Pawl
Well-Known Member
Beware of potential paint damage if the cover is not fastened down hard enough & if the inside of the cover is not paintwork friendly.
I know a Porsche owner who was gobsmacked at the paintwork damage after a few windy weeks & a cover that could move around a small amount.
It was actually through to the undercoat.
I guess it's like fine wet & dry paper being vibrated against the paintwork repeatedly.
Any dirt left on the paint before covering also accelerates the abrasive effect.
I know a Porsche owner who was gobsmacked at the paintwork damage after a few windy weeks & a cover that could move around a small amount.
It was actually through to the undercoat.
I guess it's like fine wet & dry paper being vibrated against the paintwork repeatedly.
Any dirt left on the paint before covering also accelerates the abrasive effect.
gold rover
Well-Known Member
I bought one very similar to the below, with mirror pockets. Had to rinse her off each time before putting cover on. One I bought had a microfiber lining, to help with the scratch issue. Unlike yourself, I was using the cover almost daily, as an on and off. Couple of issues showed up ( caveat I have one arm that doesn't like to play) It was a pain in the rear getting the cover off/on in rain/ snow/ wind. Any journey had to include, get the cover off, folded and stowed and reverse when home. I had to take it to the chandlers and get extra straps and click buckles put on , as middle to heavy winds were lifting it. Material , (even on mid - range, think mine was about £80) , rips easily.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Range-Ro...3621df1d3e:g:zhgAAOSw9~5ZRo7y&redirect=mobile
I no longer use it. It sits in the shed
If youre only taking off now and then , then make sure she's clean when putting it back on and it will certainly help with tree sap etc.
Henry_b
Think outside, no box required.
I bought one very similar to the below, with mirror pockets. Had to rinse her off each time before putting cover on. One I bought had a microfiber lining, to help with the scratch issue. Unlike yourself, I was using the cover almost daily, as an on and off. Couple of issues showed up ( caveat I have one arm that doesn't like to play) It was a pain in the rear getting the cover off/on in rain/ snow/ wind. Any journey had to include, get the cover off, folded and stowed and reverse when home. I had to take it to the chandlers and get extra straps and click buckles put on , as middle to heavy winds were lifting it. Material , (even on mid - range, think mine was about £80) , rips easily.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Range-Ro...3621df1d3e:g:zhgAAOSw9~5ZRo7y&redirect=mobile
I no longer use it. It sits in the shed
Ah thanks Goldie!
looks like i'll be getting one of those..
She sits for very long periods so a cover will help preserve what is left of the paint
gold rover
Well-Known Member
Forgot to add, I did ,leave it on for extended periods when away for work. Cleaned before putting it on and no adverse effects. I also bought one for the Volvo because of the rag top. Again , so long as clean before putting on and getting extra straps added, no dramas, when used for extended periods. My big complaint was as a regular use. The one I bought is not light because of the double layers.Ah thanks Goldie!
looks like i'll be getting one of those..
She sits for very long periods so a cover will help preserve what is left of the paint
brianp38dse
Well-Known Member
we used a heavy lined one on my sons old metro and found it tended to hold any moisture under it and the car never dried so we gave up on it and left it uncovered
gold rover
Well-Known Member
The two I bought were breathable. They were great if not using for a daily driver. The Volvo was a rag top and it worked great for it. I had spent days refurbing the ragtop that summer and it was in just as good condition ,after the winter under the cover, as when wrapped up. I live on a hill with no protection from the weather tearing in from the west and didn't have a garage for her. I suspect the rag top would have been a rag after winter.we used a heavy lined one on my sons old metro and found it tended to hold any moisture under it and the car never dried so we gave up on it and left it uncovered
Golden Girl had no adverse effects from being covered and no moisture issues, due to the magic woven into the material
brianp38dse
Well-Known Member
I think the one I had may not have been breathable, I picked it up at a boot sale for a few quid to put over my Cortina as one time it looked like it would have to sit outside for a time for a garage rebuild that didn't happen, we don't get such bad weather but everything gets a film of aviation fuel, my caravan gets vey black on top
gold rover
Well-Known Member
Handy if you need to accidently have the RR burnt outI think the one I had may not have been breathable, I picked it up at a boot sale for a few quid to put over my Cortina as one time it looked like it would have to sit outside for a time for a garage rebuild that didn't happen, we don't get such bad weather but everything gets a film of aviation fuel, my caravan gets vey black on top
Should be good for 50 years in Scotland then.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
LOL.
Turboman
Mab An Gov
I think that is absolutely right. Same with boat covers, all the deterioration seems to take place in the summer months. If you can nurse it through the summer, it will always last the winter with the low light levels.
You gets what you pay for in my advice. I have 2 cars and they both spend time in storage under car covers due to work. However when I say storage I mean parked outside under a cover because I am working away. First is a Rover 75 car cover bought at Halfords 50 Quid lots of straps and good liner been used to cover the car from 3 to 9 months over various conditions and the car is fine no issues.
Spent good amount on a cover for my Range rover in Russia no straps no nothing had to buy separate straps. The thing ruined my pant work and pretty much fell apart in the summer sun. When I got home it was rags. Not impressed but hey that's Russia.
