This might be a bit controversial.

[themechanic]

 

[T2R9]

I will take my work car through one but not any of mine. I'm sure a mud covered truck leaves plenty of crap for the next few vehicles to absorb.

 

[1965belvedere2]

during covid I drove my black lexus thru one of those Shell gas station car wash things, ended up with 4 long scratches the length of the car, bumper to bumper. After almost 4 months of fighting with Shell corporate they finally paid for the repair which was close to $1000. Needlesstosay I will not use those any more.

 

[Billccm]

Disclaimer: I have been using waterless car wash since 1992 on all of my cars including the daily drivers.

I don't remember which magazine it was but they caught quite a bit of backlash from the car wash industry. This was about 25 years ago. It might have been Consumer Reports. Anyhow, the article published explained that the worst thing you can do for your car's paint is used a automated car wash.

They actually used two late model Honda Accords. Over a three year period one car was running through the car wash twice a month and the other had no exterior wash whatsoever. Then both cars were taken to a detailer.

Clear coat delamination was noted on the car washed Accord. Also, the black trim, and even window gaskets showed degradation on that car. The detail shop had to fine polish to remove brush scratches, etc.

The ignored Accord was hand washed, hand polished with a cleaner wax, and looked like new.
BTW the city was Indianapolis.

The summary was that automatic car wash soap was very high in alkaline and caused the clear coat delamination. The soap also degraded the black plastic trim. In addition, the mechanical brushes definitely scratched the paint.

My opinion is water is not a great thing to put on a car. Sure caked mud and salt should be rinsed, but for my daily drivers I've very seldom needed the bucket and hose. When I sell my daily drivers at 10 years old or more I'm always asked who painted the car. When I sold my 18 year old LeBaron convertible I was asked who did the paint job. I replied "Lee Iacocca".

 

[themechanic]

My 2013 F150 still looks new. I park it outside under the carport and take it through the automatic car wash when there's no rain in the forecast.

I either hand wash the Challenger or use the touchless car wash without the brushes. Beware of these types of car washes because they have ti use soap strong enough to emulsify dirt without agitation.

 

[Hey-O]

I go through the same wash as they used in the video all the time, I have a monthly package. My Durango looks new and the paint looks perfect. It's white, for a reason, and the door jams, lift gate area are as clean as the day I bought it. I don't like dragging my pants across a nasty door opening. I've been doing this since I bought it, 7 years ago. I've never washed it by hand and I never will. My 65 gets washed by hand, for obvious reason. Washing a car by hand can damage it also. If you don't change the water continually and watch what you use to scrub it with, they can past small particles back on and rub it all around the paint on your car. I dry my 65 with a California surgical silicone blade and a twisted loop drying towel. I use a California car duster on it every time I get done driving it, before putting my car cover back on...........Car washes are better these days and so is paint technology. The rest is up to God.

 

[roadrunnerh]

I always hand wash every car I own. I never go through a car wash of any type.

 

[Don Frelier]

My classic cars are never washed.
Detailed with spray and microfiber towels only.

 

[WileE]

I could write a paragraph. But won't. One comment "most new cars made in the last 10-15 years have clearcoat" Duh... how about the last few DECADES....

 

[Photon440]

Yes, my 1995 neon (nitro yellow green) had clear-coat.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

My modernish cars get drive thru cars washes, I’ve transferred the same monthly package from a black 2019 Challenger to a 1998 LandCruiser to my current 2022 Maverick. Never had a problem except the spoiler thing got ripped off the LandCruiser earlier this year, but I blame that more on the plastic getting old and brittle. I was pushing it age wise for that car and auto washes.
I use the kind that has swinging rags, not spinning brushes that would rip your arm off, if it damaged the paint it’s minor enough I can’t tell, which is good enough for me.
The really old stuff just gets washed by hand because they don’t keep water out as well, after having my 84 Daytona almost stall in one (ecu is in the air intake box!) and a cowl leak in the 72 Ranchero I learned my lesson.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

Automatic car washes are the best money laundering businesses out there.

 

[themechanic]

Most are not liable for damages to vehicles, depending on location and size of their posted signage.

 

[QuickBpBp]

I'm sure a mud covered truck leaves plenty of crap for the next few vehicles to absorb.

Many many years ago I watched a guy go into a wash booth and use the foaming brush on an old 4x4 Ford he was went off roading in covered with mud. Then a lady pulls in and proceeds to wash her brand new Lebaron convertible with that same brush zig zagging back and forth. So I get out and tell her I wouldn't use that on her nice new car and she was offended I approached her and said I really don't care and that I should worry about my own vehicle... I simply said well if you don't care then neither do I and if that's the case why wash it.... I am sure that thing was a mess after it dried with the amount of mud left in the brush..

 

[Detective D]

I live in WI. Salt will return any daily to the earth well before any car wash can harm the vehicle.
Auto wash for things I don't care about surviving.
Hand wash stuff that gets put away in winter.
Note: my 2013 AWD Charger gets the auto wash. I have no intention of dealing with the rolling computer once it starts acting up. It will be mostly worn out and starting to rust(bottom edge of passenger door is already in need of a quick touch up on the inside seem) underneath before I worry about the paint.
Salting roads: whoever came up with this idea should have been drawn and quartered!

 

[Belvedere408]

I took my old 4 door 68 coronet through the auto wash once. The dealer added paint job started flaking away. Never been back since.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

Automatic car washes are the best money laundering businesses out there.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Rain washes mine 90% of the time. They will not allow the truck in the auto wash.
Something about the ladder rack and it being to wide.

 

[PROSTOCKTOM]

Automatic car washes are the best money laundering businesses out there.

How so?

Very few of them see cash today. It's not like it was before everyone carried and used a debit card.

My friend Mike has owned a really nice car wash for 20-years and my friend Clark's family has been in the laundromat business for 60-years.

They both complain about the lack of the, Good Ole Days where they could really skim the cash off.

Tom

 

[Richard Cranium]

Automatic car washes are the best money laundering businesses out there.

How so?

Very few of them see cash today. It's not like it was before everyone carried and used a debit card.

My friend Mike has owned a really nice car wash for 20-years and my friend Clark's family has been in the laundromat business for 60-years.

They both complain about the lack of the, Good Ole Days where they could really skim the cash off.

Tom

I'd say that being a barber is a better all cash business.