Car Wash
Pit Crew
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 151
Likes: 13
From: Texas
I feel fortunate I guess that there are numerous hand car washes in my area. They cost a little more - $25 with tip for the basic wash at the place I go (http://www.aquahandcarwash.com/) - but I don't like driving dirty cars and I rarely have time to do it myself. I do a light interior wipe down in the garage at home (I hate greasy looking interiors) about once a week and use a detailing spray on the exterior in between washes unless there's been heavy rain. I probably go the hand wash place on average once a month and wash it myself probably every three months or so if I have the time. I've let the dealer wash my car the three times I've been in and don't see any swirls, but I do have the pearl white color.
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 1,034
From: Illinois
Colors like light metallic silvers and golds tend not to show dirt or minor scratches, but they are much more difficult to get right when paint work is needed. The pearl whites, which are a 3 stage finish, are a nightmare for paint technicians. While blacks, like the Lexus obsidian, show dirt more and show polishing swirls more, they are very easy to match if paint work is necessary.
To a trained eye, even good paint work on a metallic silver or a pearl white can be detected with little more than a casual glance. With a non-metallic black, however, it takes much closer inspection to detect that paint work has been done.
My GX is black, and, yes, it does show surface scratches, but those can generally be removed with use of the proper compounds. My ES is the Nebula Gray Pearl, and, while it doesn't show surface scratches or dirt as much, as someone who can be obsessed with the quality of the finish, I tend to be nervous about the possibility of needing paint work. Even the very pinhead-sized stone nicks are more difficult to touch up in a way that they won't be noticeable.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 11
From: SF Bay Area, CA
If you are especially concerned about how your car looks, how clean it is, the quality of the finish, etc., the problem is that the colors that show dirt the least and that show minor surface scratches and swirl marks the least are also the colors that, if you need paint work, are going to be the most difficult ones for which to get a virtually perfect color match.
Colors like light metallic silvers and golds tend not to show dirt or minor scratches, but they are much more difficult to get right when paint work is needed. The pearl whites, which are a 3 stage finish, are a nightmare for paint technicians. While blacks, like the Lexus obsidian, show dirt more and show polishing swirls more, they are very easy to match if paint work is necessary.
To a trained eye, even good paint work on a metallic silver or a pearl white can be detected with little more than a casual glance. With a non-metallic black, however, it takes much closer inspection to detect that paint work has been done.
My GX is black, and, yes, it does show surface scratches, but those can generally be removed with use of the proper compounds. My ES is the Nebula Gray Pearl, and, while it doesn't show surface scratches or dirt as much, as someone who can be obsessed with the quality of the finish, I tend to be nervous about the possibility of needing paint work. Even the very pinhead-sized stone nicks are more difficult to touch up in a way that they won't be noticeable.
Colors like light metallic silvers and golds tend not to show dirt or minor scratches, but they are much more difficult to get right when paint work is needed. The pearl whites, which are a 3 stage finish, are a nightmare for paint technicians. While blacks, like the Lexus obsidian, show dirt more and show polishing swirls more, they are very easy to match if paint work is necessary.
To a trained eye, even good paint work on a metallic silver or a pearl white can be detected with little more than a casual glance. With a non-metallic black, however, it takes much closer inspection to detect that paint work has been done.
My GX is black, and, yes, it does show surface scratches, but those can generally be removed with use of the proper compounds. My ES is the Nebula Gray Pearl, and, while it doesn't show surface scratches or dirt as much, as someone who can be obsessed with the quality of the finish, I tend to be nervous about the possibility of needing paint work. Even the very pinhead-sized stone nicks are more difficult to touch up in a way that they won't be noticeable.
.
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 325
Likes: 10
From: TX
Driver
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: iowa
If you are especially concerned about how your car looks, how clean it is, the quality of the finish, etc., the problem is that the colors that show dirt the least and that show minor surface scratches and swirl marks the least are also the colors that, if you need paint work, are going to be the most difficult ones for which to get a virtually perfect color match.
Colors like light metallic silvers and golds tend not to show dirt or minor scratches, but they are much more difficult to get right when paint work is needed. The pearl whites, which are a 3 stage finish, are a nightmare for paint technicians. While blacks, like the Lexus obsidian, show dirt more and show polishing swirls more, they are very easy to match if paint work is necessary.
To a trained eye, even good paint work on a metallic silver or a pearl white can be detected with little more than a casual glance. With a non-metallic black, however, it takes much closer inspection to detect that paint work has been done.
My GX is black, and, yes, it does show surface scratches, but those can generally be removed with use of the proper compounds. My ES is the Nebula Gray Pearl, and, while it doesn't show surface scratches or dirt as much, as someone who can be obsessed with the quality of the finish, I tend to be nervous about the possibility of needing paint work. Even the very pinhead-sized stone nicks are more difficult to touch up in a way that they won't be noticeable.
Colors like light metallic silvers and golds tend not to show dirt or minor scratches, but they are much more difficult to get right when paint work is needed. The pearl whites, which are a 3 stage finish, are a nightmare for paint technicians. While blacks, like the Lexus obsidian, show dirt more and show polishing swirls more, they are very easy to match if paint work is necessary.
