A car wash will not hurt the paint. The outside elements are much more harsh on the paint than anything a car was could throw at it. I paint cars every day for a living. Today's clears are so much more durable than even 5/6 years ago. You can do just as much damage washing a car by hand. Swirl marks in clear come from foreign objects being ground into the paint. Even washing a car by hand with a sponge will do the same damage. Do I think you can do a better job by hand? No doubt about it. One of the comments was would I run one of the restored cars I build through a car wash. No not a chance. As the cost involved in restoring a car or building a one off hot rod is enough to buy a fleet of crossfires. My main concern was it sitting to low. Besides new car hide so many defects in the paint by the uncut and buffed clear. Most late model cars have more orange peel in them than an orange. The clearer the cut and buff the more defects you will see in the paint. Hence the factory texture. If you want to see the difference just pull up to a true show car and there will be no comparison. I know everone here is very passionate about there car and are very proud. As you should be. As I'm am the same as you very proud of my new purchase. But come on guys light'n up a little.
Tim