Discussion
Thinking about a car cover, must be suitable for outdoor use, but only for very occasional use - I have a garage, so this is only to take with for road trips to use overnight in areas with overhanging trees with sap, or places with a lot of dust (the overnight trackside parking at le mans for instance)
I can't justify the cost of the Aston outdoor covers for use just a handful of days per year
the 'standard' Specialised stormshield outdoor cover here appears to be £249 and I recall this firm has been recommended on here before
http://www.specialisedcovers.com/stormshield-car-c...
Anyone with experience of this cover, or have other suggestions
don't really want to pay more than £2-300 given the circumstances described
EDIT should have mentioned, I know roadsters are said to need an interlining for the aston covers, to protect from fluff/lint/etc - I wonder how necessary that is ? It's no money, but it's an extra item to take away and put into place
I can't justify the cost of the Aston outdoor covers for use just a handful of days per year
the 'standard' Specialised stormshield outdoor cover here appears to be £249 and I recall this firm has been recommended on here before
http://www.specialisedcovers.com/stormshield-car-c...
Anyone with experience of this cover, or have other suggestions
don't really want to pay more than £2-300 given the circumstances described
EDIT should have mentioned, I know roadsters are said to need an interlining for the aston covers, to protect from fluff/lint/etc - I wonder how necessary that is ? It's no money, but it's an extra item to take away and put into place
cayman-black said:
Those are good covers.
But from your use description i would not bother.
A car cover should only be used on a cleaned car.
+1But from your use description i would not bother.
A car cover should only be used on a cleaned car.
Covering a car that is dirty or while being driven on a trip (always has dust, bugs, road grime, etc) will do more harm than good. Just give it a good detail after a long trip.
RS6bird said:
cayman-black said:
Those are good covers.
But from your use description i would not bother.
A car cover should only be used on a cleaned car.
+1But from your use description i would not bother.
A car cover should only be used on a cleaned car.
Covering a car that is dirty or while being driven on a trip (always has dust, bugs, road grime, etc) will do more harm than good. Just give it a good detail after a long trip.
LordBretSinclair said:
Won't one take up much needed space - especially in a roadster????
On our last visit to Le Mans we had no spare space at all - good luck though
next year will be just me in the car although there are a lot of us going - will fit in footwell or behind passenger seatOn our last visit to Le Mans we had no spare space at all - good luck though
I'm going to be going a week earlier to le mans next year, 3 astons driving to stay with friends in Valbonne (south of france), then heading from there to meet up with the rest of our group in le mans the following week so it's a 2 week trip - going to be taking in some of my favourite roads like route napoleon, col de turini, col de bonnette, etc
but at my friend's place, having visited before, I know my car won't get up their steep heavily gravelled drive, so will need to be left at bottom of drive, below lots of mature trees, where it's also very dusty, for about 3 or 4 days. I've got a while to think about it !
I have had 3 specialised covers, all great , fit perfect do their job. Latest one is a year old for my Roadster (changed from a coupe)
I only put on after cleaning when im leaving the car for more than a few days or when im expecting real bad weather (ice, snow) So maybe the cover goes on for 4-6 weeks in winter. Also useful for special occasions where I clean the car and want to keep it clean before a wedding or car show
You cant put the cover on a dirty car, it will make more of a mess of your paint than just leaving the car to the elements.
Its also bulky - it wont go behind the seat, it will take up all the pax seat or 1/3rd to 1/2 your boot space in a roadster
its multiple layer breathable, like a really thick goretex jacket versus indoor cover which is about 1/2 the volume and thin n fleecy....but no good to you outdoors
Ive done >100k miles in all weathers in last 2 Vantages and never bothered with a cover when away. I have washed the car by hand on longer trips.
If you want to protect the paint I can recommend g-techniq polymer coating. I had my previous black Vantage done twice in 9 years, it really did last well and help keep it looking good after just a quick wash.
