Why NOT to use automated car washes

[Steven]

Washing my car "on my terms" is paying someone to do it for me.

 

[EXPjawa]

Personally, I'd rather just make sure a thorough, detailed job is done and a machine won't do that. Also, going over the whole car by hand is a good way to keep an eye on condition, spot new chips, dings, etc that you might not have been aware of.

 

[Flyfalcons]

I had my WRX for nine years and sent it through a lot of car washes with no issues affecting the paint at all. The porsche manual said hand-wash only, so that's what I did. In my opinion, cars exposed to road salt or a lot of sunshine are going to fare worse than whatever chemicals a machine car wash will do to them.