Car covers

stoofa

stoofa

stoofa

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I am going car shopping next weekend. Yesterday I decided to give the car a good clean so that it'll hopefully just need a quick "knock the dirt off" next week.
On inspection I can see that obviously the car has been used as a cat trampoline at some point. There are some light scratches on the roof and some deeper ones on A & C pillars where said cats have decided to slide down the car.
I've had some polish out and it doesn't look too bad - I'm hoping they don't look too closely when valuating it next weekend.
We own two cats, so really I've only got myself to blame. I can probably safely assume that they were involved with this.

Looking around you can get "made to fit" waterproof covers for cars for around £90.
Now I don't want to start looking pretentious to the people around me, this will be a relatively "nothing special" car and I want to potentially cover it to stop this kind of damage from occurring - I don't want to draw the wrong kind of "Ooo, what is he hiding" or "He loves his car, we'd better damage it" kind of attention.

Does anybody else cover their "general run-about" cars to protect from this or other similar damage? Do you feel like a **** putting it on during daylight hours? :)
Also, if anyone has purchased - would love some recommendations.

Cheers.
 
I use a cover on my MX5 worth a few grand (on a good day) so I wouldn't worry too much about what the neighbours think. Unfortunately our neighbours have the desire to own three cats which they see for about 3 minutes a day who go from my gate onto the bonnet of my car (putting scratches into it on touch down), they then walk over the length of it before launching off rear wing / boot (scratching it again). To say it ****** me off would be an understatement.

Anyway, I bought a waterproof breathable cover but if you go that route and the cats are a regular feature be prepared to replace it every few years. My one has some nasty claw marks and small holes in it but I'm going to try and get one more season from it, hopefully by then I'll have moved and won't need to bother covering it.

Downsides of covering for a period of time outside are moisture build up inside (even with the breathable ones) and after 5 months under cover my paint is always a bit dull in the heavy contact areas like the top of the wings and rear edge of the boot and takes a good polish to bring the shine back. That is despite me thoroughly cleaning it and giving it a decent coat of wax before covering it.
 
I use a cover, no issue with cats but tree's. Unbelievable the amount of rubbish which falls down, leaves, bird poo, small twigs get stuck under the wipers, bonnet etc. Also pollen in the spring. Wash and wax the car and within 30 mins, might as well not bothered. Ironically with all the tree cover, my driveway is a sun trap in the summer, so this was the other reason.

A couple of neighbours use covers as well.

When I know the wind will get up, try to remove otherwise they blow off unless you tie it down. I had one which had clips and might as well not bothered. Mine was not particularly expensive (purchased from a local auto-store). Tried others, they either tore or wrong size. With reference to what people think, never been a consideration.
 
lordrobs said:
I use a cover on my MX5 worth a few grand (on a good day) so I wouldn't worry too much about what the neighbours think. Unfortunately our neighbours have the desire to own three cats which they see for about 3 minutes a day who go from my gate onto the bonnet of my car (putting scratches into it on touch down), they then walk over the length of it before launching off rear wing / boot (scratching it again). To say it ****** me off would be an understatement.

Anyway, I bought a waterproof breathable cover but if you go that route and the cats are a regular feature be prepared to replace it every few years. My one has some nasty claw marks and small holes in it but I'm going to try and get one more season from it, hopefully by then I'll have moved and won't need to bother covering it.

Downsides of covering for a period of time outside are moisture build up inside (even with the breathable ones) and after 5 months under cover my paint is always a bit dull in the heavy contact areas like the top of the wings and rear edge of the boot and takes a good polish to bring the shine back. That is despite me thoroughly cleaning it and giving it a decent coat of wax before covering it.
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Send them the bill. Cat owners are liable for any damage their pets cause, even though they are allowed to roam freely :p
 
Nasher said:
Send them the bill. Cat owners are liable for any damage their pets cause, even though they are allowed to roam freely :p
Click to expand...
Funnily enough I was having a look at the damage one day when the neighbour came up and said "you don't know that was our cats". Well... I've seen them on my car multiple times, I've never seen any other cat on my car in the last 5 years and you made a cat penthouse thing with a catflap that leads to the roof of your, and therefore also my, garage... but yeah, probably someone elses cat :confused:

Anyway, more on topic... I have a "stormforce" cover for my car. I'd highly recommend them - https://www.cover-zone.com/products/car-covers/stormforce/
 
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