is. Keeps it looking new for longer, and when you wash it, you notice things (dints, chips in paint, small rush spots) which means you can action them, so they dont become large problems. IMO, an investment in a good pressure washer and foam lance can be carried across for many cars. If you do it often, then you will be quick at it, so it will take less time to keep the car looking good.

 

But, it's up to you. Good luck whatever you decide!

I'll second that GTR27

However......You can always make time to wash your car, even in the rain, IMO

When people say they cant, they really dont want to.....in most cases

 

Sorry Chris but I count myself among the people you tar with that post and what a lot of utter Rubbish. A lot of us just can't, end of! ..........and to be frank it's a bit insulting to say otherwise.

 

I work long hours at work, when I get home I have a young family to attend to, usually sorting my sons tea, bath and bed takes me to 8 o clock at night, many months of the year that is the end of daylight.  I travel away with work, often for long periods which can mean I only get two weekends at home a month with my family, before I even get to enjoy those two I have a list as long as my arm of things that need sorting to keep the house in order.

 

I am as car proud and detailing enthusiastic as the next man, which I think you know, and when time allows I would spend a full weekend on the car but I promise you when I (and I suspect many others) say we can't clean our cars, well maybe we just can't.

Im sorry you find that rubbish, but in my experience its true

Im not having a pop at you Mark...LOL

Having a family is difficult to juggle things and priorotise. I know that too well

However, I look down my road and nearly everyone never washes their car

Its not that they dont have the time, its that they cant be bothered

OK...Im sure that in some cases, it is the truth..Around here its mainly apathy

The guy over the road hasnt washed his car in over 2 years..The lady next door cant be bothered either .....other things to do, yet hes retired and she sits and reads books!!

In the majority of cases, I stand by what I say, unless physically, its impossible..its a mind set

Its not that they havent the time, its not important to them. They just dont want to

Fine, and accepted but those people probably aren't even having conversations about washing their cars.  They would largely see it as entirely irrelevant to their daily lives.  They probably don't know what brand of oil is in their engine, what spark plugs it's running on, what is carried out when they take it in for a service.....I could go on.

 

But talking amongst people on a car forum

 

Saying things like "you can always make time to wash your car"

and

"When people say they cant, they really dont want to.....in most cases"

 

I just find hard to agree with.  But I'll leave it at that.

Fine. Thanks for your opinion

What is the correct procedure to have my brand new car nice and shiny and stay nice and shiny, I've mainly used the local albanians for a £10mini valet on previous cars but this one's new, I'm not lazy just a novice when it comes to detailing, any help would be appreciated.

What is the correct procedure to have my brand new car nice and shiny and stay nice and shiny, I've mainly used the local albanians for a £10mini valet on previous cars but this one's new, I'm not lazy just a novice when it comes to detailing, any help would be appreciated.

I'm interested in this... I have only ever wazzed a pressure washer over previous cars but I want to look after this one.

What is the correct procedure to have my brand new car nice and shiny and stay nice and shiny, I've mainly used the local albanians for a £10mini valet on previous cars but this one's new, I'm not lazy just a novice when it comes to detailing, any help would be appreciated.

 

 

Have a read through some of the Guides in the Car Care section initially.

Plenty of guys on the forum able to offer advice and Sponsors too. 

 

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/314504-styling-car-care-guides-links/

Thx samuir1974 I'll have a look

Thx samuir1974 I'll have a look

 

Not a problem - happy to help 

Don't feel guilty about how and when you wash your car - your choice and needs to fit in with life's other priorities (not the other way round - its a piece of metal when all said and done!).

 

My neighbour washes both their cars twice a week - spending hours scrapping dead flies of the badges and fiddling with alloy wheels, the woman vacuums hers everytime she gets out of it, the kids are not allowed in them with shoes on and they have to be parked in a very precise way (down to the mm!).

 

They are anally obsessive prats and need to get a life!   

Don't feel guilty about how and when you wash your car - your choice

 

[...]

 

 

They are anally obsessive prats and need to get a life!   

 

contradiction, noun

a combination of statements, ideas, or features which are opposed to one another

 

I know it's probably a dumb question but a 2bm wash is?

2 Bucket Method. Generally so dirt from the sponge doesn't go back into the clean water you're using to wash the car with.

 

 

Edit: Not that you'd generally be using a sponge if you're a 2bm man, anyway

Edited 9 September, 201411 yr by Mort