OK here it go's will the crossfire run through an automatic car wash without dragging bottom? Just wondered. They seem to sit pretty low.I would hate to rip off the bottom of the car...LOL
Tim

 

wont rip the bottom just beats the snot out of the paint!!!

 

Aw man, please no auto car washes! What did your XF ever do to you? BUT if you have to do it, you will be fine.

 

I wouldn't know. I always wash my baby by hand.

 

Hand wash all the way. It's part of the XF owner's creed.

 

OH, TIM....you have sinned my friend.....pray to the XF gods to forgive you....touchless only.....lol.....now, with that said, would you take one of those beautiful rods you build thru one???? Didn't think so....and the quote above I am not sure about...."my baby by hand" is a little more info than we need...and TIM...now that you are forgiven...these little babies are built like tanks...so it will be fine....but I am still crenging...

 

I have forgotten how high those rails that guide the car through the wash are but I suspect some could do a real number on your rims if enough pressure was applied to the tire sidewall.

 

good point 180....there isn't much protection from the sidewalls, and the rims scratch easy....

 

I would drive mine dirty before I would run it thru an automated car wash.
No dirt could do what one of dem washing machines could do.

Use a coin operated wand wash if you must but never would I trust a machine to touch mine. They have no soul.

roadster with a stick

 

Shame on you man. Please say you were just kidding.

 

Geez, sorry I ask....lol well Just thought I would get all the road grim off the bottom before it came in the shiop for a head to toe detail. The car needs clay bared then swirl mark remover buff. I will have this thing looking better than it ever rolled out of the factory.Dont worry I'm not a fan of the car wash either. just thought it would be quicker than getting it up on the lift and cleaning by hand.
Tim

 

It will be fine if you go to a good one. I wash mine one a week for 2 years and nothing has ever happened to it. I run one we wash all sorts of high end stuff 360 ferrari, bentely, and other stuff like that. I have been there for almost 7 year and only see a handfull of car that have been harmed and almost all of them are because the person driving the car didnt know what they were doing.

 

Now if you own a roadster and have not taken a shower in awhile, you can kill two birds with one stone

 

Anyone who rolls a 360 or a bentley through an auto wash should be shot. In the head.

YOU may not see the damage the paint is being subjected to, but it is definitely there, trust me.

 

A car wash will not hurt the paint. The outside elements are much more harsh on the paint than anything a car was could throw at it. I paint cars every day for a living. Today's clears are so much more durable than even 5/6 years ago. You can do just as much damage washing a car by hand. Swirl marks in clear come from foreign objects being ground into the paint. Even washing a car by hand with a sponge will do the same damage. Do I think you can do a better job by hand? No doubt about it. One of the comments was would I run one of the restored cars I build through a car wash. No not a chance. As the cost involved in restoring a car or building a one off hot rod is enough to buy a fleet of crossfires. My main concern was it sitting to low. Besides new car hide so many defects in the paint by the uncut and buffed clear. Most late model cars have more orange peel in them than an orange. The clearer the cut and buff the more defects you will see in the paint. Hence the factory texture. If you want to see the difference just pull up to a true show car and there will be no comparison. I know everone here is very passionate about there car and are very proud. As you should be. As I'm am the same as you very proud of my new purchase. But come on guys light'n up a little.
Tim

 

welcome aboard Tim.....it's never personal....we love ya man......

 

Our car washes, you just pull in and a sensor tells you when to stop. No guided out of controll rollercoaster dealeos. I try to wash by hand but sometimes just drive it through. I wouldnt drive a convertable through one though because everyone knows they're of inferior build to a coupe

 

No they aren't.....don't you start with me.....lol

 

I wouldnt take mine to one, but then again I know my car wouldnt clear the roller that tugs your car along.

And the problem with car washes is this, they recycle their water, and those brushes have seen god knows what, if a car before you came in covered with mud, those brushes are going to beat the mud right into the clearcoat.. and yes, they will scratch clear coat, a pair of denim jeans will scratch a car if you rub up against it.

the force those brushes hit your car at is like beating someone with a wet noodle.

im a detailer and I hand wash everything, **** a carwash

 

Hand wash both 2005s. Of course, they're not out in the winter and rarely see the rain. A clean sponge is used for the body and a different sponge for the rims. Sure it's **** retentive, but it has such a small body it doesn't take long. Now that my wife says keep my hands off her, I have to find something else and what better than a XF? And, the XF doesn't complain when I puff a stogie and drink a beer while washing and drying her. Perfect.