Does your car feel "faster" after it's washed?

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masterxfob

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
7,366
5
81
Originally posted by: dullard
Sorry guys but that COULD be a serious post!

Studies have shown that people going at speed X on a clear day feel like they are going much faster than when travelling at speed X on a foggy day. In other words, with the spedometer disabled, people who attempt to go the speed limit go much faster on foggy days than on clear days.

The fog makes you 'feel' like you are going slower than you actually are. Maybe cr4zymofo lets his windshield get so dirty that it gives him the effect of fog. Thus he FEELS like he is going slow all the time. When cr4zymofo finally washes his windshield, he FEELS like he is going faster.

It is a real effect. However, I voted 'no' since I don't let my windshield get very dirty.

uhhh, i think you've had one too many coffee breaks.....
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
2
71
The people who think this idea is stupid are really the dumbasses themselves.

Cars often do run smoother and possibly faster after a good wash primarily due to the dirtiest part of the car being cleaned..that being the wheels. If you ever spray a hose inside your hubcap/rim, you will notice nothing but black dirt coming off the brakes, allowing the wheels..which of course are what drive your car, to rotate more freely than before.

If you've ever gotten a new set of rotors/brakes, you will clearly feel the car going smoother than before.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
call me crazy but yes it does "feel" faster. Just like it does when the temp is around 60.
 

masterxfob

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
7,366
5
81
Originally posted by: Syringer
The people who think this idea is stupid are really the dumbasses themselves.

Cars often do run smoother and possibly faster after a good wash primarily due to the dirtiest part of the car being cleaned..that being the wheels. If you ever spray a hose inside your hubcap/rim, you will notice nothing but black dirt coming off the brakes, allowing the wheels..which of course are what drive your car, to rotate more freely than before.

If you've ever gotten a new set of rotors/brakes, you will clearly feel the car going smoother than before.

as usual, you're just being a dipshi7. if you seriously want to prove many of us wrong, take your car to the 1/4 mile strip. take the results from your car when dirty, and when clean. if you're consistent, you'll not find a tenth or even a half a tenth difference in your times.

driver 1: golly, how'd you improve your 1/4 mile time?
masterxfob: ohh, i got a carwash!

:roll:
 

LordMorpheus

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2002
6,871
1
0
No, because it just makes it easier to see that my once shiny black car is going gray with age. And a full paintjob would cost more than the value of the car. Awww.

The hood, roof, trunk, and rear driver side panel are the worst spots.
 

DrumminBoy

Golden Member
Mar 10, 2002
1,995
0
0
Originally posted by: masterxfob
Originally posted by: Syringer
The people who think this idea is stupid are really the dumbasses themselves.

Cars often do run smoother and possibly faster after a good wash primarily due to the dirtiest part of the car being cleaned..that being the wheels. If you ever spray a hose inside your hubcap/rim, you will notice nothing but black dirt coming off the brakes, allowing the wheels..which of course are what drive your car, to rotate more freely than before.

If you've ever gotten a new set of rotors/brakes, you will clearly feel the car going smoother than before.

as usual, you're just being a dipshi7. if you seriously want to prove many of us wrong, take your car to the 1/4 mile strip. take the results from your car when dirty, and when clean. if you're consistent, you'll not find a tenth or even a half a tenth difference in your times.

driver 1: golly, how'd you improve your 1/4 mile time?
masterxfob: ohh, i got a carwash!

:roll:

How many dirty cars do you see racing at the track?
 

MazerRackham

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2002
6,572
0
0
I don't necessarily think that my car is faster after a good washing, but I definitely think that the car is happier. I know 'cuz it told me!!! :)
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: cr4zymofo
You guys do realize that this is a joke right?

ugh, sure.. except "jokes" and paradoy threads are old.. soon we'll start having parody of parody threads.. yawn
 

ViRaLRuSh

Golden Member
Nov 15, 2002
1,233
0
0
Originally posted by: dullard
Sorry guys but that COULD be a serious post!

Studies have shown that people going at speed X on a clear day feel like they are going much faster than when travelling at speed X on a foggy day. In other words, with the spedometer disabled, people who attempt to go the speed limit go much faster on foggy days than on clear days.

The fog makes you 'feel' like you are going slower than you actually are. Maybe cr4zymofo lets his windshield get so dirty that it gives him the effect of fog. Thus he FEELS like he is going slow all the time. When cr4zymofo finally washes his windshield, he FEELS like he is going faster.

Link on the issue

"Fog can trick drivers into thinking their speed is far slower than it actually is, according to a paper in the April 2nd [1998] issue of the journal Nature."

It is a real effect. However, I voted 'no' since I don't let my windshield get very dirty.

It's exactly correct. My GF's father is a serious car mechanic and told me it will drive much smoother no matter what after a car wash cause the break dust and other crap is cleaned out. Nobody knows more than this guy it seems, so I wouldnt doubt this one bit.
 

boomdart

Senior member
Jan 10, 2004
825
0
0
A car isn't faster after its been washed, period. They do see improvements with aerodynamics and such when waxed and stuff, but that's pretty much only helpful when autocrossing...

When I wash my car I feel like driving faster, and the interior of my car feels new when I clean it...