[iramiller]

No car with paint you care about should ever be washed in the sun. If you look around some detailer forums for basic car washing instructions staying in the shade and carefully drying your car are very important to avoid water spots, swirl marks, and similar damage. Cars with dark colors are particularly notorious for this type of damage.

[meragrin_]

> water spots, swirl marks, and similar damage

Water spots and swirl marks from being washed in the sun are not damage. It's just material left around from water drying. The grooves in the paint type of swirl marks are from rubbing the dirt and grit against the paint and nothing to do with the sun.

[DamnInteresting]

> No car with paint you care about

The Cybertruck is bare stainless steel with plastic trim, isn't it? So paint damage shouldn't be a concern.

[itsoktocry]

I've owned many cars over 20 years and outside of cosmetic water marks due to evaporation on a hot car, have never heard of paint damage this way.

[meragrin_]

Ever own any cars with the flat/plain color(without sparkle/glitter)? I'm kind of wondering whether water drops can magnify the sun's ability to fade paint in a detectable way in those types of paints. I don't imagine it could unless the drops were forming in the exact same positions every time.

[marssaxman]

> No car with paint you care about should ever be washed in the sun.

Are you being serious?

I have never heard of cars being washed in any other way.

[meragrin_]

>> No car with paint you care about should ever be washed in the sun.

> Are you being serious?

Probably given "If you look around some detailer forums". I've seen the don't wash in the sun part, but it is about getting the "perfect" clean and not damage. The damage prevention parts usually involve reducing the amount of dirt and grit be rubbed against the paint like foam cannons, multiple buckets/clothes/mitts, grates, clay, etc.

> I have never heard of cars being washed in any other way.

I have a feeling you two are looking at it from vastly different perspectives. You seem to have a more utilitarian view of car washing. You know your car is going to receive damage as you use it. Minor scratches and fading that you have to inspect for are the least of your worries. The other person seems to view cars as important status symbols and any "easily" seen imperfection is a blemish.