Car wash safe?

Info about the best cleaning products and detailing.
Post Reply
User avatar
rococco
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:06 pm
I drive a: 1.4 TSI 160
In: Viper Green
With a: DSG box

Car wash safe?

Post by rococco »

As much as I want to give the 'roc the careful treatment it deserves, when stuck for time I'd like to be able to take it to an automated car wash.

Is the Scirocco's body compatible with standard car washes, or do I risk damaging the car? Are the pointy bits in particular such as the shark's fin, spoiler or side mirrors at danger?

Have owners on here been taking their cars through machine washes? Or should I drive around dirty until I have the time to clean the car by hand? :)
ayeaye
Posts: 347
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:57 pm
Options: Candy White Scirocco - August 2009 - March 2013
Now replaced with a MINI Cooper S
Location: Aberdeen

Re: Car wash safe?

Post by ayeaye »

rococco wrote:Or should I drive around dirty until I have the time to clean the car by hand? :)
Yes.
erichuyn
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:54 am

Re: Car wash safe?

Post by erichuyn »

I drive over 30k miles a year so handwash is almost impossible, so mine goes through the (textile) carwash at times.
No problems, however the Rocco has some blindspots:
-the rearbumper where the numberplate is
-the mirrors, the side facing the windows(can be reduced by folding the mirrors if available)
-the mirrors, that weird lowered part on top(sorry don't know how else to describe it)
-the section between the windscreen and the roof

Mine is candy white so it's quite visible.
Sam63
Posts: 194
Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:38 pm
I drive a: GT 2.0 TSI
In: Deep Black
With a: DSG box
Options: Leather seats, Rear Parking Sensors, Electric Folding Mirrors, Dynaudio Soundpack, Mats.
Mods : BCS non -resonated Sports System Cat Back exhaust, H & R Springs and ITG Maxogen CAI, APR Stage 1 & 19" Satin Anthracite BBS CH R's. - Now Sold
Location: Aberdeen

Re: Car wash safe?

Post by Sam63 »

Car wash - wise up :eek:

Never ever put any car through or even worse use a brush car wash - sheer utter madness :eek: :eek:
talgti2
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:54 pm
I drive a: GT 2.0 TSI
In: Viper Green
With a: DSG box
Options: Black Leather
19" Alloys
Reversing sensors
Winter Pack
Folding Mirrors
Cruise Control
Front and Rear Mudflaps
GT viper mats !
Full Zymol wax
Flux bulbs
LED Sidelights

Re: Car wash safe?

Post by talgti2 »

The Horror !! :fall:

You cant be that busy or lazy not to hand wash !! :grumpy: :grumpy: :grumpy:

Tal
User avatar
Shaun
Posts: 1731
Joined: Sat Jun 05, 2010 5:31 pm
I drive a: Scirocco R
In: Reflex Silver
With a: DSG box
Options: RNS510, DSG, leather, 19" Talladega's, Dynaudio, Bluetooth, front covered cup holder, rear cup holders, piano black cubby hole, Audi R8 oil cap
Location: Nottingham

Re: Car wash safe?

Post by Shaun »

No car of mine would be put through a car wash !!!, unless it was a touchless type which I am not even sure we have in the uk yet, the best option is a pressure washer if you must have it done at the local garage.
Image
skyblues11
Posts: 519
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:49 pm
I drive a: 1.4 TSI 160
In: Candy White
With a: DSG box
Options: cruise control, front foglight, Multi.f.steering wheel,
tyre indicator

Re: Car wash safe?

Post by skyblues11 »

how about those Kurdish car wash? surely there is one nearby? they would be much safer as its still hand washed.

drive around some industrial area and you will bound to find one.

those petrol station rollers are dirtier than wayne rooney! they will leave you with loads of swirlmarks. I had it done once years back, when the dealer serviced the car and then cleaned it, using the petrol station next door.
User avatar
Shaun
Posts: 1731
Joined: Sat Jun 05, 2010 5:31 pm
I drive a: Scirocco R
In: Reflex Silver
With a: DSG box
Options: RNS510, DSG, leather, 19" Talladega's, Dynaudio, Bluetooth, front covered cup holder, rear cup holders, piano black cubby hole, Audi R8 oil cap
Location: Nottingham

Re: Car wash safe?

Post by Shaun »

Have you seen the state of the sponges and cloths at these places ?, its probably kinder to the paint not to wash it at all.

skyblues11 wrote:how about those Kurdish car wash? surely there is one nearby? they would be much safer as its still hand washed.

drive around some industrial area and you will bound to find one.

those petrol station rollers are dirtier than wayne rooney! they will leave you with loads of swirlmarks. I had it done once years back, when the dealer serviced the car and then cleaned it, using the petrol station next door.
Image
skyblues11
Posts: 519
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:49 pm
I drive a: 1.4 TSI 160
In: Candy White
With a: DSG box
Options: cruise control, front foglight, Multi.f.steering wheel,
tyre indicator

Re: Car wash safe?

Post by skyblues11 »

i totally agree Shaun, but perhaps its less violent than those auto carwashes.

the best alternative i guess is a mobile detailer.
Psw mk5
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun May 08, 2011 10:17 am
I drive a: GT 2.0 TDI 170/184
In: Reflex Silver
With a: Manual box

Re: Car wash safe?

Post by Psw mk5 »

No no no don't go anywhere near a car wash place I'd rather drive it dirty for an extra day than let them loose on my car... Sponge and a dirty water bucket = swirls a plenty.... Do it yourself cheaper in the long run
Psw mk5
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun May 08, 2011 10:17 am
I drive a: GT 2.0 TDI 170/184
In: Reflex Silver
With a: Manual box

Re: Car wash safe?

Post by Psw mk5 »

I went with a mate of mine to a main dealers in Leeds as he was looking at 58 plate astras and under light they looked like they'd been cleaned with a Brillo pad and fairy liquid....... MAIN DEALERS
User avatar
Scott_mac
Posts: 187
Joined: Sun May 16, 2010 3:26 pm
I drive a: 1.4 TSI 160
In: Night Blue
With a: DSG box
Options: Multifunction Wheel, Bluetooth, Cruise Control

Re: Car wash safe?

Post by Scott_mac »

Sadly not all of us can hand wash a car.... i don't have access to running water where I park my car so have to rely on treating it to a H2O place as and when I'm nearby bug also doing 20k miles a year she needs cleaning more often so I do use car washes.

Then again it is a company car so the paintwork condition does bother me a bit less than if it were my own car!
Current:
2011 VW Scirocco 1.4TSi DSG
2001 Citroen Saxo 1.1 Desire
1972 VW Beetle 1302S
1967 Lotus Elan +2 130S

Previous:
2008 Toyota Avensis 2.2 D-4D TR
1998 Lotus Elise
1998 Peugeot 106 Rallye
*Deleted to avoid embarrassment*
Post Reply