CelticNut

Great idea, Mark! The trick is to look like you have every right to be doing what your doing. If you look sneaky, you'll get busted for sure!

I envy all of you people that can wash your cars at home or know someone willing to let you wash your car at their house. Boy, life would be good if I could do either! I feel guilty that I cannot provide better care for my car, but it's the best I can do for the moment. Maybe things will improve when I move.

wild stray

When you get to California, you can wash it over here anytime!

Dan

ONLY Touchless and only in the winter.

sting

My wife washes our '05 in the driveway about twice a week. No problem so far.

ponyboy66

The key to a sucsseful wash is surface preperation.

I take more time hosing down my car than I do washing it.

All it takes is one grain of sand or road debris to get caught in the brushes/sponge/mit and your finish is toast.

I use a pressure washer for bug removal and surface prep.

If you do not have access to a driveway wash, take it to one of these places that have the pull in bays and do it yourself.

Bring your own cleaning mit and/or sponge.
I wash my cleaning mit and sponges after every wash.

The next best option, is the touchless systems. High pressure soap/water with air dry. But, your at the mercy of a mechanical system that you have no control over.

Ponycar

So far, it's been No; NEVER! But when the winter hits, I have to think that I'm going to drive it through a few times just to get all of the salt off without freezing to death!

redstang

No way

CelticNut

That's cool. But L.A. is quite a haul from Sacramento! Still, a road trip of that distance is sure to gather a few bugs... I may just take you up on that!

SonicBlue05GT

Mostly I use the do it yourself high pressure wash. If I'm pressed for time, I will take her through the waterjet type of automatic car wash. I haven't had any problems. Where we live the water is so hard that before you can dry the whole car, you are getting water spots. At the car wash they must have a water softener, cause that doesn't happen there. So I think it's best to use it in my situation. With the do it yourself high pressure wash you can get in the wheel wells, and the automatic one has an under carriage wash.

Now that my car has 5 coats of Zanio, if I'm in a situation that I want my car clean but don't have time and decide to use the automatic car wash I don't think I will buy the wash that has wax at the end.

As far as the duster I do use the California duster, we live on a gravel alley and it gets dusty just sitting in the garage. I haven't had any problems with scratches from that. Seems like everyone at car shows use them.

amwasko

I would never put any of my cars through an automatic car wash!

Treadhead

I have used the touchless washes. Mostly when I first picked up my car due to my back surgery but, now I only use it if I'm in a hurry. Since my back is almost healed and re-habbed I try to do it myself at the car wash down the street or my Mr. Clean which I haven't had a chance to use yet.

LordBritish

I live in an APT with no practical source of water in the parking lot.

So I'm forced to use car washes. : (

mmoonshot

I tell you that if you spend the money and Zaino your car every six months, it actually saves you money, all I have to do after the car ihas been treated with Zaino is wash it off with the pressure washer, then dry it with some cotton towels, the finish is incredible, and best of all it lasts and lasts, I would recomend Zaino products to anyone...

1999 Black 35th GT

Nope. I just can't bring myself to do it. It did once with my 87 GT and it came out looking just as bad as it did when it went in (touchless).

I have a special sponge and chamois reserved just for Josey.

I even washed Josey when it was 34 degrees once. And in the forties plenty of times. Yeah you get cold and freeze your **** off but its worth it for me. Plus I'm nuts too

Fordracing200

well, i could of told you that

Kahdir

Touchless only when getting gas @ BP
Otherwise I use my Christmas Gift in the driveway -Mr. Clean Auto Dry

adrenalin

wow, there are topics covering just about everything these days. If you want to use an automatic car wash that uses brushes and has guys waited to dry the car off and floor it out of the bay, go for it. That is as long as you don't mind having rust from older cars that is stuck in those brushes scratching your mustang, because it will happen.

Hatchman

Only if it is a Touchless car wash. I figures their crappy soap and wax won't hurt it too bad.

AJC

Never,
1. Car wash machines dont get the car truly clean, especially brushless ones.
2. Scratches the paint

3. Washing it by hand gives me a chance to rub my hands all over the car... and insure I wash it with gentle soaps and soft clean mitts and special bucket used only for stang.

4. in the process look for every little thing thats happened ..to my beautiful machine... :cry:

hunter

Combo for me. Touchless, DIY (quarters) and driveway. One thing you get at the touchless is the underbody spray as you drive in. Like a bidet for the car !