Car detailing vac recs?

[Walt Dockery]

This might be a stupid/boring question but with all the detailed discussion of polishes, waxes etc. as well as hour + long videos posted on detailing gear, I was surprised the search feature turned up nothing.

I am going back to cleaning/detailing my cars myself after years of paying a professional, I just ordered a bunch of detailing products (mostly from AmmoNYC, I've been watching a number of his videos) and one of the last things I need is a decent detailing or shop vac. The only one I see Larry mention specifically is the Festool which starts at ~$475. I guess I could pay that as I'm kind of a gear queer, but seems like overkill for basic garage + car needs.

I guess my question is, is a higher end vac like the Festool, or an auto specific vac like the metrovac, going to be any better for basic car cleaning duty than a basic craftsman or similar shop vac or even my household miele?

What do you all use/recommend? My M3 generally stays fairly clean, although I have 2 german shepherds and am pretty active so my SUV (4Runner) can get quite hairy.

thanks

[Woodengun]

I love Festool.

But for cleaning a car, the only advantage it has over a cheap big box store shop vac is quietness. You can still hold a conversation while it is running.

Another possible advantage is that you can put the systainer system on top of it. You'd have access to "stuff" while vacuuming.

I have 5 Festool vacs, lol. 3 at home - a big one with boom arm that stays at my bench, a medium one and small one for portable use around the house. Others are at other locations.

[rubber_ducky]

Buying festool as a dedicated detailing vac is overkill IMO. Unless perhaps if you're going into the detailing business.

I have a metrovac and whatever brand of shop vac home Depot sells. I rarely break out the metrovac save for using it as a blower recently

[chimp]

I have the Metrovac Vac N Blow. I bought the model that mounts to the wall. Plenty of power and a ton of useful attachments. It also acts as a blower which comes in handy. I have had it for only a month but I do not have a single complaint. It is so convenient to simply grab the hose off the wall versus lugging the Dyson from inside the house or maneuvering my shop vac throughout the garage.

[Walt Dockery]

Yeah, the Festool I wasn't really seriously considering just mentioned it as sort of a high end data/price point.

It seems like a wall mounted unit is the way to go, either the metrovac wall mount version or the vacumaid garagevac seem to get the best reviews.

[volkl23]

I don't have a shopvac, so I just use my trusty Dyson Animal. Gets the job done and then some.

[RJVIII]

Rigid shop vac, or my Dyson

[Walt Dockery]

Ordered the metrovac wall mount (PRO-83BA) w/ 24' hose. Seems that and the vacumaid had the best reviews, I went w/ the metrovac as it's a bit slimmer and my garage is pretty tight (2 separate one-car bays, total pain in the ass of a layout but it's what I've got).

[F83]

I have a Dyson rechargable hand-vac for most day to day stuff. V6 I think? Keep it plugged in in the garage so it's always ready to give a quick once over. For heavier cleaning I use the house vacuum or a cash place.