2009 GT and a automatic Car Wash

[JetBlack09VibeGT]

Given the fact that I live in the midwest and its impossible to hand wash my car every time... has any one had any issues taking their Vibe though an automatic car wash? Any worries about the 18" wheels?

[vibenvy]

Personally, I would NEVER use an automatic car wash no matter what. I have heard horror stories. I live in the midwest as well and I ALWAYS hand wash my car. The only time I don't is in the winter. I use one of the bays at the local car wash to hand wash it, than I bring it home and dry it off in the nice heated garage .You would be better off going to one of the bays and washing it yourself, just be sure not to use the brush on the paint. I laugh when I see people scrubbing their paint with the brush. I can only imagine what they think when they notice all those scratches . Obviously they don't realize the brush is there for wheels and tires, although I never use the brush at all.

[star_deceiver]

The brushes here are made of horse hair, and you're supposed to spray the brush off before you use it, the car too. Road grime comes off so much easier with the brush. And where are you finding automatic carwashes that have brushes??? There's nothing but touchless carwashes here... even the carwash that's been in the same spot for 50 years has upgraded to touchless.If they can fit Hummers through it then your 18's are safe, just don't be one of the retards who try to steer in there...

[Kincaid]

The one time I used a touchless car wash I was so disappointed. Maybe if they charged $2 it would be worth it as a pre-wash for doing it myself.

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by star deceiver »The brushes here are made of horse hair, and you're supposed to spray the brush off before you use it, the car too. Road grime comes off so much easier with the brush. And where are you finding automatic carwashes that have brushes??? There's nothing but touchless carwashes here... even the carwash that's been in the same spot for 50 years has upgraded to touchless.Reading If you look back at my original post I was referring to the brushes being in the self-serve bays, not the automatic ones.As I stated before, I never go to a car wash, except in the winter. During the winter, I go later at night when the car wash is dead and I spray the car down with water and than hand wash it and than spray it down again. I only use the car wash in the winter because the water there is nice and warm and the bays are sort of protected from the cold weather. If the water hookup outside of my house didn't freeze in the winter I would literally never go to the car wash. Hand washing in my opinion is much better because it gives you a chance you check for scratches, chips, etc. because you're up close to the paint going over ever inch of it. Not to mention those car washes, automatic or not, never seem to do that great of a job. And don't even get me started on all the wax and crap they claim to spray on your car. Car washes are such a ripoff in my opinion. I can get an entire year's worth of detailing products for what a few car washes would cost me. To each his own.

[star_deceiver]

Quote, originally posted by J_TO_ENVY »If you look back at my original post I was referring to the brushes being in the self-serve bays, not the automatic ones.So was I... I've used the brushes here on many diffrent cars and I've never had swirls on the paint! The Sunfire has had 5 winters of being sandblasted with rocks... the hood has dozens of rock chips, the windshield was shot after the first 2 months of use, the headlights are rough to the touch... Perhaps the carwash I use has some special brushes.I have seen idiots use the brushes on cars covered in dirt without first pre-washing the car.Quote, originally posted by J_TO_ENVY » And don't even get me started on all the wax and crap they claim to spray on your car. Car washes are such a ripoff in my opinion. Washing the car takes about $2. $1 to prewash and start the brush, $1 to rinse. I bring a bucket and fill it with water from a tap at the carwash. The car might get washed 3 times a year at the carwash and maybe once at the Apt. Carwash wax is useless. Spending $10 a year at a carwash is nothing.... I'll blow that at Starbucks in a week!!!

[09vGT]

I go through the auto car wash all of the time and it always gets mine spotless.. when i do the self serve ones i just use the high pressure wash/soap, then rinse. Acutally today i went through.. and i saw a new silver camaro being scrubbed ALLLLL over with that scratchy brush.. HA!

[lowincash]

i always wash the car myself or by dealer when i get it serviced lol i'm afraid of those car wash machines =/ but i think the vibe should have no problem going thru it.btw, i always wash and dry the car myself but whenever i'm done drying, there's always a stream of water flowing down on both sides under the side mirrors. water isn't coming from the mirrors but from the window seal area i think. i always have a stream of watermark on each side. so annoying...anyone else run into this problem with their 09's?

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by 09vGT »Acutally today i went through.. and i saw a new silver camaro being scrubbed ALLLLL over with that scratchy brush.. HA!Ha! They'll be surprised when they catch the paint the right sunlight and see all the scratches! Poor Camaro .Quote, originally posted by lowincash »btw, i always wash and dry the car myself but whenever i'm done drying, there's always a stream of water flowing down on both sides under the side mirrors. water isn't coming from the mirrors but from the window seal area i think. i always have a stream of watermark on each side. so annoying...anyone else run into this problem with their 09's?Yes, I have this problem too, but I use our air compressor to blow the water out from the mirrors, under the window seals, etc. so once I actually drive the car there's really no water that comes out from under anything.