At first I couldn't understand why you folks in the colder climates didn't wash your cars very frequently...I thought that you didn't care or were lazy. Well, I have definitely changed my tune. I went out to wash my other car today...ambient air temp about 42 or so. Man! That water was cold. I "now" see why you don't wash your cars very frequently. I sincerely apologize. What do people do in cold climates? Just use the drive up coin-operated spray wash places? I am curious now.<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM

using warm (almost hot water).. it's nice to dip your hands into steaming water when it's cold out.... :)<p>Rich Quinlan<br>Freezing but clean 1.8tqms<ul><li><a href="http://home.att.net/~richquinlan">Quinland</a></li></ul>

We freeze our asses off!<br>just washed the GEO today...it was around 34F..BRRRRRR<p>

to keep the water from getting into the gloves. They make a HUGE difference!<p>And they leave your hands dry and smooth, too!<br>8-)<p>-Phil<br>98.5 2.8QtipS

The problem is when it's below freezing. You then have the problem of the water freezing on the car before you can dry it. You have to rinse pretty often too, so that it's not soapy water freezing on the paint. I just washed the A4 yesterday in about 40 degrees. It wasn't too bad really, except for that the wash water was cold. I was too lazy to run the hose to the hot water heater to fill with some hot water.

Last Tuesday I washed my A4 and it was 14 degrees out! My biggest problem was the water freezing on the driveway and me slidding away. I did do a lot of slidding around. Does anyone make good stickey winter foot wearer for the washer?<br>After washing I pull into my heated garage for drying and using my "Final Detailing" dressing. Now all is ok.<br>Roy M

I have used neoprene gloves. This is best when it's really cold - they're insulated!

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I carry car wash goodies (Meguiar's and Mother's stuff, Playtex gloves etc.) in the trunk, but I'm not able to hand wash my baby so often.<br>Well, the problem for me is not the cold weather.<br>I don't have a place to wash the car myself here in the metro NYC area.<br>A coin-operated, self-service car wash I found so far is in NJ. :-(<br>It seems that I have to go to a hand car wash place around here this winter.<p>When I lived in Cambridge, MA, I went to a coin-operated self wash bay<br>on milder (over 36F) days .<p>

n/m

The one I used to go is located in Porter Sq.,<br>680 Somerville Ave., Somerville, (617) 625-9027.<p>Nozomi<br>P.S.<br>I avoid using too much soap and high pressure water on my baby at these car washes.

Steve,<p>I wash my car at home here in Fort Collins when the weather is 45 or above. I use the car wash when below 40. Also, you need to wait till the roads are clear or your car will be filthy again after one block. I just make usre I have a good coat of wax on. Been doing this since my days being stationed in Plattsburgh in the mid 60s. Never had a rust problem on any car nor problems with the high pressure causing any paint to flake off. Never had any bearing fail on any item on my cars either.<p>Sigh, I miss the weather in the Bay Area. Last week was brutal here. One week of single digit or below. I can see why you wouldn't want to come out in the winter.<p>Reg Short<br>98.5 2.8 QMS

28 degrees in N.E.PA today and I washed my car outside with only a sweatshirt on. Yea, it gets a slight layer of ice all over it, but a quick drive with the heater on get most of the ice off and when the sun comes out and melts the ice the car looks good!

and drank a few Bud's(not light) doing so.<p>He's here reading this and wants to know what's wrong taking your car for a 10 minute drive to warm it up, get a hose out, a bucket of warm water, rubber gloves, wash the car (including the dirty wheels), hose it off in less than 10 minute! Then we go inside turn on the gas fire place (with flame adjustment remote control) with our cold feet pointed towards the heat watching CNBC on his Hitachi 60" Ultravision to do daytrading at WaterHouse.com. Check out AAGP, up over 1010% today! A $5K investment bought you a new Audi S4 in one day! This is how us tough northeastern PA mountain people rough it.

Those neighbors would really get a shock and think all A4 owners go around washing cars in the winter with JUST a sweatshirt on. :)<p>Enjoying the lovely fog here on the west.

in whitby (40 km from TO) there is an indoor car wash.<br>U pay by the hour, but u get to dry the car so the seals don't freeze and rip off.<p><br>1996 a4 2.8 qm<br>

I figure the hot water then the cold air can't be good. Thermal cycling is what tends to tear things apart.