What do you wash with in the winter (Snow members only)

blk04sti · 11-15-2005, 01:23 PM

So I am thinking about driving the STI all year and just wondering what should I do to keep her clean? I hate the touchless washes...they dont get grime off or actually "wash" the car...it just makes it look kinda clean. Hand wash is out of the question...the water freezes and your hands. Machine car washes ruin your paint.

What do you do?

**jsh139** · 11-15-2005, 01:39 PM

I usually just bite the bullet and do the machine wash. We have a nice soft cloth wash in the area. The car already has swirls from the daily drive, so I figure, WTF.

I used to go to the do-it-yourself places and hose off the car, but it's just too much work in the cold months. Plus, those places are just as bad as auto washes.

***VSGTS14*** · 11-15-2005, 01:56 PM

just wait for those nice outside days and use a warm bucket of water.
or find somewhere indoors you can..if that's possible.

AndrewSS · 11-15-2005, 02:03 PM

just wash it outside in the cold, grin and bear it

***Insane06STi*** · 11-15-2005, 02:42 PM

Do a quick hand wash with a bucket and mr. clean,just to take the grime out. Then run out to the nearest touchless carwash,then drink lots of hot coffee.

Chris05STi · 11-15-2005, 02:59 PM

Bite the bullet and Mr. Clean in with mittens and a big heavy jacket. Wear ski goggles if its too windy! Seriously though, I have thought the samething like you, I am just gonna go out and wash it when its "nice" out, and then bring her in, and hand polish the wheels....and pray for warm weather again.

Chris05STi · 11-15-2005, 03:00 PM

Oh by the way, its either the STi in the winter or the 1986 Camaro......I rather get the STi dirty and live! Too many times with the Camaro and a "Dukes of Hazzard" scene on highways when it snowed.

**nandanrp** · 11-15-2005, 07:17 PM

My poor baby is parked outdoors and I live in downtown Chicago, so the only option I have is a handwash in the area where they use a pressure washer (

) and some sponges. Damn I hate it.

Turboxer · 11-16-2005, 04:21 AM

Im the crazy nut on the block that will be out there in the cold washing my car. Like VSGTS14 said i try to wait for those nice days and use a warm bucket of water.

chancers · 11-16-2005, 07:12 AM

In the winter, I wash my cars in my garage with a modified, portbable car wash device (www.x-2-o.com). This gadget comes with a spray through brush. Even though the bristles are very soft, I cut them off and attach a microfiber or chenille wash mit. The key is to not let the car get too dirty. If the car is too dirty, either hose it off or take it to the car wash. I just hate getting ripped off at the local car wash (and then getting home with a semiclean car).

bluestreak · 11-16-2005, 07:41 AM

Check around your area for detailing shops. They usually do a lot of works for auto dealerships and many of them hand wash/dry and wax cars year round. I have seen a few around here that charge about $100 bucks for 5-10 washes depending on the services rendered. Kinda like a coupon book. That's what I plan on trying this winter.

***wdb*** · 11-16-2005, 07:48 AM

This is kind of funny to me because it caused me to realize that I haven't really thought about washing my car lately. Since I put the bronze rims on my car I haven't been nearly as anal about washing it; proof that those blasted gorgeous BBS rims were the source of my drive to keep the car clean I guess.

*walks outside and looks at car* Well how about that, the rims are covered in brake dust. I hadn't noticed.

wundej · 11-16-2005, 08:41 AM

The day I bought the car I drove it home, washed it and put it in the garage for a good waxing. This was at the end of Jan in PA...almost killed myself on the ice that formed on the driveway. The next day it snowed and got dirty again but it was clean for almost a day.

I deal with the frozen fingers in the winter and just wash it outside.

KDSTI · 11-16-2005, 01:56 PM

do a touchless car wash unless u have a nice garage, i usually try to 1-2 times a month with the touchless wash works fine

Audiomotive Gruppe · 11-16-2005, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turboxer

Im the crazy nut on the block that will be out there in the cold washing my car. Like VSGTS14 said i try to wait for those nice days and use a warm bucket of water.

You're not the only one. Another NY'er here too so it gets pretty cold. Neighbors all give me the WTF look

11-15-2005, 01:23 PM	#1
blk04sti The Next Petter Solberg Car: 2004 STI Fav Mod: All of them Location: Southern NH Posts: 883 Join Date: May 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	What do you wash with in the winter (Snow members only) So I am thinking about driving the STI all year and just wondering what should I do to keep her clean? I hate the touchless washes...they dont get grime off or actually "wash" the car...it just makes it look kinda clean. Hand wash is out of the question...the water freezes and your hands. Machine car washes ruin your paint. What do you do? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

11-15-2005, 07:17 PM	#8
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)	My poor baby is parked outdoors and I live in downtown Chicago, so the only option I have is a handwash in the area where they use a pressure washer () and some sponges. Damn I hate it.

