I keep seeing threads where people bitch about how hard it is to keep the black cars, or any really dark ones, clean.

With the earnings power on this forum (apparently) has no one heard of valeting? There is a plethora of companies vying to do this now and the prices are reasonable, especially for a once a month shot. (<25 quid for a basic valet <20 quid for a clean including tyres.).

Personally, I've had black cars, and I can't be bothered cleaning it all the time when a relatively small part of my wage can llet someone else do the hard work. And to be honest, they make a better job of it than I ever do.

Any one else planning to go this route? (Or am I just being too grand?)


Stu

What is Veleting?

personal car washing/detailing that come to you. kind of like the pool guy ;)

Thanks, I trust myself and myself alone with my car :)

There are a number of hand car wash places around London at the moment - and many exclusive cars going through them. Don't expect to pay much more than £10 to have 6 guys wash the car in and out in about 10 minutes.

The job is not 100% but it's good enough if you haven't got the time.

Well, Most people here are also car lovers and I mean REALLY REALLY love their cars so its obvious that they think they can do a much better job at cleaning their car than just anybody else.

I'd be reluctant to even let my friendly Mazda dealer get his arse on the seat of my shiny new RX8, let alone some f***er in a valeting company. I wouldnt dare turn me back.
No, its sponge and bucket every Sunday afternoon for me.

Originally posted by Hercules
Thanks, I trust myself and myself alone with my car :)

Im with Herc on this one :)

Let someone else clean my baby, I dont think so!

And whilst we are on the subject, carwashes are the spawn of satan which destroy your paintwork!!

Aha, I agree about the carwashers...but...

The valeter I use comes to my house or work, fully equipped with his van and tools, and does the job where I can see him.

I originally started this when they advertised to do it for the work car, so I thought I'd give it a go as this is less important than my own. They did a terrific job.

Provided I always get the guy I trust, I have no quams about letting him do this. Anyway, his company number is on his van, and head office would not want negative comments from customers.

I wouldn't let any old person do this, but I have found the right one for now.

Stu

Edit:
Note that I am not THAT lazy, I will being doing the weekly wash, but stuff like the wheels I leave to the valeter as they are amazing at getting them very clean and shiny.

At the end of the day, its down to personal preference. Me, I'll wash and wax it myself, but if others can find a trustworthy valeter then fine.

Remember, when you start getting speckles of tar on the car, I don't know any valeter that will remove those first then wash the car, unless its at a cost and/or you specify it.

AnilS.

When my last car was new I used to clean it every week-end. Then slowly fatigue crept in and I used a valet firm who used to come to my house (and I used to watch). Also, I will use valet firms (store and clean) during my trips abroad and hand wash shops in my area but never through a car wash.

I do like my car clean and cleaned regularly but have not always got the time to do so. I'm happy for others to clean my car, at worst I may need to go over it with a leather but that just takes minutes.

rael

I know the people you mean, and they don't do a *bad* job. I wouldn't mind taking a fairly regular daily driver to them, but not any car I had pride in owning. I don't even let dealers wash my car when they're serviced. I'm too fed up with getting cars back with lots of swirls in the paint, or small scratches from grit getting caught under sponges etc.

The only sort of valeter that would wash and maintain my cars they way I'd expect them to would be those that charge upwards of around £100 a go...


-andy-

I'm happy to admit I'm far too lazy to clean my car regularly. We have some car valeting people who come round where I work. They certainly do a better job than I would ever have the patience to do.

I have one slight worry about this - the infamous "short trip procedure" mentioned in the US owners manual (if you start the engine always drive it for long enough to warm up, or else idle for 5 minutes). The valeting people have to move the cars around in the car park to get access them to clean them and there is no chance they would follow such a procedure. I'm probably just going to assume that once a month won't do any harm.

I'd just like to add my voice to those who would never let anyone else 'valet' my car. But then my wife says I'm way too fussy (and she's never wrong about anything ;) ). I've seen too many 'professional valeters' at work to let them do that to my paintwork.

I've had a black car before and when it's been detailed (to use a more descriptive American term) perfectly it's like looking at a piece of black glass - truly beautiful. BUT even if you just leave the car standing in the open air for an hour or so it will have picked up all sorts of dust and 'stuff' that seems to be floating around (other folks' BBQs are a real bugger!)

I've had a met blue and a silver since the black - both have been a breeze to care for compared to the black although road tar shows up well on the silver :( But the lure of a sexy black RX8 is getting to me... or will I choose a sensible colour ? :)