Spent good amount on a cover for my Range rover in Russia no straps no nothing had to buy separate straps. The thing ruined my pant work and pretty much fell apart in the summer sun. When I got home it was rags. Not impressed but hey that's Russia.
norseman
Well-Known Member
OK here's my two-penneth, Having had both full & half covers for a RR that is used on a semi-regular basis ie about fortnightly.
1) +1 for Datatek's comment.
2) for long term storage use a full cover, but only a half on for my type of usage, or more regular.
3) the most convenient full covers are those that have a cord running in a hem around the base, so no tapes to pass under the vehicle & get messy from wet ground contact.
4) if your model has exposed rain gutters protect the front corners (top of the 'screen) to prevent chaffing.
5) I don't think any of them are fully waterproof (despite the manuf. claims) but even if they were the cover wouldn't be breathable, which is what you want.
6) the covers 'wick' in wet/damp weather & the resulting condensation will cause the cover to freeze to the roof during freezing overnight temperatures.
nb: The manuf. recommend pouring warm water onto the outside of the cover before attempting removal, but I've never tried it, also gale force winds & covers don't go together !
7) despite what the adverts say, cover manuf. do not make covers for specific models, they are generic so finding a decent fit is a question of luck. Usually the product can be returned for exchange, for example if a cover for a RRC is required don't 'click' on RR as it will be too big, a Freelander 1 or Jeep Grand Cherokee/Honda for example is about right.
Strangely (or not) enough I'm more inclined to cover the car during high summer in order to protect the (difficult to obtain) screen/window rubbers from UV rays.
Hope this advice is of help to you.
1) +1 for Datatek's comment.
2) for long term storage use a full cover, but only a half on for my type of usage, or more regular.
3) the most convenient full covers are those that have a cord running in a hem around the base, so no tapes to pass under the vehicle & get messy from wet ground contact.
4) if your model has exposed rain gutters protect the front corners (top of the 'screen) to prevent chaffing.
5) I don't think any of them are fully waterproof (despite the manuf. claims) but even if they were the cover wouldn't be breathable, which is what you want.
6) the covers 'wick' in wet/damp weather & the resulting condensation will cause the cover to freeze to the roof during freezing overnight temperatures.
nb: The manuf. recommend pouring warm water onto the outside of the cover before attempting removal, but I've never tried it, also gale force winds & covers don't go together !
7) despite what the adverts say, cover manuf. do not make covers for specific models, they are generic so finding a decent fit is a question of luck. Usually the product can be returned for exchange, for example if a cover for a RRC is required don't 'click' on RR as it will be too big, a Freelander 1 or Jeep Grand Cherokee/Honda for example is about right.
Strangely (or not) enough I'm more inclined to cover the car during high summer in order to protect the (difficult to obtain) screen/window rubbers from UV rays.
Hope this advice is of help to you.
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Henry_b
Think outside, no box required.
gold rover
Well-Known Member
Some good advice but I think it just shows how different each experience is. It is all a matter of location, which cover you buy ,how often it will come on and off etc.
For example, I live in a very exposed location. Where the veh is parked is like a wind tunnel. I've even had someone's garden shed window , blown from God knows where, drop out of the wind and smash , just behind the Golden Girl. She has a 1mm dent in the tailgate from where part of it hit her. This was the catalyst for me buy my first cover. Which was indeed the drawstring type. It lasted two weeks and one, not as high as they can be, wind (35-50mph)
I then bought the, 'with ties fitted ' type. I came out, after yet another litle bit breezy, event. The cover was hanging to the side and off the front.
So I went to the chandlers and got straps added. Issue over and as they are on pull tight buckles, all I do is throw them under the car, click the buckle and pull tight. No messing about. Although two points to consider 1: which side do you have more room to be able to get a good throw and 2: which side does the wind blow from in the winter. No point having the throwing side 6 inches from a wall and even less use trying to throw against the wind. Although anyone who has seen it, has found it quite funny............rather than helping
Not so funny when I locked them outside, just as the rain started P.s the hill gets gusts of over 80mph during the winter. Which is why I wouldn't be without webbing straps on mine.
Joss155
Well-Known Member
I bought a storm force breathable outdoor one for the e12. As datatek says it's been a great cover but starting to fall apart now at 3 years so I need to get a new one. It has a soft lining and clips to tie it down for windy weather. Seams to be bird **** resistant too. Had a quick look and it's £180 for the P38
norseman
Well-Known Member
Some good advice but I think it just shows how different each experience is. It is all a matter of location, which cover you buy ,how often it will come on and off etc. I then bought the, 'with ties fitted ' type. I came out, after yet another litle bit breezy, event. The cover was hanging to the side and off the front.All sounds very familiar
The cover manuf. all make wild claims as to their products suitability for 'all weather' usage but in reality the standard methods of securing the thing are not fit for purpose above a gentle breeze. I got to the stage of adding an extra cord attached to the tow-ball to ensure that, should the cover blow off, it remained in the vicinity of the vehicle.
nb: one manuf, assured me that their cover was tailor-made for the RRC, I returned it with 'photos showing it was over a foot too long! Either they couldn't read a tape measure or maybe they modeled it on the LSE?
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