Are folks too posh now??

[spock500]

Are folks too posh now to wash their own cars?

I cant help wondering this as I never see anyone on my estate out with a bucket and sponge - what happened to kids raising pocket money doing a car wash round?

The one exception to this is my neighbour but other than that we are in the Twilight Zone of car washing

And another thing...rant, rant, rant..I never see anyone checking their oil or even with the bonnet up before they set off on long journeys to the coast

Ok, back to the waxing with me Aqua wax

 

[renault12ts]

One has a chap to do it for one.

 

[Will]

I think a lot more people decide not to wash their own cars these days - certainly seems that way near me. Probably less than 1/5th wash their own IMHO.

Probably in some case people aren't into cars etc so it's not appealing to them. Some perhaps consider that it's not worth 1/2 -1 hour of their time for the sake of £5-10 at the local car wash. It is funny however seeing the huge queues on the weekend - people will happily sit and wait for 30 minutes or more - they could potentially wash their own car in that time!

I on the other hand am probably guilty of spending too much time cleaning my 'nice' car. I've never ever polished my 300TE, it gets a quick wash once a month or two. Same as my daily car - a quick wash once a fortnight and maybe a hoover every couple of months. But I'll spend whatever time it takes to clean/'detail' my favourite/garaged/weekend car as I appreciate it more and it doesn't really get dirty

Each to their own as theys say.

Will

 

[scooter]

I know what you are saying same where i live now and again i get a couple a young fellas come to my door offering to wash my car but my car is my pride and joy i barely like my kids in my car never mind somebody else washing my car i know when i do it it is done right

 

[wemorgan]

With regards to oil checks, I think many owners assume the car's dash will tell them when it's time for some more oil.

That's not the assumption I've ever made, especially with the Smart car's drinking habit.

 

[ROBB]

many happy hours were spent by me when i was a kid washing cars - gotta get money somehow.

my kids went through a similar phase when they were 10/11 ish but they quickly became too good for that, preferring to whinge/moan at me for money.

I always wash my own - but see very few around me doing the same. yes there are many of these cheap car washes near me but i resent paying for something i can do myself.

I will happily spend all afternoon doing it; i like the end result & i can do better than some stranger with no other interest than money.

Detailing/weekend cars are a whole other thing altogether - and after having a look at the Elite website - the set up cost of the materials could be a little scary - but i can see the attraction. maybe one day . . .

 

[300eDAVE]

With regards to oil checks, I think many owners assume the car's dash will tell them when it's time for some more oil.

That's not the assumption I've ever made, especially with the Smart car's drinking habit.

As does mine , and I carry spare oil for when it does and my old E220 CDi didnt have a dip stick to look at (electronic innit)

As for washing the car - just wait for it to rain

 

[spock500]

And another thing.....

What's happened to the Sunday afternoon buzz of the lawn mower?

I'll tell you what, they have either decked over or turned their garden into one big patio as it's too much hassle to have grass!

Guess what I am doing tomorrow

Things I used to do as a kid to earn money (not all at the same time though)

Bread round

Paper round (only lasted a month, couldn't get up on time )

Milk round

Collecting golf balls

Car washing

 

[renault12ts]

One's gardener only works Monday to Friday.

 

[travelininstyle]

I just think honestly,people are time poor - I personally wash mine every week and get crabby if I cannot.When I am down at Tesco,they have a franchise of mobile car washers,that charge a fiver a wash,seems busy sometimes,even in these difficult times.

 

[Geezer]

Haven't washed a car for over 16 years. I have valeters at work! :bannana:

 

[Spinal]

And another thing.....


Collecting golf balls

Car washing

We used to collect lost golf balls and resell them Along with selling anything we could find in the house on a stall on the street (this was in Africa...)...

We made fantastic money (for a 8-year old), we would get the products free (our parents paid) and resold them without our parents knowing for less than they had bought them for

Another was selling chilled water... worked quite well especially as we were near a tourist hotspot... who needs lemonade when you can get ice cold water

M.

 

[rlowy]

Are folks too posh now to wash their own cars?

I cant help wondering this as I never see anyone on my estate out with a bucket and sponge - what happened to kids raising pocket money doing a car wash round?

The one exception to this is my neighbour but other than that we are in the Twilight Zone of car washing

And another thing...rant, rant, rant..I never see anyone checking their oil or even with the bonnet up before they set off on long journeys to the coast

Ok, back to the waxing with me Aqua wax

I always wash and valet my own cars, mine most days my wife and childrens every week.

Richard

 

[straight-six]

same here..always hand wash all my cars,dont trust car washes etc not to swirl me paint!

 

[Londonscottish]

same here..always hand wash all my cars,dont trust car washes etc not to swirl me paint!

Same here

 

[lynall]

Paying someone to wash your car always fascinates me, 1 you have to queue, 2 they are not going to care like you do, 3 how much grit and dirt is in their sponges?, 4 they all seem obsessesed with pressure washers which is not a good thing where certain models are concerned.

Hand wash it see any damage/rust! repair clean and have a better looking car than most people even though its a lot older.

Dont forget your average joe doesnt earn £5/10 per hour never mind per 1/2 hour.

As for car repair oil levels etc in my road with 42 houses i reckon theres about 5 of my neighbours can be seen with their bonnets up occasionaly.

As for lawns most peoples gardens are so small there is no lawn.



Lynall

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I simply can't do a quick wash. A combination of being slow and doing it right if I'm going to do it mean than a quick car wash is a couple of hours, and I'd rather spend that time with my wife and children. So the cars don't get washed often!!

In a town nearby there are now 5 hand carwashes within the space of about a mile or so. All bar one have appeared in the last 12 months as a result of the popularity of £3 hand car washes - I feel sorry for the one who's been there for years, struggling to compete as he's the only one with 'proper' premises and employees.

Not even the dealer is allowed to wash our cars!! I use one specific valet for whom I do not have to queue for, and who has the highest standards I've seen of a valeter - if I exclude detailers!!

Our ML is going there later today to remove all signs of mud and sand from holiday in Cornwall last week, so we can replace it with mud and sand from our holiday in Devon next week!!

I do was our caravan though. A quick wash yesterday finished 3 hours later saying that will have to do as Mrs D had had enough of waiting!! See I just can't do it quick!!

EDIT: PS I prefer not to cut the grass too if I can help it!!

 

[Colin_b]

I always wash my own cars, I just don't trust machines or other people. Usually they get 1 wash a fortnight, though I wash the wheels more often (I really dislike grubby alloy wheels), and check the fluids and tyres at the same time.

Its quite relaxing

 

[spock500]

And another thing.....


You can tell the cars that have been through a automated car wash as it never gets the bugs off the front, they just have a clean but dull look about them.

The Sunday car washing and mowing of the lawn is a great British tradition along with the Sunday roast and for some it's the only exercise they will get

We are slowly becoming Americanised in our expectations and dare I say it lazy

We are rapidly following them on the tubby scale.

Btw, what's happened to 'penny for the guy' ? don't tell me 'trick or treat'

used to take me and a mate a day to make a Guy Fawkes full of news paper and then pinch my sisters pram to sit outside the railway station

If you ask me there's never been a better time to blow up the houses of parliament

 

[Adam230K]

Short answer could be;

People dont wash their own cars anymore because its cheaper to go to a polish car wash place and get it done there while-u-wait.

People dont check their oil anymore before long journeys because modern cars are far more reliable then previous years, and oils have become alot better.