Outdoor Car Covers - Opinions

Ast3r

Ast3r

Ast3r

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Joined
6 Jun 2009
Posts
655
Location
London
Just purchased a car cover for my car, exclusively outdoor parked since got no garage.

What's your opinion on these. I've heard people saying they can damage paint if the wind blows them causing movement etc.
 
Bought one to cover my Galaxy - more to prevent bird-squirt when my elderly neighbour feeds the pigeons than being precious about it.

I used it every night for one week, then the Wife left something in the car, and I had to cover it up a second time when a storm was blowing...

It got shoved to the back of the garage and has stayed there for two years.

Waste of money and time.
 
If you've got a little sports car, then it'd be far easier to whip on and off (you have to sling the straps under the chassis, on generic ones).

But if your motor is bigger than a Ford Ka, then it's a massive PITA.
 
Yep they can scratch the paint and leave swirl marks if they move around in the wind. Anything rubbing against it like that will, especially if dirt gets trapped under it.

Best off not bothering and just wash it regularly and keep it waxed using good quality stuff.
 
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I use one on my Aston nearly all of the time. It’s quite heavy duty- fleece lined, waterproof and breathable. It uses 4 straps underneath to hold it down. I’ve been using it for 2 years with no issue of scratched paint or it blowing off.

I can only assume the above posters were using poor quality covers.
 
My driveway has dense tree coverage and ironically a sun trap. I opted for a car cover.

First was rubbish, just tore when you were trying to fit and too small. If you are purchasing a generic cover, size scales are simply rubbish - I selected one which apparently would fit my car, it was way too small.

I just picked up a large. This one is quite heavy duty, although no paint scratching, just be mindful that no foreign objects have been trapped when refitting.

Protects the car from leaves, UV, bird mess and moss growth! Living under tree cover is a pain!

Agree, wind is annoying (it will blow off). I have one set of fasteners - it will lift and get wrapped/caught up - I gave up and try to remove in advance.
 
I think the key is that you need one that is tailored to your car rather than a generic ‘small/medium/large’ one if you don’t want it to blow around.

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NickXX said:
I think the key is that you need one that is tailored to your car rather than a generic ‘small/medium/large’ one if you don’t want it to blow around.
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Agree. I'm now trying to guess the car? (Aston/Jag?)

Does your neighbour complain about your parking? :D
 
As already said you need a tailored, breathable one with a fleece lining. Even with that my MX5 looks a little dull in the areas where the cover is pulled tightly over the body when I take it off each spring. That does have super soft paint though and a quick polish brings it back up.
 
NickXX said:
I’ve been using it for 2 years with no issue of scratched paint
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You might not identify it as scratches, but unless the car is properly clean before you put it on (or you have self healing PPF I suppose), there's no way it won't have caused some swirling.
 
Mickey said:
You might not identify it as scratches, but unless the car is properly clean before you put it on (or you have self healing PPF I suppose), there's no way it won't have caused some swirling.
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Even then, some fine dirt will still get under it since it will get blown up underneath it. That will then get ground in to the paint as the cover moves around slightly.

But unless your a detailer or really look hard you probably won't notice the micro scratches.
 
well, I decided against using it for now. I'm a really picky person and notice imperfections in the paint right away no matter how minor, so it just didn't sit right knowing there's a chance of the paint getting scratches/swirls. Car is getting detailied at least once a year anyway, so I guess should be fine.
 
agreed, unless your cleaning the car every time you use it, then your going to get dirt on the inside of the cover which is going to potentially marr the paint.

I have a halfords outside cover, but only use it to cover the car inside the garage so theres no wind to move it about. I wouldnt bother but sometimes get crap dropping from the inside of the rood onto the car.
 
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