Car wash for roadster?

[Topless Z]

It's a little too cold where I am to wash my car now...but it's dirty and wanted to get it washed...was thinking of bringing it to a hand car wash but am worried it can ruin the convertible top...even though its hand car wash they still have this machine that blows the car to help with the drying. I'm worried that it could be too much direct wind force to the top....anybody take their zr to get washed?

[DEpointfive0]

I doubt it'd be a serious problem... Then again on the Nismo, it says that it's not supposed to go in an automated car wash because of the wing.

Why not do a waterless car wash in your garage? Meguiar's Ultimate Wash and Wax or something (white liquid)

[Quick370z]

I took my vert though the Auto wash dozen of times

Honestly if you keep the car for 10 years then ya you could see the wear etc. But the roofs are pretty strong, putting your hand up and feeling it though lol.

If this was a ferarri spyder well ya diff story.

[Highway]

I don't plan on ever taking mine to a car wash. I had an issue one time when I didn't get all of the soap out of the top...didn't realize it until it rained and soap started running down the car.

Now I use a cleaner just for convertible tops instead of the car soap.

[fredstah]

never bring your car to a hand car wash, period. you never know how many times those rags been on the ground.

[jlbrenne]

I've taken mine through touchless and regular ones. I prefer waterless washes by hand however when it gets really bad I give it a good rinse. Now, that I have a wing I would only do waterless washes or places where I can use the gun and spray myself and then touch up later.

[gr8-wrx]

Originally Posted by fredstah

never bring your car to a hand car wash, period. you never know how many times those rags been on the ground.

[m4a1mustang]

I'd be hesitant to go through a car wash in the roadster. I'd think the high pressure spray might compromise the seals over time.

[SouthArk370Z]

I'm not sure what kind of velocity those dryers are putting out, but I can't imagine it being much more than what you'd see at 130-160 mph out on the highway. Not something I would want to subject the top to on a regular basis, but shouldn't do much harm every now and then.

[Roadkill]

"I'm not sure what kind of velocity those dryers are putting out, but I can't imagine it being much more than what you'd see at 130-160 mph out on the highway."

Exactally right. I've owned 3 Z Roadsters. I treated all 3 tops with 303 when I got them and after that, forgot about it. I use a pressure washer on them with car wash soap just like I was washing out the wheel wells. Never an issue or a leak. Even though the tops may look fragile, they're not. I've driven the wheels off of all three, burn regular fuel, and never put baby oil on their bottoms to keep them dry. Though opinions vary, at the end of the day it's still just a car. A truly awesome car, but a car just the same. Treat it like one and you'll be much happier with it.

"never bring your car to a hand car wash, period. you never know how many times those rags been on the ground"

Also exactally right. I've seen people start at the bottom where all the grit is and wash their way to the top. Really? Or even worse, wash out of a bucket of mud.

So for me personally, if it's too cold to hand wash it myself, then I let it stay dirty until it warms up. Dirt sitting on it isn't going to hurt it, but dragging that same dirt across the paint will. Just my 2 cents.

[IDZRVIT]

Read your OM and see what Nissan says about putting the roadster through a high pressure car washer.

[DavidInIndy]

Originally Posted by fredstah

never bring your car to a hand car wash, period. you never know how many times those rags been on the ground.

That's what she said.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

[XiP]

i got lured into this thread because i saw the word Topless

[havoc2]

If your car is just dusty just use a duster,I do mine every time I drive does not take long,I have owned my vert for two years and only washed it about four or five times but I have a garage as well.

[Bummer]

I'm old and lazy. After all these years of doing absolutely everything myself on my motorcycles, cars, and trucks, I take my Z to my Nissan dealer to get the oil changed. For $103 for an ester oil change they also wash it. I'm having a really hard time seeing that as anything other than a good deal, at least for me.

Aside from that I take it to the car wash, along with fancy rags and a bucket, and wash it by hand. Reasonable care - don't drag the dirt up, change wash rags often, that sort of thing. I only do the top with 303 cleaner and protectant, though it'll get wet when I wash the body. I do not intentionally spray the top.

Even though I got it Glass coated from the dealer I wax it twice a year with Mequiars NXT and for touch ups I use a "dry" cleaner, which is really a silicone based spray cleaner that I get at my Yamaha dealer.

So far so good. Still looks great!