Keeping Cayman outside, garage alternatives, folding garage?
Discussion
Where I live in NI I don't have a garage on my rental property, just a gravelled gated driveway. I plan to keep a Cayman on it, but I'm concerned what the elements will do to my new pride and joy!
Ive searched for garages to rent in my small town and they don't seem to exist. I've been looking at alternatives. I ruled out car covers as read they're bad for paint and moisture. The next thing was one of those "temporary" car garages that are like a car tent essentially. Or one of the folding perambulator types. Or perhaps an outdoor Carcoon that inflates. Do any of you have any experience of them? I'll be using the car for relatively frequently, about 4 days in a row between work trips, then it'll sit for 3-4 days whilst I'm away.
I'm stuck with what I can do as I rent so I can't go laying concrete foundations or anything. Essentially any securing would have to be held by the cars weight or by something like stakes that could be driven through the gravel into the ground.
Ive searched for garages to rent in my small town and they don't seem to exist. I've been looking at alternatives. I ruled out car covers as read they're bad for paint and moisture. The next thing was one of those "temporary" car garages that are like a car tent essentially. Or one of the folding perambulator types. Or perhaps an outdoor Carcoon that inflates. Do any of you have any experience of them? I'll be using the car for relatively frequently, about 4 days in a row between work trips, then it'll sit for 3-4 days whilst I'm away.
I'm stuck with what I can do as I rent so I can't go laying concrete foundations or anything. Essentially any securing would have to be held by the cars weight or by something like stakes that could be driven through the gravel into the ground.
Edited by Buggyjam on Wednesday 13th September 01:55
[-]My recommendation is not to bother with tents / covers or anything like that. The best thing for you to do with a car that lives outside is to 1) use it, 2) clean it and 3) from time to time do a touch up detail with paint cleaner, occasionally clay bars and wax or new high tech surface treatment. (And yup as the OP said: always get the birds s
t off ASAP.)
None of these car cleaning materials are expensive to buy. It is just a little time consuming to do. I actually enjoy doing it, but clearly it is a more pleasant task in the summer rather than the winter.[/-]
Ahh, sorry, just read that you park under a tree that gives off a lot of sap. That is a pain. Ideally you should avoid parking under the tree (plan A). Otherwise I image that a car cover would have to be the best plan B. The problem with covers is that with wind pushing on the cover it will abrate against your paint and cause micro scratches.
t off ASAP.)None of these car cleaning materials are expensive to buy. It is just a little time consuming to do. I actually enjoy doing it, but clearly it is a more pleasant task in the summer rather than the winter.[/-]
Ahh, sorry, just read that you park under a tree that gives off a lot of sap. That is a pain. Ideally you should avoid parking under the tree (plan A). Otherwise I image that a car cover would have to be the best plan B. The problem with covers is that with wind pushing on the cover it will abrate against your paint and cause micro scratches.
Edited by SimonOcean on Thursday 14th September 15:26
I'm the same but my problem is other toys in the garage. Plus in NI too
I'm on my second porker living outside and travel with work quite a bit so it can sit for upto 5 days.
Bird poo is the absolute enemy. I leave a bucket of clean water and a sponge with the boss lady inspecting and dealing with any mess daily.
The paint colour or type must be more probe to damage as my guards red car can be affected in hours whereas the grey one didn't show any marks.
B
I'm on my second porker living outside and travel with work quite a bit so it can sit for upto 5 days.
Bird poo is the absolute enemy. I leave a bucket of clean water and a sponge with the boss lady inspecting and dealing with any mess daily.
The paint colour or type must be more probe to damage as my guards red car can be affected in hours whereas the grey one didn't show any marks.
B
Buggyjam said:
Where I live in NI I don't have a garage on my rental property, just a gravelled gated driveway. I plan to keep a Cayman on it, but I'm concerned what the elements will do to my new pride and joy!
Ive searched for garages to rent in my small town and they don't seem to exist. I've been looking at alternatives. I ruled out car covers as read they're bad for paint and moisture. The next thing was one of those "temporary" car garages that are like a car tent essentially. Or one of the folding perambulator types. Or perhaps an outdoor Carcoon that inflates. Do any of you have any experience of them? I'll be using the car for relatively frequently, about 4 days in a row between work trips, then it'll sit for 3-4 days whilst I'm away.
I'm stuck with what I can do as I rent so I can't go laying concrete foundations or anything. Essentially any securing would have to be held by the cars weight or by something like stakes that could be driven through the gravel into the ground.
The Porsche outside car cover -- I have one for my Boxster and a Cayman S -- are very good. They fit snuggly and are not affected by wind. Ive searched for garages to rent in my small town and they don't seem to exist. I've been looking at alternatives. I ruled out car covers as read they're bad for paint and moisture. The next thing was one of those "temporary" car garages that are like a car tent essentially. Or one of the folding perambulator types. Or perhaps an outdoor Carcoon that inflates. Do any of you have any experience of them? I'll be using the car for relatively frequently, about 4 days in a row between work trips, then it'll sit for 3-4 days whilst I'm away.
I'm stuck with what I can do as I rent so I can't go laying concrete foundations or anything. Essentially any securing would have to be held by the cars weight or by something like stakes that could be driven through the gravel into the ground.
Edited by Buggyjam on Wednesday 13th September 01:55
The problem is the car should be clean and dry when the cover is installed.
It was hard to ensure the car was clean or dry when it came time to put the cover on so I stopped using car covers. The Boxster has been parked outside for most of its 15 years. The paint (lapis blue) is showing signs of exposure as it is fading in places and the clear coat on top of the outside mirrors is peeling.
If you must park the car outside and don't want to use a car cover and they are a hassle my advice is try to park the car away from trees/plants to avoid leaf litter getting on the car and into the body water drains. Also, parking away from trees/plants reduces the amount of bird mess the car collects while parked but it will stil get some. Both of my cars are now parked in carports and after a few days it is not uncommon for one or both cars to collect some bird spots.
When you can wash the car and rinse it thoroughly. Be sure you keep an eye on the water drains to keep the trash build up down. If this becomes too bad water will collect and can overflow into the cabin with disasterous results (ruins the security module on the cabin floor). Be sure to drive the car afterward the washing and use the brakes enough so the brakes are dry before you put the car away again.
Get the car properly detailed/waxed every so often probably at least twice a year.
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