Outdoor Car Cover

Yucca

Yucca

Yucca

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Joined
20 Nov 2004
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2,209
Location
Nock/Leicester
As title

Does anyone use a car cover and if so can you tell me about your experiences? Ie which one, how long does it take to put on and take off etc

We have a lot of trees around the house which seem to give off a horrible tree sap this time of year. It really sticks to the paintwork and looks really bad. I wash the car and a week later it looks like its covered in glue!

Garage not available hence why I'm considering a car cover? :confused:
 
I'd recommend Halfords' "advanced all seasons" car cover, used one to protect my classic while it was outside - it was in bits so couldn't put it back in the garage.

It's simple to put on with only 3 straps/clips that go under the car but no locking system so anyone could take it. Took about 5 mins to put it on although it could be a challenge in the wind! Despite trying to fold it the best I could it never went back in to the bag it came in.

Also, never put the cover on a wet car. Neighbourhood cats frequently took shelter in the engine bay too.
 
Get one that's fleece backed as well - or else it'll rub the paint off any corner of the car the cover touches.
 
I bought one for my MX5 from www.coveryourcar.co.uk and it was excellent.

It's only something I'd consider for a "weekend" car though. It'd be a massive faff to fit/remove every day, and the car needs to be clean before putting it on..
 
I have one from Specialised Covers (storm shield +). I use it to cover a black car with notoriously soft paint, and never had any issues. Fits very well, is fleece lined, and has straps underneath to make sure it doesn't flap about.

Was very sceptical about covers before, but I'm now totally sold on them after buying a good one.
 
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I had a complete blonde moment reading the thread title.
I was thinking to myself I didn't know you could get indoor and outdoor insurance.


:(
 
Howard said:
I bought one for my MX5 from www.coveryourcar.co.uk and it was excellent.

It's only something I'd consider for a "weekend" car though. It'd be a massive faff to fit/remove every day, and the car needs to be clean before putting it on..
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I've got one from those guys for my classic mini, looking at the site now it must be the Monsoon version. It's quite good and being a felt/fleece inner your not worried about it scratching up the car. It isn't must fun to put on or off though and i really really wound't want to do that on a car that was used daily, i have it as my mini is undergoing restoration and it was sat outside for ages.

The cover has lasted about 2 years but it's starting to look a little tatty now.
 
You've got to buy a good lined one. Anything else scratches the paintwork over time. I used to have to cover my car in London when the allocated parking space was under a tree that the birds pooped from.

Because I used the car every other weekend I didn't have to take it on and off that often but I took an extra precaution and would buy dust sheets on a roll and then layered a smooth plastic dust sheet under the car cover in order to create less adhesion to the car cover as it got put on and off.

I also learned the hard way to take it off and roll it up like you would do a tent to keep the dirty sides touching each other and not the inner surface which needs to stay as pristine as possible.

Keeping it secure was a challenge too. The ones with hooks at the bottom to go around wheel spokes were never good enough in high winds. Best solution I ended up with was a good nylon rope strung in a figure of 8 over the top of the car between wheel spokes at each corner.

Took 10 minutes to unwrap the car and the same again when finished - I'm very glad I don't have to do it any more. If it's your own property and you can anchor something permanently to the drive I'd definitely go down that route like the geetrac mentioned above. I seriously considered one of the perambulator ones before we moved: http://www.canvasandnylon.co.uk/portablegarages.php
 
So there is no practical way for me to cover the car every day then guys?

If it takes 10 mins faffing around and throwing rope and clips under the car that seems like a lot of hassle every day.

Any other other thoughts or suggestions? The tree sap this time of year is really bad and no matter what I wash the car with its covered in it within the week.
 
Iv even tried jet washing the car every few days (£1 from the local car wash guys) to try and keep the paint clean and then wash it properly myself every 2-3 weeks.

But the jet washing is a waste of time as it seems to remove hardly any of the tree sap. Its like GLUE. Sticks to the car.
 
my brother has a Noble, and im not sure what cover it is , but its designed to fit the Noble perfectly, even though he stores the car in the garage and has the cover on, if it comes out of the garage and hes working on it and its going to rain or he needs to work on the car over several days, cover goes on and it protects the car without damaging the paintwork

same as what nickxx has got
 
Yucca said:
But the jet washing is a waste of time as it seems to remove hardly any of the tree sap. Its like GLUE. Sticks to the car.
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Be worth trying some Tar remover or something similar on it e.g.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine-and-exterior/autoglym-intensive-tar-remover/prod_749.html

I have used the Autoglym one and makes light work of tar, and some other residue that left dull spots.

If you do get that though, make sure you get a spray bottle for it. Spray it on, leave it to sit and then wipe off with a microfibre cloth. You may even be able to dilute it down, as seemed quite powerful stuff when I tried it.
 
siliconjim said:
Have you considered cutting the trees down...accidentally?
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Lol yes me and my father have discussed this. But there are too many so its a none starter really. The tree sap issue only seems to be really bad about 2 months a year strangely.
 
( |-| |2 ][ $;29912820 said:
Before I went to the effort of a car cover I'd consider a good layer of wax and then washing it every week.

That's what people who want a clean car do, wash it every week.
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I absolutely agree that you can't beat washing car every week. But its a long job and to do it properly including removing the tree sap before sponging it would take me a good 2 hours +.

Who has 2+ hours a week to wash their car?!
 
My car often goes for weeks between being driven, it's nice being able to lift the cover off after a few weeks and it being as clean as I left it.

TBH, the Specialised cover that I have isn't even that much of a faff to put on and take off. It is tailored to fit the car and elasticated around the ends- not too dissimilar to a fitted sheet over a mattress. You could probably forego the straps with no worries if it's not windy too.
 
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