[andrew28]

I have one of those unlimited monthly wash memberships so I go through a tunnel wash frequently. Noticing the front plastic bumper already showing some light scratches. I pretty much have no choice if I want to get the undercarriage cleaned. Either rust on the bottom from the salt or get light scratches. I have only one touchless wash nearby, and your car comes out with soap/water spots. Self-wash bays are out of the question due to water/soap icing up, no way to spray the bottom, can get expensive, and don't want to freeze outside.


Just want to add, no garage, car is parked outside on the street.

 

[mgldan]

Would love it if there was a touchless wash around here, but there's not.

Depending upon how bad the finish gets, I may bring the car in for detailing at the 1-year anniversary. I saw some marks on the "shark fin" the other day, and there are clearcoat scratches on the passenger side too.

 

[andrew28]

Would love it if there was a touchless wash around here, but there's not.

Depending upon how bad the finish gets, I may bring the car in for detailing at the 1-year anniversary. I saw some marks on the "shark fin" the other day, and there are clearcoat scratches on the passenger side too.

I'm not sure why touchless wash are so rare(only one in Boston). The one near me is poorly maintained, old facility, car comes out looking more dirty than clean, probably using dirty recycled water, and cost $10.

^I want a touchless car wash like this near me and it's only $7.

 

[BILLBOGEY]

Living in Rio Grande Valley of Texas there is no salt or chemicals on road for snow melting so I wash the car by hand in driveway, just spray under car to remove loose dirt. There are many hand wash places in this area if you are too lazy to do it yourself. Will not go to automatic car wash if I can avoid it.

 

[hasarad]

Here there is a local car wash with some of those features. It's $40 a month, and leaves dirty water on the lower side of the car. I have to towel off the dirty water spots every time.

My local car wash (a highly rated Shammy Shine) does a decent job, but there are several areas that come out sub-par due to the Insight's design:

Inside of splash guards (they stick out)
Around license plate (recessed)
Door jambs (for obvious reasons)
Grille and headlights (intricate)

I keep a Harbor Freight tool bag full of free-with-any-purchase microfiber towels in the trunk which solves all of the above with five minutes of effort post-wash. I can't wait for the weather to get warmer as I rather enjoy washing the Insight by hand. I bought a new foam cannon for my pressure washer the other day, so I'm looking forward to warmer weather!

 

[safedad]

So thankful for this thread! I was planning on using auto car washes, but given all of this doubt that I will.

Automatic washes with spin brushes and/or the long towel drapes are the worst. All the dirt from every other car is trapped in those things and becomes a potential scratch.

Touch-free washes are OK, but of course they can still leave some film and if your car was really dirty it might be wise to ask them not to hand dry, especially if they aren't using fresh towels for every car. I have a local one I like, they manually spray everything with a pressure washer before you car goes into the automatic part, then they dry with clean towels for every car from the top down.

When I don't want to do a hand wash, I like to use the manual car wash bay pressure wash with soap, then do a quick once over with my hand wash mitt to clean it. Then run it through their small automatic touch-free spray washer for another wash, rinse and dry.

The Insight is so low it can be a chore for me to bend over and get the bottom on a full hand wash, though at least it's easy to get the roof.

 

[andrew28]

Automatic washes with spin brushes and/or the long towel drapes are the worst. All the dirt from every other car is trapped in those things and becomes a potential scratch.

Touch-free washes are OK, but of course they can still leave some film and if your car was really dirty it might be wise to ask them not to hand dry, especially if they aren't using fresh towels for every car. I have a local one I like, they manually spray everything with a pressure washer before you car goes into the automatic part, then they dry with clean towels for every car from the top down.

When I don't want to do a hand wash, I like to use the manual car wash bay pressure wash with soap, then do a quick once over with my hand wash mitt to clean it. Then run it through their small automatic touch-free spray washer for another wash, rinse and dry.

The Insight is so low it can be a chore for me to bend over and get the bottom on a full hand wash, though at least it's easy to get the roof.

