There isn’t much I normally expect from a car wash (other than a clean car!). That bar was raised after my recent trip to Tommy Terrific’s Car Wash. After just one wash, I learned that a visit to Tommy Terrific’s isn’t an errand; it’s an experience.
In addition to being one of the few car washes in the area that offers a true, professional hand-wash, it’s also the only one where customers feel a bit spoiled. After being greeted by friendly staff, I was offered freshly-ground Ascension Coffee Roasters coffee, hot tea, and espresso. Also available: sodas from Oak Cliff Beverage Works, snacks from a grab-and-go cooler, craft beers (think Deep Ellum Brewery or Rahr & Sons), and chilled Dos Equis, Bud Light, and Miller Light. To round out the experience was a rotating selection of about four wines at a time, selected based on recent buzz and good reviews, but don’t worry, none of the bottom shelf stuff.
The lobby felt more like a hip lounge than a car wash: I settled in amid designer chairs and rugs, fiddle leaf figs, commissioned custom paintings by an Oak Cliff artist, a 40-foot wrap-around bar, and chill music. I could kick back and watch any of the seven televisions in the lobby or patio, or get some work done by taking advantage of the complimentary Wi-Fi and ample electrical outlets and USB ports.
Full walls of seamless glass windows offered 360-degree views of the real show. On one side of the lobby, you see vehicles moving effortlessly through the 135-foot, state-of-the-art automated car wash tunnel. On the other side, you see two 15-feet-wide by 90-feet long detail conveyor belts where the professional detail staff perform their magic in an efficient, assembly-line approach. It’s the first system of its kind in Texas. (Combining European technology with American luxury, Tommy Terrific’s Car Wash underwent a $5 million renovation to update its aesthetic and to incorporate this new technology.)
Though I don’t necessarily “speak car wash” I noticed the difference as soon as I saw the cars move along the detail belts. Plenty of Bentleys, Maseratis, McLarens, and other luxury cars passed by.
Sips and snacks aside, the reason I was there, of course, was to drive away in an immaculate car. And thus generally feel better about my day. Professional detailers tended to every inch of my vehicle. I chose the most popular “The Works” wash for a more-than-fair $27 price tag, but customers could also choose from the signature Mini Detail, or leather care and waxing packages. The reason you’ve had a hard time finding a thorough professional hand-wash service for your car is simple: there just aren’t many car washes in DFW that offer it.
Though Tommy Terrific’s professionals are speedy–they can wash and wax vehicles in just the time it takes to answer a few work emails–I found myself wanting to linger. Whether you’re 5 or 30 minutes away, it’s worth the drive to experience a place where luxury and high standards, on every level, and clean cars meet.
Tommy Terrific’s Car Wash is located at 1101 Coit Road in Plano. Since 2004, Tommy Terrific’s Car Wash, now with three locations in the Dallas area, has washed more than 3 million cars. Experience an elevated car wash at Tommy Terrific’s Car Wash from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
