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How many of you use drive thru car washes on your daily drivers? When taking trips it sometimes is the only way to get your vette clean. I have always used the two bucket system while at home, but hate to drive a dirty vette when on the road. If others have had no paint damage using drive thru washes I may have to give them a try.
How many of you use drive thru car washes on your daily drivers? When taking trips it sometimes is the only way to get your vette clean. I have always used the two bucket system while at home, but hate to drive a dirty vette when on the road. If others have had no paint damage using drive thru washes I may have to give them a try.
I take my Vette through a touchless car wash a few times per summer -- especially when I don't have time to wash it myself. I don't see any problem with them.
How many of you use drive thru car washes on your daily drivers? When taking trips it sometimes is the only way to get your vette clean. I have always used the two bucket system while at home, but hate to drive a dirty vette when on the road. If others have had no paint damage using drive thru washes I may have to give them a try.
The 2007 Convertible I acquired late last year still looks like it just left the factory. I doubt the previous owner ever had it in a car wash and I don't intend to either. My daily driver that I've had since new is also 10 years old and except for a few hand washes its had over the years has almost always gone through car washes either touch less or spinning brush types and the paint is full of fine scratches and swirl marks.
Half the time I hand wash and half the time I use the cheap drive thru's that have the brushes, all my cars are daily drivers. Been doing this for many years and have never had a problem. I don't take the convertible thru though. So my experience has been good. I don't know if wide rear tires would fit in their tracks.
Last edited by slowtraffickeepright; May 14, 2017 at 01:11 AM.
Half the time I hand wash and half the time I use the cheap drive thru's that have the brushes. Been doing this for many years and have never had a problem. I don't take the convertible thru though. So my experience has been good. I don't know if wide rear tires would fit in their tracks.
NEVER TAKE A CORVETTE THROUGH A CARWASH THAT HAS "TRACKS"!! Meaning those things that grab your tires and guide them into the wash.
The tires are too wide and too low profile, and the car itself is too low to safely navigate that.
NEVER TAKE A CORVETTE THROUGH A CARWASH THAT HAS "TRACKS"!! Meaning those things that grab your tires and guide them into the wash.
The tires are too wide and too low profile, and the car itself is too low to safely navigate that.
Never had a problem at the new one I take mine to. Mine mostly gets wiped down with micro fiber cloths and zip wax a couple times a week but go through the wash once a month or so. Never been an issue.
Last edited by Jon Hekking; May 14, 2017 at 02:26 AM.
Heavens no! Two bucket or rinseless only. A brushed auto wash undeniably scratches the clear coat (swirls). Most people don't care or notice, but a corvette deserves better I'm my opinion.
Not as good as hand wash, but when away from home, I use the DIY places. Usually find one in every town, and close to RR tracks, or near apartment complexes. I keep lots of quarters in the car and go thru two or maybe three cycles. Seldom use big brush on wall and if I do, I actually wash it down with hi pressure soap spray first--softens up bristles, too. That'll push me up to the third cycle usually.
NEVER TAKE A CORVETTE THROUGH A CARWASH THAT HAS "TRACKS"!! Meaning those things that grab your tires and guide them into the wash.
The tires are too wide and too low profile, and the car itself is too low to safely navigate that.
I just got a new GMC and the dealer gave me a free month of car washes, brushless hand washes. I took it in and they did a good job on the truck so I asked about the Vette, the owner said they've done plenty of Vettes but if I preferred they'd keep it off the track and wash and dry the car by hand...might not hurt to ask, during slow times they have a lot of guys standing around doing nothing.
Touchless between bucket washes on a black on black car. Turns out pretty nice for daily driving. This is a similar setup to the one I use (not my car):
Touchless between bucket washes on a black on black car. Turns out pretty nice for daily driving. This is a similar setup to the one I use (not my car): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd2jXH04v64
That's pretty slick, I only hand wash my car but If I was in a pinch traveling somewhere I would use a self wash cash wash personally
I am about 50/50 on hand wash and car wash but only do the touchless ones where you put the car in park and it rotates around the car. They do a great job and just have to towel the car off in a few spots once you pull out.
Touchless between bucket washes on a black on black car. Turns out pretty nice for daily driving. This is a similar setup to the one I use (not my car): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd2jXH04v64
The drive-throughs around here are a total waste of money, they leave the cars half dirty. It rains hard here often, and that gets my cars cleaner than any of those drive-throughs. If I actually wash them I use Griot's waterless. I was skeptical but it really does pull the dirt and grit into suspension and leaves no scratches.
I will not use a touchless on any of my cars because I have NEVER seen one that gets a car clean. There is ALWAYS a film left because all the dirt is not completely removed. It may look like it is until you dry it and then you get the film on your light colored towel. I hand wash all 4 of my cars. Always have. Needless to say, I'm good at it!
Last edited by Vet Interested; May 14, 2017 at 06:43 PM.
Drive thru car washes
