Automatic Car Washes & STis

Sinister Subaru · 10-27-2005, 04:32 AM

Are automatic car washes safe for STis, or will I end up getting my wing and scoop ripped right off the car?

***Nachos Libres*** · 10-27-2005, 04:42 AM

Depends on what kind of material they use. Someone will probably say that all automatic car washes will scratch your paint, but the one I go to has really soft material so I don't worry about scratches (it might still cause swirls, but I don't think my car has ever been swirl free, even from the dealer, and I think 99.9% of the populations cars have swirls as well). I used to always wash my car myself, but this would take around 3 hours to wash and vacuum and get everything right. Now I just pay around $300 a year for each car and can take them to get washed at the full service car wash, where they vacuum, wash, wipe down, and apply tire dressing. I usually get this done at least every other day on my STi and my wife's car gets done whenever she feels like taking it in (which isn't very often). I also apply at least one coat of Zaino once a month, so the car looks great, except in the direct sunlight and correct angle you can see the swirls, but I'm not going to even try to get rid of those.

**nandanrp** · 10-27-2005, 06:51 AM

I've never been to an automatic wash. Here in Chicago they have hand washes, which aren't great but get the car somewhat cleaned (and they vacuum it too). I'd still much rather do it on my own, but I don't have that luxury in downtown

Turboxer · 10-27-2005, 06:57 AM

The carwashes near me just look rough. I'm sure if had continuous washes from them they would eventually knock something loose. I always wash my own car. I just don't trust people and shady machines.

STi_John · 10-27-2005, 07:18 AM

I typically go to the touchless automatic wash if I use them with the STi...

GotSTI? · 10-27-2005, 07:24 AM

Touchless car wash does crap for the rims and I hate that.

2fas4u · 10-27-2005, 07:31 AM

I would never take the STI through a wash. There is too much that can get hung up inside the wash. Also most of them will seriously leave "spider scratches" in the paint. It is much more safe to hand wash your car. I agree the rims will not be clean either!

rube23 · 10-27-2005, 07:33 AM

Speaking of car washes, does anyone in the NYC area (5 boroughs or Long Island) know of any of those do it yourself car washes? Where they supply you with a stall and a high pressure sprayer and then you wash the car yourself? I would rather do it myself but I dont really have access to water at my garage, and the local hand car wash all of a sudden started charging $20 a pop to wash cars.

Irishsti · 10-27-2005, 07:39 AM

Be very careful of the high pressure washers, some of them are powerufl enough to take the paint right off, ive seen it happen

Sinister Subaru · 10-27-2005, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishsti

Be very careful of the high pressure washers, some of them are powerufl enough to take the paint right off, ive seen it happen

Yeah, I wiped the clearcoat right off the nose of my Camaro doing one of those self-powerwash things.

The reason I ask is because it's starting to get cool here, and come winter time, I want to have a plan.

rube23 · 10-27-2005, 07:50 AM

I promise to be careful....

***Warharan*** · 10-27-2005, 08:23 AM

Don't worry about the wing and scoop, worry about your rims getting scratched up in the railing that helps push the car along. So I would avoid them. I suggest getting a Mr. Clean Car Wash and doing it yourself. They are easy and fast.

Funsub · 10-27-2005, 08:31 AM

I accually went to one this weekend and sat there for at least 5 min debating if i should use it or not.
It was a automatic one (touchless) pay drive in , leave
I did IT

I HAVE NEVER FELT SO STUPID IN MY LIFE. AS I DROVE OUT I WAS THINKING WHY DID I DO THAT.
gOT OUT OF THE CAR AND IT LOOKED LIKE ****.
THE CAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CRY AND SO WAS I
I DROVE RIGHT HOME AND HAND WASHED IT.
i DID IT TO SAVE TIME BUT IT ENDED UP COSTING ME 2 HOURS.
HAND WASH YOUR BABY YOU AND YOUR CAR WILL THANKYOU.

I LIKE TO GO TO THE DO IT YOURSELF PLACES
BRING SOAP BUCKET AND SOMETHING TO WASH THE CAR WIT.

**nandanrp** · 10-27-2005, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warharan

Don't worry about the wing and scoop, worry about your rims getting scratched up in the railing that helps push the car along. So I would avoid them. I suggest getting a Mr. Clean Car Wash and doing it yourself. They are easy and fast.

Easy to say living in Tustin Ranch

What about those of us in climates where there's freezing?

straightouttajersey · 10-27-2005, 08:49 AM

see I've been contemplating this question for sometime now that winter is coming. I'd like to visit a carwash simply for undercarriage spraying during the winter on a regular basis, just to prevent alot of rust damage due to the salt on the roads and what not. Do they have washes that just spray the undercarriage, because I know how bad automatic carwashes are, and I always wash my car, so I don't want to take it through the whole treatment if I don't have to.

10-27-2005, 04:32 AM	#1
Sinister Subaru Banned Car: '05 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Any mod that enhances performance Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 937 Join Date: May 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Automatic Car Washes & STis Are automatic car washes safe for STis, or will I end up getting my wing and scoop ripped right off the car? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

10-27-2005, 06:57 AM	#4
Turboxer Spec C Club Car: 2005 STi & 2008 M3 Location: Westchester Ny Posts: 1,226 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (2)	The carwashes near me just look rough. I'm sure if had continuous washes from them they would eventually knock something loose. I always wash my own car. I just don't trust people and shady machines. Last edited by Turboxer : 10-27-2005 at 07:15 AM.

