Best Car Wash Option?

There’s a brand-new touchless car wash near me that really impressed me. It’s modern, uses great cleaning solutions, and is actually owned by a Jeep dealership, so they should be used to handling SUVs like the Santa Fe.

But the dealership gave me a 60-day free pass to their own car wash, which is a bit farther away. It’s the old-school type with rotating brushes and those big mops. It also includes hot wax, which the Hyundai manual says to avoid.

Where would you take your car for its first wash?

Lol, just go touchless. Maybe ask the dealer if they can swap that pass for something else. :joy: Enjoy the new ride!

Shiloh said:
Lol, just go touchless. Maybe ask the dealer if they can swap that pass for something else. :joy: Enjoy the new ride!

That’s what I was thinking! If they gave you the pass as an apology or bonus, maybe they have something better. I hear they have $40 Hyundai-branded shirts. :wink:

It depends on what kind of brushes they use. Some car washes have soft microfiber strips that don’t leave marks, but if they use bristles, avoid it.

If you don’t want to risk it, just stick to the touchless one and enjoy the show. I wouldn’t roll into any car wash without checking reviews first.

You could also tell the dealership, ‘Thanks, but no thanks, I don’t want my paint scratched.’ That would be an interesting conversation. :laughing:

@Briar
I might check out the dealer’s wash, but it’s winter, and they dump ridiculous amounts of salt on the roads here. It’s like they’re trying to recreate the myth about Rome salting the earth after conquering Carthage. :joy:

@Val
Haha, I’ve heard that story before!

If you’re worried, maybe look up some reviews on the dealer’s car wash. It might save you from finding out the hard way.

We don’t get much salt where I live, but they throw down so much gravel that we all end up with cracked windshields and rock chips instead. Pick your poison, I guess.

If you can, wash it at home. But I get it—winter makes that impossible. I used a touchless wash this season because my outdoor faucet was frozen.

If you go to the wash, make sure you turn off auto wipers, fold in your mirrors, shift to neutral, and disable auto hold. Then just sit back and enjoy the ride.

When it warms up, I’m planning to do a deep clean and apply a ceramic coating. If you can’t wash at home, just stick to the higher-quality touchless place.

@Bliss
Yeah, washing at home isn’t an option for me. My outside water is shut off, and I live in a condo where car washing is against the rules.

I went with the touchless for the first wash. Just turned off auto wipers, folded in mirrors, locked the doors, put it in neutral, and enjoyed the view from the parking cameras.

By the way, what exactly is a ceramic treatment? The car wash had an option for a Ceramic Coat for $5 extra, and the dealership offers a ‘Ceramic Pro Top Coat’ for almost $2,500. No idea what the difference is.

@Val
I paid $500 at my dealer for a ceramic coat with a warranty. No idea if it was worth it, but it also came with some kind of interior protection that supposedly covers stains for 7 years. Might be a scam, but I went for it. :person_shrugging:

@Val
Basically, ceramic coating is a liquid polymer that bonds to your paint and creates a protective layer. It repels water, dirt, and UV rays, making your car easier to clean.

You can apply a light version yourself, but professional ceramic coatings are much thicker and last years, which is why they cost more.

If you’re interested, check out Scott HD on YouTube—he does long-term tests on different ceramic coatings. I’m planning to use Griot’s 3-in-1 ceramic spray until I can afford a full paint protection film (PPF).

All the touchless car washes near me got bought out and turned into giant tunnel washes with all those spinning brushes. No thanks. :weary:

My dealership gives me free car wash passes, but I have a subscription somewhere else. I just give the passes to my son for his car. :man_shrugging:

I only use touchless washes.

If you want extra protection, get a professional ceramic coat (like IGL Kenzo). Then even basic touchless washes will get your car looking clean.

What about pressure washer car washes? No brushes, but I don’t think they’re considered ‘touchless.’ What do you guys think?

Stay away from automatic car washes unless you want swirl marks all over your paint. You’ll have to buff them out later. Not worth it.

No way would I take my car through a car wash with brushes.

Fastest way to ruin your clear coat and get that ugly ‘orange peel’ effect. Even on my fully PPF-wrapped cars, I hand wash or use touchless in the winter.

Also, those machines can snag on things like roof racks or mirrors and cause damage. Just not worth it.