Probably a stupid question but based on caution noted in owners manual......is it ok to take ftype convertible through commercial touchless carwash? Issue relates to any negative impact on convertible top. I have been taking it to hand wash place but in winter that is not practical

 

I took mine to a touchless car wash for the first year I had the car. Seemed OK, but I found I needed to reproof the convertible top after the first year. So I stopped using the touchless wash.


To be fair, it needed reproofing a year later even without the touchless wash. So it may or may not matter.

 

I only wash the car by hand with warm water and Meguirs car wash. I dry with a chamois. Once a year In summer(so the wax will melt). I strip the wax and hand wax with Zymol wax products. I also wash the convertible top with Raggtop cleaner and then seal three time with Raggtop waterproofing. Last beige top looked like new after 15 years.

 

And never do the Karate kid wax on wax off thing. Ugly swirl marks will result. Only rub in straight lines.

 

So I guess all rotary and dual action polishers that actually get rid of swirls are no good then.

 

Polishing is not waxing

 

Exactly the same action, just a different pad.

 

Caveat emptor

 

you use a chamois !!!!

 

I was hoping someone else would pick up on that little gem.

 

I would rather leave it dirty than put it through a carwash. Maybe they're better now, but they used to be pretty rough.

It's been a sore trial here, with no water for keeping the car clean.

 

Who uses a sham-wow!?

 

My brother-in-law asked me if I was hand washing my F-Type, I said "yes - of course." He said "You know hand washing can be more harsh than modern automatic car washes."
I said, "No worries - I tossed the sheep-skin wash mit I used on the old car. Now I use the "Mink Mit" the wife got at her batchleorette party on the car...please don't tell her I took it from her nightstand..."

 

Get rid of the chamois, they hold dirt and can scratch your finish. Only clean sift Korean made micro fiber should be used to dry your paint. Also use a high quality detail spray for additional protection when drying your car.

Never put convertable through a automatic car wash, or any car you value for that matter. The soap is bad for the canvas top.

 

+1

 

I hear you - but I take my Convertible through a touch-less car wash. The canvas top will be replaced when it needs to be replaced. It's just a car.

 

Yes, but is it soapless and waxless?

 

No - it has soap and wax.

I am also the guy that does not put a plastic coating on his car to protect against rock chips.

I have a ceramic polish applied and the roof waterproofed every 6 months.

As I said - it's just a car.

 

I'm more in this camp. I buy used knowing that the body isn't perfect. It prevents the mental trauma when, not if, that first chip occurs.

While I appreciate a good paint job that is properly cared for and maintained, using any car as a daily driver essentially makes that impractical especially in the Peoples Republik where we get snow, salt, rain and blazing sun (sometimes in the same day). All that said, I won't take my ragtop through a carwash because I do worry about something happening to the top. I did, however take the SLK through an all cloth carwash on occasion, but it had a folding hardtop.

 

Bold statement. But I mostly agree.