My car wash makes you get out. Other than the joy an eight year old gets from seeing the windows suds up, I can't think of any reason to stay in the car.

 

They make you get out to pay and hopefully buy something else while in the checkout area...

 

nah, nothing but air fresheners and license plate holders there...plus, the local blood bank arranges free car washes with the place I go to, so if I time it right, I (almost) never pay for the car wash!
my place cleans the interior, too, so if we were in the car, we'd just be in their way

 

Oh that's very cool.

 

I wash my own car, myself. A "regular" weekly car wash takes about ten minutes, using water, a rag, and a chamois (no soap). Wet and touch the painted areas first, then the wheels. (Touching is needed to dislodge the road grime, but it doesn't usually need any scrubbing.) Then rinse and chamois. About 2 or 3 times a year, I use soap, and then apply new silicone glaze.

It is much less expensive, and takes less time, than driving to a car wash.

 

My car wash is a mile from my house and since I'm a regular donor, I haven't paid for a car wash in twenty years. I usually do a hand wash once or twice a summer as the mechanical car wash doesn't do a great job. For me it's convenient and inexpensive (all it costs is the tip)