Car Wash streaks

[jonkarn]

Does anyone else notice that the EX has a lot of crevices that catch water while getting the car washed? After the wash once I drive off it ends up having water streaks(I have black paint of course) all over the side doors from inside and under the mirrors, and all over the back hatch. Pretty annoying since I have to touch up the car when I get home and let it dry b4 I drive car again. I could be because this is my first black car and I never noticed it as much on my other cars.

[BrokenTiller]

Yup. Black car...looks great clean and shiny though!I have gone the lazy route: salt/dirt colour that is winter friendly after 2 black cars (Audi & Saab).

[AWGD8]

Does anyone else notice that the EX has a lot of crevices that catch water while getting the car washed? After the wash once I drive off it ends up having water streaks(I have black paint of course) all over the side doors from inside and under the mirrors, and all over the back hatch. Pretty annoying since I have to touch up the car when I get home and let it dry b4 I drive car again. I could be because this is my first black car and I never noticed it as much on my other cars.

What do you mean STREAK? I never heard of that?

[xerexabante]

Hard water spots?

[aft981]

I thought the same the first few times I washed mine, but like you said, this is the first time I've owned a black car too, maybe I just never noticed it before. I always try to handwash mine, and did yesterday, and then spend as long drying it as I did washing. Open all the doors, rear hatch and the mirrors to get any sneaky water droplets out.

Unfortunately, what I did notice on my hood yesterday, were probably 10-15 tiny white marks, that look like a cross between stone chips and paint just peeling off. Not too happy about that.

[ayap888]

I also have Obidisian black. And I know you'll notice dirt quickly with black. The splash guard really helps keep the mud from stickin on the sides.

Regarding the chip on your paint .. I think Black is the easiest to remedy with a touch-up paint.

Light colored vehicles are more difficult when it comes to 'touch up' paint because it's difficult to blend shades of color. But black is black ... no shades there !So buy a touch up paint for the small chips. And nobody will notice it from afar.

[jonkarn]

Yes thats sounds like the best solution. However I live in Brooklyn in a condo complex without access to water. by the time I drive the few blocks from the car wash place back to my house the streaks have formed. I usually retouch and let everything dry if possible. Oh well.

[EXcitement]

I always drive Black cars, but the EX35 makes it especially difficult to avoid streaks. The mirrors in particular hold water and drive me crazy. Even when I pay to have the car thoroughly washed and dried, in just a few blocks you have streaks down the door. I keep a microfiber cloth in the hatch, stop after I drive a block and dry it off again. I don't think there is any solution...short of drilling some drain holes in the bottom of the mirrors (just kidding).

[jonkarn]

Yes, the huge dumbo ear side mirrors. They trap a lot of water that just flies onto the side doors once you drive off after the wash. More work, but its worth it too have the car look good

[EXcitement]

And speaking of those mirrors...in addition to being water traps...does anyone else think they create huge blindspots. Something with a smaller profile at the attachment point would improve visibility.

[302@12psi]

Having come from 2 previous Subaru's...the EX35's paint is VERY nice.

I picked a "blah" color so to speak so it wouldnt look dirty all the time.

[rubbersidedown]

I have a black EX, and I have two suggestions. First, get a chamois and wipe off the excess water. The synthetic ones really work well and don't damage the paint as long as you don't rub with too much force. Second, and better, is to use a leaf blower. I start with the mirrors and door laches to root out the water there first, but otherwise, start at the top and work your way down. The paint is spotless.

Either method will eliminate the streaks and spots caused by excess water drying on the paint.

[KJ911TT]

Best solution would be a quick detailer spray and a microfibre cloth. It won't take more than 60 seconds to touch all those spots up.

- KJ