Learn me about car covers please!

"Poor_Sh" (ar4x)
06/05/2018 at 20:28 • Filed to: car cover

Hey Oppo,

I’m about to go on a 10 day trip where my car will be parked around/under trees and birds and the like, and I’m thinking it’s a good time to cover up. I had one for my Eclipse a decade ago, but that was whatever was cheap because I didn’t really care as much about the car the way I do now.

Car in question: 2014 Cayman S

So, what should I be looking for? Amazon has a bunch but they seem to all have less than stellar reviews. Are certain materials safer for paint? Should I trust the elastic bottoms to hold it in the weather or tie the bottom sides to each other somehow? Is there really a big difference between $20-$40 covers vs. the $280 Porsche covers?

Thanks for your time an any help!

DISCUSSION (29)

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 20:41

Idk much about covers but the difference between the $40 amazon cover and the $280 Porsche cover is that the Porsche cover is fitted to the car and will stay on much better.

E90M3 > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 20:43

Do you not have a garage?

Poor_Sh > E90M3
06/05/2018 at 20:50

Nope! This car is gonna get the full weather, daily driven treatment. I’m not trying to mimic a garage with a cover, just make it less likely to have bird shit and sap on it for more than a few days maximum.

Discerning > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 20:50

Tough call. Regardless, make sure the car is clean before you put the cover on.

I would recommend that you just clean the car thoroughly and do a comprehensive wax and polish and the cat should be fine for a week in the sun.

GTiceman > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 20:50

Pputting a car cover on a car that has any level of dirt will leave scratches just fyi. So those Amazon covers will shift in the wind. Also, most covers are breathable so bird poop might partially make it through. The cover should have a string on one side that connects it to the other as a tie down.

Poor_Sh > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/05/2018 at 20:51

Makes sense. I thought it might also just be a badge price.

AestheticsInMotion > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 20:52

Hmm. How about one of the protective bubbles

E90M3 > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 20:52

Fair enough. I would hate to leave something like that outside. It’s the reason I’m not buying an E34 M5.

I might buy a house for the sole purpose of having a place to park two M cars. I know that’s ridiculous, but I really don’t care.

Poor_Sh > Discerning
06/05/2018 at 20:52

Idk why I didn’t mention it in the post, but my other idea was as you say: a thorough cleaning and a good layer of wax. Glad to hear it wasn’t a stupid idea.

Poor_Sh > GTiceman
06/05/2018 at 20:53

Yea, that’s what I was worried about. So I guess even a good interior fabric won’t really stop “sanding” the paint with dirt huh?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 20:54

There’s certainly some price you pay for the Porsche branding.

404 - User No Longer Available > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 20:59

Look for the type of material for the car cover, not all are made for all weather. I’m not aware of any specific fabrics causing damage to the paint, and I think some covers have rivets where you can cable tie and lock it down. If it’s full outdoor that could be something to consider so you can tie it down properly.

I have the OEM one from GM for my Solstice (not my pics but it’s the same one), which I believe is made by Covercraft .

Poor_Sh > E90M3
06/05/2018 at 20:59

haha I’m saving for a house, but for me it’s just so far out of reach for a few more years that I’m just not worrying about it. I want this car to eventually be my old weekend/autocross/track car, not a garage queen show car.

E90M3 > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 21:06

My M3 sits in a garage when it’s not in use. It is by no measure a garage queen, but I like to keep it as nice as possible. I do understand your rational though.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 21:10

You’d be better with a clean and fresh wax. The cover will be more hazardous than its worth. Unless you wash the car before you put the cover on.

But for a cover, look at covercraft or wolf (which I think was bought up by covercraft). They make nice multilayer covers that are form fitted to your car. That’s what you want. I’ve used one of the 3 layer ones for the past 10-14 years for my truck in the winter, and it just finally started to tear this past winter, so I’ll be buying another, unless we move to a house with a three car garage :)

Spasoje > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 21:12

I’ve been using a car cover long-term, on two cars stored outside for the past 2-3 years or so. Here’s what you need to know.

