Car wash

[KevinToyne]

Does anyone know where there's a powerwash self carwash in vancouver?
Preferably on the west side.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Esso, 3rd & Chesterfield, North Vancouver. Not too far from the west end. Generally the Esso stations often have carwashes and some of them are washing bays ~ so I would keep my eye out for Essos.

Falco.

[KevinToyne]

Esso, 3rd & Chesterfield, North Vancouver. Not too far from the west end. Generally the Esso stations often have carwashes and some of them are washing bays ~ so I would keep my eye out for Essos.

Falco.

Thanks Falco

[Mitsuballistic]

Unfortunately, this gas station closed down in October. So much for the powerwash.

Any other ideas for self car washes in North Vancouver (or elsewhere close in Vancouver)? I know there are more Essos on the North Shore, but I think they all have the automated touchless washes (and I'm not even sure if a Delica high-roof is safe in one of those).

[tonydca]

I know there is a self-wash at the North end of the Second Narrows bridge, but they had some dodgy business practices when they were starting up, so I don't patronize them out of principle.

I have used one on Hastings near Kensington in Burnaby, and also there is one near Garden City way and Alderbridge Way in Richmond. I looked all over for one in Central Vancouver and struck out, so if others know of one in this area, do tell!

[mosquitocoast]

I guess the self-server power washers are a thing of the past. The gas stations probably weren't making enough money from them -- not at <$5 per wash. Now they can milk us on silver, gold and platinum automated washes that spit out colourful sudsy chemicals that ultimately ruin our vehicles.

I think I know the place you're referring to at 2nd Narrows: EasyWash. Back in the day, they were trying to get start-up money for the business by selling it as an RRSP investment. I actually thought about investing myself for 2 seconds, before I came to my senses. But the place eventually got off the ground, then went bankrupt, and everyone lost their money. The original owner, however, got the business back and the place seems to be surviving now.

[deLOOKA]

New West, Mohawk station (12th st maybe 8th or 7th ave)

http://maps.google.ca/maps?layer=c&cbll ... 1OFXBEk9CQ


Burnaby, Royal Oak car wash

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s ... 76.06,,0,5

Coquitlam, Lougheed Hwy car wash

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&source ... ,,0,-10.79

Gotta love Google.

New West, if out of soap you can get your money back

Royal Oak, sometimes employee is not there.

Coquitlam, haven't had an issue yet

-Isaac

[tonydca]

I think I know the place you're referring to at 2nd Narrows: EasyWash. Back in the day, they were trying to get start-up money for the business by selling it as an RRSP investment. I actually thought about investing myself for 2 seconds, before I came to my senses. But the place eventually got off the ground, then went bankrupt, and everyone lost their money. The original owner, however, got the business back and the place seems to be surviving now.

That's the one - from what I read about it, the guy used his startup investor's cash to build the business, then (I believe) pulled a fast one with the help of his landlord, claimed the landlord changed the locks on him, closed the business down, and sold off the assets for just enough to (surprise!) cover his bank loans. Now between him and his landlord they seem to own the business again, debt-free, apparently all very legal and above board, but a sh!tty deal by the letter of the law in every sense of the word.

[Meanman]

Wash world...Dewdney Trunk rd, Maple Ridge, just off of lougheed.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Update:

The car wash at 3rd & Chesterfield that I mentioned earlier this thread has since been closed down, along with the Esso station that went with it.

Falco.

[Morganizer]

When I lived in Delta, I used the bay at the Coop, just south of the intersection of Hwy. 17 and Ladner Trunk road. It's on the way to or from the Tsawwassen Ferry, and runs on tokens available at the till. Two tokens was enough to wash my van.

I used to live in Winnipeg, and there was an awesome place called The Buggy Bath. Like arcades, they charged you for time in the building! Some people would futz about and get their cars really clean, but I just went often and made a game of getting in and out as quickly as possible. On a good day the clerk would ask me for, "uhh...$1.65...please." I wish Vancouver had a place like The Buggy Bath.

There's a place on Hastings at Fell ave that has maybe 6 bays. I haven't tried it out yet. It takes me 2 days to wax my deli, because my arm gets sore! It cleans really easily after a coat of wax though, so it gets one spring and fall.

[Morganizer]

The car wash on Hastings is apparently closing its self-serve bays due to problems with vandalism. I talked to the girl there for a while, and she says they've explored the situation thoroughly, and are going to just have automatic wash, which sucks for vans. She says on the video surveillance, the vandals come out like zombies and raid the self-serve bays, so they're throwing in the towel. And yes, they looked into putting a fence around the perimeter, and zoning won't allow it. So the truck bays are done for.

Meanwhile in Winnipeg...The Buggy Bath has been going strong for 15 years, despite nay-sayers claiming it would never work. Brings to mind an ancient Chinese saying, "The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it."

Anybody know where to buy good truck brushes? There are apparently two BC companies making them:

http://valleybrush.com/

http://www.jkfbrush.com/

...but the manufacturers' Web sites don't list distributors.