I recently found a machine carwash that takes its time putting a lot of soapy-foam on the 4rnr, and has the shammies scrubbing away for a while. I also found a lot of Mercs and newer cars going through the same facility.

My question is What kinda of service do you guys use, and how much are you willing to spend on a typical Full Car wash?

Is 15 bucks about right? To low to high? I ended up tipping the guy 2 bucks so that I can come back next time to have my car washed again.

i always hand wash it. that way you dont run the chance of them scratching it up. and i like to know if i have any dents or scratches, so im not surprised by them in a parking lot or something and think its the car next to me

I like to hand wash it with a power sprayer.

If I am being lazy, I will just take it by Lenny Dykstra's and they do a decent job. Always cracks me up when those machines spray on that rainbow colored wax and then a second later it is sprayed off. I just don't know why they do that. If you want it waxed, pay the few extra bucks and have it detailed by someone or do it yourself.

I always hand wash mine in the spring and summer. In the winter I'll admit that I go to a softcloth machine carwash. I buy a 6 month unlimited wash card for $200. I can wash it 10 times a day if I wanted. The one I go to is very nice and clean. They do a great job. I go alot to keep the salt off my 4runner.

I always hand wash myself.

I would only go with a 'touchless' if I had to do a machine or use a do-it-yourself. With a good coat of wax most of the dirt sprays off.


The potentail swirls from brushes/shams not worth the risk for me. I plan to keep my truck a long time. I bet thoes Mercs are leased.

All of you guys in those warmer climates have no problems washing your cars by hand in the winter. It's difficult to get that water flowing when it's -1 F and keep the water flowing across the car before the soap freezes.

I machine wash mine in the winter. Usually a touchless because the car is rarely clean for more than a week with the snow and slush. I am not that concerned with getting every inch clean, just getting the salt and road stuff off the bottom of the truck and getting her mostly clean. The hand wash in the spring will get all of the details.

One thing to keep in mind about the car washes... Some recycle water, so while you believe you are rinsing off the water under your car, you may be giving it a pressurized salt bath. Ask the manager/owner (they have to tell you) and what the largest particle they allow through their filters. De-salination process is expensive, so most places will just use a filter.

machine wash, unless bored in summer. touchy touchy. dont like the touchless, no touch I notice it leaves a film on mine, so I just go thru the ole touch one. works pretty darn good. In winter its about your only option.

In the Summer I wash mine in the driveway. (Most of the time) In the Winter though I send it into a place here called ProShine and they do the works on it. I will do that a few times in the Winter and take it through the Touchless Car wash the rest of the time.

It is too cold to wash it in the Winter here.

I used to love hand washing my truck every weekend in the Summer time, but now I have a boat so when it is nice I'm on the water. So I send it in the odd time in the Summer as well.

I love a clean truck.

Cheers,

I love my 4runner and hate seeing dents and scratches in her, but that is a fact of life. I love to hand wash both my vehicles. I sit at a desk all day, so the physical work actually appeals to me evenings and weekends. But in the winter I can't do that, so I will run it through automatic washes, touchless and non-touchless. The wear and tear I put the thing through just driving it everyday and parking in lots with grocery carts and idiots, a few swirl marks aren't going to hurt anything.

Now, if I have a major disaster at a car wash, I may change my tune, but so far, no major problems.

BTW, I plan on keeping my runner a long time, it isn't a lease.

I used to work at a touchless wash when I was younger. The cars never got clean enough. If you looked at the towels after they dry your car, they are totally dirty. The towels are what take most of the dirt off. That is not good for your paint(rub dirt into your paint). So I would not say that the touchless are that much better. There are some good machine washes. Mine has no brushes, all soft cloth. Yes that can leave marks also, but it is too cold here to wash your car by hand in the winter.

What we have here are that some places have heaters in the wash bays... so in the winter... handwash is no problem as I keep warm and toasty. I have never been through an automatic car wash.... touchy ones or touchless ones.

Hand wash at home when I can (absolutely preferred method). Use an electric pressure washer to pre-rinse, then soap it down, scrub, and pressure rinse.

If no time, then go to the local car wash where they supply the pressure washer and you do the washing yourself. I can do a quick job on the 4Runner in just a few minutes.

If you use the local car wash, take your own bucket and wash materials -- for $1.00 in quarters, you can soap it down, fill up the bucket a bit, then give it a scrubbing. Then another $1.00 gives a really good rinse. Drive home, dry off what didn't fly off on the way.

I take mine to a place in town that does a pretty good hand wash on it, then I take it home and apply all the goodies inside and out.

What John said.

driving around to dry your car off is BAD.

any soapy residue that is left will harden and stay right where it was... very bad for the paint.

i usually hand was at one of those public places... 4 bucks gives me a great wash, then i hand dry it myself with microfiber towels that i buy in bulk at costco.

i do use the machine wash sometimes (usually in winter because its cold and its a tougher job with all this snow and salt) but i make sure that when i leave i pull right over in an empty lot and hand dry.

i always get the door jambs too, cause nothing says clean like clean door jambs!