In terms of appreciation for my ’06 Chevrolet Cobalt SS, I’ve been doing something with it that I haven’t done that often with my previous two cars, the ’91 Pontiac 6000 or the ’05 Saturn Ion.
I’ve taken it to the car wash more often than I have with with the “6” or with Cardachrome.
Not because the Blackbird is filthy or anything like that. Mostly it’s for the car’s own protection. Especially with these Northeast winters, the last thing I need is for my car’s interior to start rusting out.
Since there’s a “touchless” automatic car wash next to the Green Island Bridge – barely a mile from my home in the Town and Village – I can simply drive over, put my money in a vending machine, drive into the bay, and let the robotic equipment wash my car’s exterior.
When I need a more “intense” car wash, I’ll drive to one of those “pull the car through the wash” businesses like Hoffman Car Wash or Colonial Car Wash, pay the attendant, and then sit back as the Blackbird goes through the extended ride of spinning brushes, soapy foam, canvas drag-cloths and high-pressure drying fans.
I couldn’t really use a pull-through car wash for my first car, the Pontiac 6000. When you’re driving a 17-year-old car around, one of the things that eventually fails is the weatherstripping along the car doors. One time I drove the “6” through a car wash, and after the brushes and spray and foam were applied to the car, I waited as the car went through the rinse cycle. Well, without that working weatherstripping, I noticed leaks in the car as the “6” went through the rinse cycle. Granted, those leaks were in the rear doors of the car, but I didn’t want a situation where someone riding in the back seat got “car washed” by accident.
I can do these simple washes in the wintertime, essentially to make sure I don’t have road salt or dirt on the Blackbird.
Now when spring and summer hits, I want to actually start washing the car myself. You know, at least once a month with a bucket of soapy water, a chamois, and maybe even a clay bar. Let’s face it. This may be a jet-black Chevrolet, but after I’ve given it a car wash of one form or another, the surface is almost mirror-like and highly reflective. And I kinda like that appearance.
As for the interior, that’s probably going to take some detail work. Sure, I can use the “drop quarters in the vacuum” at the car wash, and suck up all the dirt and pebbles and gum wrappers and whatnot. But once in a while, it wouldn’t hurt to get the car’s interior professionally detailed. Makes sense, right?
Of course, I have to find a decent car detailer. I can contact the car dealerships where I’ve purchased my vehicles – certainly they have people they use so that their showroom cars are cleaner than a museum display.
And, of course, the car has to SMELL clean. It can’t smell like French fries. For that, I’ve stuck with Yankee Candle’s line of “car jar” air fresheners. If I ever have to go somewhere and I need to leave the car in an airport parking lot or at the Amtrak station, I’ll string up a fragrant “car jar” on my rearview mirror just before I leave the car to go on my trip. That way, when I return, I can get in my car and the whole interior smells fantastic.
In all honesty, I guess the best way to put this is that I really enjoy this car. I’ve had it for almost five months now, and it just feels like this Cobalt SS and I were made for each other. And when I take my girlfriend Nicole on a date, I like to make sure that the Blackbird looks as good as it possibly can.
Even if it means pit-stopping at a touchless car wash on my way to meet her. Let’s face it. A car can never be “too clean,” can it?
So if anybody out there has some car washing tips or tricks or suggestions to keep this Blackbird looking showroom-sharp, I’m all ears.
Because anything that keeps me in this “Chuck is happy” mode is fine by me.
Chuck The Writer 