Thanks. You thinking of expanding out here?

 

No, I wish I could get out of the carwash business. Since the downfall in the economy and the rise in fuel prices the carwash Industry is stuck in a downward spiral. Depending where you are 30-60% off from high times of 2006. Good investment for someone that has cash, most car washes are available for .40-.60 on the dollar. If you can sustain the next 5-10 yrs without much ROI, once things turn around it will be good. Unfortunatley for me I need to be making some $$$.

 

Here in SoCal almost all the car washes have converted to assembly line hand washes now. Full hand washes can be had for $8 Monday through Thursday with the prices going up to about $11 Friday through Sunday. I have one car wash close by that has an express wash for only $5. You drive it into the assembly line yourself and get a full hand wash and quick dry while you remain in the drivers seat (no vacuuming or inside window wash). I use it inbetween washes and when I'm in a hurry (very quick and easy!). As you come out you just hand the guy a 5-er and drive off. No tip needed, so you save there too.

Check out all your local car wash options. Each have their pluses and minuses. Many have punch cards that they punch at each wash. After so many washes you get one for free!

To be honest that express hand wash without vacuuming for five bucks is great because of the time factor alone, plus I don't have to get all sweaty...

 

Sorry to hear that. Best of luck. Hopefully things will get better soon.

 

My wife has a BRG Cabrio and uses a car wash with no issues.

 

FWIW I'll chime in, I've got a pretty good car wash place nearby with choices of bays, tunnel or touchless. I do find the touchless too be way too high pressure that I'd prefer the tunnel. The bay, I don't like using the brush. The tunnel, at least since it is washing so many cars over and over it will tend to be pretty soft anyways...

Now here's a question for the car-wash-owning person -- would you say that a high volume, popular car wash place would have a better "higher quality" tunnel than one that is less frequented, or the other way around? Just curious about your thoughts.

 

A slow carwash doesn't mean its not a good wash. A busy wash is a good indication of quality. A place won't wash too many cars if its beating them up!!! Carwash industry as a whole is down right now. The gas price rise to $4 in 2008 killed the industry. Followed by a drop in the economy and horrible weather conditions.
You can always ask to see how they process cars. If a wash doesn't want to show you anything I would be concerned. Doesn't happen often but people do ask.

 

If you use the 'wand" washes and live in the Stockbridge Ga. area. The car wash on Rock quarry road is "wash all you want $6" and as long as you don't use the brush it's a great deal!

 

I use the wand and brush type wash. Before even attempting to use the brush I will lay it out and give it a good hard rinse. The opperator of the wash saw me doing this one day and said "that's probably the smartest thing I have seen anybody do." He even poped a quarter in the machiene to make up for the time lost washing his brush.

I also use shammy's and microfiber towels, but I have been known to buff and wax my car atleast once a week in the summer. (Comes from being a detailer, in a former job.)

And to take things one step further. If it's a project car, I like to change paint every now and then. Its really not that expensive if you do all the work yourself.

 

My Mini has been touchless washed, and threw a Mike's. The touchless didn't clean the car that well and I had water leaks in the windows from the pressure. Honestly the Mike's did a great job, no leaks and I hand dried after. The dealership gives free washes on the weekends so I will probably be using that when the weather gets better.

 

I took my little baby thru it's first touchless car wash yesterday. No problems at all. I was holding my breath most of the time. =) it came out nice and clean! At least for a day or so till it snows again.