Cannot decide whether to cover car for winter weather 06 V8V
Discussion
I'm sure the car has spent many a freezing winter night outside in it's 17 years, but it's knocking on now and I want to look after it the best I can!
Last winter it lived outside (and has done since I bought it,) but the frost we had in December resulted in a tiny, close to edge therefore unfixable, windscreen stone chip freezing and thawing and cracking the screen, resulting in a complete replacement.
It also has, whilst in generally lovely nick, a couple of tiny areas of the usual paint bubbling around handles and under the bonnet leading edge (not visible unless open) and also very very slight 1mm wide lacquer peel on one door where the chrome trim meets the paint underneath. Pretty much invisible currently.
I also had to replace a rear lamp after the cold weather months which failed..... I think the temperature exacerbated the issue caused by moisture inside/hairline cracks under the body coloured trim on the light lens.
It also lives near to a tree and also a wall of bushes which drop all kinds of crap onto it... no choice to park anywhere else.
I have heard so many horror stories of rubbish quality/badly fitted covers making paint issues worse, trapping condensation, blisters etc.
Would look to invest in a high quality expensive cover from the likes of Classic Additions for example, and perhaps cover it and remove it a total of 3 to 4 times over 3 months Dec to Feb, keeping it clean every time and to take it out for run on fine sunny winter days, and tightly covered and strapped down in a sheltered non windy spot.
Or do I just ceramic coat/wax the life out of it and leave it again, and worry about the corrosion spots/results of multiple freeze/thaw cycles?
Any advice gratefully received
Really not sure if i'll end up trying to protect the paint blemishes and keep it clean, but making them worse.
Last winter it lived outside (and has done since I bought it,) but the frost we had in December resulted in a tiny, close to edge therefore unfixable, windscreen stone chip freezing and thawing and cracking the screen, resulting in a complete replacement.
It also has, whilst in generally lovely nick, a couple of tiny areas of the usual paint bubbling around handles and under the bonnet leading edge (not visible unless open) and also very very slight 1mm wide lacquer peel on one door where the chrome trim meets the paint underneath. Pretty much invisible currently.
I also had to replace a rear lamp after the cold weather months which failed..... I think the temperature exacerbated the issue caused by moisture inside/hairline cracks under the body coloured trim on the light lens.
It also lives near to a tree and also a wall of bushes which drop all kinds of crap onto it... no choice to park anywhere else.
I have heard so many horror stories of rubbish quality/badly fitted covers making paint issues worse, trapping condensation, blisters etc.
Would look to invest in a high quality expensive cover from the likes of Classic Additions for example, and perhaps cover it and remove it a total of 3 to 4 times over 3 months Dec to Feb, keeping it clean every time and to take it out for run on fine sunny winter days, and tightly covered and strapped down in a sheltered non windy spot.
Or do I just ceramic coat/wax the life out of it and leave it again, and worry about the corrosion spots/results of multiple freeze/thaw cycles?
Any advice gratefully received
Really not sure if i'll end up trying to protect the paint blemishes and keep it clean, but making them worse.Edited by Krhuangbin on Wednesday 1st November 14:10
vpr said:
I’m not keen on covers and no matter how “breathable” it’s always gonna damage the car.
I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
The only cover that works is the outdoor Carcoon.
Would love to stick it in a carcoon, but I fear having that stuck outside my flat drawing attention from passersby and giving the neighbors who overlook the driveway an eyesore might be an issue I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
The only cover that works is the outdoor Carcoon.
vpr said:
I’m not keen on covers and no matter how “breathable” it’s always gonna damage the car.
I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
The only cover that works is the outdoor Carcoon.
This made me think back to my mate when he kept his Sapphire Cosworth in an outdoor Carcoon years ago. It was fine in the summer, but in the winter the snow flattened it onto the car though! I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
The only cover that works is the outdoor Carcoon.
cerb4.5lee said:
vpr said:
I’m not keen on covers and no matter how “breathable” it’s always gonna damage the car.
I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
The only cover that works is the outdoor Carcoon.
This made me think back to my mate when he kept his Sapphire Cosworth in an outdoor Carcoon years ago. It was fine in the summer, but in the winter the snow flattened it onto the car though! I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
The only cover that works is the outdoor Carcoon.
vpr said:
I’m not keen on covers and no matter how “breathable” it’s always gonna damage the car.
I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
I see this a lot on forums and am never sure what is meant by it? Improper use of a cheap cover may cause ‘some damage’ but even then what and to what degree? My car is left on my drive without any physical protection and is fine. I rarely, if ever, use her in the very depths of winter and when spring arrives she is cleaned and is good to go. I respect the fact others have a different more anal approach but is this cotton wool treatment really necessary on a car? Are they really that delicate?I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
Budweiser said:
vpr said:
I’m not keen on covers and no matter how “breathable” it’s always gonna damage the car.
