Hey Ryan

How's it going? Hows your car running? This weather is killing me cause I can't drive my car (no winter tires).

In terms of the wash, a mechanical and hand wash place will both give you swirls. The difference would be one has a track for pushing the car which could scratch your wheels. I have taken the RX through the White Glove in LP (mechanical) and they usually do a good job. During the cold days I usually take my IS to Lexus of HP where I bought it and they do a decent job. Here is a list compiled by citysearch on the supposed best car wash places in the city:

http://chicago.citysearch.com/bestof/winners/car_wash

I would suggest getting a touchless wash done during the day when it is (relatively) warm. It should be able to wash away all the junk.

 

Hey Vik

Thanks for the info! I am moving to the Lakeview area shortly so I need some good places to go up there... The city and the salt are killing me..

I have a good local touchless wash in Elmhurst not far from my work, so I might go there and then leave the car at work and have the guy at the building dry it off during the day, or do it later... we'll see....

It's supposed to snow again anyway

 

what's a waterless wash?

I would think that that would give me swirls?

 

Haha I didn't know the history of car wash. I didn't know that the long conveyor type is actually the old school stuff.

Anyway, the place I referred to does have touchless wash. And I've been to quite a few different touchless wash places and this one has by far the best equipment there.

 

Here in NY we have had little or no snow. A very odd year for us. But 2 weeks ago we had a dusting of snow and then here came all the salt. Now in a normal winter they wouldn't do anything for that amount of snow but they have piles of salt sitting there that they need to get rid of. So now the roads are covered in salt. So I wash my car at a "hand dry" car wash twice a week. I hate salt on my car and all the things it can do to a car .

 

Its basically a quick-detailer that's more wash-oriented than wax. Poorboy's Waterless Wash is the first one that comes to mind because I have some, but there's others.

 

http://www.autogeek.net/dp-rinseless-four-in-one.html

 

Then how else do you expect to get it off? Wait till it gets warm and hopefully it falls off?? You have to wipe it somehow man. I dont know if youre close to Oswego but theres a Turtle Wax Carwash by the mall on 34 and I think 59, awesome place.

 

I don't trust waterless washing. And its only good if your car is somewhat clean. Not caked in with salt.

Today is pretty warm and looks like its going to get really cold soon. Hurry up and get it washed. Besides its going to snow more, so more salt is a coming.

I would take it in for a hand wash. If that's not available just go to a touchless. But in all honesty you could just take it to any car wash. Worry about the swirls in the spring, when you'll see them. Just hit it with a porter cable and you'll be good. You're going to want to fully detail the car come spring anyways. All the gunk splashed up and caught in your paint is going to be embedded in there from the winter.

 

I agree, and that's what I am doing today... It needs it...

Brace for this weekend though, 3 days in a row with highs of 5 degrees or lower completely sucks.

 

No kidding....
All the salt on the roads and cars make my eyes sore.

 

Just washed my car in the garage. Used buckets of hot water and a boars hair brush. Dried it with a towel.

 

Been having the same cold weather in Ontario and have been washing my IS in a drive thru touchless wash with no track and had no probems except the odd drop freezing that the dryer did not get. No problem with doors or trunk freezing. Have been doing this twice a week to get road salt off.