Drive through car washes?

But all seriousness, my wife's car is taken to the automatic wash (we pay about 35$ a month for unlimited) She goes about once a week. The paint def gets swirled up a bit more from the brushes, but its a Prius so i really could careless lol... I still take a polisher and get the swirls out and detail it once a year at least. I'm a little more OCD with my truck, so its rarely if ever taken thru, maybe in the dead of winter to get the salt off of the underside, but mostly its home washed and manual spray at a drive up. I did discover a touchless spray near me so i will use that more often this winter.

 

The first and only "brushed" carwash I took my 17 Toyota thru proceeded to take the driver's side roof strip right off my new truck. Noticed it the next day. Oddly it was a free wash with a coupon given to me by my dealer. Went by the carwash - they said they never saw the piece?? Went to the dealer next and they agreed to replace the strip under warranty. I said to the dealer service mgr. "you guys may want to reconsider giving these "free" coupons out". He agreed. I decided -never again for the "brushed wash"

 

Yeah why is he in a Tacoma? If I had an endless disposable income…would be blasting around town in trophy truck. Wonder if it would fit in a drive through car wash…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXMyZ929lpY

 

I don't but not because I have some belief that an automatic car wash will remove my paint (it can scratch it if something gets stuck in the brushes from a prior vehicle or the brushes break down). The window shades I use specifically state no touch based automatic washes. The touch-less don't seem to do as good a job IMO so won't use them either. Boat brush, bucket, and hose for me.

 

My Tacoma has only seen drive thru carwashes.

It’s not a fancy car to worry about only hand washing with two bucket method , using Brazilian wax, with soap made from the finest Eau de Toilet bath water.

 

Yep, sorry but if i had endless money right now, I'd have a Rivian R1T and a Shelby Raptor with a big F U $ license plate lol

Ha! By no means do I think my tacoma is fancy! But I do appreciate a nicely washed/clean car and swirls drive me nuts. I also enjoy my weekend washes spending time in the garage with a fridge stocked with beer and my music---its therapeutic for me

 

There is no definitive answer that right for everyone. The OP I believe wanted TW opinions, so whatever floats your boat. I stick with hand washing mainly because I have owned a few convertibles over the years and hand washing is a hard habit to break. I will say that hand washing gives me a chance to thoughly go over the exterior looking for potential rust spots and door dings that might need addressing.

A little dust does not bother me. I should be washing my Tacoma now, but enjoy hanging out with all of you on TW.

 

I use one. Monthly subscription. Spinny things that slap the sides and top, spray for the bottom, hot wax, tire shine. In winter ill loop through 2 or 3 times in a row to get salt off frame. Multiple trips through per week. It's a truck, not a Ferrari - no need to get fancy assed about washing it

 

The only drive through car wash mine gets is the rain. I hand wash it about 3-4 times a year, if it's lucky

 

Check to make sure your roof trim strips are still on after. I think it was the blower at the end that pulled one off once.

 

I never use them. My truck is a garage princess. Only hand washing using 2 buckets (one for soap, one for rinsing the dirty mitt before putting back in the soap). Paint is still perfect 3-1/2 years later.

I also have never cleaned the plastic guage cluster for fear of scratching it, I change my oil every 5k miles, and have never off roaded the truck. Pot stirred more...

 

There’s several posts here showing car wash damage, including dented in fenders. Most car washes won’t cover damage.

 

I bet this is you talking to your Taco:

 

My coworker used a gas station car wash, one of the brush arms broke off and smacked her fender and hood, denting it and causing 3k in damages. Its been 6 weeks to finally get it approved and a date to get it fixed. She's hoping it'll be fixed in the next 4 weeks. Yikes.

 

Ahhh yes swirls on dark paints does look horrible.
I have the white paint that has its days numbered. In 2 years the paint will start peeling in large sections.

 

Seems to me the only ones not using auto wash are the mall crawlers, you know those who are obsessed with appearance. Hell I’m driving a real truck with scratches, hail damage and whiskey bumps here and there. Use a wash that’s properly maintained and you won’t have a problem. A proper application of ceramic coating and periodic wipe down with ceramic will keep swirls to a minimum. This 07 which is the dreaded white color has no peeling issues because it’s been kept out of the sun and has had two or three paint corrections followed by a coating and it predates ceramic technology.

 

Taking my truck through a brushless is what led to the water fall of water coming through the 3rd brake light, which led to finding mold under the rear seat.

 

You'll never fit that whole pile on that trailer

 

"Couldn't care less about the condition of the paint job" followed immediately by "I use auto car washes all the time" lmao what?

 

Lol not sure why you tagged me in this, but i will comment---its probably cause he's got that expendable cash flow!!! lol its auto washes or hand drying his cars with hundos