I pay a monthly unlimited use subscription to use a tunnel wash(it's a new facility opened about a year ago). I have noticed some light scratches upon close inspection but I can't see it normally due to my Insight being white. My Insight has a few coat of Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Wax so maybe the slickness have prevented some scratches from using the tunnel wash. I can also remove them with a polish/cleaner wax product. I dry the car with clean micro-fiber towels I bring myself.



I wish I had a garage but this is the most economical way($20/month and $30/month in the winter for the undercarriage) to keep my car clean since I park outside near a tree.

 

[hasarad]

... since I park outside near a tree.

I found that, since I cut the tree by my driveway down, I've really reduced the number of car washes I need. The only problem is, that after doing the math, it will take 140 less car washes to make back the cost of cutting the tree down.

But seriously, I try to avoid tunnel car washes as I've been caught behind muddy pickups and cars and can only imagine how much of that dirt gets ground into my car's finish. I'm fortunate enough to have a driveway where I can break out a pressure washer and foam cannon to spend a couple hours detailing my Insight.

 

[Mr. Natural]

I hand wash in the driveway exclusively except in the winter. Then I’ll use wand or touchless car washes. I avoid brush washes like the plague.

 

[Johudso7]

I pay a monthly unlimited use subscription to use a tunnel wash(it's a new facility opened about a year ago). I have noticed some light scratches upon close inspection but I can't see it normally due to my Insight being white. My Insight has a few coat of Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Wax so maybe the slickness have prevented some scratches from using the tunnel wash. I can also remove them with a polish/cleaner wax product. I dry the car with clean micro-fiber towels I bring myself.



I wish I had a garage but this is the most economical way($20/month and $30/month in the winter for the undercarriage) to keep my car clean since I park outside near a tree.

I too have an unlimited wash subscription and I use every last bit of that subscription! I drive by the car wash everyday on my way home from work and I stop at said car wash NEARLY everyday! I really enjoy having a clean car, just looks so much nicer when they are clean. I pay $33 bucks a month to have the cleanest car on the block and it's worth every penny!

I am fortunate (and thankful!) enough to have a garage to park in at home, but at work the parking lot is close to a creek that is very dense with vegetation and trees so lots of birds along with other wildlife are in the area. I would say almost daily I come out to my car at the end of the work day with multiple bird droppings on my vehicle.

Scratches to the car are a concern of mine when it comes to these tunnel car washes. Looking at the car in direct sunlight, I can see some circular scratches to the paint. I do have a really good layer of wax on the car but I just don't think it can keep up the nearly DAILY washes. I do have a cutting pad for my compound buffer and I've seen it get some scratches out of my previous car, so I have high hopes that a little elbow grease and TLC will fix it up when it comes time to wax again in the Fall. It's definitely a price to pay when it comes time to put in the time and effort to do the waxing and the paint correction but man... I sure do love having a clean car!

 

[andrew28]

I hand wash in the driveway exclusively except in the winter. Then I’ll use wand or touchless car washes. I avoid brush washes like the plague.

The touchless car washes and self serve washes are disappearing in my area because you can't really use them in the winter since they get iced up all the time when it drops below freezing.

I too have an unlimited wash subscription and I use every last bit of that subscription! I drive by the car wash everyday on my way home from work and I stop at said car wash NEARLY everyday! I really enjoy having a clean car, just looks so much nicer when they are clean. I pay $33 bucks a month to have the cleanest car on the block and it's worth every penny!

I am fortunate (and thankful!) enough to have a garage to park in at home, but at work the parking lot is close to a creek that is very dense with vegetation and trees so lots of birds along with other wildlife are in the area. I would say almost daily I come out to my car at the end of the work day with multiple bird droppings on my vehicle.

Scratches to the car are a concern of mine when it comes to these tunnel car washes. Looking at the car in direct sunlight, I can see some circular scratches to the paint. I do have a really good layer of wax on the car but I just don't think it can keep up the nearly DAILY washes. I do have a cutting pad for my compound buffer and I've seen it get some scratches out of my previous car, so I have high hopes that a little elbow grease and TLC will fix it up when it comes time to wax again in the Fall. It's definitely a price to pay when it comes time to put in the time and effort to do the waxing and the paint correction but man... I sure do love having a clean car!

