Outdoor Car Covers

[Healeyguy]

As my Healey takes preference for the available garage space it means the Aston will be on the driveway. I thought an outdoor cover may be useful against, sap, birds etc, plus generally keeping it clean between washes. I ordered a Premium Edition cover from Carcoverfactory which arrived today, but before opening everything I thought I’d ask the forum. Do you think outdoor covers are a benefit or do they risk doing more harm than good? Anybody actually using them?

Thanks Derek

[bogie]

Ive been using outdoor covers on a couple of cars for 20 years. Both have been Specialised car covers that are a tailored, snug fit with straps underneath. They dont flap about in the wind.

I find it really useful if you take care. I only put the cover on when the car is clean and dry. Usually not worth the effort unless im not going to be using it for a week or more. Im not taking it on/off daily. Its great if I have a special occasion coming up and want the car to be clean, but the weather is uncertain so I may clean it at the weekend and put the cover on. Over winter its great as I may not drive it for a couple of months.

My current car is a 2012, ive owned since 2015 and it was detailed prior to me collecting. Ive done over 30k miles in it since then, it lives outdoors and the paint still looks great, and is virtually swirl free to the naked eye.

[NickXX]

Also used a Specialised Covers Stormshield+ for the last 4 years.

The 4 straps keep it firmly in place, which means no issues with it flapping about. My car is black, and no obvious extra swirling/marks. Similarly I only put it on when the car is clean, and I want to keep it clean for a few weeks.

[8Tech]

As both the above have mentioned, it should only go on a clean dry car otherwise any movement of the cover will simply gring against the dirt, and then once dirty, even a cleaned car will be dirty once you remove the cover again.

I use Hamilton outdoor covers and am very pleased with them, including a roof only cover for my daily driver convertible which goes on to prevent ice freezing on the vinyl roof.

[thriftwood]

Another Hamilton user here. It works well to keep all the crap, sap, dust and in my case the pigeons themselves off the paintwork and roof. Not noticed any paint or roof fabric damage but like the others here I only use it when the car is clean. The cover breaths well so no condensation problems. Doesn't quite cover all the wheels so not completely dog pee proof

[Healeyguy]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like a cover doesn’t really makes sense for a daily driver if it should only go on a clean car. Might make sense if you are not using it for a week or so. Think I’ll send it back and just monitor the car for bird poo and sap, removing as necessary and then washing the car once a week.

[Felonious]

Another vote for the Stormshield+, and another warning to only ever use a cover on a very clean, very dry car. Which means it's not really suited to a daily driven car.

[8Tech]

If its a daily driver then I recommend a really good wax and then maybe a wax protector like Autoglym "Extra Gloss Protection" or Meguiars "G36516EU Paint Protect" or Meguiars DIY Ceramic Coat "Hybrid Ceramic Spray Wax".

All of these will give a good degree of paint protection and if the car is washed with car shampoo and not domestic detergent, should last months.

All easily do-able at home with a bit of enthusiasm and a days graft.

[South tdf]

I had a Roadster that lived on the driveway April - October and garaged under a Hamilton cover in the winter.

I would leave it on charge and cut some cheap silver reflective sun shades to put inside The windows as I noticed the dash leather failed after being let out for a few months.

When I went away I cleaned it and put the cover on and I think the roof looked like it had been roughed up slightly. If it’s windy it also set the alarm off unless you select reduce guard.

[NickXX]

Healeyguy said:

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like a cover doesn’t really makes sense for a daily driver if it should only go on a clean car. Might make sense if you are not using it for a week or so. Think I’ll send it back and just monitor the car for bird poo and sap, removing as necessary and then washing the car once a week.

Agreed- it’s not worth it as a daily driver, but it might be useful if you decide to keep it off the road for a couple of months during winter/holidays.

[Healeyguy]

8Tech, that is now what I now plan to do, in fact I got halfway through applying Autoglyms Ultra High Definition wax and then a thunderstorm arrived. Hey ho...I guess I’ll have to do the other half tomorrow! Interesting comparing the unwaxed panels to the waxes ones, the latter feel as smooth as glass, the former not so even though the car was perfectly clean and had some form of protection on it.

[Manx V8V]

I almost bought one of these some years ago, only deciding not to when I moved house and had more garage space.

They don't touch any part of the car, you bolt them down flat on the driveway then simply reverse in and pull over the car like a huge pram hood, the one I looked at was around £1000 but appeared very tough and durable.

[geresey]

Manx V8V said:

I almost bought one of these some years ago, only deciding not to when I moved house and had more garage space.

They don't touch any part of the car, you bolt them down flat on the driveway then simply reverse in and pull over the car like a huge pram hood, the one I looked at was around £1000 but appeared very tough and durable.

Has anyone used one of these? It may be a good solution for me as hadn't wanted to get a roadster until I have a garage (ie moved house). House not happening anytime soon now, so getting impatient!!

[cornershop]

Not cheap but I think classic line insurance regard this as garaged:

http://www.thecarapace.com/gallery/

[Manx V8V]

If you google 'folding garage' there are quite a few out there, I went to have a good look at one which a mate had when I was looking to buy one and was impressed by how sturdy the whole thing was, and also the size, the one he had would swallow my old Mitsubishi GTO with room to open doors and space front and rear to work around inside.

Obviously you get what you pay for but the best ones will withstand snow etc, and some even have a side door so you can pop in and out to do little jobs without lifting.