This may seem like a stupid question but is it advisable to put my scoob (my99) through a carwash? I'm worried about the spoiler!

 

I wouldn't worry about the spoiler too much, I would be more concerned with the brushes scratching the paintwork to bits. Scoobs have not got the greatest finish in the world.

 

Wash it by hand you lazy sod
Cheers
Colin

 

I would never take my scoob through a car wash.

 

Anyone who cares about their car (Scoob or not) does not take them through car washes

Rich

 

Completely agree.

Just bought a Golf GTi as a second car to the Scoob, and i's been car-washed to death. To most normal people you wouldn't notice, but for me, and many other car nuts who like their cars looking decent, the paint finish has been annihilated. I'm having to spend over an hour a panel at the moment with WaxWizard's finest to get as many of the micro scratches out as i can.
And that's on a Golf, with a far more resilient surface than the Scoob. God knows what a Subaru would look like after a few visits. Don't even think it - not if you want your paint to retain it's finish.

Terry

 

I used to fix the washers for a livin...NEVER put your own car in one !!!

 

I'd never do it - but then I spend about 3 hours cleaning my Scoob every weekend! (it does have leather - that's an extra 30 mins at least )

However, my friend at work has a MY97 wagon and does it all the time...no obvious ill effects...

Edited due to low IQ

[Edited by Jen - 5/13/2002 12:40:34 PM]

 

I agree - wouldn't put mine through a car wash. Not just the harmful brushes, but the very powerful detergents they tend to use. Also, if your car has a high spoiler I wouldn't go near a car wash.

On the subject of paint finishes, I have always been under the impression that VWs for meant to be really good, but judging by the number of scratches on my Dad's MK4 Golf and Sal's sister's MK4 Golf I'm not so sure!

Chris

 

Don't even think about it.....

 

I totally agree - don't put a car you like through a carwash - which made me all the more pi$$ed off the other day when I took my new MY02 into Sevenoaks Subaru for its first service and without telling me they took it off afterwards and bunged it through the local carwash machine ....!!!!!

Useless clean anyway - they never clean the wheels properly

DaveR

 

Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

Dont ever use car washes.

Have you seen how little water they use, all the muck/grit is retained in the brushes.

Most systems recycle the water.

The detergent they use has degreasing agents that will remove any polish or wax you have on.

A friend worked as a valeter for a Peugeot main dealer, the garage had an auto carwash my mate had to clean at the end of every day.
When hoseing down the brushes you ended up with pile of grit beneath each brush.

Also remember that Petrol station auto car washes may only get serviced / cleaned weekly.

Lee

 

Eesh...the perks of living in Africa...
Over here we get a handwash, hand wax, vacume-clean, window-clean, tar-removal, mag-wheel clean, you name it for 4 UK Pounds...(have yet to find any scratch, including "micro-scratch" on the car).

OK, put in perspective, that is the cost of about 4 McDonalds Big Mac Combos (eeh numba Ones...).

Takes about an hour, just enough time to do the shopping...

 

VALETERS COMMENTS


if ur spending an hour on a panel WAX WIZARD isnt doing its job,I could buff the car in under 2 hrs!!!!!for the ultimate shine etc etc

 

Oatman,

No ya couldn't, not if you have the standards i set myself!
It's not just the WW bit, but getting rid of all the tar spots with a clay bar and/or tar remover and so on beforehand.
This car has been car-washed for 7 years, and never cleaned once, if you know what i mean. Takes a lot of putting right...

Terry

 

Do Not Put It Through A Car Wash

Valeters Comments

Yes he could and i know i could my standards are very high too i
can polish most scratches out in a car in about 2 hours usually soaked from sweat afterwards all my customers are so pleased with my service that they become regulars. Once a week wash chamios vacum once a month full wax on the outside

 

One of the biggest mistakes of my life .... I put the scoob through the car wash in the 1st week of ownership.

Loads of tiny scratches across the whole car.

With a decent couple of coats of polish, you don't see them at all, but I know they'll be there forever.

I'm tempted to T-Cut the car, but I'm scared it'll make things worse.

DO NOT USE CAR WASHES.

J.

 

FD
Get me at least 4of your mates that want there cars looking pucker
and i will get at least 98 o/o of the car washscratches out this goes for the rest of you guys that need this doin gruop buy type of thing

 

Thanks for the offer.

My wifes fiesta has similar scratches. (These were not from a carwash but from her using a Tesco brillo pad type thing to get bird sh*te off !)

So that's 2 cars anyway. Is it worth your while doing just 2 ?

J.

 

There you go then - DO NOT PUT YOUR CAR THROUGH A CAR WASH - unless you are lazy/do not care about your car/have no arms/respray your car every other week etc etc etc!

Personally, i spend four hours every weekend washing and polishing, that's before i do the insides and the engine bay!