Car covers

FloridaNative

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Hey guys/gals. As alot of you know I have no garage and my car sits 24/7 out in the sun. I'd like to get a car cover for it to protect it from the sun, sprinklers and cats (oh my!) I am a bit concerned as to how the wind will affect the covers being that I"m relatively close to the beach and still get the tradewinds at my house. Will the winds cause the cover to rub against the paint and will rubbing cause any damage? Can you all recommend a good cover that will protect it from the sun and the elements but still let it breathe? Thank you all who reply. :) :grouphug:
 
Jen........wolf is best i think, mine was the 2 ply 200 model, least expensive with a smooth inner lining......i love it........winters in the ny city can be brutal, before my garage??? this cover was my garage

check it out (now, now Bill you know better, no links to competitors)
 
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I bought one off ebay for really cheap (search for coveroutlet on ebay). My idea was to provide some protection from the sun as I parked outside at work. It was a pain to put on and off daily by myself and one day we had a lotof wind and my cover went flying!

On the hand, I put it on my Mom's Mustang after I washed it and it kept her car spotless in my driveway under a tree for about a week.

I think more expensive ones that are custom fit for your car would probably stay on better in windy conditions. However, for the price this cover works well.
 
From what I researched, I think Killr is right. The covercraft ones are very good. Mine is good for the price, but does not have the quality of a covercraft. I bought the covercraft sunshade (via AG) and it is made with excellent quality. It's the best sunshade I've ever used.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
Noahs rocks and I bet Meghan will allow you to use your forum discount or at least ship for free. The form fitting ones rock, but darn expensive.

http://www.autogeek.net/carcovers.html

Thanks Killr, the Noah does look good and it is less than I was expecting to have to pay too so that's even better! :)

Thanks all of you for your advice and comments. :)
 
Car covers, to me, are just as important as sealer/wax. I’ve used them in and out of a garage for 25 years. As a testament to their use, I have a 1983 Porsche 944 that spent most of its life outdoors. Paint is original and still looks practically brand new. I’ve tried just about every cover there is and one thing is certain, especially in Fla, is that most covers do not stand up well to Fla weather! BUT, I’ve found one that does and is my new favorite. Check out the Weathershield covers (http://www.autogeek.net/weathershield.html). It is very light, thin, and very easy to use. It takes up very little space in the car but provides excellent protection. The fibers block UV and it sheds water like a garage roof. When it does get wet, it breaths and dries in no time.

I haven’t tried the Weathershield HD but I’ve been so happy with the “basic” model that I haven’t bothered. BTW, it is NOT a soft, puffy, lined cover but with 3 cars all using them, in and out of a garage, I can say confidently that I haven’t seen even one swirl mark from the covers.
 
thank you so much snomon. That is what I am looking for, something to hold up to the elements and protect the paint. I was just concerned because I get the trade winds that steadily blow from East to West off the coast. I'm less than 2 miles from the beach. I was looking at the Weathershield too. Have you tried the Noah one? That one looks good too. How does it compate with the Weathershield??
 
FloridaNative said:
thank you so much snomon. That is what I am looking for, something to hold up to the elements and protect the paint. I was just concerned because I get the trade winds that steadily blow from East to West off the coast. I'm less than 2 miles from the beach. I was looking at the Weathershield too. Have you tried the Noah one? That one looks good too. How does it compate with the Weathershield??
Weathershield is a step up from the Noah if you are using it outside. Weathershield "breath-ability" is better , they both carry a 4 year warranty. Hope that helps.
 
Save the money, I've got an extra bay in my garage. You can park there.:p
 
If you are going to be removing the car cover often then there is No Problem with them. But be careful when using a car cover for a long period of time outside. I had a friend of mine who had his Corvette Covered during the winter months here in New England and when he uncovered the car in the Spring, he found burn and ware marks on the corners of the fenders and outside rearview mirrors. The wind can blow pretty hard and the rubbing back and forth can cause this damage. Also, sand and dust can sometime get under the cover and build up, causing severe scratching. JoeD
 
So we don't need to worry about having a super clean car to put a cover on? I mean I wash my car once a week, but is that enough to minimize damage? My car is outside 24/7.
 
Meghan said:
Weathershield is a step up from the Noah if you are using it outside. Weathershield "breath-ability" is better , they both carry a 4 year warranty. Hope that helps.

On the chart, for outdoors it says Noah - Best and Weathershield it only says Better. :confused:
 
I like the Weathershield cover because its so light and easy to use. Because of its light weight, it goes on and off way easier than ANYTHING else. Also, in my "size challenged" cars, Weathershield takes up very little space. The Fl sun also killed more covers of mine that I can count. One year was optimistic. I've had a Weathershield now for 3 years, always outdoors, and all it's shown is some color fading. This alone has made it worth the price.

The Noah cover is thicker, so I can see a case for it being a "best." My experience, however, suggests that thickness and protection are NOT related. I don't mind taking the 60 to 90 seconds needed to put on or take off the Weathershield. With the thicker covers, I would often "forget" to use them, or say I'll put it on later, because of the pain in using them.

BTW, I do ensure that the car is at least reasonably clean before dressing it with a cover. I too have been concerned about dirt rubbing under the cover. A quick QD or at least a California Car Duster.
 
Let me add that thicker covers do give some peace of mind regarding dings and bumps. Although I don't think a cover would really give any real protection, I believe it does, therefore it must.
 
Wow! You've all given me so many great replies! I don't always drive the car everyday and it can sit outside in the parking lot for up to like 4 days without being driven. I like the idea of a cover to protect it while it's not in use and to keep it cleaner longer.

Gearhead, thanks for the offer of your extra bay, but it would be quite a commute from South Fla to Utah! lol

Snomon, do you think the Noah would hold up well to the sun here?? I'm right by Miami. Thanks. :)
 
Thanks for the info as well. Snomon, you have used Noah and Weathershield and prefer the Weathershield? At around 200 bucks it seems like a good investment. Does it also keep it cooler INSIDE the car, or am I hoping for too much. :)
 
abrcrombe said:
Thanks for the info as well. Snomon, you have used Noah and Weathershield and prefer the Weathershield? At around 200 bucks it seems like a good investment. Does it also keep it cooler INSIDE the car, or am I hoping for too much. :)

yeah Snomon, I am pretty much choosing between the Noah and the Weathershield also. For protection from the sun and the elements, which would be the better choice for South Fla?? Thanks.
 
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