car cover a good idea?

[Burt]

I'm thinking of getting a car cover for my new Fiesta. I will be using the park and ride from time to time and don't like the thought of leaving it in the hot sun day after day.

Any advice on whether it is a good idea and if so, what make? I see a huge range in prices.

Thought I heard that they can accumulate grit underneath and the flapping in the wind will damage the finish overtime? I don't see people using them down here. It is because they attract attention or that they are easily stolen?

 

[Rand]

its a good idea on a rarely driven car that you have just washed.

On a regular car I would never use one.. will hurt the paint more than it helps.

 

[Lapham3]

Yup-agree with Rand

 

[raytseng]

Depends. You need to be prepared to spend more for a custom car cover and it will not flap in the wind.
Yes your car should be relatively clean to begin with. if you're concerned about grit then you need to get the covers that have more padding/insulation. The tradeoff is that these are much much bulkier than the thinner non padded covers. So goodbye trunk space.

Additionally if it rains then you have a big wet mess to deal with if you get the padded covers.

Regarding theft they have grommets at the middle for which you throw a cable under you car and lock. It is easily defeated, but just a deterrent.

I think all the custom car cover websites explain the different options pretty well, maybe point out what you found and are confused about

The last thing is there are only a couple actual carcover makers, all the web sites are resellers, so pick you cover and find the best price.

 

[razel]

In addition Rand's advice, perhaps consider using a wax-as-u-dry next time you wash the car. Bare minimum I'd recommend to help keep paint/clear coat from drying in the sun. As for the interior, put up a windshield visor on the front and back.

 

[Kawiguy454]

If its parked outside use quality waxes they will protect the finish. Car covers trap dirt and when it flaps in the wind it grinds into the paint.

 

[HTSS_TR]

My S2000 is rarely driven on weekday and parked in garage but still collect dust after few weeks. I think I will get an universal compact(or sub-compact) cover, a cheap one from Walmart or Harbor Freight or Amazon.

 

[zzyzzx]

In these circumstances, a car cover is probably a pretty good idea:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UErimZAR4I

 

[SatinSilver]

You will get tired of taking it on and off after a short period of time. Just wash it regularly and it will look nice for a long time. This stuff is great and fast:

https://www.duragloss.com/Exterior-Clean...-Rinseless-Wash

Plus it contains some protection from the elements.

 

[spackard]

I've used them for about 25 years. If you keep your car for a long time you'll have a nice interior and good exterior. The car's a lot cooler to get into at the end of the day.

Covercraft custom cover. Have to buy a new one about every 4 years.

Edit: yeah, Weathershield HD fabric

 

[raytseng]

no such thing as weathercraft.
There's either covercraft or coverking.
A fabric/brandname used by covercraft though is weathershield

there is also weathertech floor mats/liners if that was what you were thinking of.

 

[SirTanon]

Originally Posted By: Rand
its a good idea on a rarely driven car that you have just washed.

On a regular car I would never use one.. will hurt the paint more than it helps.


^^^^^^ This is dead-on.

Unless your car is perfectly clean, then the motion of the car cover moving back and forth across the surface of your paint will act like fine sandpaper and cause a lot of damage.

Was your car regularly with good car wash solution, wax it regularly, and use a spray wax or similar on it after each wash. This is what will do the protecting.

 

[raytseng]

Not sure if all these people have used a car cover or if they are speaking just from hearsay, like the days of brand X motor oil is made of wax.

Car cover should not be moving if you got a good one with a soft touch interior layer.
You still should have an LSP that would be sacrified take any damage. Are you all like wearing cotton gloves before touching your car or soemthing?


Also, it is not a straight comparison that the carcover causing mechanical wear whereas having no cover means 0 wear. Your car is not in a clean room when you don't use the car cover.


If you don't use a car cover, then your car is exposed to sun UV damage, heat that will flash off your wax, dirt, bug/bee poop, tree sap, bird dropping etc.
All of that stuff also causes paint damage too.
You are not babysitting your car and wiping off bird poop within 5seconds of it hitting your paint. And you don't want to wash and rewax your car every day or even every week or every month. (Depending on your technique, your wash and wax may also cause non-zero wear).

All the cars you see with faded paint, it's not because the owners put on a car cover that sanded away their paint.

There is a trade off in wear/damage when using the cover versus no cover. Not fair to claim carcover only causes damage and provides no damage protection in trade.

 

[Dwight_Frye]

Originally Posted By: spackard
I've used them for about 25 years. If you keep your car for a long time you'll have a nice interior and good exterior. The car's a lot cooler to get into at the end of the day.

Covercraft custom cover. Have to buy a new one about every 4 years.

Edit: yeah, Weathershield HD fabric


+1 on the Covercraft Weathershield HD cover. My 370Z is garaged at night but 5 days a week in my work parking lot it has the cover on it. No damage to the paint. I have the paint well protected with Zaino and spend a few minutes on the weekend with soft microfiber towels and quick detailer to clean any spots.
My only issue is this: The Covercraft Weathershield HD covers have a 4 year warranty. After about 3 years, all the stitching
that holds the panels together rots out and the panels separate. They replaced one cover under warranty and 3 years later, the exact same problem. I contacted Covercraft and suggested they use a better type of thread for the seams even if it means a slight increase in cost. They could say "New & Improved" and really mean it. They blew off my suggestion. Next time it happens I will find an upholstery shop to sew over every seam with more rot resistant thread. By the way, for a 6 year old car, I still get compliments on "how new" it looks. Keeping it out of the baking sun all day makes a big difference.