The Shell Gas Station around the corner from my house offers a basic machine car wash for $3 if you fuel more than $10. And with the car wash you get a large drink of choice for free (a $1.50 value).

The car wash leaves the jeep pretty clean and then I quickly hand dry with some Eagle One Wax as you dry..

They should sweeten the deal and throw in a sandwich and a brownie.

But is it softtouch, old brush style or one of those pressurized air type car washes?

One of our local car washes near my work went from a full service wash to an outside only wash. They get $5 for the basic wash with the felt brushes that actually clean dirt off of the car. I can't believe how much cleaner a touch wash is than a pressure wash.

In the summer I just park the car on the grass and wash it off with one of those hose brushes. I never have dirt that requires more than water anyway and the grass likes the extra moisture. I try to get the waste water onto some plants rather than down a drain.

But is it softtouch, old brush style or one of those pressurized air type car washes?

It's the giant rubber flap brushes. The brushes are blue and white and giving soapy foam.

Gets it pretty clean. Never had an issue with paint damage.

I wouldn't pay $1.50 to have my car's paint scratched. My humble opinion.

If you like touchless, you are just asking for scratches from the dirt that stays on the car when it is supposedly clean. Sometime run a car through a touchless wash, then get a sponge and wash a spot right in the middle of the door. Let it dry. You will see a clean spot where you washed with the sponge. When I run the Jeep through the brush wash, it is actually clean! (and not scratched)

I agree.

I know for a fact that water pressure alone cannot remove dirt unless the pressure is so great it can remove paint too.

I have been to one pressure wash that actually did get the car fairly clean. It had a random wiggle action of the spray nozzles. Anything that is that is not random does not do a good job.

While the car wash itself may or may not scratch your paint, I am always suspicious of the towels that are used afterwards by the guys at the end.

While some washes have an opportunity for you to pull aside and dry it yourself, or just skip the hand drying all together, some of them leave you no choice - they are waiting for you before you're off the track. I try and avoid these... though I usually hand wash anyway, because I am in control of what kind of sponge and towels I'm using.

I usually hand wash anyway, because I am in control of what kind of sponge and towels I'm using.
That's exactly the reason, Fazzz. Only I am authorized to scratch my car's paint!