Will the water charges affect you cleaning your car?

OriginV

Probably a stupid question but its all the talk now about water charges, Will it affect you washing you're car?

Atlantic Dawn

1000 litres at commercial rates would be around €1 or €2, my average wash would be 100 litres max so not it won't provided it's around those rates.

ryan101

Nah, I already take the car to the local Roma car wash, and they are already metered and paying commercial water rates.
They've even got planning permission for it.
With a Roma car wash in nearly every large town in Ireland, it doesn't pay anyone to wash their own car at the moment, never mind if private domestic water charges come in.

Curran

It pays knowing that Ive washed my car in a way that's safe for my paintwork.

OriginV

ryan101 wrote: »

Nah, I already take the car to the local Roma car wash, and they are already metered and paying commercial water rates.
They've even got planning permission for it.
With a Roma car wash in nearly every large town in Ireland, it doesn't pay anyone to wash their own car at the moment, never mind if private domestic water charges come in.

Way to ruin the paint condition of you're car

Apiarist

I am not going to wash my car near my house anyway. The parking space is shared, a big wet spot there would look untidy.

ryan101

OriginV wrote: »

Way to ruin the paint condition of you're car

Way to make a sweeping generalisation and assumption.

My paint condition is perfect thank you, not a single swirl mark or blemish anywhere, bar one paint chip caused by a newly tarred road last year.

Taking your car out from under its UV and dust cover and driving your car anywhere, is however one sure way to ruin your paint condition.

Curran

Wanna swing by, and I'll take a look at that paintwork for you! :P

endacl

Nah. Not at all. I'll keep doing what I've always done. If it looks like rain, leg out and give the aul' jammer a good squirt o' fairy liquid. Momma Nature washes my yoke.

Curran

endacl wrote: »

If it looks like rain, leg out and give the aul' jammer a good squirt o' fairy liquid. Momma Nature washes my yoke.

I actually know a few people, who say when it rains; "Awh sure the car will get a wash" and who are DEADLY serious!!!

endacl

Curran wrote: »

I actually know a few people, who say when it rains; "Awh sure the car will get a wash" and who are DEADLY serious!!!

What on earth did I type that might have led you to believe in any way, shape or form, that I was not being deadly serious?!?

:pac:

Curran

Get offa this forum! :P

ryan101

Curran wrote: »

Wanna swing by, and I'll take a look at that paintwork for you! :P

No, I have better lights in my own workshop, but it does look like your paint care routine is not working out for you there.

Curran

Thats not my paintwork - its only a google'd image.

If you drive your car regularlly and wash your car on a regular basis in a "Roma" car wash, then I be 99% confident that you have swirls in your paintwork....unless you actually take the car back to your workshop and do a spot of polishing; which I find hard to believe.

My car is starting to look like the paintwork that is in the image I posted above, and the car hasnt been polished in 4 years; with one wash that I knew Id do damage doing the wash (needed the car sort of clean); so Im pretty pleased with my "paint care routine".....but willing to listen to any additional advice you might have to offer, but the "Roma" wash, I'll be passing on; thanks!

Ded_Zebra

ryan101 wrote: »

No, I have better lights in my own workshop, but it does look like your paint care routine is not working out for you there.

Post up a picture of your car. I love to see any car with that kind of paint condition

If you look through the "today I did some detailing" thread on here you'll see a couple of cars in similar condition to what you say your's is like

Here's one example

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=90281590&postcount=1789

ryan101

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Here's one example

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=90281590&postcount=1789

Wow that's rotten, looks like something for a pimp or a hairdresser.
Do those number plates pass the NCT ?
I notice you didn't post your own car up though.

Ded_Zebra

ryan101 wrote: »

Wow that's rotten, looks like something for a pimp or a hairdresser.
Do those number plates pass the NCT ?
I notice you didn't post your own car up though.

Well I'm not talking about the fact that it's a 325CI (is it vectra?) but the fact that the paint is close to perfect on it. The reason I didn't post my own car is that I haven't got around to doing a paint correction on it yet so it is in a similar condition that I guess your's is in (covered in swirls). Post a picture and prove me wrong if you like.


