How do I care for my car's exterior?
 

Just bought a new Civic LX and want to take good care of its paint
job.

Problem is, I live in an apartment and don't have any place to take it
to wash it by hand with a bucket and hose like I used to when I lived
in a house. Nor do I know anyone who has a house where I can take it
to wash and wax it.

So I am left with taking it to a self wash place or a drive through
place. The one drive through place I have used in the past with my old
car seems relatively gentle, it doesnt' have the big brushes, just
long mop-like things that hang down, it is assisted by hand-washing
guys, and then a big dryer then the rest is dried and detailed by
hand.

So those are really my two choices. I could take it and wash it myself
with the soap wand and rinse wand, or take it to the drive through
partial machine/ partial hand place.

What's the opinion?

I was thinking that if I hand wax it, with a good wax (which one??)
then the methods of wash probably won't be that destructive. (??)