11-15-2005, 01:39 PM	#2
jsh139 How YOU Doin? Car: 2006 Audi S4 Fav Mod: OMGHI2U! Location: Philly 'burbs Posts: 7,719 Join Date: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (8)	I usually just bite the bullet and do the machine wash. We have a nice soft cloth wash in the area. The car already has swirls from the daily drive, so I figure, WTF. I used to go to the do-it-yourself places and hose off the car, but it's just too much work in the cold months. Plus, those places are just as bad as auto washes.

11-15-2005, 01:56 PM	#3
*VSGTS14* Muller Chevrolet Car: 08 Chevy 2500HD Fav Mod: a new 08 STi Location: Milford, NJ Posts: 9,981 Join Date: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (11)	just wait for those nice outside days and use a warm bucket of water. or find somewhere indoors you can..if that's possible.

11-15-2005, 02:03 PM	#4
AndrewSS S204 Racer Car: 05 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: RCE T2 Coilovers Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,642 Join Date: Jun 2005 Trader Rating: (21)	just wash it outside in the cold, grin and bear it

11-15-2005, 02:42 PM	#5
*Insane06STi* Nanned ® Location: Where the left lane is th Posts: 17,349 Join Date: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (9)	Do a quick hand wash with a bucket and mr. clean,just to take the grime out. Then run out to the nearest touchless carwash,then drink lots of hot coffee.

11-15-2005, 02:59 PM	#6
Chris05STi I Has a Turbo Timer Car: 2005 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Every single one! Location: NJ Posts: 9,698 Join Date: Jun 2005 Trader Rating: (27)	Bite the bullet and Mr. Clean in with mittens and a big heavy jacket. Wear ski goggles if its too windy! Seriously though, I have thought the samething like you, I am just gonna go out and wash it when its "nice" out, and then bring her in, and hand polish the wheels....and pray for warm weather again.

11-15-2005, 03:00 PM	#7
Chris05STi I Has a Turbo Timer Car: 2005 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Every single one! Location: NJ Posts: 9,698 Join Date: Jun 2005 Trader Rating: (27)	Oh by the way, its either the STi in the winter or the 1986 Camaro......I rather get the STi dirty and live! Too many times with the Camaro and a "Dukes of Hazzard" scene on highways when it snowed.

11-16-2005, 04:21 AM	#9
Turboxer Spec C Club Car: 2005 STi & 2008 M3 Location: Westchester Ny Posts: 1,226 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (2)	Im the crazy nut on the block that will be out there in the cold washing my car. Like VSGTS14 said i try to wait for those nice days and use a warm bucket of water.

11-16-2005, 07:12 AM	#10
chancers Junior STI Driver Car: 04 STi wrb Fav Mod: not even a radio yet Location: Texas Posts: 79 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	In the winter, I wash my cars in my garage with a modified, portbable car wash device (www.x-2-o.com). This gadget comes with a spray through brush. Even though the bristles are very soft, I cut them off and attach a microfiber or chenille wash mit. The key is to not let the car get too dirty. If the car is too dirty, either hose it off or take it to the car wash. I just hate getting ripped off at the local car wash (and then getting home with a semiclean car).

11-16-2005, 07:41 AM	#11
bluestreak Professional STI Racer Car: 04 STi WRB Fav Mod: Lasik Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 676 Join Date: Jul 2004 Trader Rating: (5)	Check around your area for detailing shops. They usually do a lot of works for auto dealerships and many of them hand wash/dry and wax cars year round. I have seen a few around here that charge about $100 bucks for 5-10 washes depending on the services rendered. Kinda like a coupon book. That's what I plan on trying this winter.

11-16-2005, 07:48 AM	#12
*wdb* dances with roads Car: 2005 CGM STi Posts: 5,066 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	This is kind of funny to me because it caused me to realize that I haven't really thought about washing my car lately. Since I put the bronze rims on my car I haven't been nearly as anal about washing it; proof that those blasted gorgeous BBS rims were the source of my drive to keep the car clean I guess. walks outside and looks at car Well how about that, the rims are covered in brake dust. I hadn't noticed.

11-16-2005, 08:41 AM	#13
wundej Grassroots STI Racer Car: 05 CGM STi Fav Mod: Genome Location: Wilmington DE Posts: 574 Join Date: Jan 2005 Trader Rating: (4)	The day I bought the car I drove it home, washed it and put it in the garage for a good waxing. This was at the end of Jan in PA...almost killed myself on the ice that formed on the driveway. The next day it snowed and got dirty again but it was clean for almost a day. I deal with the frozen fingers in the winter and just wash it outside.

11-16-2005, 01:56 PM	#14
KDSTI Senior STI Driver Car: 05 wrb STi Fav Mod: strawberry air freshner Location: Lowell, mass Posts: 355 Join Date: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	do a touchless car wash unless u have a nice garage, i usually try to 1-2 times a month with the touchless wash works fine