Pressure washer powers up

cleaninG your car with a bucket and sponge is time-consuming and wastes water. But with a pressure washer such as this flagship HP2000 from Halfords, you can rinse your bodywork quickly and economically.

Its 2,000-watt motor pumps out water at an amazing rate, as we discovered when trying it on our Ford Mondeo test car. That power enabled us to easily shift dirt that had accumulated under the wheelarches on
a camping weekend.

There was no need to move the washer – the seven-metre hose was long enough to reach around the car. The power lead was a useful length, too, and had a hook for securing the cable.

We found the unit well made and sturdy – but it’s heavy, so when shifting it from your shed to your driveway, the wheels and adjustable handle come in handy. Our washer sprung some leaks around the base of the lance, although these were soon rectified with a spanner, and weren’t a major problem.

The turbo and vario lances worked well. And while the wheel brush was awkward to use, we liked the integrated detergent reservoir – this made it simple to switch from spraying water to shampoo.