Auto Detailing in Durham, NC | Professional Car Detailing Center
Durham, NC
About
Renew your vehicle at Durham’s Auto Mart. Our expert detailing services include interior steam cleaning, waxing, buffing, engine bay cleaning, and more. Schedule your appointment toda
Services Offered
Reviews (784)
I am so disappointed in my latest experience at RipTide. For some context, I previously came here every 2-3 months for an express car wash and the DIY interior clean, which was a great experience. The microfiber towels are nice and honestly my favorite part of coming here. But last week, I decided to get my car detailed after a friend had gotten carsick and vomited on my passenger seat, unfortunately seeping into the seat and crevices. I was pretty disappointed in the end result for the $225 spent. For a detailing service, I did not feel like there was an eye for detail and that I could have done a better job cleaning my car. When I came to look at the final result, there were still parts of the seat that had dried up vomit in the crevices and the floor mats didn't look like they had been properly cleaned (there were still stains and on the back side of the mat, it didn't look clean). I pointed this out to a staff member and she had the detailing employee come back and clean it, which I appreciated. However, he still missed some spots where there was dried vomit (I acknowledge that they were in the crevices of the seat, but isn't a detailing service supposed to be for catching those hard to reach spots?). In my frustration, I just ended up cleaning up the floor mats myself at RipTide and when I got home, I went back in and scrubbed the missed vomit stains on the plastic parts of the seat. I also noticed that the fabric on the driver's side still had a stain. Overall, I cannot in good conscience recommend this car wash anymore especially not for detailing and am so disappointed by the end product of the detailing services even after asking the staff members if they could take a look at my car again.
The wash was simple, but my car was wet when leaving. Soap on one side of it from an incomplete rinse. Some of the towels that they provide to dry your car with also had debris. Glad I looked at it. Otherwise I would’ve scratched my car while using the “clean” towel. Not to mention, the construction going on around it makes me feel weird driving a washed car onto a road caked over in dirt. That is not their fault at least.
I've never been a car wash person and certainly never thought I would feel a loyalty to a particular car wash. But this Riptide location has won me over. The staff has always gone above and beyond to be friendly and helpful, without charging an extra arm or leg. Zach, in particular, provides outstanding service. I came in once with very stubborn tree sap all over my car. He noticed me struggling and came over to help. He spent 30 minutes hand scrubbing my exterior with a special solution until it was immaculate. He was such a pleasure to talk with during the process. Now every time I go to Riptide I look forward to seeing him. He always comes over and offers to help with any tricky car cleaning problems I am having that day. Zach makes Riptide feel like your neighborhood mom and pop car wash in which you are known personally and valued as a member of their community. I don't think I will ever go to a different carwash in Durham ever again. Riptide it is.
I never feel the need to write reviews but I felt I needed to. I got an interior detail for $200. My car was spotless. I unfortunatley left the window open during a rain storm and my car was soaked and there were leaves all over it, It was horrible. I decided to take it here and I’m so glad I did. It was shining and spotless. 10/10 experience everyone was so friendly and they got me in so fast.
Overall an okay car wash. The staff were very friendly, the building and grounds seem new and well kept. The pre-scrub by the attendant was nice. However, I wish there was a cheaper option. Cheapest option is $12 and comes with tire shine. I just wanted a basic wash. Even though it was a $12 dollar wash, it didn’t scrub as well as I would have liked it. There was a lot of left over soap that wasn’t rinsed off and the tolerances for the brushes or brush type knocked both of my mirrors in. Also, the tire shine was very erratic, my tires are very uneven looking now and the excess has whipped up onto my paint and plastic trim pieces making the car look less clean.