Car cover recommendations
 

I'm deploying for 6 months and I am putting my car in a 10x20 car storage unit. I would like to put a car cover over her to protect the paint. I was looking at the cover from Subaru (~$100) designed for the car but I was thinking there may be something out there that is better and cheaper, or slighlty more expensive but better.

Anyone using the Subaru cover or have an recommendations?

http://calcarcover.com

and:

http://www.covercraft.com/carcovers/...r_fabrics.html

Here's the comparison guide for covercraft car covers. I bought the Noah through autoanything.com (much cheaper than manufacturers website) but, as a heads up, it's not supposed to be here until mid January, i don't know how a wait like that would fit into your schedule, & if the wait is specific to that cover, that website, or a combination of things

Make sure the car is clean when the cover is put on. And remove periodically to keep it clean. Otherwise the cover can shift and grind dirt into the paint. No bueno!

I'm no cover expert but the factory accessory one is nice. I like mine.

Don't do it.

Thanks for the info guys but I just talked to my detailer and he said since the car will be inside don't use a cover at all. It just scratches the paint and grinds dirt into the paint.

Yup! let the dust build, and clear your head when you return with some tunes (and some beers) and a well deserved wash!!!!


Then DRIVE mofo DRIVE!


Maybe a nice coat of wax before storage?

Definitely! I think driving her is going to be the biggest thing I miss while I'm over there. And the girlfriend of course. After storage I plan on changing the oil and then taking her straight to my detailer and get paint correction and opticoat put on.

Then Tom's tailights and headers :burnrubber:

www.carid.com some covers are protected inside.

The dealer i bought my car from recommended not to buy their company car cover because it scratches. Salesman told me whispering lol

I have the xtreme cover from ebay. It's light enough to just keep the dust off but not heavy enough to rub or grind. I would avoid using any old blankets or comforters, they can collect moisture, bad bad bad for paint.

Honestly if the door to the storage unit isn't being opened & closed (think two car garage with double door) then the cover shouldn't be able to move and grind dirt into the paint *2 cents*

A excerpt from the California Car Cover Company:



Plushweavehttp://www.calcarcover.com/img/cover...plushweave.png "Our Plushweave car cover is the only true 100% cotton car cover you will find. Other manufacturers carry a poly-cotton material that is not nearly as soft or breathable. Made of 100% cotton fabric, the Plushweave cover has an added pure cotton flannel lining for paint pampering protection. Its ultra dense construction does a superior job of cushioning against scratches and dings. Perfect for both indoor and fair weather use; it does an excellent job against sun, dew, pollutants and is treated with 3M Scotchgard for light water repellency. The special construction allows the fabric to remain breathable which aids in air-drying and heat reduction to keep your vehicle cooler. Each cover is tailor-made to your exact needs and guaranteed to never scratch. Not recommended for extended outdoor storage. 2-year limited warranty. Our soft, flannel lined Plushweave material is also available for motorcycle applications. Available in Grey, Tan or Black. Made in the U.S.A."

Note: If you follow the California Car Cover instructions describing how the cover is to be installed and removed, you shouldn't have any problems with scratches, etc. It will all depend if you see the value of this product and how 'particular' you are. The 'Plushweave' is used a lot by classic car owners. I use this one for my BRZ.

I would like to see the "detailer" say that to a high-end classic car owner. There are all kinds of "detailers" out there and this one that you mention is not the best.

Actually, this is not the first time I've heard this. The problem with car covers is that inherently, you are putting a surface up against another surface. In a perfect dust-free world, the cotton is much softer than the clearcoat so it won't scratch it up but in the real world the answer depends on a multitude of factors.

OP: If the area where you store your car is very dirty and has a lot of dust (from sand), I suggest cleaning up the area (vacuum, wet clean, vacuum again) and then get a LOOSE fitting freshly cleaned/laundered car cover that is anchored down at multiple points so it doesn't shift (think of pulling a tight tarp over a tent).

If the area where you store the car has very little dust, you can go with just a loose fitting cover that's anchored down.

Ideally, you want to store her in a climate and dust controlled environment but that is expen$ive.

I hate form fitting covers - as they build up dust on them, getting them off without scratching something can be very precarious.

Frost makes a good point. When I was looking for my cover I wanted so etching tight at the four corners but loose elsewhere to facilitate breathing. Those spandex type form fitting covers look scary to me...a little humidity and that damp fabric is going to end badly.