To a trained eye, even good paint work on a metallic silver or a pearl white can be detected with little more than a casual glance. With a non-metallic black, however, it takes much closer inspection to detect that paint work has been done.
My GX is black, and, yes, it does show surface scratches, but those can generally be removed with use of the proper compounds. My ES is the Nebula Gray Pearl, and, while it doesn't show surface scratches or dirt as much, as someone who can be obsessed with the quality of the finish, I tend to be nervous about the possibility of needing paint work. Even the very pinhead-sized stone nicks are more difficult to touch up in a way that they won't be noticeable.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
From: Australia
I know for a fact that our dealership only hand washes and hand drys our cars, because i have dashcams in them.. its very interesting and re-assuring watching their service procedure 
Steve
Steve
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: CA
Hi all.
It's my personal suggestion.
If you are in the USA, there are many car wash services around the cities. But the question is how we can trust them?
For people like us with premium cars, we have many concerns whenever we approach a vendor for a car wash and of course, pricing is always a concern.
In the last week, I purchased a car wash subscription from Way.com, they offer an unlimited car wash subscription at $19.95 / month including a T3 conditioner and wheel cleaner.
Below are their best vendors in the top cities of the USA.Car Wash in Houston TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/houston-tx
Car Wash in Missouri City TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/missouri-city-tx
Car Wash in Stafford TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/stafford-tx
Car Wash in Tucson AZ: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/tucson-az
Car Wash in Pasadena TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/pasadena-tx
Car Wash in Roseville MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/roseville-mn
Car Wash in Brooklyn Center MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/brooklyn-center-mn
Car Wash in Brooklyn Park MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/brooklyn-park-mn
Car Wash in Mendota Heights MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/mendota-heights-mn
Car Wash in New Brighton MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/new-brighton-mn
Car Wash in Saint Paul MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/saint-paul-mn
Car Wash in St Louis Park MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/st-louis-park-mn
Car Wash in Car Wash in El Paso TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/el-paso-tx
Car Wash in Katy TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/katy-tx
Car Wash in Cottonwood Heights UT: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me...ood-heights-ut
It's my personal suggestion.
If you are in the USA, there are many car wash services around the cities. But the question is how we can trust them?
For people like us with premium cars, we have many concerns whenever we approach a vendor for a car wash and of course, pricing is always a concern.
In the last week, I purchased a car wash subscription from Way.com, they offer an unlimited car wash subscription at $19.95 / month including a T3 conditioner and wheel cleaner.
Below are their best vendors in the top cities of the USA.Car Wash in Houston TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/houston-tx
Car Wash in Missouri City TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/missouri-city-tx
Car Wash in Stafford TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/stafford-tx
Car Wash in Tucson AZ: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/tucson-az
Car Wash in Pasadena TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/pasadena-tx
Car Wash in Roseville MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/roseville-mn
Car Wash in Brooklyn Center MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/brooklyn-center-mn
Car Wash in Brooklyn Park MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/brooklyn-park-mn
Car Wash in Mendota Heights MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/mendota-heights-mn
Car Wash in New Brighton MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/new-brighton-mn
Car Wash in Saint Paul MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/saint-paul-mn
Car Wash in St Louis Park MN: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/st-louis-park-mn
Car Wash in Car Wash in El Paso TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/el-paso-tx
Car Wash in Katy TX: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me/katy-tx
Car Wash in Cottonwood Heights UT: https://www.way.com/car-wash-near-me...ood-heights-ut
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,310
Likes: 1,601
From: SE PA
First, this thread is 6 years old... Second, I wouldn't pay $19.95 a month for car washes from anyone anywhere... None of my cars have seen a car wash in the last 40 years. However I will concede that commercial car washes have come a long way since the vinyl bristles they used that caused swirls are no longer in use. I've also heard that most car washes use recycled and filtered water. My son has a new Mazda CX30 that he washes at a place that uses only water. No brushes, felt strips, or any other material touches the car. Only water. The wash is a 9/10 IMO. I hand wash only and in the winter in Pennsylvania, just wait for a good day. 
Driver
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: FL
Handwasher Here Too
I realize this is a very old thread but it's been revived and just as relevant today as it was originally. I enjoy handwashing because even if the car isn't very dirty it returns it to its sparkle. Unlike SEPA I do let the dealer wash it when its in for service. He does the windows which I don't enjoy doing, especially the back one. If its actually dirty I wash it before I take it in also. I like it to look nice and think it makes a better impression on the tech. One thing about washing it yourself is if there are any very minor nicks you'll spot them early. And I've also heard they recycle the water at car washes. When I lived in VA in the winter they used salt and sand on the roads in winter storms. I would hate to have that stuff in water that was recycled and blasted onto my car.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,247
Likes: 422
From: Alberta
In the summer, hand wash at home. In freezing weather, indoor carwash with hand-held spray wand and don’t forget in and around the wheel wells. Avoid brushes, use a fleece mitt. Shamois dry in the shade. Our local car wash used to have an underbody spray as you entered but it’s been broken the last couple of years. 
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RKSTRAT
IS - 3rd Gen (2014-present)
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Dec 27, 2017 02:27 PM