San Francisco Automotive

Today's Groupon gets you a car wash, wax, and light interior cleaning at Keatley Detail, a new premium carwashery that pampers autos with the tender care most people reserve for friends, pets, and lonely mail carriers. You get a Stage One detail, which includes a thorough exterior wash that scrubs the bugs off the grill, gets the grime off the wheels and wheel wells, and rubs the muck off the underside of the bumper. The interior cleaning squeegies away peanut butter smears on the window, wipes off peanut butter on the dashboard, cleans the peanut butter out of the center console and door jams, vacuums up globs of peanut butter embedded in the carpet, and spoons old peanut butter out the ashtray to make a peanut butter sandwich. Then Keatley's detail-devotees slather your ride with a thick coat of wax until it gleams brighter than burning barrels of peanut butter.

The detailers at Auto Spa execute four treatments designed to restore cars, trucks, and SUVs to their glory days of flaunting shiny, flawless coats on the showroom floor. The team breaks out the sponges and soft cloths to hand wash exteriors—including wheels and tires—and adds meticulous touches such as clay-bar treatments and sealants to protect paint jobs and seal in gloss. They also tackle interior grime, refreshing carpets and mats with vacuuming and shampooing, conditioning leather and vinyl, and excavating fossilized french fries under seats.

Expert auto polishers at Premier Auto Detailing restore vehicles to their new-car shine with a menu of auto-detailing and hand-wash services. Each detailing service, much like getting a makeover next to Deepak Chopra, improves both interiors and exteriors, as the detail-orientated staff meticulously shampoo carpets, clean windows and rims, remove any oxidation, and protect paint from the sun with waxes.

California Parking has offered sanctuary to vehicles since 1954, today presenting them with 40 parking garages downtown and around the Bay Area. Many of the facilities grant easy access to destinations such as the Marina district, downtown, the Civic Center, and the recently drained San Francisco Bay, allowing visitors to shop and explore secure in the knowledge that their car is in the hands of professional buggysitters. The parking authority also has more than 20 valet-service locations for private parties, hotels, and restaurants.

Whether they're escorting lone business travelers to the airport or a festive troupe to a party, Sahara Limo's courteous chauffeurs exhibit punctuality and professionalism as they captain their fleet of luxury vehicles. Jet-black Lincoln Town Cars and Mercedes sedans envelop riders in sleek ambiance and comfort, and eight-passenger limousines, equipped with TVs and DVD players provide elongated transport for larger groups. Knowledgeable drivers also navigate the roadways of Napa Valley, stopping so passengers can bask in the fruits of its many vineyards, and steer tourists past San Francisco attractions such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the exact spot where Tony Bennett left his heart.

For more than 30 years, Paul Dickerson has done his part to beautify the Bay Area's hilly streets. A fully insured car detailer, he cleans, polishes, and restores coaches out of an auto shop stocked with deluxe tools. An eco-friendly LaserWash cleanses cars without any contact from disgusting human fingers. Steam machines scour engines, restoring a like-new shine to pistons. Wet sand smoothes and polishes paint, and clay bars bounce dirt and grime hanging out in the tiny pores of car paint. These tools fit neatly into the back of Dickerson's cargo van, which he uses for mobile details. When he's not caring for cars, Paul devotes himself to giving back to the community through Fuel for Change, a program that transforms auto and gas profits into resources for humanitarian projects.