So just how bad are full service carwashes?

earwicker7

Since you're in LA, I thought I'd mention that there is a pretty good one in Glendale called California Hand Car Wash. It's the best car wash I've been to, and they offer a frequent flyer program that is a big money saver.

Are they perfect? No. Are they going to put scratches in your paint? Sure. Is it anything that you won't end up doing yourself unless you're perfect? Probably not. Nothing that occasional scratch removers/buffing can't take care of.

If I didn't live in an apartment complex, I'd wash my car all the time (I still do it myself occasionally, as I can do a better job than the car wash), but having to go to one of the places where you put the quarters in is a pain in the *** (try working on your car for an hour and then having someone twenty feet away get drizzle all over your back end--true story) if you want to keep your car clean.

As a word of warning, do everything you can to avoid Magnolia Car Wash in Burbank. They are flat out the worst one I have ever been to; they did a carpet shampoo (in my old car, thankfully) and didn't vacuum the shampoo out, just threw the floor covers on top and hoped I wouldn't notice. I did, and brought it back the next morning... I had to fight to get them to vacuum it out. They said "Just keep the windows down for a while!" Another time, I went there out of desparation (needed the car washed pronto and at the time hadn't discovered the place in Glendale) and they failed to remove almost 2 square feet of wax; when I pointed this out, the washer gave me some serious stink eye. I eventually figured out that they are severely pressured to upsell services and get the cars in and out as fast as possible regardless of quality.

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2009 Magnetic Black 370Z with Touring, Sports and Navigation Packages--Fast Intentions CBE with 12" Resonators/Carbon Fiber Mufflers and LTH--Stillen G3 Cold Air Intakes, Underdrive Pulley and Grounding Kit--Uprev Tune