Have you ever wondered how you’ve managed to get as far through life as you have? Sure, we all wonder that about other people at times, but did you ever doubt your own smarts?
Recently, the SPCA ran a promotion by which making a $50 donation would get you a coupon entitling you to unlimited car washes at Delta Sonic for one year at the price of $19.95 per month (a $10.00 per month discount). Joining Delta Sonic’s unlimited plan also allows you to go through the express lane rather than the cashier lane. I had been thinking of going unlimited for some time, so the SPCA offer sounded perfect.
Now, instead of getting my car washed three times a month at a cost of about $20.00, I could go every single day if I wished, for only $19.95. What a deal!
Having signed up, I couldn’t wait to start using that express lane. Today, it was warm enough that I had my chance.
I pulled up to the express lane and waited for the lift gate to rise. It didn’t – despite the fact that I clearly heard a beep as the automatic reader took note of the Delta Sonic tag affixed to my rear driver’s side window.
Maybe it just takes a few moments? So, I waited. And waited.
Hm. Maybe I didn’t pull up far enough. So I pulled forward until the nose of my vehicle was nearly against the gate. And waited. And waited.
Nuts. Maybe I pulled too far forward and the machine didn’t really read that tag. So I backed up. Despite the fact that there was now a car waiting behind me. I could almost hear that driver thinking, “This IS the express lane, isn’t it?”
I waited some more. And waited. Why the hell isn’t that damn gate going up? I paid for the damn subscription! Come on, already.
Fortunately, the driver behind me was a senior citizen who was obviously in no hurry whatsoever, and there were no vehicles behind him inasmuch as it was only 8:00 am.
Finally, a Delta Sonic employee approached my vehicle and motioned for me to roll down my window. Turns out the machine I was looking at wasn’t just a tag reader – it had buttons for choosing extras like body gloss and tire dressing. Drivers who don’t want those extras must press “No Thanks” before the gate will open.
And now I saw that they are really prominent buttons! Duh. The Delta Sonic employee pushed the “No Thanks” button for me, the gate lifted, and I was on my way into the bowels of the car wash itself.
Finally!
After going through the drying lane, I drove to work and parked my nice clean vehicle in the lot behind the building.
And then it started to rain.
Followed by snow.
But that’s all right – I have UNLIMITED car washes! I can go back again tomorrow!
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Images by Cordelia’s Mom
Cordelia's Mom, Still 
$20 for unlimited? the cheapest I can find within a half hour’s drive of home costs $18 for a single one-pass wash and dry. It goes up from there. A pre-rinse, wash, wax and dry costs $25. There are no quantity discounts. I’m envious.
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I think the 5-day Super Kiss is something like $15, but I was getting the 2-week Super Kiss Plus, which is around $20 with tax and allows for 3 washes total. The first wash includes body gloss and Rainex. I’d always be frantic to get there before the last day of the 2-week period, which was not always possible in winter. Now I can go whenever I want, and if I can’t get as much in the winter, I’ll make up for it in the warmer weather. There’s a Delta Sonic on my way to work, so I just drive through first thing in the am when the lines are short.
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Gah! At least they didn’t know your name… 😉
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True, but now they have my plate number and model of my vehicle.
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Awesome CM! That is so much fun. I’ve always been envious of the folks around here who have bought those packages. I always thought about it but never participated. Just being able to ride through the wash whenever you want – that soapy bubbly world where you are all alone in the universe and can only see as far as your windshield.
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I remember the very first time I ever drove through an automatic car wash – scared the heck out of me. At that time, they were still using those huge brushes, and even though I’m not claustrophobic, being trapped in a car while being attacked by brushes, water and soap made me feel pretty uncomfortable for those few minutes.
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We have a couple of sites that use 4 different brightly colored neon-like soaps – bright red, green,blue, yellow. It is so cool inside when they spray on.
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I think they might do that at mine, too – I know one of the photos I took came out with red & blue – it’s on my Flickr.com page, there’s a whole series of car wash photos there (just go to the right side of this page under Flickr and click on “more photos” – hopefully it will take you there).
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As an aside CM, i’m back doing a Sunday post over at MarkB’s http://markbialczak.com/2016/03/06/back-in-the-saddle/comment-page-1/#comment-77088 If you get a chance to drop by for a visit please do. Thanks!
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I’m so glad Mark is able to host you. And his site allows videos! Definitely a good fit.
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I would buy the unlimited and then forget to go.
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I guess it depends on whether you normally use an automated car wash. My husband has never gone to Delta Sonic, but I find it so much easier than trying to wash the car in the driveway, and I like my car clean so I go at least twice a month and more often in summer.
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Haha! I’d never considered unlimited washes until this month. All the snow, salt, and rain makes me feel like my car is dirty about 5 minutes after she’s washed. Everyone must be in a similar position, because I can’t help but notice the lengthy lines at the car washes lately.
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I hear you. I’ve actually seen people drive through the wash, turn around, and immediately go back through a second time!
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WOW.
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You and Garry could bond over car washing. But he wants interior cleaning, too.
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Bonding is good, right?
I never clean the inside of my car – it just gets vacuumed out a couple of times a year, and of course the windows get washed, but I wouldn’t be willing to pay for that.
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Ah ha ha ha!
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Glad you enjoyed it, Linda!
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At this point, the dirt is the only thing holding my heap together. Perhaps I could just take all my clothes off and dance through. 🙄
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Your comment reminds me of the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode in which the wife has to get out of the car in the middle of the car wash because she had taken a bowel cleanser and couldn’t wait. It was one hilarious scene as she fought the brushes and water sprays.
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If I took my car to a Delta Sonic, my hubs would keel over with a heart condition. He must wash and was my car and NO ONE ELSE it to touch my car. A wee bit of a fetish if you ask me, yet when he is done my car looks better then when I pulled it off the lot. I laughed at your story, CM. It happens to the best of us. LOL
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My husband’s like that with his car. His car is his baby. His car gets the garage. His car gets the hand washes. I consider my vehicle just a way to get from point A to point B, so it works out for both of us.
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Sorry you don’t get the garage. I do. And I am SO grateful I do. Believe me, especially in winter. 🙂
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