Life of an automatic

[mac]

I know there is no way I can get an accurate number on this but guesstimates are welcome. Assuming normal wear and tear and maintenance what do you people think?

 

[Dirt]

I would say 15 yrs max.
I'm replacing my 18 year old softgloss with a new one in a few months.
130,000 cars on it.
It still works good, but the hoses and wires and things will only bend so many times.
And I think you have more options to offer customers with more modern equipment.
Good reason to raise prices too.

 

[Greg Pack]

My guess would be 15 years/ 150K cars on average.

My one concern about Istobol is the galvanized frame, but she still looks good at the 2.5 year mark

I've got a 15 year old wizard that is still going strong. Probably 150K car count. We're about to wrap her to give it an updated look. Plan to run her at least another five years.

There's some other tanks out there still running-LW4000s from the 90s , etc.

 

[Waxman]

I ran my old superior sidetrack for about 14 years before trading up for a razor.

 

[Toms PTcarwash]

I have a Ryko Monarch Hi Impact. We installed it in 1997. I have replaced pretty much every mechanical and electrical part on it at least once, but it is kind of like and old timex. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

 

[copperglobe]

I had my two automatics (at one location) for 30 years and they washed 1.2 million cars. Two years ago I installed two Razors.

 

[jack954]

17 years on a 2004 ryko ohd. currently shopping for a replacement

 

[DiamondWash]

20 yr old Ryko SoftGloss still in operation but needs replaced soon probably a WashWorld Profile or the new Petit 3 brush.

 

[mac]

Thanks for the responses. There’s some good machines out there.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

We got 20 years out of our Typhoon. We're currently running two busy LW4000's from 2003 or so. We also have several Southern Pride Turbos that were made in the early eighties that we installed USED and are still washing.

 

[STXCW]

We start looking at repair costs at the 7-8 year mark. By this time the wash is up there in washes plus new equipment helps bring in new customers. People always want to try something new. Biggest issue I see is people waiting too long to replace equipment.

 

[Waxman]

I waited a few years too long to replace my equipment. It's not like having pride in keeping an old car on the road. It's a business and businesses need to re-invest in equipment to remain competitive and profitable and current in the customers eyes.

 

[soonermajic]

We got 20 years out of our Typhoon. We're currently running two busy LW4000's from 2003 or so. We also have several Southern Pride Turbos that were made in the early eighties that we installed USED and are still washing.

So u have three 20 yr old IBAs, & 3 or more 30 yr old IBAs?!! That's simply amazing.

 

[sparkey]

If you take an all stainless machine like a razor and you still have parts availability I would think you could run it indefinitely. Of course if you are type of owner that has to call someone everytime you have an issue it may be better to replace.

 

[washnshine]

We got 20 years out of our Typhoon. We're currently running two busy LW4000's from 2003 or so. We also have several Southern Pride Turbos that were made in the early eighties that we installed USED and are still washing.

Southern pride turbo wash was my first wash in the 1980’s. We used their chemicals too - old blue, old yellow, pink satin, etc. can’t believe you still have some running!

 

[Waxman]

But how much money are operators leaving on the table by running these old machines? If you can raise your price 40% doesn't that make up for the cost of the new equipment and then some?

 

[Islandwash]

My first In Bay Automatic lasted 15 years, It was a S. P. TurboWash . When I replaced it my volume and price per car went way up. My next machine was a Vector, it lasted 10 years. My current machine is a Laser 360 and has been in 6 years . Customers love a new machine. If your location is good, you should make more money with a new machine.

 

[washnshine]

My first In Bay Automatic lasted 15 years, It was a S. P. TurboWash . When I replaced it my volume and price per car went way up. My next machine was a Vector, it lasted 10 years. My current machine is a Laser 360 and has been in 6 years . Customers love a new machine. If your location is good, you should make more money with a new machine.

Gotta love those S.P.’s! Never saw one last fewer that 15 years.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

So u have three 20 yr old IBAs, & 3 or more 30 yr old IBAs?!! That's simply amazing.

We just replaced the Typhoon this past November with a WW Razor.

The Southern Pride Turbos have been ‘updated’ with fixed spray bars eliminating the rotating wands that were a maintenance nightmare and caused a lot of damage. We also added ‘virtual treadles’ and eliminated the stop pad. Our average ticket is pretty good for the neighborhoods we’re in. At our site that has two Turbos, we’re going to re-load with our two PDQ M5’s we removed from another site. That will be a good ‘upgrade’ and a good return for us.

 

[Executive AutoWash]

I have a Ryko Monarch Hi Impact. We installed it in 1997. I have replaced pretty much every mechanical and electrical part on it at least once, but it is kind of like and old timex. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

Hi there could you please call me? or email me at ripit410s@yahoo.com i recently boght a carwash that has this automatic in I need help Thanks Steve