Parked Outside

[radroach]

Tree shade, window sun shade (covercraft UVS is best) keep your car from roasting. You want to avoid direct sunlight on the dashboard because it will fade the dash and also loosen the glue holding it together.

Window tint is crucial for reducing temps. If heat is an issue, look into ceramic tint, worth the extra cash if you are considering tinting. Be aware that they reduce visibility if you get them too dark, especially when you have ceramic which can cause further distortion. 3M ceramic tint is the best and needs to be professionally installed.

Keep a bird poop emergency kit (bottle water and old microfiber) for absorbing and lifting off bird poop in a hurry. Don't let bird poop sit, just get it off and wash the car later.

Wash and wax on the regular, weekly or so. Bucket wash, soap, mitt, the whole process. Washing with too much soap often strips off wax (I know from experience with Chemical Guy's products) so be careful in how much you use. Wax often. You can buy gallon-size bottles of spray wax online (meguiars, optimum, etc, I use http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-xpress-spray-wax.html ) and save a lot of money not having to buy bottles of wax at the store.

Be aware of days when lawn guys / landscaping are working around the parking lot, move your car to avoid getting sprayed with debris from lawn mowers and getting rock chips. If you happen to get a random chip, Dr. Colorchip works great on dark colors.

[soulreapersteve]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Wax.
And wash.
It is a car.
It is designed to sit outside.
As said protect from the sun when possible.
I find a heavy coating of snow does the trick.

This is the only snow my car has seen


Well, I've brought it up to the mountains but no snow rallies!

[Kaotic Lazagna]

My suggestion is to keep the car waxed, and get 3M Crystalline tint for the windows. For the front windshield, I'd get a fitted shade.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

I'd stay away from trees for shade for several reasons. You don't want sap falling on the paint. Then there are bird dropping, branches, and what ever that tree grows (ie pine cones) that can fall as well. Any and all of these can damage your car.

[86geek]

Originally Posted by radroach

Keep a bird poop emergency kit (bottle water and old microfiber) for absorbing and lifting off bird poop in a hurry. Don't let bird poop sit, just get it off and wash the car later.

To OP:
I keep a spray bottle of Optimum Instant Detailer & Gloss Enhancer in my trunk with several microfiber towels. With ceramic coating wiping off bird crap is very easy with no mess when using Optimum Instant Detailer. I buy the concentrated version and mix it with distilled water.
It lasts me for a year which is very reasonable in price.

https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-ID200...enhancer+32+oz

[BaatLuk]

How much does ceramic coating or similar protection cost usually?

[ryoma]

thankfully I have a garage now that I park my BRZ in. however, my previous car was parked outside for about 3 years. every time I would wash my car, I would wax it as well with carnuba wax (about once a month or so depending on how dirty it was). every half year I would claybar it as well. my friends would give me crap about how anal I was about detailing the car but I enjoyed it lol. it helped that it was a small 2 seater coupe too (1986 MR2) so it didn't take too long. a good sun shade helps out tremendously as well. I personally have a covercraft shade that cost about $60 and it is money well spent, especially since I live in the "desert" in SoCal where it gets 120F+ in summer. yesterday it was 121F and today it was 119F.

[radroach]

Originally Posted by BaatLuk

How much does ceramic coating or similar protection cost usually?

Usually, a lot. Opticoat installers have to have certification or training somewhat before they can use the products.

When I first got the car I had some detailer try to sell me a detailing job for nearly $1000 which would include the ceramic coating. I told him to take a hike, and found a normal detailer who did the job to about 90% of what the earlier detailer wanted (minus ceramic) for $150.

[Lunatic]

I live in Palm Springs. 122 yesterday. My car sits outside, no garage. The best thing I did was have a clear ceramic reflective film added to the windshield and dark tint added to the side and back windows.