A cool night here in southern VA and I decided to wax the car. I had a bottle of Zymol, some applicators and a few terry cloths. Ran through the touchless car wash and rode home to air dry the car. As I was about to start applying the wax I was astounded by how mush crap was still on the car -- bird droppings, grime .... you name it. Fortunately I had some armourall car was cloths in the car. That did the trick and I got the car finished just as it got dark. From now on I'm using the armorall cloth right after the touchless car wash.

Those touchless car washes are a waste of money, IMO.

I go down to the DIY car wash, feed in $1.75 worth of quarters and bust a nut with the foaming brush. I take a sponge to to detailed touchups and a tapered brush that I use on the grills & wheels. Then another $1.75 worth of quarters to do a spot-free rinse and I'm ready to hit Mr E with the chamois.

This took much longer in the beginning, but I have a rhythm down now so I can wash & dry in about 15-20 minutes. Then I detail the glass and plastic back in my drive when I have time. Early on, I was really obsessed about detailing every time I washed, but now I only thoroughly hit the panels with Meguairs about every 6-8 weeks.

Touchless automated carwashes are for lazy fat people. I prefer to use a bucket, a hose, some carwash detergent, 303 protectant, several terry cloth towels and a 12 pack of my favourite cold, frosty beverage. A whole case if I'm going to wax it after.

Hell yeah Dan. that is the way to care for one's E!!!

I get immense joy from hand wash and waxing the E. Especially the waxing, because you really get to see the results of your labor. And plenty frosty Bevs and some tunes while you work helps. Can't believe my neighbor still says I wast my money on products

BTW love the 303 but not the price....

Well it's clear we've got a coupla wage slaves with time on their hands. The combination of touchless and armourall wash cloths rocks. Slave on and next time watch who you hurl insults at. :lol:

[quote:e555ce0456="Kayakin' Dan"]Touchless automated carwashes are for lazy fat people. I prefer to use a bucket, a hose, some carwash detergent, 303 protectant, several terry cloth towels and a 12 pack of my favourite cold, frosty beverage.[/quote:e555ce0456]

I am a fat, lazy people and I still won't waste my time or coin on touchless. Well, okay, I'm not too lazy, but I am a big guy. :P

Prior to buying new cars last year, my wife and I almost never hand-washed our cars. Heck, we didn't even bother taking them to the carwash very often. And I had never waxed a car of my own before. But our attitudes are changing (maybe it's part of getting a little older?) and we're both finally lucky enough to own cars that're more than basic transportation.

There's a term for those of us who get a great sense of pride and accomplishment from hand-washing our rides.

"Sweat equity."

I recently blogged about this on my website (http://www.2dolphins.com) after a road-trip conversation I had with my wife. "Sweat equity" is the thing that turns a house into a home and makes something you own become some you value or cherish. It gives you the feeling that you've earned the right to ownership. Makes you feel like you've made good use of a day.

And hand-washing your car(s) could be considered an aerobic workout, something this big guy needs plenty of.

And hey, Cameraman, no offense intended!

Rob

the brush? gasp! do you like swirl marks and scratches with your paint?

Right now, I've got 3 layers of liquid glass on paint and wheels topped with some meguiar's #26 hi tech wax paste. the sucker shimmers.

Ah yes, the wash wars. Right on rodaniel! :) Dan's point also well taken ... you 'aint gonna get her clean with coins in the pseudo pressure washer.

Recycled H2O (usually). Also known as grey water.
Nylon bristle scratch pad...uh...I mean brush.

I think you guys just seem to have really inferior quality touchless washes down there. (At least all the ones I've pull through)
Maybe it's all the road salt in winter, or whatever, but all the touchless washes I've been to up here use fresh water, and the pressure on these does a really great job.
The most I have to do, after I've pulled out, is go over it with a clean terry cloth, and it sparkles like new.

[quote:7dc64ab518=" "]Touchless automated carwashes are for lazy fat people. I prefer to use a bucket, a hose, some carwash detergent, 303 protectant, several terry cloth towels and a 12 pack of my favourite cold, frosty beverage. A whole case if I'm going to wax it after.[/quote:7dc64ab518]


Dan, can I come to your house to wash my element? it's like way more fun that standing in my dirt driveway doing it! :lol: