Membership to the Swirlo-O-Matic

[Nick1994]

I’ve committed a sin for the detail section here in BITOG and got a $15/mo subscription at a swirl-o-matic car wash. Haven’t had a car I can take to the car wash in years. The Sonata, Genesis, and Tesla were all hand washed. Now with the 14’ Grand Cherokee, it’s only ever seen a standard car wash once every month or two for the last 4 years.

I figured the majority of the country takes their cars there and they look ok. The paint is already swirled and would need alot of correction to look correct. I think the gold paint helps a lot.

So how bad do you think it’ll be taking it once a week or so? FWIW the car wash I did it at is only a year old or so.

 

[ad244]

75th and LBE?

 

[Wolf359]

Oh yeah, people tend to overdo it. I just take my cars to the automatic wash, never wash by hand. Sure there are swirl marks if you look closely. But I never look that closely. That $15 a month is pretty good, cheapest around here is $30 a month.

 

[CKN]

I pay by the wash-but if it was $15.00/month I'd jump on it here. Life's too short to worry about swirl marks.....

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Up north, teh most important thing is to wash the underbody

 

[Rand]

I go once or twice a month to the one at MGM casino.. They seem to maintain it very well.. and its a jeep.
Not bad for the price of "free"

I do hand wash it during warmer months and get a couple layers of "wax" on it.

 

[2010Civic]

Is it touchless or brushes?

 

[Rand]

Is it touchless or brushes?

Touchless is terrible. harsh chemicals and still doesnt clean worth a darn.

The newest "brushes" are specially designed foam "noodles?" and work good and less damage than in past.

 

[Nick1994]

Is it touchless or brushes?

Lol it’s the swirl-o-matic, brushes!

 

[The Critic]

Touchless is terrible. harsh chemicals and still doesnt clean worth a darn.

Touchless works great if your vehicle wears a true ceramic coating and you use it often. Like weekly. But even then, it wrecks your trim over time and a dirt film builds up.

 

[Chris142]

The one here flips wipers up and cracks the windshield. Happened 2x to my wife's old Tahoe. Of course the owner of the carwash just pointed to the not responsible sign.

 

[Hyundai Respecter]

There’s a touch less wash in my area that offers a plan for $25 a month that includes the underbody blaster. As soon as it starts to snow I’m going to sign up. I’m thrilled there’s finally a touch less wash that offers this, most monthly plans around here are for the swirl-o-matics.

 

[RhondaHonda]

I go through the tunnel wash at least once a week, usually 2-3 times. $25 a month and it even dresses the tires. I don’t have the time or energy to hand wash and don’t care enough about some swirls in the clear that can be buffed out if needed.

 

[wpod]

Mr. car wash for me.

 

[double vanos]

I know there’ll be a day when I throw in the towel (figuratively and literally) on car washing but I’ve been staving that off by buying progressively smaller vehicles. I’ve disintegrated to ONR rinseless washes on my Kia Soul and all is well. Way I figure it in about 5 years I’ll be looking at how much a monthly car wash subscription costs .

 

[CleanSump]

Machine wash in Winter because I want the underwash with anti-salt stuff, I turn off the outside water when we get our first freeze/turn it on come Spring, it's cold outside, short daylight in winter prevents after work washing, and I won't waste the few nice days on Winter weekends washing the car. Better things to do. The car will still last 20+ years and look good. BTDT and my anecdotal experience is the only data point I need.

 

[sk_pete]

one benefit of brushes is that over time it will make matte paint (premium thing).
but then dirt sticks hard to surface.
since ceramic i dont remember complaining about bugs

 

[ad244]

I've gotten scratches from most of the area car washes.

 

[nthach]

The only scratch and shine I use is Kaady Car Wash. only one in the Bay Area, they are a Portland/Beaverton/Vancouver, WA thing(as is Eco Car Wash and Washman). I’ve been to many of the full-service ones, I’ve haven’t been impressed.

 

[Redright9]

Especially in the winter I occasionally go through an automatic car wash. I have found one that does not have people with brooms trying to pre wash or people drying on the exit. That helps a bunch I believe in keeping the paint ok. One of my main gripes is the wheels. No matter what automatic wash I use, they barely clean the wheels, put on tire shine, and it smears all over the wheels then slings up the paint. I have asked them to turn that off sometimes... I do think they do have some harsh chemicals and will swirl the paint more than a regular hand wash... but if you keep the paint protection up to snuff, then it should be fine.. Its hard to keep a balance of keeping up a car well and going overboard.