AIBU not to understand why people prefer hand washing their cars rather than use an automatic car wash?

[swissmilk]

And by that I mean the teams of people in supermarket car parks.
I've tried both, automatic machines seem cheaper, quicker and just as good?
(I never get the inside cleaned...do that myself at home where I'm not in danger of judgement over how many empty crisp packets there are stuffed in the glove box!)

I'd never considered the risk of being enslaved at the car wash.

Apparently, a lot of the hand car washes are controlled by the Romanian or polish mafia....

A lot of dodgy stuff going on....

One place near me started their own car wash, and git "visited" by a gang....they closed down after about 5 weeks...

So I don't use those dodgy hand car washes t

Basically its because the automatic car washes damage your paintwork. They arent quite as bad as the £5 a go dirty sponge jobs on a corner though.

It’s a good idea to do it yourself every now and again so you can see any damage or rust starting to appear. I’ll put a dab of clear varnish on any bits where stones have chipped down to the metal to stop the rust setting in

@spongebunnyfatpants I lost a rear windscreen wiper on an old car.

I complained to the guy who ran the machine and he gave me a slip agreeing that I lost it. I wrote a letter to a director of the automatic wash including it and he responded saying send me the bill. I then got my garage to replace it, sent the bill and got reimbursed.

Nope. I've read the OP. And all the messages. Sorry. I still don't 'get it'.

A roller in an automatic car washes crashed off the thing it was on and smashed my rear windscreen.
They guy who fixed the glass says it's quite common.
Also the spinning brushes scratch paintwork.

I like to chat up the sexy Polish guys.

I'm under orders from OH not to go to an automatic one as it may damage the car.

If you use anything other than a safewash process the easy way to tell why car washs are bad is to park your car in shade and shine the torch on your phone across your bonnet at about 60 degree angle then look across said bonnet. You will certainly see thousands of micro scratches and probably worse.

Personally, I couldn't give a crap about damage to my car caused by the automatic machine, it's an old banger with dents and scratches all over it anyway. The only reason I go to the hand wash place is to get the inside cleaned. Obviously I clear out the rubbish first, but their vacuum cleaners are properly powerful, not like the shite little one I've got. They actually clean the inside of the car.

And I've got the Unseen app in case I suspect the staff are being exploited.

All car washes are a rip off. Your car functions just as well even when dusty or muddy.

I lob the occasional bucket of water over mine when it's got stuck in the field once too often. Doesn't cost me a tenner either.

Lockheart actually a dirty car is more likely to breakdown, be involved in an accident, is less fuel efficient and will be hazardous to your health.

I have a limited edition and colour ( only 10 in Uk .... but Ive never seen another )
The paintwork alone cost £10k
Its never ever going in a car wash

my dp is German and tells me you can't wash your own car in Germany because of the chemicals being bad for the environment, still can't work out if he's winding me up

I have never took a car in an automatic machine since I had my first car and the roller left marks around the car.

My partner enjoys cleaning cars so that’s his job now but before that I used to spend 15 minutes doing it at the power hose rype one at the petrol station. Easy and cheap and not as dodgy as most of the car washes!

Still chuckling at the Romanian and “polish” mafia!
Presumably they threaten you with a wax spray?!
I wash my own car with a sponge and a bucket. It takes 10 minutes. My nearest car wash is a 20 mile round trip away, and I can’t be bothered.

@Singletomingle I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.

Because I'd be really upset if I saw someone continuously slapping my car with a leather belt.

Which is how automatic carwashes make me feel

Lockheart all genuine facts

@Singletomingle do you have any sources to back that up? Because right now my googling is drawing a blank and frankly they sound implausible.

I have NEVER used a car wash, be it hand or machine.
Personally I think its about as lazy as you can get. For the sake of 10mins with a bucket full of soapy water, why would anyone want to line some other fuckers pocket!! Must have more money than sense or be completely bone idle....maybe both!

I think @Lockhart is a farmer.
Sounds like a farmer thing.
Do you have a tractor?

Afraid I'm not @PoppingOneOutIn2020, I've got a ford Fiesta. But I do know a lot of people with tractors.

Me too @Lockheart

I live rurually and your original comment is the response I would get asking the same question here 9 time our of 10.

However, I do get DP to wash my car for me occasionally