We have a water ban in GA, so I have to drive 15 miles to a different county to go wash my car.

sometimes I go to touchless wash. not that bad.

 

Buy Quick Detailer. Do something; but do not continue to use a mechanized car wash (touchless especially) if you enjoy having your soft top (and it's seals) functioning properly.

 

Dont live in LA.
It's your car, I dont really care what you do.

It's just that it's rare for a manufacturer to specifically mention how you should not wash the car in the owners manual....theres a reason.

 

If you have a stock intake w/airbox you shouldn't have any problems doing it yourself. Just be gentle with the water around the vents. Don't over spray. Since I have a CAI I use a trash bag to cover the air filter. Then I lightly spray the hood.

 

what do you guys think about the coin operated booths?

 

That's where I go. I use the "pre soak" option on the top and vented hood. Its much less powerful than the high pressurized option.

 

This winter I'll be storing my new S, but my last S... was my only car so I had to drive it and get salt all over it. I don't think anyone of you guys would be dumb enough to be hand washing your car when it's below zero outside. I took my S through the touchless washes once every 2 weeks and it was fine. Maybe a little water got spit in the cabin, but I always had the wife ready with a rag on her side to block it or soak whatever came in up.

It's not recommended by Honda but sometimes, you just have no choice.

 

So are you guys saying rain with vented hoods is a problem too, because it seems like a bunch of owners don't give a shit about rain. I wouldn't worry about a vented hood with a car wash

 

rain snow hail issues?. ... and what if your car isnt garaged.. . uh oh

 

The problem with the touchless washes is not that they get water into the cabin...its that they are pressure-spraying dirt into your somewhat-fragile vinyl soft top, embedding it in. Every time you do this, your top will look less and less black as it becomes more and more full of dirt. Think 1987 mustang 'vert lol

Also, washing your car is a directed stream (or many directed streams). Unless you have your car parked outside during a hurricane, washing will get much more water going directly onto your car (and into your vented hood) than some measly rain droplets. And if you're moving, even less rain water will get in. Think about it...some cars come stock with vented hoods. You're not going to kill anything unless you decide to ford a river, hook the garden hose up to your intake, or take the cover off your fuse box and fill it with water.