The main difference b/w the super cheap ones versus the ~$300 ones can be summed up in two aspects:

(1) Fitment. This is important, as wind won’t blow a fitted cover away, but it will blow anything that isn’t fitted, even if it’s tied down! Even cheap fitted covers won’t work as they don’t actually fir properly: they’ll leave open areas which allow in dirt, and let wind blow them clean off.

(2) Materials quality. Cheap covers will scratch up your paint, period. Expensive covers will have a different inner material that won’t damage the paint. Also, expensive ones will be breathable, so the rain/etc. doesn’t get trapped b/w the cover and the paint, causing mold and other undesirable stuff.

Also, know that outdoor and indoor covers are separate things. Indoor covers are cheaper, b/c they’re only meant to protect from dust, as opposed to everything else. As such, using an indoor cover outdoors is basically the same thing as having no cover at all.

Finally, the car has to be washed right before you put the cover on. That, in combination with a good cover that has soft inner materials, is what keeps the paint looking pristine when you uncover the car later on.

I bought a fitted Covercraft Noah for both my classic Fiat and my Ford Taurus, and they’re holding up wonderfully, despite direct sunlight, rain, snow, ice, wind, and hail. The elastic bottoms are trustworthy, and both cars remain freshly washed beneath, even after a couple years of storage (I lift up a corner from time to time). Best ~$300 I ever spent!

Given that I didn’t think twice about spending the dough for an old Taurus, I’d wholeheartedly recommend either the Covercraft Noah for your Cayman, or a Porsche outdoor cover.

Poor_Sh > E90M3
06/05/2018 at 21:16

Oh yeah I’m not saying I wouldn’t garage it instantly if given the chance. In fact, I probably should have kept the Mustang, used the Porsche money on a house with a garage, and gone on with my life. But... here I am. Also, this is about leaving my car at my parents house and their garage is full with hybrids lol

E90M3 > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 21:17

I’ve spent way too much on the M3, I get that. It also sat outside at my parents house for a few months.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 21:17

Car cover are from Satan

Poor_Sh > Spasoje
06/05/2018 at 21:18

Awesome information, thanks a ton!

Spasoje > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 21:33

You’re welcome!

CompactLuxuryFan > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 21:44

For 10 days I’d be way less worried about sap than vandals, wheel thieves, etc. Definitely wouldn’t buy a cover just for this one use. If anything it might make it more of a target for ruffians? If you’re 100% comfortable with where you’re leaving it parked, I would maybe wash it right before and then right after you get back. If not, I’d try finding somewhere better to park during the trip. Maybe a friend’s work parking structure or something like that. My previous office had a huge structure and they’d let you leave your car there while you were away as long as you gave prior notice.

Poor_Sh > AestheticsInMotion
06/05/2018 at 21:48

That seems like a much more long-term solution. Not really in the cards, but thanks for your suggestion.

Poor_Sh > CompactLuxuryFan
06/05/2018 at 21:49

Make sense, thanks! Luckily this is parking at my parent’s house in a really safe town so I’m not really worried about the criminal aspect. I have definitely looked into safe car parks for when I travel alone though!

Poor_Sh > CompactLuxuryFan
06/05/2018 at 21:49

Double Kinja’d!

Poor_Sh > CompactLuxuryFan
06/05/2018 at 21:49

Kinja’d!

  > Spasoje
06/05/2018 at 21:55

What about a cover for a daily? I’m considering buying one for my 330. I only have a shade sail to park it under currently, which is okay but not ideal, and the sun here is brutal. I would be taking it off and putting it back on every day. Is that a good idea?

GTiceman > Poor_Sh
06/05/2018 at 21:57

Not really. I left my car covered for months at a time but always cleaned before putting it under.

Spasoje >
06/05/2018 at 22:33

If washing the car each time before the cover goes back on doesn’t become a pain, I don’t see any downsides. Worse comes to worse, swirls are better than peeling clearcoat.