I bought a Cover Craft Weathershield HD car cover a few years back. The car has been covered by it for virtually entirety of the last 4 years. The car had been painted a couple of years before first using the car cover. I cannot be sure, but it appears the car cover is abrading the clear coat. Marks similar to swirl marks. Light and will likely polish out, but I am new to car covers and did not know what to expect.
When I was a young boy my dad had a Fiero and always kept it garaged so it looked great. Then we moved and there was no garage so he put a cover on it and it sat outside. He didn't use it anymore at that time either. A few years later he got motivated to drive it again, pulled off the cover and the paint was ruined. Looked like those Fieros that have sat in the sun for 30 years, but it was only a few years that it wasn't garaged. So I always thought it was due to the cover keeping the heat in aggravated the issue and ruined the paint in much shorter order.
Yeah, sounds like my issue too. I moved and had no garage for the car. As I recall the paint was pret near perfect before using the car cover. I always had washed and blew the car dry to minimize swirl marks. Now the clear coat has swirl-type marks all over. I will have to buff them out and I think it will be OK again until I use the car cover.
Car covers can damage the paint if the car is outside. Wind moves the cover around and it will rub against areas of the car, especially where there are sharp curves. Dust can blow up underneath the cover and act as an abrasive. I've seen one of my covers swell up like a balloon when the wind kicked up.
I generally use covers made of Tyvek because it's a smooth material and waterproof. At least it's waterproof until it's been folded and stored multiple times. Then it starts to get small cracks that will let a very small amount of water through. Not really enough to wet the whole car. They are generally white in color and that seems to keep the car very cool, even in the summer in Georgia. They last for years.
"Waterproof covers" trap moisture under the cover and Promote rust and mold/mildew, you need a" Breathable cover", but they do rub the paint off all the "high spots of the car ! (upper body lines). a cotton car cover is good for INSIDE Storage. "Storing a car" is a somewhat complicated thing, depending where you live.
There can also be huge issues if anything gets trapped between the car cover and the paint. The wind blows the cover around and debris trapped underneath can scratch it badly.
Can someone tell me if it is better to tie down the cover or not? I left mine loose so as not to be pushing it in the paint, but as we discussing dust and wind it makes me wonder if I was doing right.
Originally posted by Threedog: There can also be huge issues if anything gets trapped between the car cover and the paint. The wind blows the cover around and debris trapped underneath can scratch it badly.
This can and does happen with any cover. Most cars are not cleaned before covering and dirt etc blows under the cover if left on for weeks to months. Most covers get dragged on pavement/dirt because too big for one person to put on or take off.
Same for car bras. Best can still wreck the paint because dirt gets between bra and paint.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Like many others, I have wrestled with the pros and cons of car covers for years, as I seem always to have had more cars than garage space.
For what it's worth, here are my thoughts.
- impervious nylon or similar "waterproof" non-breathable covers are bad news. Damp, mildew and other nasties flourish under them. And they mark and scratch paint. Worst case, they adhere to paint. Stay away from them;
- 'breathable' covers are better. Synthetic and textured material like Tyvek (there are other fabrics) are quite good at giving protection from the worst weather - not just rain and snow but also strong UV sunlight. They are not perfect: they do move with the wind, and they do absorb water. You just hope that they dry out again. I have used them on various of my cars over the years;
- the better option still, and I don't know if these are available in the US, is a "Carcoon". There are single layer ones for use indoors, and double-skinned ones for outdoors. Various sizes are available. Details on their website here. Both versions work on the same principle - air circulation which creates a balloon-like bubble around the car, keeping the material out of contact with the paintwork and ensuring a through-flow of air, which prevents damp and humidity.
I have one. It works very well. Aside from the (tiny) running costs, comparable to a battery charger, a Carcoon is not much more expensive than a good, tailored, Covercraft cover. I ought to add that I have no personal connection or business interest in the product or the firm. But for anyone who wants to protect a valued car and doesn't have a dry weatherproof garage, a Carcoon is about as good as it gets.
I have read about the carcoon-type car covers. They are available here in the US. They are about double the cost of a Covercraft car cover. If I have to store my car outside for the foreseeable future it would probably be worth it. At this point I believe the fine swirl mark scratches will buff out. However, quick to return if stored under the car cover again. One thing about carcoons and car covers is I find myself not driving the car much as I don't want to mess with getting the car out and back in to the cover.
I live in a subdivision with an HOA that does not allow carports. That would have been a reasonable solution as well.
...... One thing about carcoons and car covers is I find myself not driving the car much as I don't want to mess with getting the car out and back in to the cover. .....
Yes, that is the hassle with such covers. There is no perfect alternative to a garage or carport. I use my Carcoon for the Fiero on a seasonal basis. It's not my daily driver. So basically I put it into the Carcoon for several months over the winter. Then when the weather is good in summer I have the car out in the open on my driveway, use it more regularly, and put a Covercraft cover on it if I know I won't be using it for a week or two.
The other thing which I have seen but never tried is a folding, framed, car canopy. It's a bit like the hood on a pram (=baby-carriage) with metal hoops hinged at ground level, and just seems to fold open or closed. The base needs to be fixed to the ground. See for example this one on Ebay.
Originally posted by br1anstorm: The other thing which I have seen but never tried is a folding, framed, car canopy. It's a bit like the hood on a pram (=baby-carriage) with metal hoops hinged at ground level, and just seems to fold open or closed. The base needs to be fixed to the ground. See for example this one on Ebay.
That is pretty neat. They don't ship to the States. Surely something similar is available here.
