Re: Car Washes.
Pulling into town having just put 4K put on the car, I stopped at a self wash and was frustrated to discover that it was being operated with NO hot water. There can be all the pressure in the world, but if it's cold water coming through, it's money (and little dirt) down the drain.
I do like self washes because the vacuums are free.
I don't care for the sponge auto washes because the "jellyfish" sponges abrade the car with whatever sand/dirt residue was on the car in front of mine.
The auto jet washes are ok, but my car is low to the ground so much is missed. 5-20 dollars depending on the services.
That means the best option is still hot soapy water and my own power attachment on the garden hose.
Sometimes I wish I still had the Jeep with the interior drain holes, which meant I could power wash the whole thing, inside and out, in one fell swoop and be done with it. (But then again there was the cold and the hair thing that comes with owning a Jeep, so...
)