Devil's Advocate

The "Car Wash=Big Gash" thread sparked a question that I have about caring for the TLs.

Seems most of you guys/gals believe hand wash is much better than co-op/drive-thru car washes. I'd probably have to agree with you too, since no one will care for your car more than you. The car wash detergents used at the co-op/drive-thru joints are probably much harsher since they have to get the dirt off quickly in a short period of time . As such, the wax on your car is more likely to be stripped off prematurely. I have had my car for less than 3 weeks now (with 2 machine car washes already), and I have noticed tiny scratches on the clearcoat of my stock wheels already. I know it's from those guys at the car wash brutalizing the wheels with those hard-a$$ bristle brushes.

But here's my problem: I don't think I have an alternative. I'd love to do the hand wash, but how the heck do you owners who live in the Northeast or any other cold weather climate hand wash you car? I live in NJ where the winters are long, and I live in an apartment building so I don't even have access to a hose! As a practical matter, it would be difficult to stand in below freezing weather handwashing my TL. So machine wash seems like the only way to go for me...

Thus, can someone recommend a GOOD and GENTLE car-wash place in NJ in the Hoboken/Jersey City area? I will even travel to get to a good one, within reason. Or does anyone know of any self-service car wash booths in NJ? I can't take any more scratches on my wheels, or worse yet, my car...but can't stand all that road salt and snow on my 3 week old baby.

DA

doopstr

There is a car wash in my area where I wash the car myself. Basically you drive the car into a garage and feed some quarters to a machine. You get a wond that sprays soapy or clean water. they also give you some other devices you can use if you want. The only thing I do is spray the car down to get the salt off of it. Check to see if there is one in your area.

adamyankee

I've seen those in Vermont. I have the same problem, how the hell can I wash my car by hand with it snowing all the time. I have a guy near me who does handwashes indoors, but $20 every week, although affordable, does add up. Plus I don't have a garage to wax my car in, so I have to wait til the sun is setting and then it gets dark.

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1999 Firepepper Red
Under Body Kit/Rear Wing Spoiler/26 Piece Wood Grain Console/BurlWood Shift Knob/
30% Smoke Tint/Comptech Sways & Springs (not installed yet)

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TLinKC

When the weather is nasty or really cold I also use the car wash where you can use the wand to get the crud off. It's not the perfect solution but it will at least keep the major crud off of my TL.

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'00 Firepepper Red TL

fred3113

we have a lot of spray wash places here in michigan where you drive into a bay put quarters in the machine $1.25 for 4 minutes worth of water, soap, wax, spot free rinse, etc.., there are also places like that but they are indoor, which allow you to handwash your car even in dead winter, it's like a warehouse, with about 15-20 bays, they charge you $2.50 for the first 5 minutes then it's .20 cents for each minutes after, they also supply you with towels and a bucket of cleaning supplies!!
i still never let a machine wash bristle touch my car even in winter!!

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2000 TL, Satin Silver, Burlwood shifter, Fog light ports, front air dam, grill and mud gaurds custom painted to match car! 18" Alba Blaze with 235/40ZR18 Toyo Proxes F4

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Come on guys, nothing beats a good "Hand Job"



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1999 Satin Silver Metallic 3.2 TL w/o Navigation

• 18x8 Racing Hart C2s with 225/40ZR18 Dunlop SP Sport 9000
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• Red AEM CAI w/bypass valve
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Guest

One other thing to consider when going to a car wash is the water is recycled. They collect the water and reuse it over and over again(although it is filtered). I live in NJ where they love to cover the roads with salt and am sure that the water must be removing some of your wax protection. Obviously when you wash the car yourself you are rinsing the finish with much purer water.

PhiTL

ROFL!!!!!

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'00 White Diamond Perl w/Nav
Wings West Spoiler
Comptech Exaust
Rear Comptech Sway bar
AEM CAI

Devil's Advocate

To answer my own question, and for those of you in Jersey who face the same problem, I just located a car wash place that will do washes by hand for $7. I went to Yahoo Yellow Pages and searched for car washes, and several came up. The one I called was Fine Details Hand Car Wash which I plan to check out this weekend, when the storm is done and over with. 157 Saint Pauls Ave in Jersey City.

DA

Nate

Look out for th ones where they give you a wand... don't use the spray wax.. its crap.

haha98

i have mine washed every week in the winter at a soft cloth car wash...and hand wash it twice a week in the summer...not a carwash scratch yet...

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1996 2.5 TL Dark Green
HKS Powerflow, HKS Fuel Pressure Regulator, Sebring Exhaust, Jacobs Pro Street, Apex-i AFC, Jet ECU, Powerslot Rotors, Axxis Metal Master Pads, PIAA 1100x, Clarion 9255, Tube Driver Amps, Boston Pro 10's (2) , CD Technologies 6-4-2, Clarion MVA6491 (3), Valentine 1, Cliford Avant Guard 4, Monster Capacitors (2), Jacobs Accuvolt, Trunk and Underdash Neons...
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TLon19s

Those are the places that I used to take my Jeep after a long day mudding. So that should give you an idea of what goes through them auto car washes!!

bahreeTL

high tech car wash in jersey city is pretty good. it's in the old colony area on grand st...by the pathmark