Johnhav430

I've succumbed to using auto car washes for the LS and my wife's SUV, for practicality's sake in the winter and with salt.

So I asked my uncle again, who designs and installs systems about it. Does he think $32/mo. incl. undercarriage, or $20/mo. without, is the $32 worth it. Then I told him the wash would get $9 and $5 respectively.

He stated the higher price is not worth it. It may, or may not, work well, depending on the setup. That a self-serve undercarriage would be worth it.

Also, he said if doing the $20, the establishment likely breaks-even if you go once/wk. You go > once/wk., they lose. You forget to go, they win.

Lastly, he said it's not a good business to be in, unless you own the property....

He used to be very against taking a nice car through a car wash, and remember, he designs and sets them up. He feels this has changed...

We signed my wife up for a place closer to home. It does not have RFID, a barcode instead, and we noticed there is a lot of manual intervention. 3 guys pre-treating the vehicle, then the same drying. Of course it's crystal clean this way......$20/mo....but their vacuums s*** and the hoses are way too short. She likes the old place better since you don't have to wait for all these people to do their manual things....it is much slower to get loaded in addition to being slower to leave...we'll cancel after the winter is done. But I keep the LS on all year...

BMW? Hand wash only lol (self serve spray)

2KHarrier

It sure comes in handy when it's 15 degrees outside and you want to clean the car...

I hit the $20/per month place twice a week

Johnhav430

I do think it makes sense....my uncle seems to strongly suggest the undercarriage is a DIY so stick with the $20 (one near work is only $2 and I can get it done), and not worth the delta of the upsell....

Jabberwock

Many years ago when I lived up in the frozen wasteland in the Midwest I used to take my car to the car wash every Saturday morning in the winter. Only reasonable way to get the frozen black crud and salt spray off the car.

Bocatrip

Here in SE Florida the car wash industry flourishes. My 01 LS430 has all original paint on every metal surface and has held up quite well. Of course in 2001 manufacturers didn’t have to adhere to environmentally friendly paint and holds up unbelievably well. That includes going to car washes. Newer cars not so much but I assume up north leaves owners with little choice. My 2010 Jaguar XK has never seen a car wash and never will. Hand wash only with soft sponge etc. It absolutely amazes me how many late model high end cars drive through these very aggressive car washes with low ground effects. I try to preserve my original paint with regular wax and clay bar 2-3 times a year. Yes to under carriage. 7 bucks for my car wash of choice every 7-10 days.

warminwisc

Watch the "frozen wasteland" talk, lol. we ski a ton for 5 months, have cottages on lakes and have a great time versus hunkered down in AC when its a 100 degrees! I could start on Alabama lately but I won't, lol havin fun.

I like the compressed air to blow all the dust out of the nooks and crannys and the vac's in the wasteland are top notch. 20 bucks for limitless washes deal of the winter! 32 bucks sounds pretty good also!

The rails get a bit tight when I go in there with my 20's on my Touareg

2KHarrier

I spoke before thinking... Mine is $30 per month because it's the "Supreme" wash... Underbody flush, wheel cleaner, tire shine, waxy stuff that smells like cotton candy (or fruit loops) and free vacuums to boot.
It's still a great deal for me, as my car gets filthy spending so much time on the freeway.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

In Buffalo, I had unlimited washes with under spray for a monthly $20. In Albany, its the same but for $29 a month. I get my car washed almost daily as I pass by the wash on the way to and home from work, so for the cost it is definitely worth it. It may not be as effective as doing it yourself, but it definitely helps. Our old LX470's frame at 170k was nearly spotless, not something that can be said about most others in Buffalo, as on my 2002 GS300.

We have a 2004 ES330 that was bought in 2011 with 50k miles after only being driven in nice weather, but I still get comments from the dealer on how clean the underneath is at 116k of being daily driven in western New York, and I account that to the car wash.

warminwisc

good game by the way snowdog