I was never one for washing my car until I finally bought one I could be proud of driving.
Now with my four-wheel drive SUV, I go out of my way to hit mud puddles and snow drifts. With all the grime on the roads lately and temperatures melting the snow away, I'm itching to give my Escape a good washing.
For others like me, who's obsessive compulsive nature comes out every time a bird finds your car, a new car wash coming to town may be just the ticket.
Jefferson City will be home to some of the newest technologies in car care come Friday. Tiger Express Wash is taking over the 1510 Missouri Blvd. location and is currently transforming the previous car wash to fit its specialties.
Owners Rollie and Tina Bartels are adding their fourth location, (three in Columbia) and their first in Jefferson City. The couple began rolling out their new quick fire features on March 1 and will be open for business on Friday, March 15.
"It is called a flex serve," Rollie noted of the type of location he's constructing.
Customers can choose from several different packages and services including exterior and interior cleanings. Taking on the MU Tigers theme, customers choose the tiger express, tiger tail, truman, and black & gold packages.
"We're here to keep your car clean," Bartels said. "If you're a member, you can come through every day. ... If you want us to clean your windows and vacuum for you every day, we will."
With 4,000 members so far, the Bartels have created a cleaning service that includes a cleancar guarantee, unlimited washes, full service detailing and more. New technology reads the curves of the vehicle, getting every aspect of the exterior clean. The new technology is also faster, cleaning cars in a matter of minutes. "This is high-tech foam. The quick fire is just amazing technology, it knows where the car is and the mirrors," Bartels noted. Members receive a window id tag. Once they pull up, the tag is scanned and in the car goes for washing. "We've also added a body seal in the tunnel, and automated tire shine," the owner explained.
New vacuums will be installed for customer use, with 10-times the suction power.
Members of the Columbia locations will be able to use the Jefferson City location and vice versa.
As the couple prepares to open the new location, they've already hired approximately 10 Helias, Jefferson City and Lincoln students. "We make our money where we spend our money," Bartels said.
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