Fifty years ago, Australia faced a scramble as oil companies competed to build new petrol stations to gain a market share. There seemed to be one on every corner and besides selling petrol, they offered car servicing. The proprietors were usually mechanics and they would mend a punctured tyre, replace worn wiper blades, renew brake linings as well as provide the usual " lube and oil change " service.
Today, the petrol station has morphed into a Seven Eleven style shop - which happens to also sell petrol. It is customer self service and in the majority of cases there is nobody with the slightest mechanical experience working on the site. Buying petrol and obtaining mechanical repairs are two vastly different experiences.
During that past era, many petrol stations with sufficient site room added an automatic car wash to attract more customers. This was a " drive through " operation and the vehicle to be cleaned was hit with high pressure water sprays and slapped with rotating cylinders of fabric to clean the paintwork. It was very much a " one size fits all " operation, but at least it removed the majority of the grime. Over time these old machines have not been replaced and now they have become extinct in the northern suburbs of Wollongong.
A new operation in Balgownie road has turned car cleaning into a twenty-first century innovation. A disused service station site is offering a service that will have appeal to people who have embraced apartment living, women holding executive positions in the work force who are expected to maintain their vehicle is a presentable condition - and those who want to keep their second most valuable asset in as near new state as possible.
The crew who man this car cleaning operation have created what can only be described as an " art form ". It is a pleasure to sit in the viewing area and watch the process from start to finish. Firstly, the vehicle is hit with high pressure water sprays and this includes the under body and the over wheel arches, important to off road vehicles to remove mud that may cause corrosion. The bodywork is then hand washed with a detergent containing a polish that imparts a shine to the paintwork. The windows are washed and a second high pressure spray removes the suds - and a chamois rub imparts a final polish.
The vehicle is moved to the secondary cleaning area and the tyres are blacked. The interior glass is cleaned and all the hard surfaces receive a wipe down. The seats, carpets and the luggage area are meticulously vacumed. This is the standard of detailing that restores that " new car " look.
The cost of this operation is a mere thirty five dollars. Most people try to maintain their vehicle as near to new as possible, but lack of suitable cleaning facilities and the constant time pressure results in many cars getting what used to be termed " a lick and a promise ". That may suffice for day to day cleaning, but it would be wise from time to time to invest in this detailing operation to bring the vehicle right up to scratch - and keep it that way.
This is an innovative service that has correctly filled a missing gap. Cleaning a car is something we all manage to various degrees of perfection. Now we have the option to have the vehicle given the detailing necessary to achieve a professional standard. Considering what it costs to buy a new car, maintaining it in new condition is money well spent !
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