Do automatic car washes really hurt my paint?!

Absolutely. Automated car washes that you find in gas stations and other locations are not good for your paint at all. Yes, they WILL make your car look a LITTLE bit better. But the countless number of fine-line scratches and swirls are not worth the "Bargain Price" of 5.00 or whatever. For that price, go buy your own car wash Solution, and do it 20 times for the same price. The swirls are caused when the rotating brushes slap against the side of your car and drag themselves across it, over and over and over again. 95% of people do not even realize that these are bad for their cars, hence why they are all still in business, but they can actually be very detrimental for your car's finish.