First world problems: Outsourcing auto detailing, who does it?

[FranzVonHoffer]

I don't like sending my car out to get detailed by other people, it's a job I've traditionally done myself because

A. I like to do it
B. I do a better job.
C. It's free when I do it.

Up until last year I worked close to home and could take the metro to work but now that they moved us to another facility out of town I'm commuting daily.

My car has been collecting pollen, dust and road silt so badly unless a nice weekend aligns with my car needing a cleaning I've been sending it out to a local detailer down the road like I did yesterday. They're doing an Ok job and the price is right but I intrinsically hate the idea of other people touching my car.

Anyone else have this issue? If I draw up a matrix I'm stuck at the column that says How much do you hate people touching your car vs the row How much do you hate driving a dirty car?

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[bodam]

Lol, I'm the same way. I'll run her through a car wash, but I'm not paying anyone to rub her. That's my job.

 

[Chef jpd]

I agree, I hate driving a dirty car, almost as much as driving a damaged car. I cringe when I see people driving nice cars with body damage.
My car is parked outside at work and at home and never sees a garage, ill go out every few days, clean the bird shit and hit it with a California duster. I wash it once a week.
I will not bring it to a detailed. A bad experience in the last has written them off to me forever.

 

[Rdot9]

I don't trust anyone else to wash my car. The reasons you listed and some others are why. I daily drive it, usually have to park outside for work, but still make time to clean it 2-3+ times a month.

It only takes me an hour or two to do a full exterior clean so it's not a big deal for me to clean it up rather than send it to someone else.

Why did you start bringing it do a detailer rather than clean it yourself? Not enough extra time?

Also, if you haven't done so yourself or had it done... A good polish/wax job will help keep it cleaner in between washes.

 

[BlueThunder]

Hell, I'm not sure I even do a good job, but I still want no part of anybody else doing that work. Who knows what they're using, the old towels and equipment that's likely going to leave scratches. Hell, the place that washed/clayed/primed my car for stripes left horrible water drying marks that took a few washes/clays/waxes to clean off.

I enjoy it too. On a nice day, couple hours (no wife or kids either ), nice wash, scrub the tires, h2o guard & gloss, quick wax and vrt. Some good exercise as well.

If I was really pressed for time, I might pay somebody to do the big jobs, like the full strip wash/clay/paint sealant etc. application I do before and after winter that takes a full day or more depending how fast I work. But not the quicker regular washes.

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