@Vectra maybe you could throw up a few pics of your old Toledo?

emeldc

I wash my car with rainwater, from a water butt. Believe me it's the cleanest water you can get so washing your car in the rain is not as bonkers as it might sound :rolleyes:

ryan101

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Well I'm not talking about the fact that it's a 325CI (is it vectra?) but the fact that the paint is close to perfect on it. The reason I didn't post my own car is that I haven't got around to doing a paint correction on it

Well then I guess its clear you need to start practising what you preach to others first.
So post your car up anyway so we can have a look at it and I'll give you some basic pointers.

Curran

ryan101 wrote: »

Well then I guess its clear you need to start practising what you preach to others first.
So post your car up anyway so we can have a look at it and I'll give you some basic pointers.

The car he owns was not brand new to him....someone else did the damage in the past.

At this stage you are trolling as you haven't posted anything to suggest you have a clue about what you are talking about.

Curran

emeldc wrote: »

I wash my car with rainwater, from a water butt. Believe me it's the cleanest water you can get so washing your car in the rain is not as bonkers as it might sound :rolleyes:

Slight difference washing you car with rain water than the rain washing your car.
Surr if you think about it all water from the tap was rain water too :P

Have you a filter on your water butt?

dar83

Some classic trolling going on in here, from the very first post mentioning 'Roma' car wash onwards. Don't feed it fella's.

In response to the OP, I'll be carrying on as normal. Two buckets and a power washer, not exactly a huge amount required overall. And sure won't it be funny watching the neighbours look on in horror as you carry on washing your car every couple of weeks when they're trying to have a bath in an inch of water to save a few cent. :pac:

emeldc

Curran wrote: »

Slight difference washing you car with rain water than the rain washing your car.
Surr if you think about it all water from the tap was rain water too :P

Have you a filter on your water butt?

I didn't bother with a filter but it's an easy enough fit. I live in Kilkenny and the lime in the water here is appalling. Seriously, the car looks dirtier after washing than before, covered in dirty white streaks. With the water butt I just wash and rinse and allow it to dry to a streak free finish. I can wash the two cars and the van with 100 ltrs of water from a 210L butt. And with our weather, I have never run out.

SCOOP 64

I will cut back on alot things, but washing my car wont be one of them,hate a dirty car.

mickdw

We have a shed located a good few metres higher than the house and grounds so some form of large tank will be rigged up shortly at as high a level as possible to supply outside tap at house. Car washing will continue.

Ded_Zebra

dar83 wrote: »

Some classic trolling going on in here, from the very first post mentioning 'Roma' car wash onwards. Don't feed it fella's.

In response to the OP, I'll be carrying on as normal. Two buckets and a power washer, not exactly a huge amount required overall. And sure won't it be funny watching the neighbours look on in horror as you carry on washing your car every couple of weeks when they're trying to have a bath in an inch of water to save a few cent. :pac:

But it's fun :P

Also I will still be using the same method. I live in the countryside and we have our own well so we pay to pump it up anyway

Even if I did have to pay more I wouldn't put my car at extra risk because of it. Value the time you would spend re-correcting your paint (potentially) by trying to save money on water. The few cent worth of water is better spent than 20+ hours with the DA and the electricity cost of running it, never mind your time! :P

ryan101 wrote: »

Well then I guess its clear you need to start practising what you preach to others first.
So post your car up anyway so we can have a look at it and I'll give you some basic pointers.

Well my current car has massive miles on it by the previous owner. He never had it washed properly, I'm guessing just petrol station type spinning brush doodaas (what are they called again ) as there was moss and crap where all the plastic trims meet the body.

Here it is if you want to see a picture:



Here you can see the swirls from incorrect washing and drying techniques. you can see a small corrected section on the right of the photo but it isn't very clear from that angle:



However, here is my previous car that I did practice what I preach on

The reflections in white in photos are never spectacular no matter how hard you work but it was looking really IRL. Still looks well here though.



