Bah stupid car wash!

[Trikat]

So just just took my dad's car to Carolina Auto Spa, which is some car wash place where they can fully detail your car, etc.
I chose the express car wash and it is bascially running the car through the war wash, quick towel dry, polish wax, underbody bath, wheel clean, and tire shine.
Anyways the wheel clean and tire shine worked fairly well and they do look nice now as it is sparkling clean as I type. I don't know if the underbody bath worked or not, but it was probably just a spray down etc. The polish wax was spray on wax if any.
The thing was the car wash absolutely sucked! I just wasted $10 on something I didn't need as the car is still a bit dirty and I will still have to wash it by hand! :/
I guess this is the last time that I will hit up one of those automated car washes! They suck!
(Was hoping to save the environment by not having to wash my car in the drive way. My original plan was to have it washed by them, come back home to spray it down, dry it, and then wax.)

Car is an 02 Subaru Legacy (Cool looking green) which has quite a bit of rock chips now... The exterior isn't the best due to the rock chips, some large scratched on the side, and a huge gash down the rear bumper, but waxing it atleast once or twice a year helps in the long run.

 

[Mermaidman]

Autobell usually does a good job on our cars. I wonder if you got a subpar effort due to the condition of your car (scratches and all). You should've asked for a re-wash.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Automated washes suck, you do still have to wash it if you really want it clean. Do it yourself or bring it to one of the places where they actually hand wash

 

[Trikat]

I found out a lot of the "rock chips" were actually white piece of crap or something.
Yes it hasn't been washed for a while (by hand or machine) so there was a lot of stuck on junk.
I easily chipped off a few of those white specks with my finger nail. Now i'm kinda pissed... :/
O well even if I ran it through that car wash it probably wouldn't get off the majority of that stuff. I'll have to do it by hand and that way I can really wash it clean.

I'll maybe check out other car wash places such as Autobell (yay there is some around Cary), but for now it is by hand.

 

[Baked]

Clay bar.

 

[Trikat]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Automated washes suck, you do still have to wash it if you really want it clean. Do it yourself or bring it to one of the places where they actually hand wash

Hand wash is $35 at Carolina Auto Spa (it says starting at)! Granted it takes a while, but i'd rather save $35 than do it myself.
O well i'll save the car wash for tomorrow and I'll shop for some cash wash accessories today.

 

[bootymac]

Hand wash ftw

 

[Garet Jax]

Nothing you can do now that you have left the lot.

I went to a car wash once that did absolutely nothing. The owners ran the car through again and still no better. They refunded my money.

 

[Maximus96]

how does washing in your driveway endanger the environment? i thought the car wash soap is degradable(sp). i heard that you're suppose to wash on your lawn if possible.

 

[NaOH]

Car wash places are a rip off and suck. A lot of them use cheapo stuff. You can buy great quality waxes and polishes and do many cars yourself. Only downside is that you have to do it yourself. If you have a neighbor that is into cars, a lot of times you can pay them to do a good job.

 

[Trikat]

Originally posted by: Maximus96
how does washing in your driveway endanger the environment? i thought the car wash soap is degradable(sp). i heard that you're suppose to wash on your lawn if possible.

Hmmm, I had the impression it still wasn't as good for the environment to let the soap leak into the grass and such. Perhaps new soap is bio-degradable and I didn't know it.

 

[lytalbayre]

Hand wash it yourself for best results...

We have a KAADY Car Wash near my place and it works great!

 

[Trikat]

Originally posted by: AMDUALY
Car wash places are a rip off and suck. A lot of them use cheapo stuff. You can buy great quality waxes and polishes and do many cars yourself. Only downside is that you have to do it yourself. If you have a neighbor that is into cars, a lot of times you can pay them to do a good job.

If I am rich I would go with the full detailed packages and have it hand wash, but alas I am poor. It is also my dad's car where it is taken just about everywhere and used as a daily driver.
When I finally get some other car than a Pontiac Grand Am hopefully it will have a clean exterior so I can do some good cleaning and some good wax. Maybe even try out the clay bar. :Q

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Automated washes suck, you do still have to wash it if you really want it clean. Do it yourself or bring it to one of the places where they actually hand wash

..they use recycled water loaded with grit and dirt from all the previous cars.