West New York Automotive

Shine On Car Wash cleanses muddled metal exteriors with modern yet gentle technology and detailing services for all types of vehicles. Autos enter the sudsy enclave and get caressed by a 100% brushless, soft-cloth tunnel, where biodegradable shampoos from Earth Ready wash away dirt, grime, and tattoos displaying allegiance to former owners. Before exiting, car exteriors are cleaned of soap and dry off while avoiding the potential paint-damaging effects of high-pressure jets. Shine On Car Wash caters to car-cleaning appetites large and small, with five levels of full-service washes and available à la carte offerings such as power washing for plastic mats or interior Armor All treatments. Full-service washes feature Rain-X protection, triple-foam polish wax, and Armor All tire shine to help roadsters look their most lavish.

Auto electronics have changed a lot since 1989. Tape decks gave way to iPods, LCD screens brought movies to the back seat, and the Internet expanded from college campuses to car interiors. Frank Rodriquez and his crew at Exotic Auto Boutique have worked on the frontlines of this technological evolution, wielding a half century of collective expertise while tailoring vehicles' aesthetics and equipment. Specializing in seamless audio updates using Soundstream equipment, the team also sells listening gear for DIY installation from other brands including Pyle and Kenwood. With an enthusiasm for unusual projects, they invite big dreamers in for complimentary consultations for projects to make over school buses as limos, trick out children's bikes, or transform pumpkins into horse-drawn teleportation devices.

VIP Parking ushers vehicles in and out of its secure, fenced lot 24 hours a day to accommodate every type of travel itinerary. After checking in their roadster, travelers can hop aboard a free shuttle to the airport, which also collects them up upon their return. Patrol officers circle the lot’s perimeter to guard short-term and long-term parked autos, keeping intruders out and hungry Monster Trucks at bay.

Behind an unassuming two-story façade of brick and mortar, shop owner Candice Quinteros oversees the expert, efficient maintenance of vehicles through drivability diagnostics, engine tune-ups, tire services, and 24-hour road service. In the proud tradition of Eleanor Roosevelt and her souped-up 1970 Plymouth GTX, the bustling female-owned shop proudly supports women's participation in the mechanical trades. Talented technicians boost engine performance and protect automobiles' insides with thorough cooling-system inspections and radiator flushes, battery diagnostics, and the replacement of old tires with new and used rubber rings from Firestone, Michelin, and Goodyear.

Icon Parking Systems' parking facilities safely house vehicles of all shapes and sizes as owners go to work, relax at home, or take in the sights of the Big Apple. Conveniently tucked in the most prestigious corners of Manhattan—which are also the areas least menaced by aimless teenage tow-trucks—these lots offer easy access to any number of restaurants, Broadway theaters, and concert halls. Many automotive stables have no daily or weekly time limit, so drivers may come and go as they please or leave rides in the same spot for dedicated, month-long portraits. Monthly customers can sign up for the Preferred Customer Club, which grants them an exclusive card and half-off parking at any of Icon Parking Systems' 200 facilities or UFO landing pads scattered throughout Manhattan.

At Auto Spa of Westfield, technicians dedicate themselves to restoring showroom sheen to vehicles of all makes and models. Seven days a week, they guide cars and trucks through their wash tunnels and onto their service bays to peel away dirt and reenergize engines. During car washes, they lavish exteriors with triple-foam polish wax and protectants. Detailers use hand wax and shampoos to comb through the exterior and interior. Castrol and Mobil 1 oils whirl through funnels and into engines at the quick lube center, where skilled technicians also service transmissions, replace belts, and switch out sage bundles for proper windshield wipers.