I go about every 2-3 days depending on if I'm in the mood of drying the car after the wash(yeah, I'm that lazy). I use Meguiar's 3 in 1 wax to get rid of the light scratches/swirls without needing compound to cut into the clear coat and then apply Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Wax on top. I plan on doing this twice a year (Spring & Fall) when I clay bar the car to get rid of contaminants embedded into the paint.

I found that, since I cut the tree by my driveway down, I've really reduced the number of car washes I need. The only problem is, that after doing the math, it will take 140 less car washes to make back the cost of cutting the tree down.

But seriously, I try to avoid tunnel car washes as I've been caught behind muddy pickups and cars and can only imagine how much of that dirt gets ground into my car's finish. I'm fortunate enough to have a driveway where I can break out a pressure washer and foam cannon to spend a couple hours detailing my Insight.

The tree doesn't belong to me so I can't cut it down but even if I did my friends/family would probably give me grief for killing the tree to protect my hybrid car.

 

[pasei]

I think it switches to park and shuts the car off. You can permanently keep it in neutral by shifting to neutral and then within 5 seconds turn off the car.

Any car wash you recommend north of Boston? Really want to get all this salt off...

 

[andrew28]

Any car wash you recommend north of Boston? Really want to get all this salt off...

I get my car washed at Scrubadub in Brighton, MA. I've a monthly unlimited wash membership with them. I only go to that one since the facility is newer vs the other Scrubadubs in the state. Your car might get some scratches from the spinning cloth wraps due to dirt trapped on them. This is true for all other car washes that aren't touchless. The scratches aren't as visible on my car since it's White but it might be more noticeable on a darker color car. I also clay, polish, and wax my car twice a year to get rid of the scratches.


The safest car wash are those that are touchless and the ones where you wash the car yourself with a high pressure sprayer. Touchless car washes for some reason are kind of rare in the Boston area. There's one on Route 1 in Saugus, MA that is touchless and uses the laserwash system. I haven't try them before but the reviews on google seem okay. Route 1 Car Wash

 

[lborne]

I'm not sure why touchless wash are so rare(only one in Boston). The one near me is poorly maintained, old facility, car comes out looking more dirty than clean, probably using dirty recycled water, and cost $10.


Friend owns a couple car washes and switched to brushes over the touchless. It uses less water and gets the cars cleaner. He is required to use recycled water, so the less he uses, the less cost to filter that water.

 

[lborne]

I'm in Florida and keep my Insight garaged. As with every new car I've owned, at first I am a bit OCD and hand wash often (sometimes twice a week) and wax every couple of months. As soon as the first significant scratch, dent or other blemish that I can't hide destroys my once perfect car, then I hit the auto car wash. A friend of mine owns one right near my home and gives me a booklet of free washes for my birthday, etc.

I've always kept my cars in really good condition - inside and out. I never allowed my kids to eat in my car and made them empty their pockets before getting in (mostly to avoid puncture holes in the leather). I use a plastic floor mat over the carpet one and vacuum them all after every wash.

This is the first car where my wife and I regularly switch depending on who is driving further each day. She usually drives it 3x a week and I take it 2x. I'm striving to keep the Insight like new and keep that new car smell for as long as possible, but it is a challenge with her driving that much. She was about to take it to pick up 7 pizzas for a kid's birthday party this weekend when I had to rush out and confiscate the keys.

Finally, I keep a micro fiber cloth in the car to wipe down the dash and video screen - can't stand dust and fingerprints. My wife thinks I'm a bit over the top, and she is right, but it is such a nice feeling getting into a perfectly clean car - and friends always comment how amazing my 2006 Accord looks.

 

[andrew28]

I'm not sure why touchless wash are so rare(only one in Boston). The one near me is poorly maintained, old facility, car comes out looking more dirty than clean, probably using dirty recycled water, and cost $10.


Friend owns a couple car washes and switched to brushes over the touchless. It uses less water and gets the cars cleaner. He is required to use recycled water, so the less he uses, the less cost to filter that water.

