I am fed up of constantly having a dirty car, I just hate it.

But what I am not prepared to do is spend a couple of hours every weekend in these temparatures cleaning it - fair enough in the summer, pair a shorts get a nice tan

So I am looking at car washes now, are they really that bad, I mean honestly?

I ask as this is looking to become a weekly event for now.

Give us your opinions

Watching with interest, as I have been wondering the same thing. I'd rather spend a few quid each week on the carwash and then add up the hours saved every other month and give it a good wax. Provided, that is, it doesnt get scratched to siht.

In the winter I tend to just use the jetwash to give it a reasonable clean in not much time. Generally use one that is sheltered to 3 sides and well lit.

A proper car wash with rotating brushes etc.. will soon leave your paintwork in a bad way if used on a weekly basis.

The jet wash detergent will strip any polish you have on the paintwork and the rotating brushes on a drive thru will kill a black magic paint job. Don't do it! I know it's a bind, but there's only a few more weeks of bad weather, just stick with the handwashing.

I'd sooner spend quarter of an hour washing my car a week than risk it in a machine that will do a worse job. 2 hours? really? For me its just a bucket of warm water, slightly soapy + a cloth.

I usually end up using one bucket of water for the bodywork, then get fresh water for the grubby alloys. Normally brings it up better than any machine will do. One time I might break out the vacuum cleaner for the interior. :eek:

Are there no local hand wash car washes?? My local valeting company has a couple of bays outside their premises and its £5 for a quick wash.

Saves putting it thru the bristles

Rather leave car dirty than use a car wash, as long as it had a good wax and protect at the last hand job :lol:

The ariel is the problem for car washes, buy yourself a

I usually have mine valeted periodically. If it gets very bad I will take it to a hand car wash. The wife's car goes through what was IMO car wash - it likes having a bath there

FLASH (aha ...)

Flash car wash system, I can do the furby in 20 mins from start to finish and it's dryed itself streak / spot free 30 mins later.

been using it on both cars, the bike, the fecking conservatory and upstairs windows and it's the dog's goolies.

some purists may slag it off, but it works for me, leaves the car nice, shiny and spotless.

[pythonesque french mode] so I laugh in the face of the 5 hour meguir merchants, 2 day moose waxers and revell in the knowledge that a car is for driving, not for polishing, and I fart in zeerrrr general direction [/pythonesque french mode]

Someone is going to say resale value ...... good luck to ya, you may get

FLASH (aha ...)

Flash car wash system' date=' I can do the furby in 20 mins from start to finish and it's dryed itself streak / spot free 30 mins later.

been using it on both cars, the bike, the fecking conservatory and upstairs windows and it's the dog's goolies.

some purists may slag it off, but it works for me, leaves the car nice, shiny and spotless.

[i'][pythonesque french mode] so I laugh in the face of the 5 hour meguir merchants, 2 day moose waxers and revell in the knowledge that a car is for driving, not for polishing, and I fart in zeerrrr general direction [/pythonesque french mode][/i]

Someone is going to say resale value ...... good luck to ya, you may get

Oh god nooooooo. Basically car wash = swirls....BIG ONES!!!!

As they use either sponges (hold grit)

Or those big flappy wappy things that drag the crap off ther cars all over yours. When wet i agree it will look sparkling. But park it in the sunshine in summer and just look at all the fine scratches or swirls. PAin in the **** to get out! Just do a quick wash then polish and put a protecter layer on it. Its worth it! Believe me!

Give the car a good wax just before the winter and then just use a jet wash/flash.

I washed my at the weekend took an hour without rushing myself. Looks nice a clean now.

I've used car washes in the past without any problems but the paint is fairly soft on the fabia.

:eek: Dont Contemplate A Mechanised Car Wash!!!

I find a good hand job is much better

Im disagreeing massively.

Fabia paint is reputed for being soft.

soft paint + grotty sponges and car washes = swirl marks. Horrible horrible nasty swirls allllllllllll over. Making lovely new car look rubbish!

I lovingly hand washed mine from new, and treated it to nothing other than Swissol. I'm not blessed with an outside tap, so used the local jet wash.

Alas my car is covered in fine swirl marks. They are caused by grit being brushed over the soft paintwork.

I'll never go in a mechanical car wash in a car I care about! But saying that, there are companies who will polish even heavy swirls out for around a hunderd quid. I'll be having this done in the new year, as well as a paint sealant such as Supagard (I have a Diamondbrite kit off eBAY if anyone wants to make me an offer), and from then on, its hand washing with the emphasis being on rinsing the muck off first with a good shampoo that encapsulates the dirt reducing the risk of swirling.

And I actually like polishing the car. Especially with the wonderful scents of Swissol products! :thumbup:

I have absolutely no problem whatsoever putting my car through the car wash (either jetwash or rollers depending where I am). It usually gets done every 2-3 weeks depending on how soon the dirt starts getting on my clothes, and I reckon the paint's no more swirly than it was on my last car (Megane Coupe), which was lovingly handwashed every Saturday morning (I was single, so staying in bed didn't have the advantages it does now :naughty: )

The aerial's fine folded against the roof, and the only disadvantage I have encountered is that roller carwashes don't clean under the spoiler very well, so the top of the back windscreen needs a once-over when I get home.

I used to give my Megane coupe the best of TLC, but at 20k miles per year, all it did was mean I felt obliged to get Chips Away in every couple of months, and was virtually in tears the first time I kerbed one of the alloys. This time round, the Fabia's a tool, not an ornament... Quite a nice tool, though, and one I like using. Maybe a Husqvarna chainsaw or a nice Spear & Jackson spade - something that doesn't need to be treated with kid gloves but will keep doing its job on and on and on

(and Ariston? )

Look out for one of those garages where half a dozen Eastern Europeans swarm over your car for

I'll vouch for the handwashes from a local corner garage full of people.

£6.50 is wash, rinse and clean windows outside.

£8.50 for above inc wax (Spray I assume).

I had mine done wheni had to get off, but couldn't cope with all the filth that had built up from the motorway. Really good job, newspaper for the traffic film, the lot

I get my Superb valeted every week, mainly because i'm too lazy to do it myself, but also with the milage I do it never stays clean long, but I will also put

James...

I wash my car at a high-pressure wash car wash next to my place...however, I always ask them to have the car washed at the lowest possible setting. Go to a manual carwash if you don't want to wash the car yourself in the cold, it's a million times better than an autowash.

Look out for one of those garages where half a dozen Eastern Europeans swarm over your car for

James...

I wash my car at a high-pressure wash car wash next to my place...however' date=' I always ask them to have the car washed at the lowest possible setting. Go to a manual carwash if you don't want to wash the car yourself in the cold, it's a million times better than an autowash.[/quote']

This is definitely the next best thing to washing it by hand yourself.

On no account take it to an automatic car wash, it'll ruin your paintwork in no time at all.

The first time I had my octavia serviced it came back clean. I was impressed until I found out that they'd stuck it thru the automatic car wash next door. :eek: Now when i take it in I ask them to leave it dirty.

Well I parted with £3.50 today for a car-wash, awesome

5mins later my car was super clean and all I did was sit in the comfort of my own car, very appealing for the winter time tbh.

you can take the aeriel off in a fabia