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drive then wash or wash then drive?

3K views 33 replies 29 participants last post by  xsiveone  
#1 ·
The black Z does not stay clean for long ,so do you wash it before you drive it or do you drive it and wash it when you get back? I've done it both ways and like the way it looks in the garage after a nice bath. I find myself just opening the garage door to look at it just for the grin it puts on my face seeing it all gussied up.
 
#5 ·
Wash, then drive. I'm not going to see it in the garage...Of course, I don't have to worry about the high maintenance of black anymore. :(
 
#7 ·
xsiveone said:
Depends where you want to drive it. If it's to show off the car, wash it before. If it's just to drive, wash it after. Don't let the washing and polishing get in the way of the driving it though.

X
yep, that's EXACTLY what I do. I have learned to touch my black vette as LITTLE as possible
 
#16 ·
maybe neither!

I apply a QD(quick detail) mist-like Zaino Z6, to the car immediately after driving it to remove any tar, bugs, etc. before they harden and force me to use something stronger on them. :mad:, as well as clean the wheels with a damp towel. this also enhances the Zaino finish. Removing the contaminants while they are fresh also means that I won't be scratching the surface-the QD pulls them right off.

Then, before I drive it, i run a CA duster over the entire car.

When I return, same thing again.

this way I wash the car as little as possible which translates into fewer fine scratches and swirls over time. washing actually causes wax breakdown faster than anything else, i have found after many years of detailing-it's a passion of mine.

Obviously if the car gets really dusty or rained on while driving, there is no choice but to wash it when I return.....
 
#17 ·
Nothing like the first drive after it's clean as a whistle! :yeadog:
 
#19 ·
Ummm....isn't it all relative? I mean you had to drive it to your garage, then wash it after you drove it to your garage so you can drive it before you wash it after you drive it to your garage again so it will be clean to drive again before you wash it before you drive it and............. :screwy: :screwy:
 
#23 ·
I don't like washing my Z when it's hot so I wash it then drive. Since I don't drive it too far or too often I drive it till I either hit bugs, puddles of water, or it doesn't't look as shiny as I like it. But always once a week. I find my self down-shifting a lot just after washing. That break dust sucks. :mad:
 
#25 ·
Wash. Then, Drive. Then, Wash Again.

I have washed my Torch Red up to 3 times a week. I hate the site of bug splatter on the nose. So when I return from a spin, I will wash it again or wait til morning and then wash it.

ALSO: If you live in a high dew climate, like Michigan, wait until at least noon to wash it outside. Found out the hard way that dew is still falling on my freshly washed car as I'm soaping another section.