Rain Tunnel Express

I’m so lazy. The only time I ever had any interest in washing my car at home was when I was a kid. It had little to do with getting my parents’ car clean and everything to do with playing with the water hose.
Now that I’m an adult, I’ve found I typically just let the rain wash my car for me. Though, there obviously are times when that is not an option. That’s when I visit Rain Tunnel Express.
–Price–
RTE currently has seven locations in the Saint Louis area. All have two wash levels, described on their website as follows:
Downpour ($ 6)
Safe, effective auto shampoos
Wheel brightener
Touch-​free drying
Monsoon ($ 10)
Downpour wash (as described above)
Paint guard with carnauba wax
Liquid polish
Underbody rinse
WheelGuard
Self-​service vacuums also are available for $ 0.50 per use. I’ve never used them, so I’m not sure how long they run for your two quarters.
The Downpour wash is the only one I’ve purchased, and it does the trick. Six dollars for the Downpour is cheap enough, but if you find you like the washes here, there are plenty of ways to save:
1. Buy a savings card
A savings card gives you six washes for the price of five. (At current pricing, the cards give you six Downpour washes for $ 30 and six Monsoon washes for $ 50.) It’s a sticker card with one sticker for each of the six washes. An employee will remove a sticker at the time of each wash.
2. Deals via email
Sign up on their website to receive deal notifications in your inbox. Past deals have included a free wash for red cars on Valentine’s Day and a free wash for hybrids on Earth Day.
3. Coupons
Sometimes they even have coupons on their website. The current coupon is for $ 3 off of a Monsoon wash and expires 6÷30÷15.
–How it Works–
This is a drive-​through car wash. You stay in your car the entire time.
As you pull up, you should see a couple of attendants. One will come to your window to ask which wash you would like and to accept payment. I know they accept cash, and I believe they also take American Express. If you have purchased a savings card as described above, they’ll just remove one of the six wash stickers left on your card.
Another attendant will guide you into the tracks. There’s also a mirror above the wash entrance to help you see where you’re driving. Once you’re adequately in the tracks, the employee will shout «No brakes! Neutral!» Follow those instructions, and be sure all of your windows are up! Get ready for the ride!
As you start moving, the employees will spray the driver’s side of your car with soap. Equipment along the wall takes care of the passenger’s side. You’ll proceed through the wash and ultimately through the no-​touch dryer. An exit light right outside the building and to your left will light up, letting you know when it’s time to put your car in drive again.
If you would like to pay to use the self-​service vacuums, those are located along the side of the building that faces Watson.
That’s it!
–Rating–
I really don’t see any room for improvement here. I’ve always been pleased with the Downpour wash. It’s cheap, and it doesn’t take much time. It also prevents me from having to wash my car. Ain’t nobody got time for that.