10-27-2005, 08:49 AM	#15
straightouttajersey Spec C Club Car: 05 STi Posts: 1,467 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	see I've been contemplating this question for sometime now that winter is coming. I'd like to visit a carwash simply for undercarriage spraying during the winter on a regular basis, just to prevent alot of rust damage due to the salt on the roads and what not. Do they have washes that just spray the undercarriage, because I know how bad automatic carwashes are, and I always wash my car, so I don't want to take it through the whole treatment if I don't have to. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

10-27-2005, 04:42 AM	#2
*Nachos Libres* Moderator Elite Car: 2005 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Underglows Location: Tyler, Texas Posts: 8,439 Join Date: Jul 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Depends on what kind of material they use. Someone will probably say that all automatic car washes will scratch your paint, but the one I go to has really soft material so I don't worry about scratches (it might still cause swirls, but I don't think my car has ever been swirl free, even from the dealer, and I think 99.9% of the populations cars have swirls as well). I used to always wash my car myself, but this would take around 3 hours to wash and vacuum and get everything right. Now I just pay around $300 a year for each car and can take them to get washed at the full service car wash, where they vacuum, wash, wipe down, and apply tire dressing. I usually get this done at least every other day on my STi and my wife's car gets done whenever she feels like taking it in (which isn't very often). I also apply at least one coat of Zaino once a month, so the car looks great, except in the direct sunlight and correct angle you can see the swirls, but I'm not going to even try to get rid of those.

10-27-2005, 06:51 AM	#3
nandanrp Indiatr0n in yo IWDPL Car: 05FTW OBP STi Fav Mod: Brum Brum Location: downtown Chicago Posts: 48,830 Join Date: Jun 2004 Trader Rating: (11)	I've never been to an automatic wash. Here in Chicago they have hand washes, which aren't great but get the car somewhat cleaned (and they vacuum it too). I'd still much rather do it on my own, but I don't have that luxury in downtown

10-27-2005, 07:18 AM	#5
STi_John Spec C Club Fav Mod: Car sales Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 1,264 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	I typically go to the touchless automatic wash if I use them with the STi...

10-27-2005, 07:24 AM	#6
GotSTI? Silver Member Car: 08 White STI Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,485 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Touchless car wash does crap for the rims and I hate that.

10-27-2005, 07:31 AM	#7
2fas4u Silver Member Car: 05 STI Location: Manchester, Maryland Posts: 1,864 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	I would never take the STI through a wash. There is too much that can get hung up inside the wash. Also most of them will seriously leave "spider scratches" in the paint. It is much more safe to hand wash your car. I agree the rims will not be clean either!

10-27-2005, 07:33 AM	#8
rube23 HowTo Contributor Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: LED Windshield Washer Nozzles Location: NYC Posts: 336 Join Date: Jul 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	Speaking of car washes, does anyone in the NYC area (5 boroughs or Long Island) know of any of those do it yourself car washes? Where they supply you with a stall and a high pressure sprayer and then you wash the car yourself? I would rather do it myself but I dont really have access to water at my garage, and the local hand car wash all of a sudden started charging $20 a pop to wash cars.

10-27-2005, 07:39 AM	#9
Irishsti Silver Member Car: 04' PSM STi Fav Mod: Anything Carbon Fiber Location: New York Posts: 1,595 Join Date: Jun 2005 Trader Rating: (2)	Be very careful of the high pressure washers, some of them are powerufl enough to take the paint right off, ive seen it happen

10-27-2005, 07:50 AM	#11
rube23 HowTo Contributor Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: LED Windshield Washer Nozzles Location: NYC Posts: 336 Join Date: Jul 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	I promise to be careful....

10-27-2005, 08:23 AM	#12
*Warharan* Traitor to the STi Car: 06 Lancer Evolution 9 MR Fav Mod: Anything that makes me faster than you Location: Under Crewchief's bed with my video camera Posts: 599 Join Date: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Don't worry about the wing and scoop, worry about your rims getting scratched up in the railing that helps push the car along. So I would avoid them. I suggest getting a Mr. Clean Car Wash and doing it yourself. They are easy and fast.

10-27-2005, 08:31 AM	#13
Funsub Senior STI Driver Car: 05 SUBARU WRX STi Location: Montgomeryville Posts: 368 Join Date: Jan 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	I accually went to one this weekend and sat there for at least 5 min debating if i should use it or not. It was a automatic one (touchless) pay drive in , leave I did IT I HAVE NEVER FELT SO STUPID IN MY LIFE. AS I DROVE OUT I WAS THINKING WHY DID I DO THAT. gOT OUT OF THE CAR AND IT LOOKED LIKE ****. THE CAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CRY AND SO WAS I I DROVE RIGHT HOME AND HAND WASHED IT. i DID IT TO SAVE TIME BUT IT ENDED UP COSTING ME 2 HOURS. HAND WASH YOUR BABY YOU AND YOUR CAR WILL THANKYOU. I LIKE TO GO TO THE DO IT YOURSELF PLACES BRING SOAP BUCKET AND SOMETHING TO WASH THE CAR WIT.