Touchless vs friction for Seattle area

[gujm]

Hello,

I am planning to convert a tunnel to an automatic 24X7 wash, any guidance for touchless vs soft-touch?

Looked at few quotes- Petit is new in PNW and there are limited support here, any opinion on Petit vs Istaball vs Autec? Anyone with experiences with these systems- pros and cons.

Thanks!

 

[8th Street Car Wash]

Personal opinion, check out Mark VII. The rep is Northwest Wash Systems in Yakima and has employees on the Seattle side at all times for emergencies. Great company to work with. Also soft touch cuts through the Pacific Northwest dirt and crud pretty well. You could consider a choice wash for the best of both worlds?

 

[traveler17]

Bottom line is find whatever system has the best and closest support. If you have tunnels in your area with no touchless options around that would be the way I lean. As mentioned above mark vii choice wash is a great option. I have 2 mark vii’s at one site that has this machine and customers love it. If there is a rep close by that’s the way to go imo

 

[Randy]

I’d stay away from Mark VII, the distributor is too far away from your area. Service might be a problem in an emergency. Istobal has about zero presence in the PNW as does Autec. My brother has 2 Autec machines, total junk. Petit is coming on strong, I'm seeing more of them. The big dog up here in the PNW is Wash World and there little sister PDQ. I’d go with the distributor that’s closest to Longview Washington. I don't know any of the distributors in the Portland Oregon area.

 

[opendorz]

IQ In Bay Automatic from D&S in either ST or TF. TF has been outselling ST this past year across the country. IQ is top of the line in terms of wash quality and efficiency. https://dscarwash.com/automatic-wash/

 

[Greg Pack]

Distributor is important.

Local market is important. A friction tunnel nearby would affect my decision. as well as what the local C stores are using.

Touch free has its' niche and will work better if there are a lot of friction units around. But with touch free you have to work at the chemistry and water quality. Chemical costs are much higher, probably 1.00/ car for two step presoak. Can't speak for all friction units but an istobal soft cloth unit will outclean most of them with hard water and any neutral shampoo