And another

Hal1

Fcuk the police, I'll be washing mine. Rinse, shampoo, rinse, 2 buckets etc...

Paddy@CIRL

We've set up a water butt already at home, but looking at installing a second one so the water can be filtered twice. Lots of information on detailing world about it.

quadrifoglio verde

ryan101 wrote: »

Wow that's rotten, looks like something for a pimp or a hairdresser.
Do those number plates pass the NCT ?
I notice you didn't post your own car up though.

Clearly your not a car enthusiast if you call another enthusiasts detailed car rotten. Anyway I couldn't give 2 ****s if you pay Romas or smoking chimpanzees for that matter to wash your car. It's you're paint work and I'll do what I'll normally do when I see it happen. I'll laugh at the fools who know no better thinking they're doing good for their car getting it cleaned with dirty water and a brush/sponge.

Anyway with regards to the water charges I'll calculate how long it takes to fill a 1litre jug, from that work out how long I'd have the hose on for while washing my car and then how much water is used over that time. Then find the cost of that water and as I still live at home give the few cents to the parents for the bill.
I'd offer to wash their cars for them but they're afraid I'd scratch it, while the local garage's brush won't!


I had toyed with the idea of making a water recovery system of some sort, but it'd end up being prohibitively expensive to save a euro here and there. Probably should have looked into it further though considering the amount of people in this country who'll spend 20k to save them 200 every year on tax

Curran

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

Probably should have looked into it further though considering the amount of people in this country who'll spend 20k to save them 200 every year on tax

Always found that crazy too; the people didnt factor in depreciate of the car they were buying in order to make a minimal saving.

What is it going to cost to bring your car to a place thats going to do a decent car wash - say a 10er.
There is no way you'll spend 10 quid on water, filling two buckets, and rinsing down the car with a power hose....provided you arent using it totally liberally.

johnny_adidas

eh...whats a Roma car wash?

quadrifoglio verde

Curran wrote: »

Always found that crazy too; the people didnt factor in depreciate of the car they were buying in order to make a minimal saving.

What is it going to cost to bring your car to a place thats going to do a decent car wash - say a 10er.
There is no way you'll spend 10 quid on water, filling two buckets, and rinsing down the car with a power hose....provided you arent using it totally liberally.

Well its been free up to now/a few months.:cool:
The mother is going on how ill be off to the garage for a brush wash (non machine) where it costs 10 euro.....yes because that'll save me money:pac:

quadrifoglio verde

johnny_adidas wrote: »

eh...whats a Roma car wash?

A car wash operated by Roma's....its at the start of the thread

enfield

I fill a 50 litre container from the water butt, run it through a sock when filling it. Put it on a three step ladder. Thats about two foot high. I get a short hose with a connector on the end that goes into the power washer. Connect the hose to the power washer. Fill up the hose with water using a jug and when its full immediately put it into the 50 litre container and switch on the power washer and let it build up the pressure. Give the car a once over with a bucket, washing up liquid and sweeping brush and finish off with the power washer. There is enough in 50 litres to do the job. Repeat the procedure if necessary. I used to connect it to the mains but the new water charges called for a new method and this one works.
Cheers.
Tom.

Curran

enfield wrote: »

....... Give the car a once over with a bucket, washing up liquid and sweeping brush and finish off with the power washer.

Tom, you were doing OK up until about here!
You lost everyone's attention from there on!

enfield

For a non plumber I thought it was ok. To be truthful I only wash the car for the NCT. After all the good work they failed me on a broken spring. At least it was a clean spring, well it is now, its a new one. I wont have to wash that one for a few years yet I reckon.

Mc Love

Why don't we all get huge drums and start filling them with water now? Could last a good while?

johnny_adidas

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

A car wash operated by Roma's....its at the start of the thread

Sound....but is it a pull in and they wash your car jobbie or an unmanned self washing station type? And is it the brushes they use that do the damage or the water/detergents? just havent come across them is all

Curran

johnny_adidas wrote: »

...is it the brushes they use that do the damage or the water/detergents? just havent come across them is all

Where to start.....
Brushes / sponges / dirt rags
Dirt water thats never changed
Detergents and chemicals that wouldnt be safe for your wax or sealant on the car, and possibly rubber and plastic trims, etc
Water blades / Chamois for drying

dar83

I do have to say the cars do look lovely and shiny in the shade of the covered car park at Tesco Clarehall when they're done though...

