holminator

Warm H20. Sometimes wash the car inside the garage. It's big. Also know where a really good touchless autowash is nearby; using it 3 or 4 times a year isn't going to hurt anything. "Moderation in all things."

Forgot to mention those methods were perfected on a black car. For those of you who knew my 997 when 80k you may remember it looked new.

chuck911

When it gets near freezing I'll use warm wash water, maybe as hot as say 90F if its really bad, ice in the hose, snowing. (Doesn't happen often in the Seattle area.) 99% of the time even in winter its whatever comes out of the hose.

adamsclubs

Based on the posts in this thread, this is my plan for my soon to be delivered white C2S, please critique away.

I will find a good trackless car wash, hopefully with soft cloth, if not touchless. I will go through it twice if necessary to make sure no fine dust remain on the body. I will than pull out of the car wash and tower dry it myself.

This will be as much labor as I am willing to give for my car, any car

Jerry991

Adamsclubs: what will happen is that you will see swirl marks throughout the surface which look like small scratches and will be especially noticeable in the sun. They come from the fine dirt particles that will scratch the clear coat. Touch less will do less damage and it doesn't matter about wax because it doesn't last anyway - polish is much better.

adamsclubs

I thought swirls only happen to black or dark exteriors?

deturney

Above 50f I hand wash in the driveway very carefully, below 50f I use a touch less "Laser Wash" and dry it by driving real fast.

Jerry991

The color makes no difference since the color is under the clear coat and it is the clear coat which is scratched and causes the swirls. They show up more on dark colors but you will see them immediately. The swirls can be buffed out but if you wash the car incorrectly they will come back when the fine dirt particles rub against the clear coat.

LonnieR

Check Eddy out. He's is one of the best detailers in the country. Whether it's detail or a simple wash...he's the best.



http://www.fiuzasautodetailing.com/web/Home.html


http://www.fiuzasautodetailing.com/About%20Us.html

SM_ATL

Why I hate Car Washes

I love to keep my cars in pristine condition and one way or another, I get them washed once a week. Sometimes, I would do it myself, sometimes go to a hand car wash and sometimes... went for a quick fully automated car wash.

This happened about a year ago: while doing a track inspection, we noticed that the inside of rear rims were scratched and big chunks of rubber had been ripped off the tire. This was not noticeable when the car went through the car wash and I can not even tell at which car wash it happened since I have already been to 3 or 4 different places

Here's a pic of what we found out when we put the car on the lift:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60293300@N06/6796080930/
Since then, I am washing the car myself or going to a brushless car wash for a quick wash. Lesson learnt!

yashagrawal

Two questions:
1. If car washes are verboten, how do you clean the underside. Is it not necessary to clean it ?.
2. I have a 997.2 C4S, is the stories about scratched wheels in part because the front wheel base is narrower than the rear ?. I have seen no discussion on the difference in front and rear wheel bases...or are they they same ?.

porsche518

Uhh no never, all you need is nor wash and wax after you have reputable detailer do your car annually.