The last time you heard from me I was enjoying the voluptuous curves of Franschhoek pass. I’ve since ventured into Cape Town central where I’m visiting more of my vast extended family and doing all sorts of touristy things like visiting the Two Oceans Aquarium. Fun. Needless to say it’s been a while since I treated the Type-R to a good scrubbing so today I thought I’d get its steely bits all nice and soapy. Of course, being fitted with one of the last normally aspirated iVTEC screamers we’ll ever see, only the best would do so I hit Google in search of Cape Town’s best car wash.

And after a couple of clicks I decided, on Seth Rotherham’s recommendation (Seth runs the popular 2OceansVibe blog), so head on over to a so-called “boutique” operation in Green Point called Plush. Situated under the Porside Centre in an edgy parking garage that wouldn’t be out of place in films like Bullitt or The Driver, it’s certainly a slick operation with an army of staff, plenty of fluorescent lighting and (something that’ll warm any petrolhead’s heart) lots of Autoglym signage adorning the walls. Autoglym is – in case you don’t know – the automotive equivalent of Dermalogica and pretty much guarantees a back-to-showroom-condition shine. This sounds like a hard-sell, I know, but it really is that good.

Anyway, leaving the Honda’s keys with the valet, I checked the wash/dry/vacuum/wax special (R150) and headed up to street level where I’m now enjoying a Vida coffee and waiting for my silvery steed to get its sexy back. It’ll apparently take an hour-an-a-half to do but from what I’ve seen and read on the interweb, the wait will no-doubt be worth it. Obrigado!

According to all the online hype, Plush is the best car wash in CPT. First impressions are good...

It's not easy to spot though. Reasonably low-key signage is all that gives it away...