:pac:

vectra

ryan101 wrote: »

Wow that's rotten, looks like something for a pimp or a hairdresser.
Do those number plates pass the NCT ?

Could you explain exactly what you mean when you say "For a Pimp"
Or
"For a Hairdresser"
I would like to know where those definitions and descriptions come from.
Could you possibly post a couple of pics of your own car and demonstrate to us what a proper car looks like?

And what does the style of plates have to do with detailing?

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Well I'm not talking about the fact that it's a 325CI (is it vectra?) but the fact that the paint is close to perfect on it.

@Vectra maybe you could throw up a few pics of your old Toledo?

She is a 320ci = 2.2 / 6cyl.

I dont think I have too many pics of the Toledo but I do have these.

This is a pic of the state of the paint we had to start with




Top pic here shows after its inital cutting stage
Bottom pic if after a couple of more sessions



This is how she looked when finished prior to selling it.
Possibly well over 100 hours of machine polishing went in to this

mb1725

vectra wrote: »

This is how she looked when finished prior to selling it.
Possibly well over 100 hours of machine polishing went in to this

Amazing finish. After all that how can you bear to sell it to someone else who probably won't give it as much tlc ? :eek:

DoctorEdgeWild

Not living in Ireland so this doesn't affect me at the moment luckily but I think I'd save water elsewhere rather than going without a clean car. I usually wash mine twice a week, minimum once. I'm lucky that I have the facilities/space where I work to do so but even when I'm home in Dublin, I usually give my old man's car a proper clean.

vectra

mb1725 wrote: »

Amazing finish. After all that how can you bear to sell it to someone else who probably won't give it as much tlc ? :eek:

I would hate to show you some current pics.

ryan101

DoctorEdgeWild wrote: »

Not living in Ireland so this doesn't affect me at the moment luckily

Do people pay for water where you are ?

DoctorEdgeWild

ryan101 wrote: »

Do people pay for water where you are ?

To my knowledge water charges are part of council tax which is about £1500 a year? I think it goes up and down depending on the value of your house but I rent a room so it's not my problem... yet!

ryan101

DoctorEdgeWild wrote: »

To my knowledge water charges are part of council tax which is about £1500 a year? I think it goes up and down depending on the value of your house but I rent a room so it's not my problem... yet!

We currently pay it via higher VAT and PAYE, but they want us to pay for it again separately as well.

DoctorEdgeWild

ryan101 wrote: »

We currently pay it via higher VAT and PAYE, but they want us to pay for it again separately as well.

Yeah, my folks have been telling me about it. I'm not too up on the subject but it certainly seems like another thing organised badly and rolled out without much thought put into it.

Ded_Zebra

vectra wrote: »

Could you explain exactly what you mean when you say "For a Pimp"
Or
"For a Hairdresser"
I would like to know where those definitions and descriptions come from.
Could you possibly post a couple of pics of your own car and demonstrate to us what a proper car looks like?

And what does the style of plates have to do with detailing?





She is a 320ci = 2.2 / 6cyl.

I dont think I have too many pics of the Toledo but I do have these.

This is a pic of the state of the paint we had to start with

I thought it was a 325ci, it would be keeping with the trend on the forum if it was

That last pic is amazing :cool::cool: I must invest in a black car some day :P

mb1725

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

That last pic is amazing :cool::cool: I must invest in a black car some day :P

................... and give it to Vectra for about a week ! :pac:

vectra

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

I thought it was a 325ci, it would be keeping with the trend on the forum if it was

That last pic is amazing :cool::cool: I must invest in a black car some day :P

mb1725 wrote: »

................... and give it to Vectra for about a week ! :pac:

And of course not forgetting the Black vRS that got a similar treatment