I have a 2000 Honda Accord (with fancy duct tape on the back b/c I am a braniac who hit my in-laws car in my own driveway) so perhaps I'm not totally qualified to pick apart the nuances of a carwash. However, my little coup has been COATED in salt from this lovely upstate NY winter and every time I leaned in to take out a car seat I was getting a beautiful addition to my outfit (b/c spit up, sticky toddler fingers, and baby poop isn't enough). Add to that a two year old who likes to 'pet' the car right at the height of the saltiness - forget it.
I was on 'E' too, so I wanted a place that gave a gas discount to offset paying for something I could feasibly do in my own driveway. I also appreciated the convenience of literally bumping to 'Neutral' and doing NOTHING for a few, sloshy, oddly entertaining moments. Bonus points - both girls (although they would have prob. thoroughly enjoyed the show) slept through the entire process.
I just did the basic wash for $8 and they were running a special 20 cents off a gallon. HECK YAAS. Seriously, my thirsty car pounded 13.5 gal so even a 2nd grade teacher knows that brought the actual cost of the was down to almost $5. You got yourself a deal, Malcho's.
The worker was friendly enough and my car came out looking a heck of a lot better. The sign at the entry way about all the various car parts that can get damaged in an automatic 'wash cycle' made me a little nervous but I turned off my wipers and, as far as I know, everything is still attached (yep, even the duct tape).
Of course, the rainy drive back home still managed to add a thin film of salt to my bumper but thus is #NYlyfe. An unexpected perk was HOW much better my wipers worked as I drove in the rain. Not sure whether it was the layers of goop that came off the actual windshield (I don't think I've washed the car since I started washing my own babies instead - 2 years ago:O) or off of the wipers - but hallelujah, I CAN SEE again! Rain just kind of beaded up and swept right off, prob. as God intended windshields/wipers to work.
.I'll prob. be back someday (and perhaps w/in the month if I can figure out what the heck the expiration date of 5/10 means on my receipt since I didn't pay for the unlimited 30 day washes?). read more