car cover:yes or no??

I use it if the car is clean

 

That's true, but the cumulative UV damage on the exterior and interior would be far worse for us (dry weather) daily drivers who park outside at work. I like the "security", too, that a plain vanilla cover gives (e.g., keeping the emblems unmolested).

Or are you talking about an indoor museum storage situation?

 

If the car is clean, and you have a good quality cover, your ok. If the car is dusty or has road grime after a long drive, wait until it's washed to cover it again.


Darrell.

 

You also have to make sure you keep the inside of the cover clean.

 

Make sure you don't drag it across your paint. If you roll it on and off you shouldn't have a problem if the inside is clean and soft.

 

I cover ours all the time, even if its inside the garage. Before I put the cover on though, I make sure the car is clean and the cover is also clean.

 

I do not care what the suppliers of these covers say - do not cover it if it's in a garage. There's bound to be friction, moisture retentention problems - mine's a 308GTB with original paint.

 

This is completely true. And I don't care how good a cover is, if you use it enough it will scratch the surface, especially on a Ferrari. I much prefer a frequent good wax job (using Rejex) than any cover. Rejex used 4 times a year is as good as it gets when it comes to paint protection.

 

I'll never use a cover again after seeing how dusty my old car cover got and imaginiing how badly it would scratch the paint over time. Better to just wash the car once a week, using good washing practices.

 

If you have a clean garadge and no kids running arround then maybe its ok not to put a cover on, but for outdoor it's a must. Oh and it good idea to have two people put a cover on a car than just by yourself.

 

I use a car cover all the time when the car is clean. Never had a problem with scratches.

 

I always use a duster on my car before I cover it. I usually only cover it when I drive it to work...otherwise it will get bombed by birds (along with sun).

I use this duster on the car: http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=11236

And another California Duster for the wheels.

 

Does anyone ever throw the cover in the wash? And if so what temp?

 

Large automatic washers without agitators that are found in most commercial laundromats. Use two cups of Fantastic All Purpose Cleaner. Wash using Normal or Permanent Press cyles in cold water. Run cover through two rinse cycles to make sure that all of the cleanser is remove. Oh, and don't use fabric softener.

Air dry it.

 

Depends on the cover.. Griots has a chart indicating what you can wash at home, and what needs to be professionally cleaned.

On this topic.. besides Griots, where can one buy a good outdoor long term storage cover?

 

IMO, if you keep your car waxed, make sure it is clean before you put the cover on, and make sure the cover is clean, how can it hurt anything? At least not more than what can happen w/o it. Afterall the less dust or dirt on the surface when you do have to wipe it down or wash it the better. I am guessing the absolute best way to keep a car isolated from dust is a car cocoon. I think I remember someone here having one.

 

I'll also never use a duster again. This is just me, personally. You have to imagine dust as basically very, very small rocks, and dragging hundreds of thousands of tiny rocks over your car, even with something soft like a car duster, just doesn't bode well with me.

 

Agreed. DO NOT use a car cover at ALL costs!!! Best bet is to drive the car, as this keeps the dust off effectively via wind forces. Of course then you have rock chip possibilities (OH NO!). Best bet is to perhaps sell the car as fast as you can to ensure you do as little damage as possible. Even though those small paint scratches that might be caused by a car cover happen, you dare not easily buffed them out as they easily disappear. Those small scratches have permanently ruined the car and possibly devalued the car by 25%.


And yes, i am being humorous AND sarcastic.

Use a car cover, relax, drive the car often... enjoy

 

I don't like to cover the car in the garage. It leaves a light film of stuff all over the car. It stays better looking without the cover. If that flannel lined cover ever arrived from that California company I would give it a try.

BT

 

+1

 

+2

I've used a cover on my muscle car for years and haven't had a problem. Not expecting any problems with the Ferrari, either. Just keep the car and the cover clean, no big deal.

 

I've never used my car cover - too afraid for scratches and it's in the garage anyway.

 

When I put a car in the warehouse for a few weeks, I use one. But not on the cars in the garage.

 

+1 x4

Unless you wash your car after every drive, including the tires, and wash the car cover weekly, don't use a cover in the garage. There's no way to keep the bottom edges of the cover (over the tires and wheels) clean enough.

I've seen the same light film BT mentioned.

Outdoors, it's a different story. UV really damages paint and interiors, especially in sunny climes like we have here in San Diego. If I had to park outdoors for an extended time, I'd be sure the car was clean when I left the house and then cover it when I parked it (keeping the edge of the cover off the hot exhaust tips...)