Car Wash

pandora · 12-23-2008, 09:35 AM

I expect to take delivery in early January, will the smart car track thru a standard commercial car wash such as Delta Sonic ?

**jwight** · 12-23-2008, 09:46 AM

Please see: I put my Smart through a automatic car wash and Car Wash

dbwill · 12-23-2008, 10:59 AM

It depends, we have a wash here that has an underbody spray thet is dispensed by a bar on the floor as the car rolls over it. The track on the smart is narrow enough that the tires roll over the bar and so they won't let it go through.

RVGRINGO · 12-23-2008, 11:23 AM

In front of any grocery store here, there are guys with a bucket who will wash my Smart for 15 pesos (About $1.15 USD). For 65 pesos ($5.00) I can take it to a full detail car wash where five guys crawl all over it for almost an hour, getting it really detailed inside and out.

forestacademy · 12-23-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

In front of any grocery store here, there are guys with a bucket who will wash my Smart for 15 pesos (About $1.15 USD). For 65 pesos ($5.00) I can take it to a full detail car wash where five guys crawl all over it for almost an hour, getting it really detailed inside and out.

How do 4 guys spend an Hr on a Smart?

Im still trying to figure out the best way to wash my Smart in the cold weather. I can't use the do it yourself wash when its this cold. I tried one of those simple touchless ones that go around the car while you are parked but It must have thought I was a pickup because it went as far back as possible so the back side of the car didn't get clean.

headless · 12-23-2008, 12:54 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! !!!!
Don't take any car through any robot carwash, far less a smart.
I have found the smart scratches easy, you have to be careful or you get little hairline scratches when you wash it, eg, I never use a new sponge on it as it is too rough and leaves swirls, so I use a new sponge on my wife's car a few times first until it softens up, then I use it on my smart.
I also suggest a good waxing after a good wash, something with Carnuba wax in it, it gives it a lovely finish and a protective coating.
I have has my smart over 4 years now and it still looks fantastic, but I have had a few scares with scratching, so be careful.
El

jefferios · 12-23-2008, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by headless

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! !!!!
Don't take any car through any robot carwash, far less a smart.
I have found the smart scratches easy, you have to be careful or you get little hairline scratches when you wash it, eg, I never use a new sponge on it as it is too rough and leaves swirls, so I use a new sponge on my wife's car a few times first until it softens up, then I use it on my smart.
I also suggest a good waxing after a good wash, something with Carnuba wax in it, it gives it a lovely finish and a protective coating.
I have has my smart over 4 years now and it still looks fantastic, but I have had a few scares with scratching, so be careful.
El

Yea, after one time I noticed a few slight scratches in mine. One day when it got up to 50 degrees in Ames, I washed and put a layer of Klasse all over the smart, now the snow almost falls off on its own. Also putting a layer of protection. But I'll never go through a automatic wash, too expensive and less fun.

Woody14619 · 01-05-2009, 07:48 PM

Lets be clear... you should never take it through a bristle or brush auto-wash. They can cause scratches on the panels. Being a previous Saturn owner, I was warned several times about how micro-scratches on the panels break them down and make them look ugly. Water jet auto-washes are fine though, unless you have a cabrio. The cabrio has a few more places to leak, and may need a shower cap for the back window and the bar latch in points.

The key here is that folks in the northern states can't always hand-wash our cars outside due to temperature. Water jet based auto-washes can sometimes be the only real option to get the salt and road grime off the car.

h20m0f0 · 01-05-2009, 08:20 PM

I always wash my car by HAND, it's a Smart Car it takes 5 mins to wash it, never take it through the car wash and only use microfiber towels never terry cloth you will scratch you car and if it's black like mine you will be sorry. My car has no scratches on it, my wife won't even drive it cause she dosen't want to be the one who puts the first scratch in it....

jimvw57 · 01-05-2009, 08:57 PM

Stop on up here when it is -20F and wash my car for me will you?? Sometimes the alternative to an automatic car wash (with no brushes) is to leave the salt and crud on there for 2-3 months. Not good for keeping the corrosion down. When it gets above 20F all the snow and slush is flying so washing a car is pretty futile.