how do you wash/clean your car in an east coast winter?
08-12-2006, 09:48 PM
#2
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Easy, the car does not go out in the east coast winter. Cleaned and covered in the fall, it comes out again in spring. The other cars in the family are washed in our garage at least once a week.
If I lived in Boston or further south, I would drive it on nice days. In the Montreal area there is salt and sand on the roads from December to March 15th. The combination accelerates wear on drive train parts no matter how well you wash it. A couple of my associates drive their 911's and boxsters during the winter and love it. But they their cars are also in the shop for work every summer.
Winter driving varies depending upon where you live. In some places the roads are more than acceptable most days. In other places, like here, every day must be approached with care. There are too many accidents for my tastes.
But the key to keeping car looking good through a winter is a good wash with clean water. Car washes should be avoided unless you know for sure that they use clean water that is not recycled and that it is touchless.
If I lived in Boston or further south, I would drive it on nice days. In the Montreal area there is salt and sand on the roads from December to March 15th. The combination accelerates wear on drive train parts no matter how well you wash it. A couple of my associates drive their 911's and boxsters during the winter and love it. But they their cars are also in the shop for work every summer.
Winter driving varies depending upon where you live. In some places the roads are more than acceptable most days. In other places, like here, every day must be approached with care. There are too many accidents for my tastes.
But the key to keeping car looking good through a winter is a good wash with clean water. Car washes should be avoided unless you know for sure that they use clean water that is not recycled and that it is touchless.
08-12-2006, 09:58 PM
#3
Winters have been relatively mild in NY. I run the car all year round waiting for a rain following snow/salt to clear road. Above 40 degrees I wash it in the driveway, no big deal. I'd rather run the car once every 2-3 weeks (or more often) than store it. Better for my mental health also 
08-12-2006, 10:20 PM
#5
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Being a city dweller, I go to those self-service car washes with the power spray nozzles. I keep a sponge in my boot to help remove the grime as the power wash itself doesn't seem to do anything. In the winter I use it mainly to de-salt the car.
08-12-2006, 11:20 PM
#6
Drifting
There are hand car washes that wash your car the right way. Look around, every city has them
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08-13-2006, 01:29 AM
#8
Poseur
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When I lived in Concord, MA I used to drive it as long as the precipitation stayed away. Once the snows arrived I kept it in the garage with the cover on it. I would wash it rarely during the winters. I feel for you. Oh,--that's why I'm in Santa Barbara!
08-13-2006, 01:50 PM
#10
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I live in Manhattan but have a weekend house in the Hamptons that I go to almost every weekend even in the winter, unless there's a real blizzard. I had a frost free bib installed by my plumber so that I have access to outside water year round. There are lots of days even in the winter when the sun's out and it's not windy and I can wash the car myself; I just use hot water in the pail and rubber gloves. If I can't wash it myself during the winter, I go to the car wash recommended by Steven H.
08-13-2006, 02:21 PM
#11
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Same MO when I used to live in the UK - cold wet winters with lots of road salt 
Used hot/warm water to wash the car - works even better than the usual cold water!
Means doing a few trips to the house for hot water, but at least you can get the winter crud off of the paintwork.
If it was sub zero, I just used buckets of hot water instead of a hose to rinse the car before and after wash.
Oh, and I'd use rubber gloves as well when it was really cold!
Not really many weekends when it was too cold to wash the car - I even washed it in the rain many times - Yes, I am probably insane
Chris.
Used hot/warm water to wash the car - works even better than the usual cold water!
Means doing a few trips to the house for hot water, but at least you can get the winter crud off of the paintwork.
If it was sub zero, I just used buckets of hot water instead of a hose to rinse the car before and after wash.
Oh, and I'd use rubber gloves as well when it was really cold!
Not really many weekends when it was too cold to wash the car - I even washed it in the rain many times - Yes, I am probably insane
Chris.
08-13-2006, 07:56 PM
#12
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In NC, we get an occasional warm day, that's the day I detail the Porsche, simple as that.
Yeah, it might be in the upper 40's but hell, I don't care. I just do it.
Yeah, it might be in the upper 40's but hell, I don't care. I just do it.
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2018 M2 6sp
Gone but not forgotten
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1999 C2 Cab
08-13-2006, 09:03 PM
#13
Racer
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"How do you wash/clean your car in an east coast winter?"
After having lived in frigid Albany, NY for 18 long cold years, my answer is VERY VERY QUICKLY!
After having lived in frigid Albany, NY for 18 long cold years, my answer is VERY VERY QUICKLY!
08-14-2006, 01:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Edgy01
When I lived in Concord, MA I used to drive it as long as the precipitation stayed away. Once the snows arrived I kept it in the garage with the cover on it. I would wash it rarely during the winters. I feel for you. Oh,--that's why I'm in Santa Barbara!
And forever grateful...