Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Our moderns don't usually get washed all that often, although when I do get out the bucket and sponge they do receive a comprehensive going over. Only the other day I had to resort to a toothbrush to clean around the windows and rear badges on our V70 properly. The arches always get a good hosing out too, so that no mud can build up and hasten corrosion.

The oldies get a similar treatment but on a more frequent basis.

I can't say that I'm much of a polisher, the oldies get an occasional treatment (I did do the truck once, but as it took 3.5 days - prior to a photoshoot - I can't see me repeating that again too soon), but the "white goods" moderns never receive polish.

How evangelical or otherwise are you about having a clean car? Do you ever use the car cleaning services offered at the local supermarket?

RJ
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[Roger-hatchy]

[emmerson]

The Volvo 850 "modern" (although it is as old as the Range Rover LSE) has never been washed in the six years I've had it.
The Range Rover, however gets a thorough wash whenever it needs it, and yes, occasionally by the boys up the road. I even use the supermarket drive through if I'm in a hurry.

[peppiB]

I can no longer manage to carry buckets of water so I use waterless car cleaner Spray over the dirt, wipe with absorbent cloth and all the dirt is gone. Once the whole car is done I wipe over with another absorbent cloth and they shine. Takes me about 10 minutes per car. When I am finished I wash out the cloths, let them dry and then they are ready for the next time

[petermeachem]

I've had my crv for maybe 6 years. I've washed it once just after I got it. It doesn't get any grubbier after a couple of weeks, I think Willie Rushton referred to it as a benign layer that protected the paint.
My daughter gets her car washed by the people in the car park at Sainburys, she has no problem with them.

[kismet]

I wash the cars more frequently in the winter, the road car every couple of weeks and the Defender after every time it has been out in possibly salty conditions including underneath. The Moke gets washed as soon as it gets dirty. They all get the toothbrush treatment in the nooks and crannies.
They all get waxed two to three times each year, and the Defender is Waxoiled annually.

[Ellis]

Because I have a fastidious mother, she insists that "her" car, a modern Fiat Panda, is washed every week. It's easier to comply and obey than not to.....

I try to keep my daily drive, a Ford Ranger Pick Up, clean, simply because, although semi retired, I have a property letting business and in a way my daily vehicle is my shop window.

As to the Land Rover Series 2a, well, who ever washes a Land Rover? I like the patina. At least that's my excuse.
The Series 1 and the Jaguar Mark 2 are in storage and covered so those don't need cleaning.

I bought a Discovery TD5 last year privately from a neighbour and I paid to have it valeted inside and out. This was first time I have had this done and the end result was well worth the £50 I paid.
It is a big vehicle and that's how I justified the expense........
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[gresham flyer]

My father used to tell me...."You can judge a man by his shoes".

The same goes for the vehicle he drives.

My work van is not dirty,does not have crap pilled up on the dashboard or on the passenger seat. The rear is very tidy so I can find tools quickly.
If I see someone I know waiting at a bus stop I can give them a lift without shovelling out a wheel barrow load of stuff before they get in.

My classic vehicles are always kept clean.

If I am not working on a restoration project,nothing is more therapeutic than going in the workshop,lighting the woodburner,putting on the radio and cleaning one of my cars ready to take somewhere. Whilst cleaning a lovely old 1950`s classic my thoughts drift away to those far off day`s or to the thoughts of driving my classic along some of my favourite European roads etc.
It beats watching drivel on the TV.

Perhaps it all started as a young child when I would clean the family cars in the 1960`s,I just loved polishing all that chrome. I just loved hosing the underside spotless.

My father told me I would clean my pedal alongside his car on the front drive.

G.F

[vitesse]

We have a modern day Fiat 500 which isn't really mine but I keep nicking it to pop down the shops as it uses hardly any petrol, plus it is really fun little thing to drive. I had to wash and Hoover it out the other day as the other half refused to take it to the Fiat dealership for its service as it was too dirty!!!! I did point out that it got a complimentary wash and Hoover but that didn't work.

Never been polished though and when I took it to the local hand car wash, I was queuing up waiting to be pressured washed and the little Eastern European guy had a big broom and was washing a mini bus in front, rather vigorously. I was sitting inside the car thinking he was getting a bit close to my front wing with the end of the brush and bang, it left a little dent on the wing. He looked at it and said it was ok. I got out and it wasn't. They had to pay for a dent removal guy to come to my house to get the dent out. Which I was amazed at how good the fix was, couldn't see it at all. Never been back to that car cleaners.

I also have a modern-ish car a 55 plate that has done 20k in eight years and it does get quite a regular dose of Autoglym.

[Rick]

[ukdave2002]

The moderns get washed far more frequently than the old crocks, simply down to the fact they cover far more mileage, and quite frequently by the nice folk in Sainsbury's car park

Dave

[MikeEdwards]

Funnily enough I've found that I wash my modern car much less frequently than I did my previous daily driver, which is strange only because the current one is (or was, when I bought it) by far the most expensive car I've ever bought. I do try from time to time to give it a good wash, and sometimes I'll get the wheels off and give it a good power wash underneath (nice to see all that clean silver stonechip) but I think the Firenza is way cleaner generally. But, like Dave's older cars, it does hardly any mileage by comparison.

Some years ago when me and a mate used to hire a car to chase the RAC rally, we used to have a challenge to see how dirty we could get it before it was returned. Quite dirty indeed, as it turned out.

[bob2]

I do like cleaning cars!
I tend to clean the daily much more than the oldies as it gets so much more use, the oldies are hardly getting any use lately.
I wash the daily weekly and it gets a coating in autoglym's rapid detailer every time. Occassionally I polish it up or wax it too. The inside is done less frequently, on average maybe once every month or two.
The engine bay is also cleaned twice a year but the boot, I forgot when was the last time I cleaned it actually!!!

The others are cleaned and valeted too from time to time, but I never pay anyone to do it. I like doing it so whats the point in paying someone else to do it!

[Riley Blue]

Our 'shopping trolley' Fiesta diesel gets a visit to the local Shiny hand wash once or twice a year but the Riley goes to a different one a bit further away when it needs it where they treat it like royalty. The Riley also gets washed when we're away, either at a hand wash or if there isn't one nearby, we have fun at a jet wash. There's usually one or the other wherever we go.
I've sold my Audi as I did so little mileage in it and now, when we need a bit more comfort for a long journey in the winter months when the Riley's off the road, we hire something - no washing involved!

[baconsdozen]

My taxi has to spend its time parked under trees. Pigeons with over active backsides roost in them at night.
I've yet to find a polish that the resultant decoration doesn't stick to and instead rub the paintwork with fluid film so that it doesn't stick.
Now the leaves have gone I could see if a dose of buckshot might be a more permanent cure but they now seem to be roosting elsewhere.
Maybe I'll leave a load of my aunts dumplings nearby,even a ruddy great eagle couldn't get airborne again with one of them inside it.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).