Automatic car will effect the finish in a bad way. They use recyled water, plus the method of the heavy rubber paddles to clean the vehicle is not good.
Touchless is a better alternative but again it is recyled water.

Wrong
 

That is just so wrong.. You have proof of this.. People wouldn't go if that was a true statement

Total recon in Leesburg does 'paint correction' and ceramic finishing. It's not cheap, but your car will look amazing.

If you’ve been taking your new car through the wash religiously every week for a year, you’re the best judge of any ill effects on your car’s finish .

You have the first hand experience and you are the best person that can answer your own question ….

I take mine to Big Dan’s as military discount saves a few$$ and I DO NOT purchase the waxing as was informed when I bought the car that the protective coating I bought extra would be harmful.

Occasional use is probably ok but every time you go through there is always a chance of damage. It is best to wash your own car but many people don’t like to do that. If you are going to use an auto car wash I would recommend that you have your car professionally ceramic coated. For me washing my car is therapy LOL

I doubt that I have been through more than 10 car washes since buying my first car in 1962. I don't like the swirl marks, the fact that dirty water is used to spray under the car, and who knows what chemicals are in there. It takes 30 minutes once a week to wash a car, it's good exercise, and shows you have pride in your ride. I polish and wax them twice a year which might be an overkill but I like them to shine. The most recent car I purchased new came with a ceramic coating and with that it only requires a touch up once a year but if I would have had the choice I would have not let them put the ceramic on the car, they do it ahead of time as a gimmick to get more dollars out of the buyers. If you're healthy enough, just wash it yourself and todays polish and waxes are easy to apply.

What ever happened to high school kids, having car washes to raise money? I always pull in on the rare occasion that I see one.

I recently traded my 2018 Chevy pickup, and the paint looked like new EVEN AFTER I ran it through the automatic carwash AT LEAST TWICE a week EVERY WEEK since it was new. Between salt, snow, mud, road dirt, etc. and my monthly unlimited carwash subscription, why not get it washed anytime it was even a little dirty? The carwash was not touchless (fast spinning brushes) and the only wax I ever put on it was from the carwash, so my opinion is relax and don't worry about the carwash unless maybe you have some expensive vintage car.

DuckDuckGo

I’m afraid I only get a car wash maybe twice a year. I’ve tried various places. Those brushes and strips of fabric remind me of getting a shoeshine. Not getting it washed does save on paint wear. The car is in the garage nearly all the time, and I’ll walk a block extra to park in the shade. A weekly car wash seems wildly excessive.

Had my new car ceramic coated. Person that applied said I should never take it to an automatic car wash. In addition to the harsh chemicals the brushes could easily contain dirt and grit from that dirty car ahead of yours.

Our car was done by GTFO Detailing. Excellent job.

I've no issues. Make sure you have your car physically waxed (not that spray on stuff at the car wash) once every three months and you'll be fine

Touchless no good. Its like you standing under a shower head, no soap and no wash cloth, and say you've showered

You can take your dry towels with you in a laundry basket and then put the wet ones in the basket to take them home. Most home vacuums have tools that will work for the inside.