Yes, this is true you need friction to get some contaminants off the paint. Also explains why I haven't seen a car wash do unlimited touchless wash yet.

I'm in Florida and keep my Insight garaged. As with every new car I've owned, at first I am a bit OCD and hand wash often (sometimes twice a week) and wax every couple of months. As soon as the first significant scratch, dent or other blemish that I can't hide destroys my once perfect car, then I hit the auto car wash. A friend of mine owns one right near my home and gives me a booklet of free washes for my birthday, etc.

I've always kept my cars in really good condition - inside and out. I never allowed my kids to eat in my car and made them empty their pockets before getting in (mostly to avoid puncture holes in the leather). I use a plastic floor mat over the carpet one and vacuum them all after every wash.

This is the first car where my wife and I regularly switch depending on who is driving further each day. She usually drives it 3x a week and I take it 2x. I'm striving to keep the Insight like new and keep that new car smell for as long as possible, but it is a challenge with her driving that much. She was about to take it to pick up 7 pizzas for a kid's birthday party this weekend when I had to rush out and confiscate the keys.

Finally, I keep a micro fiber cloth in the car to wipe down the dash and video screen - can't stand dust and fingerprints. My wife thinks I'm a bit over the top, and she is right, but it is such a nice feeling getting into a perfectly clean car - and friends always comment how amazing my 2006 Accord looks.

Yep, I think the same as you. I like to keep my car clean inside and outside. I vacuum(got husky all weather floor mats), clean the windows, and wipe the interior down once a month. It gives a nice impression when you take friends or guests in your car. I don't eat in my car and when I do carry out I put the food in the trunk. Then I stick one of my charcoal bamboo moso bags in there to neutralize the smell.

 

[andrew28]

Was sitting in my parked Insight earlier and heard a small thud sound on the roof. Exited the car and saw 2 big splash of mustard color bird poop. God damn whatever bird it was had good aim even with the windy condition today.

Took my car to the Route 1 car wash to try the laserwash system since I was nearby.

My car has a coating of the Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic btw. After I exited the wash the bird poop was still there and it look almost untouched. After this experience, I don't recommend the laserwash @pasei if you have anything caked on like salt/bird poop. Wasted $12 and then I went directly to a self-serve car wash. Took me less than 2 minutes to get rid of the bird poop with a high pressure rinse spray with no soap. I think the Turtle Wax coating helped because the bird poop just melted away.

 

[insightfully]

I've always kept my cars in really good condition - inside and out. I never allowed my kids to eat in my car and made them empty their pockets before getting in (mostly to avoid puncture holes in the leather). I use a plastic floor mat over the carpet one and vacuum them all after every wash.

What type of plastic floor mat do you use over the carpet one? I'm doing something similar, but it doesn't cover the full area very well. Is your mat rubber/plastic like Husky or WeatherTech, or is it hard plastic like ExactMats? I've been considering the clear/hard plastic ExactMats version. - Exact Mats - Honda Insight [2019 - 2020]

 

[insightfully]

Was sitting in my parked Insight earlier and heard a small thud sound on the roof. Exited the car and saw 2 big splash of mustard color bird poop. God damn whatever bird it was had good aim even with the windy condition today.
[...]
Took me less than 2 minutes to get rid of the bird poop with a high pressure rinse spray with no soap. I think the Turtle Wax coating helped because the bird poop just melted away.

Dang... what are birds eating these days? Getting a quick/early clean-up of the mess probably also helped with it rolling off easily.

 

[lborne]

What type of plastic floor mat do you use over the carpet one? I'm doing something similar, but it doesn't cover the full area very well. Is your mat rubber/plastic like Husky or WeatherTech, or is it hard plastic like ExactMats? I've been considering the clear/hard plastic ExactMats version. - Exact Mats - Honda Insight [2019 - 2020]

For my older cars, I used ju a cheap one I found at Wal-Mart. You buy them big and are meant to be cut to fit. I used a hole punch to secure it to the tabs holding the regular mat in place. I have not done this to the Insight cause the wife does not like it, and this is the first car we are sharing often, so I'll just buy an OEM replacement mat if needed.