ROTF! This is exactly what I think about whenever that **** happens, or god forbid I run out of washer fluid on my way to work on the highway and the road spray begins to take over.

Stay as far away from the back of plows/salt trucks as possible! Your car will look like some pizza hut worker's face when the winter is over.

 

Oh, that's totally extreme. IMHO it's just a freaking car for Pete's sake.... Do you know how many cars cost more than the EVO?
Anyway, what if you don't have an option? I don't have a place or the water to wash my car.... The coin op car washes are pretty worthless and sometimes it's just inconvenient to get the car hand washed (like when there are huge wait times or the car wash is closed). As long as the car wash is not damaging the wing or antenna, you should be OK. Otherwise, the touchless car washes are safe enough.....
Personally, I prefer to take it to a place or two near my work where they hand wash it, dry it and vacuum the inside for $15 or $20

 

I would rather do a touchless since hand wash car washes will swirl your paint since they usually use crappy towels that a re reused on multiple cars. Only do the car wash in inclement weather since most use recycled water and will remove any protectant you may have put on the car. From my point of view this car is inexpensive and I'm not quite as **** about it as I am other cars.

 

"use the force" that was maddd funny!
why is the evo a $30,000 tracer again?? I didnt get that one

 

The only reason I don't want to drive my car in the rain or a car wash, is the water gets on my EGT sensor (or the connector), and the probe doesn't read correctly until the water evaporates.

 

I feel bad for all you guys suffering from the rain.. since i moved from the east coast on june 1st..I have not experienced one day of rain in california untill today, and my car was garaged and not at work luckily where it could have gotten wet.

 

Spare me with all the great weather in California. How's the smog for one that never clears the entire LA, San Diego, OC and San Bernadino counties. I couldn't believe with 30% humidity that in every direction at any time of day there is a layer of pollution. Other than that, I for one enjoy rainy days, even snow on my property here and there (doesn't kill anyone that's for sure!), and most of all the smell (and look) of fall in New England. No boring, sand only beach comes close to the fall foilage (IMHO). As for the earlier comments about how great Florida weather is, jeez. On an environmental note, Southern California and Southern Nevada are rapidly running out of fresh water. This could be a problem don't you think?

AS for the issues at hand, car washing by yourself, touchless or brush, will get your can cleaner and driving it anywhere is far more harmful than recycled water, old towels, etc.

If you want proof, just drive on a recently paved or dirt road with all four wheels spinning, behind a big truck and note the damage which probably exceeds 500 car washes of any sort. Or the love bugs in the south during the early summer that can't be removed easily with even tar remover. Arrgh now that sucks!

 

just wash the car yourself...it comes out better and you dont have to worry about anything happening to it

 

[QUOTE=Google]Spare me with all the great weather in California. How's the smog for one that never clears the entire LA, San Diego, OC and San Bernadino counties. I couldn't believe with 30% humidity that in every direction at any time of day there is a layer of pollution. Other than that, I for one enjoy rainy days, even snow on my property here and there (doesn't kill anyone that's for sure!), and most of all the smell (and look) of fall in New England. No boring, sand only beach comes close to the fall foilage (IMHO). As for the earlier comments about how great Florida weather is, jeez. On an environmental note, Southern California and Southern Nevada are rapidly running out of fresh water. This could be a problem don't you think?

QUOTE]

Everyone really hates it here in OC. People are leaving in droves. Must be why we have the highest median housing price in the country..Because nobody wants to live here...The only place I have lived that can compare is Boulder Co. As far as water goes, as long as the rest of the country wants food, they will keep sending us the water.

 

I don't want to take my Evo in the drive-thru car wash, but with winter coming, I may not have a choice. Though there are the self wash areas at some drive thru car washes...I guess I'll have to throw on a few layers and bear it.

 

OC is not at the top of median real estate values on a county basis (San Fransisco and Fairfield, CT), but I won't deny it is climbing rapidly. But dare I say that far too many iin the OC that are using aggressive ARMs interest only mortgages to "pay" (i.e. afford) for their home, which may also be a problem down the road. And on a side note, negative net population flow this year (slightly albeit) due to flows of people to Las Vegas region. The whole region reminds me of a second gold rush-- how much is left

 

Every part part of the country has it's plusses and minuses. There is no doubt that Califirnia has a lot of appeal and a lot going for it, so does New England. I like both places for different reasons. I like SF a lot, but I like Manhattan too (I like it better). Atlanta has some good points but it sucks in some ways. North Georgia, Western North Caroline and Easter Tenn have the best twisties and the countryside is beautiful, but it would not be a fun place to live (kinda dead if you know what I mean). Also, don't put down Florida because it's a great place (except for the nasty weather lately )

Anyway, back on topic....... The drive through car washes that I've tried don't do a super job, but they are not bad either. I always see better results from a standard wash with a hose, fresh water and the right soap, sponges, etc. Oh yeah, I've not had problems with my EGT messing up from drive through washes, but the last bit of hurricane related monsoons and flooded roads played hell with my EGT gauge.....

 

Holy Crap Batman, this thread is still alive?? Whoa...............