I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
I see this a lot on forums and am never sure what is meant by it? Improper use of a cheap cover may cause ‘some damage’ but even then what and to what degree? My car is left on my drive without any physical protection and is fine. I rarely, if ever, use her in the very depths of winter and when spring arrives she is cleaned and is good to go. I respect the fact others have a different more anal approach but is this cotton wool treatment really necessary on a car? Are they really that delicate?I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
Our climate is soooo very damp, even in summer.
No matter how good/breathable a cover might be I always find the car wet underneath the cover. I’ve had cars micro-blister too.
If you’re a polisher then the paint will get damaged by the cover moving around
vpr said:
No matter how good/breathable a cover might be I always find the car wet underneath the cover.
My take on 'breathable' is that if water can get out, then water can get in. Certainly after heavy rain my car is wet under its Classic Editions cover. By contrast I have a cheap Chinese cover which is actually waterproof. I'm not sure which is better.vpr said:
I’m not keen on covers and no matter how “breathable” it’s always gonna damage the car.
I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
The only cover that works is the outdoor Carcoon.
I tend to agree with this ... I had a cover, it was supposed to be a nice fitted version with soft inner and fully breathable which it appeared to be, it had straps to prevent it being blown off. Fact is you can only use it when the car has been cleaned, if used when the car is even slightly dirty (doesn't appear dirty to the naked eye) it scratches the paintwork terribly.I’m not sure I could sleep at night.
The only cover that works is the outdoor Carcoon.
In the end I bought a pop up garage (glorified tent), hooked up lights inside and if need be a heater. Would love a garage and have the room but cant get planning for it.
Having said all the above, my nipper bought this thing earlier in the year.
It’s now sat outside on the drive languishing, damp inside, sold to go mouldy and affect the already fragile electrics.
I think it would benefit from a cover however
So which are the best type??
Waffle jobbies or elastic ones???
Sone seem artificially expensive when I can find the same type for a fraction of the price
It’s now sat outside on the drive languishing, damp inside, sold to go mouldy and affect the already fragile electrics.
I think it would benefit from a cover however
So which are the best type??
Waffle jobbies or elastic ones???
Sone seem artificially expensive when I can find the same type for a fraction of the price
Edited by vpr on Monday 6th November 17:06
When I bought up my car I also picked one of these, the AM Ultimate Car Cover. Not cheap but then neither is the car. Six month before we lived with a garage, now we didn`t and I figured this would be a good solution being that "the cover is made from a knitted polyester fabric with a Teflon coating, allowing water to ‘bead’ and run off. The fabric is strong, durable and custom made, and whilst being weather resistant allows air to penetrate."
Now, I don`t know about all that but it came from the people that made the car, and seemed the best form of protection for a vehicle that was going to be driven in the winter anyway, but not daily. I used it for a couple of years when the car was unused for longer periods and it was great from my perspective. It was never covered for periods greater than, I guess, three or four weeks, but usually only a few days to a week. A couple of times on removal the car was damp but if that was from moisture penetration or condensation, I couldn`t say. I took the view that it was better than it being constantly exposed to the elements.
Certainly, the cover never went on when the car was dirty, as has been mentoned, that`s just asking for trouble. I use it still, but indoors always, assuming the car is clean. For the last five years we now have a house with an old barn and with the wind blowing dust through and sundry cats liking to take a venture over it. It makes sense and stops me losing my rattle when I walk down to a previously clean car with feline footprints like a wobbly AMR stripe. Eight years later I don`t see any detrimental effect from having used the cover.
Now, I don`t know about all that but it came from the people that made the car, and seemed the best form of protection for a vehicle that was going to be driven in the winter anyway, but not daily. I used it for a couple of years when the car was unused for longer periods and it was great from my perspective. It was never covered for periods greater than, I guess, three or four weeks, but usually only a few days to a week. A couple of times on removal the car was damp but if that was from moisture penetration or condensation, I couldn`t say. I took the view that it was better than it being constantly exposed to the elements.
Certainly, the cover never went on when the car was dirty, as has been mentoned, that`s just asking for trouble. I use it still, but indoors always, assuming the car is clean. For the last five years we now have a house with an old barn and with the wind blowing dust through and sundry cats liking to take a venture over it. It makes sense and stops me losing my rattle when I walk down to a previously clean car with feline footprints like a wobbly AMR stripe. Eight years later I don`t see any detrimental effect from having used the cover.
I’ve got the same cover. My car used to live under a car port, the cover is great, Teflon coated, it’s a tight fit and there are straps under the car.
Even in heavy winds, the cover doesn’t move at all (that’s when it damages the paint). Always make sure the car is perfectly clean before putting the cover on.
Mine’s used indoor now that I have a garage.
Not cheap but probably the best cover out there.
Even in heavy winds, the cover doesn’t move at all (that’s when it damages the paint). Always make sure the car is perfectly clean before putting the cover on.
Mine’s used indoor now that I have a garage.
Not cheap but probably the best cover out there.
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff