Screw this continuous/repetitive aspect and passive voice bullshit. I’m using present tense, completed aspect, active voice, and you’d better like it. It’s not “needs to be washed”, not “needs washing”, it’s “The car needs washed.” And while I’m at it, the dishwasher needs emptied and the dished need put away.
I can’t imagine what’s going through your imagination when you say something as looney as “The car needs washing.” What, the car is out there going “And I’m washing, and I’m washing, and I’m still washing…” I’m not saying the phrase because I want to you be in the process of washing, I want it done. Finished. Over with. Completed, damn it!
So quit correcting my grammar. Your rules are silly. My rules make more sense and they sound better too. So there.
:dubious: Needs is a present tense. The future tense of need is will/shall need. Your point however still makes sense, since it is rubbish to mix present and past tenses so willy nilly.
Needs washing, isn’t passive or repetitive, its a simple construction. We like to put nouns or noun stand ins after active verbs. Besides the car is out there going “I need a washing” in the only way a car can, by being dirty.