What's all that color on the cars? (Milo: insurance, home)

[RMoore007]

I look at the Milo Webcam daily as it's only a few miles from Dover and I like to see what the weather is doing in that region. Today it looks just perfect with the sun and 41 degrees. But I can't help but notice the brown stuff on many of the cars I see go past. I have been told out here in Cal. by other Mainers visiting that when I drive my black Passat wagon back there soon, don't expect it to look like it does now. That I can expect a more salty look to the car, most of the winter season. Does that mean that it will look like mud and it will be a brown color or a white, salty color? Anyone have pictures of what their vehicles look like in winter? And do you do anything to protect the cars body like Rain-X on the windows? Are car washes prevalent in the area or do cars just stay dirty all the time? My car is a front wheel drive and has heated seats. I know those are good things to have up in Tahoe for skiing. It gets over 25mpg and I am keeping it for a few more years. TIA.

[Maineah]

Many people go to car washes all the time. There are quite a few around now. On a sunny spring day they're lined up around the block. I generally don't bother until the snow melts and the roads dry. Rain, melt water and snow are still going to be around for a while now. If you washed your car this afternoon by the time you got home it would look like you never touched it as the roads are covered in melt water mixed with sand and salt. It's pretty difficult to keep it off a car this time of year.

[msina]

I'm gonna hafta remember to wave next time I go by Trask Insurance.

[Shuffler]

Here in CO they use Mag Chloride on the roads, which is corrosive to the chrome on bumpers and grills, more than anything. It's hard to get the stuff off when it's dried. Speaking of which...I need to wash the truck! After our wimpy storm this week, folks will be scrambling for the car washes I'm sure...

[RMoore007]

Originally Posted by msina

I'm gonna hafta remember to wave next time I go by Trask Insurance.

Their webcam is one of the best around as it resets every 5 seconds. And I love the archives there too. They take a still shot every half hour and at the end of the day , I can see what the whole day was like for you Central Mainers. I'm hoping one of you CDers can check your watches when driving by and if you're driving by Trask on the top or bottom of the hour, then stop and wave. Is there a special CD wave?

[msina]

I guess maybe,... the "YMCA" The best thing would probably be to park right at Trask, walk to the edge of the parking lot near the road and wave like a fool.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by RMoore007

Is there a special CD wave?

Yes there is but it doesn't show up too well with mittens on!

[shadowfax1997]

I just washed my white car yesterday. The bottom half was basically black/brown from road dirt.

I try to wash it every week or two in the winter IF the temp is above freezing. Washing below freezing can create problems - frozen windows that won't open, frozen locks, etc. Not washing the car will allow sand/salt to build up and rust it away. Newer cars today don't have that problem as much as the bodywork has new alloys of metals that are much more resistent to rust. I can end up going 2 months or more between washes in the winter.

There are plenty of car washes around. Gets expensive though - the one I hit is south portland was $9 for a basic wash. Course - it is a tunnel that does a real nice job.

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Yes there is but it doesn't show up too well with mittens on!

LOLOLOL!!! Hysterical!

[msina]

We have a car wash just down the street. We washed the car a little over a week ago. A couple days later the car wouldn't start. I don't know if it had anything to do with it other than salt and sand kept the car thawed? We try to wash it if we know it's going to be a couple days of fair weather in a row.