[Adam S]

A good test that fifth gear did to show you what damage car washes etc do to your car. Seeing as our paint work isn't the best,and why you should best avoid the dreaded squeegee thing well.

I think there is nothing more satisfying than cleaning your own car as well.

 

[TLC Detailing]

Good little test there.

Still know one should ever take their pride and joy to a car wash.

 

[stevey_p7]

This needs to be forwarded. Cheers. ;-)

 

[Heavenly]

Nice to see Mr ShineOn doing his thing
if you want a chat with him he will probably be at Autosport with Swissvax uk...

 

[Jan1111]

nothing surprising. It's well known that you will damage your paint work with the brushes and everything. I usually just jet wash it without any brushing (it was never a need to do it). sometimes i brush it with a washmit. cheers

 

[shrek101]

I pre wash my car before using a soft brush. I have hose on a wide spray and start at top to wash down so any grit is washed away. Then shampoo and hose down and dry I have started to use a blade (kent) but I make sure is clean or sometimes use a large micro fibre cloth

 

[robbo51]

I wouldnt use a blade or a brush under any circumstances
If you have a decent drying towel..why would anyone?

 

[shaunwistow]

I use a blade sometimes on the glass roof & windscreen. But only when the car has been washed. It saves the towel getting as wet. Although now I have the Wooly Mammoth I might not bother with the blade.

 

[regan1985]

least i know i have been wasting my time on a sunday washing my own car

 

[Fr0d]

I think I read somewhere the 8th gen doesn't go through automatic car washes too well, anyway.

 

[thieftakers]

Thanks for sharing Adam, everyone should watch this.

 

[robbo51]

Sadly people wont watch this!!
Not interested..like the guy over the road who never washes his car because he says it will only get dirty again!!
God knows what his house is like inside!!
Like the Garage near my work that clears snow off his cars with a yard bush

 

[Kremmen]

Sadly people wont watch this!!
Not interested..like the guy over the road who never washes his car because he says it will only get dirty again!!
God knows what his house is like inside!!
Like the Garage near my work that clears snow off his cars with a yard bush

These things usually go hand in hand

 

[Forbidden8701]

To be fair all this shows is that the vast majority of people don't even care about imperfections to their cars. A daily drive car is definately going to pick these things up no matter how hard you try. The enthusiasts will always have the best methods.

 

[robbo51]

To be fair all this shows is that the vast majority of people don't even care about imperfections to their cars. A daily drive car is definately going to pick these things up no matter how hard you try. The enthusiasts will always have the best methods.

Disagree.
If you take pride in your car..wash it and protect it on a regular basis..It won't

 

[RA108]

You need:

Pressure washer with snow foam and attachement

2 Bucket system with grit guards

Microfibre mits (1 for paint and 1 for wheels)

Relevant chemicals - eg good wash chemical and a good no acidic wheel cleaner

Drying towels (to be dragged not rubbed) or if your flush a de-ionised water system so you can rinse the car dry (stops water spotting)

Also the less you touch the car the better so best regime is a pressure washer with a snow foam 1st, then a rinse with the pressure washer then a regular wash with mits, 2 buckets and grit guards after the snow foam and rinse have removed most of the grit, then a dry by microfibre deep pile towelling using the drag method or if you have the funds rinse with de-ionised water system then leave to air dry (best method as its no contact)

Best rule to follow is the less contact you make, the less scratches/ swirls you will acquire.

 

[Magic]

Just to add to the post above - pat and then blow drying the paint is safer than dragging the towel across the paintwork. I showed Stevey_P7 how to pat dry the car properly when I detailed his Civic last week, he'll vouch for it being easy and effective.

 

[robbo51]

Just to add to the post above - pat and then blow drying the paint is safer than dragging the towel across the paintwork. I showed Stevey_P7 how to pat dry the car properly when I detailed his Civic last week, he'll vouch for it being easy and effective.

No such worries on VAG paint Magic

 

[stevey_p7]

Just to add to the post above - pat and then blow drying the paint is safer than dragging the towel across the paintwork. I showed Stevey_P7 how to pat dry the car properly when I detailed his Civic last week, he'll vouch for it being easy and effective.

I agree, patting the car down with the nice thick Dodo Juice towel was very straight forward and not as time consuming as I first thought. Cheers Matt!