Car cover - the good and bad

[JHZR2]

Hi,

My driveway gets a LOT of hot afternoon sun. So much so that we can see vinyl offgassing stains on the windows in a week of sitting out there.

One car has to sit all day and be outside in the sun. That is lousy, but it is our setup. I have to think that the best in protection that I can provide reasonably is to get a decent car cover that will block UV, etc.

My question is, how much damage can a car cover do?

It sure seems to me that if the car being covered is outside, and so the cover moves in the wind, it will rub and microscratch the paint... It also seems to me that if the car paint is the slightest bit dirty from use, pollen, road grime, whatever, then the car cover will do real nasty stuff to the paint.

So it is a balance between UV destruction of the rubber and interior parts, vs. maintenance of the paint.

Am I overanalyzing? Is there a smart solution (just do it, or no way) here that Im missing?

Any advice or insight would be appreciated. Thanks!!

JMH

 

[PRND3L]

Is one of those portable car ports an option for you? I'm in the same boat but covenants restrict said ports in my subdivision.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

I bought a 'jumbo' sunshade and cut it to fit the exact shape of the windshield, and use it daily - that protects the dash and reflects a lot of sunshine. Good quality window tint will protect the rest of the interior, and I use protective products on the exterior rubber and keep the car clean and waxed. So far, all my cars remain looking brand new sitting outside in the Texas heat day after day.

 

[fitzz47]

a good cover is better than nothing,you could polish the scratches out.

 

[Cadude]

I don't like car covers. They scratch. They get dirty. They are a pain to deal with in the rain. The birds #@$%! on them. I'd use a winshield shade and tint the back windows.

 

[NismoMax80]

car cover was the best thing i bought for my car. bird #@$%! on the cover was not on my car. also was motivation to keep it waxed. slips right on and off. only takes a couple minutes to roll it up.

get a good one. I got the Covercraft Noah for around $200. They come custom fitted, allow it to breath so no mold, and are super soft.

keep her in a garage now, but may still use it if away somewhere for awhile or if garage gets too dusty.

 

[Dominic]

Car covers are great in a garage to prevent scratches and dust... but outside I've used them and they really are a pain. Often times the rain soaks through and sits on the car until the cover dries. Id rather keep the car clean/waxed and cover it with a awning or something. Tinting the windows also helps a lot with keeping the interior like new.