A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Try the spray on wands if you can find one ... and use your own soapy bucket! That would be better than the touchless automatic washes - the detergent they use in these things need to be fairly strong since nothing touches your car except for the soap and water - your wax will be stripped sooner than otherwise - which means you need to spend more time waxing after one of those touchless washes.
A:
ha, i dont wax it either....
no, i dont just pay a buck extra at the car wash, , i bring it to the detail shop and have them wax it....they hand wash it too.
im glad i have at least a FEW people who will on some occassion under certain conditions, take their car to a "non abrasive" car wash.
-gasp-
A:
sounds like you are all set then ...
I used to take my Miata thru an automatic wash but it leaked. Not sure how the Elise will hold up after some time passes.
But it sounds like a hand job is the way to go whether you do it or pay someone else.
A:
oh yeah - that would be a hand wash and hand wax job.
A:
yeah, i think too much water would get into the engine bay area, and stuff in an automatic wash...at least with the hand wand u can control and direct the water better.
A:
Man, if I had to worry about water getting in the engine compartment I wouldn't be able to drive it, let alone take it to a car wash. It's been pooring down rain here in Seattle and my car sits in a parking lot for 9 hours during the day getting soaked.
A:
Found this thread while exercising the search feature. So, how many of you have been using touchless car washes with your Elise?
I just wanted to post, that after 5 winters of only washing my MR2 Spyder with a touchless car wash, I've noticed something interesting. There's hardly a swirl mark on it.
Of course, all the stone chips from driving it in the winter make up for it.
A:
I don't find the touchless car washes to do any good.
Then again, if you're just hosing off the winter grime, that makes some sense.
I'll use the DIY sprayers once in a while, and even the evil foaming brush. The first thing I do is power wash the brush with the sprayer.
Never use full power on the sprayer, except on the wheels. Don't "scrub" the car.
A:
Live in Seattle it never stops raining for you to wash the car.
A:
I was actually thinking about this the other day, I ran out of quarters (wife wouldn't go grab any more for me) while washing my Subaru and ended up having to finish it by running it through the credit card accepting drive through wash. While sitting in the wash I was wondering if anyone had ever taken their Elise/Exige through one. It would be a really cold day in hell before I would, but I'm sure someone has.
A:
DON'T let anyone else touch your car. Not any kind of car washing place - not a valet parker.
If we've learned anything in all of these threads it's to take care of your Elise/Exige yourself.
The car can easily be damaged or destroyed.
A hose, car soap, 6 towels and you're done.
Put on some good wax or Rejex and you're totally bitchin'.
A:
Every time a Lotus enters a car wash God kills a kitten.
A:
Or a Fairy Dies.