I only put on after cleaning when im leaving the car for more than a few days or when im expecting real bad weather (ice, snow) So maybe the cover goes on for 4-6 weeks in winter. Also useful for special occasions where I clean the car and want to keep it clean before a wedding or car show
You cant put the cover on a dirty car, it will make more of a mess of your paint than just leaving the car to the elements.
Its also bulky - it wont go behind the seat, it will take up all the pax seat or 1/3rd to 1/2 your boot space in a roadster
its multiple layer breathable, like a really thick goretex jacket versus indoor cover which is about 1/2 the volume and thin n fleecy....but no good to you outdoors
Ive done >100k miles in all weathers in last 2 Vantages and never bothered with a cover when away. I have washed the car by hand on longer trips.
If you want to protect the paint I can recommend g-techniq polymer coating. I had my previous black Vantage done twice in 9 years, it really did last well and help keep it looking good after just a quick wash.
OK, OK, I get the point ! :-)
I've never used a car cover before, I've done 20 or so overseas driving trips, yes I use PPF & further protection on top (haven't decided what type yet for the next car) and yes Nick, if I'm only going to use it a few days a year and it does the same job, I don't see the point in spending 6 or £700 instead of 250 if it is just as good :-) got to save some money somewhere.......as you say, over £200k just spent........well over :-(
Appreciate the comments on bulk too - hadn't realised it took up that much space.
But I asked the question, I've had some advice, I'm taking it !!!
I've never used a car cover before, I've done 20 or so overseas driving trips, yes I use PPF & further protection on top (haven't decided what type yet for the next car) and yes Nick, if I'm only going to use it a few days a year and it does the same job, I don't see the point in spending 6 or £700 instead of 250 if it is just as good :-) got to save some money somewhere.......as you say, over £200k just spent........well over :-(
Appreciate the comments on bulk too - hadn't realised it took up that much space.
But I asked the question, I've had some advice, I'm taking it !!!
Probably a bit of a contentious idea, but buy a bottle of that waterless car cleaner and throw it in the boot with a couple of microfibre cloths.
I often use it at the end of a drive on both of my cars and it really does work, it's kind to paint and takes a few minutes to give the car a once over, I wouldn't personally use it for a really dirty car (although it says you can on the bottle) but for general dust, splashes around the arches from puddles, and that fine covering on the doors and sills that you get from driving on wet roads I find it great.
I often use it at the end of a drive on both of my cars and it really does work, it's kind to paint and takes a few minutes to give the car a once over, I wouldn't personally use it for a really dirty car (although it says you can on the bottle) but for general dust, splashes around the arches from puddles, and that fine covering on the doors and sills that you get from driving on wet roads I find it great.
Probably a bit of a contentious idea, but buy a bottle of that waterless car cleaner and throw it in the boot with a couple of microfibre cloths.
I often use it at the end of a drive on both of my cars and it really does work, it's kind to paint and takes a few minutes to give the car a once over, I wouldn't personally use it for a really dirty car (although it says you can on the bottle) but for general dust, splashes around the arches from puddles, and that fine covering on the doors and sills that you get from driving on wet roads I find it great.
I often use it at the end of a drive on both of my cars and it really does work, it's kind to paint and takes a few minutes to give the car a once over, I wouldn't personally use it for a really dirty car (although it says you can on the bottle) but for general dust, splashes around the arches from puddles, and that fine covering on the doors and sills that you get from driving on wet roads I find it great.
AMDBSVNick said:
jonby said:
.......as you say, over £200k just spent........well over :-(
AMR roadster with lightweights & Halo, OTR, is £170k
AMR wheels & TI exhaust add up to almost £17k before fitting costs are added
So that's the best part of £190k before allowing for any options, Q, luggage, etc let alone PPF & detailing
Coupes are c £10k cheaper from memory, but lots of them seem to be more than making up for that price difference with the aero kit.....
On that basis, doubt there will be many V12 AMRs OTR specced at less than 180-190 and suspect many will be nudging or over 200k.....
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