In Boston, freezing temps snow and the resulting salt that will eat the car out from underneath you necessitates frequent mech car washes. take of the antenea and your front plate mount may get f'd up.

 

Touchless washes are crap.

They leave a small film of dirt and my wheels dirty as hell.
Bought the premium job with the "under body" & "Wheel water blast"

Didnt clean em for nothing. Not worth a penny if you ask me.
Stick to handwashing

 

I've used Amaco's touchless wash and have had no problems. It's all done by sensors, so there are no tracks to drive into and cause subsequent damage to your wheels, especially if you've upgraded them like I have. We get some rough winters in Chicago, and this wash has never failed to do a good job. I've also never had a problem leaving the antenna on. Whatever you feel comfortable with, right?

 

ive used the one with the spinning things that beat the SH*T outta ur car...it worked well....ive just recently used the touchfree one ultamate clean....with undercar cleaning....was very happy with up......not worried about the paint...i wash and wash/remove wax and re-apply meguires gold series once a month.

 

The automated's do do a crappy job, but at least it is better then having all that salt and junk on the car. I agree with the rest of you about hand washing. It is the best to make your baby shine like you want it to, but when it is freezing outside it is a nightmare washing a car, and then you get a frozen hose and all hell breaks loose.

 

f the auto wash grow some ***** and take it to a quarter car wash and do it yerself... auto washes scratch the **** out of yer car... if ur to lazy to do it yerself.... then u deserve the scratches u will get in those BS auto washes.... just my 2 cents.... O yeah and i live in MI... so iknow all about the road salt...