Wash an Evora in a carwash / washing bay?

[alex-mayer]

Hello @ all,

yes I know that a car like the Evora should be washed by hand.

But as this might not always be possible due to the lack of time, I wonder if it is possible to drive the Evora trough a carwash / washing bay (you know, these automatic washing machines)?

Is there any risk of damage or does anybody has any experiences with this...?

Greetings from Germany,

Alexander

[Bibs]

I'd never take any car through a commercial car wash unless it was a shopping-cart. Certainly not a car I'd ever want to look nice again.

There's a common philosophy amongst prestigious car owners that you should use 2 buckets to clean a car. One with fresh shampoo and another with water to rinse your sponge/mitt. This way, the dirt you take off the car ends up in the bottom of the rinse bucket and not on the sponge creating scratches. My point is that a car wash is full of dirt which is abrasive and scratching your car.

Make time or leave it dirty!

PS I'm just leaving for Germany this afternoon, come and support the Lotus at the Nurburgring this weekend

[Beady]

agree with bibs - hand wah only if you value any car.

the rear spolier on the evora seems a bit flimsy and i would be worried it may break in a drive-through car wash with the big spinning brushes...

[alex-mayer]

Hello Bibs, hello Paul,

thanks for your answers.

I will try the traditional washing by hand in the first place.... or make a ride during heavy rain.

Greetings from Germany,

Alexander

[Al]

Like Beady said I would be worried about the rear spoiler. As many know I ripped mine off the car with the garage door closing and can confirm it didn't take a lot.

Also I would be concerned about the two large vents in the bonnet area. These bend very easily as I can verify as the garage has bent mine with somebody leaning on one. Heavy brushes coming down could easily exert enough weight on them I suspect and that is before something gets caught in one of the rather open meshes all over the car.

As much as I HATE washing cars I always find time to handwash or don't bother being the other solution.

Edited May 14, 2010 by Al.

[freshcut]

I never take my Esprit through an automatic wash. Even my daily driver generally gets washed by hand (and it's nothing to look at!). However, I have on occasion taken that one through an automatic wash and ONLY those that use high water pressure spray, never the ones with rotating brushes. I know around here many have signs that say the wash should not be used for certain vehicles, mainly naming specifics which include Jeeps and Fieros (incidentally my daily driver), or similar vehicles. It's mostly the washes with brushes that have such warnings, so unless I have a day to devote to a proper wash by hand it either gets a quick run with a duster, or spends another day in the garage.

[chandrew]

A good friend watched a Veyron being put through an automated wash in Geneva. For several years the garage in question was my local one. It gives points for purchasing petrol which can be exchanged for a wash. I guess a Veyron owner might collect those quickly.

[slewthy]

I now do all my cars with a pressure washer at home. However, the real washing is done using a snowfoam lance with, well snow foam of course. If you get the foam thick enough, it sticks to car and then gradually slides off over about 5 minutes. The pressure washer can then wash off the remaining dirt dead easily, without using a particularly high pressure.

I would never take any car of mine, irrespective of value, to a brush car wash. I also found the high pressure spray ones quite ineffective as they are too quick.

[Justin182]

Wouldn't dream of washing any car I care about in a carwash.. Not worth the risk.

Kids around my way are knowo to oput razor blades in the brushes

[SGC]

A friend of mine is frequent cleaning his Evora in a car wash, so far without any problems.

But he would not clean the Evora at every car wash, this car wash is the best here in the region and they also clean many other sports and luxury cars.

[Bibs]

Those flappy things look dirty and that dirt is being rubbed on the car. Would you use a dirty sponge on your car?