Shower Capes - Advice please
Discussion
I am very much of the opinion that if it isn't raining, and isn't about to rain, then the roof should be firmly in the boot. My problem is that my car is parked close to a helicopter operating area and if I park it with the roof off during the day the inside gets cr*p blown in by the downwash. I'm not too woried about the exterior because the area is regularly swept so there is no sizeable debris, it's fine grit and no worse than the car experiences at 60 mph on the cornish roads.
So, I have two questions for those of you who have experience of the shower cap:
1. How much quicker are they to put on than the soft top?
2. How resistent are they to wind, looking at up to 60 mph of downwash for up to 5 mins at a time and a shower cape through the rotors doesn't bear thinking about.
I have discounted the other 2 options, parking round the back 'cos I'm lazy and putting the roof back on when I get to work 'cos I'm usually late because I've spent time taking the roof off for the drive in.
So, I have two questions for those of you who have experience of the shower cap:
1. How much quicker are they to put on than the soft top?
2. How resistent are they to wind, looking at up to 60 mph of downwash for up to 5 mins at a time and a shower cape through the rotors doesn't bear thinking about.
I have discounted the other 2 options, parking round the back 'cos I'm lazy and putting the roof back on when I get to work 'cos I'm usually late because I've spent time taking the roof off for the drive in.
What car is it. My experience of an S2 with long tail roof is as follows:
1.Not much faster. It only takes about a minute to put the soft top on, and you will still have to carry out most of the tasks to attach the shower cap. ie attach clamp 1, attach clamp 2, clip mirror 1, click mirror 2, hook wiper versus attach clamp 1, 2 locate side 1, 2.
The only real saving is the 'fannying on' factor with the full soft top getting it in and out of the bag and boot.
2.They're not great in strong winds, and are likely to come away from the wiper, also will bellow out over the windows. As a shower cap, they're great, as a substitute for the soft top they're not.
If its an S2 I would say keep the roof bag in the car, and attach it without the middle support bars, this will be just as quick, provide complete protection to the interior. If its an S1 build a garage
Regards, Neil
1.Not much faster. It only takes about a minute to put the soft top on, and you will still have to carry out most of the tasks to attach the shower cap. ie attach clamp 1, attach clamp 2, clip mirror 1, click mirror 2, hook wiper versus attach clamp 1, 2 locate side 1, 2.
The only real saving is the 'fannying on' factor with the full soft top getting it in and out of the bag and boot.
2.They're not great in strong winds, and are likely to come away from the wiper, also will bellow out over the windows. As a shower cap, they're great, as a substitute for the soft top they're not.
If its an S2 I would say keep the roof bag in the car, and attach it without the middle support bars, this will be just as quick, provide complete protection to the interior. If its an S1 build a garage
Regards, Neil
It's an S1, looks like the current vacuuming routine will remain in force since I can't be seen arriving at work with roof on; people will think I've gone soft. May have a look see if the top will remain in place without the cant rails and cross bars, could be a no cost solution.
No helicopter movements yesterday so a bird cr*??£d on my drivers seat instead.
No helicopter movements yesterday so a bird cr*??£d on my drivers seat instead.
S1 soft-top will be fine without the roof bars but will flap about at the sides without the cant rails.
I have an elemental showercape (£50 second hand and it's in perfect nick). Goes on in about 30 seconds, the fit is excellent and is a good substitute for light rain or just general coverage.
No idea how it will fare vs. a helicopter. No chance you can park away from the downdraught?
Are you a chopper pilot then? Cool job if so. Wish I'd done something like that as a career!
I have an elemental showercape (£50 second hand and it's in perfect nick). Goes on in about 30 seconds, the fit is excellent and is a good substitute for light rain or just general coverage.
No idea how it will fare vs. a helicopter. No chance you can park away from the downdraught?
Are you a chopper pilot then? Cool job if so. Wish I'd done something like that as a career!
Have to admit that I am one of the main culprits for filling my own car with debris, occasionally I will taxy to the runway, but it is 1/2 mile at a fast walking pace, far quicker to just lift and go from our dispersal and it is what helicopters are supposed to do at the end of the day. The Elise is a great contrast to my work transport, it's great to get into something light, responsive and involving for the blast home.
I've also got an Elemental shower cape and can't recommend it highly enough.
I left mine on through a serious downpour once and came back to find that the cape had sagged into the car and was holding a pool of water about 18 inches deep without a single drop getting into the car. You won't believe how carefully i tipped it out - the water weighed a ton! It was my own fault really as the cape is designed so that you can put one of the long roof-bars inside it so as to create a sloped roof that the water runs off and I was too lazy to fit it.
I don't know about the down-draft question, but I collected the cape in person from the chap who makes them in Goosnargh and he was incredibly friendly and happy to answer any technical questions. Might be worth contacting him to see if they are helicopter proof. I've got his contact details (somewhere) if you need them.
I left mine on through a serious downpour once and came back to find that the cape had sagged into the car and was holding a pool of water about 18 inches deep without a single drop getting into the car. You won't believe how carefully i tipped it out - the water weighed a ton! It was my own fault really as the cape is designed so that you can put one of the long roof-bars inside it so as to create a sloped roof that the water runs off and I was too lazy to fit it.
I don't know about the down-draft question, but I collected the cape in person from the chap who makes them in Goosnargh and he was incredibly friendly and happy to answer any technical questions. Might be worth contacting him to see if they are helicopter proof. I've got his contact details (somewhere) if you need them.
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff