outdoor car cover
 

i recently moved into an apartment complex with a car port. it is closed in the back, but open in the front. I would like to get a car cover that is for outdoor use, just to completely protect my baby. Now i kno many people say that outdoor covers will scratch your paint. however i believe my car is enough out of the wind that storms shouldnt be a huge issue. also, i believe a nice, well made, snug fitting cover can also prevent this.

I basically jsut want to see what a lot of z people are going with for an outdoor cover. any pics or tips are greatly appreciated!

it's actually the grit that's on your car that causes the scuffs. even the nicest covers will scuff your paint via the grit unless your paint is 100% clean....which is hard to do if dd and outdoors.

Plus a cover at an apartment is just asking for attention

^ This.

I'm very happy with my Covercraft model# C17117PG for my 370Z
Sports Coupe.

Just keep it washed and waxed. No need to worry so much it's not a Lambo or anything.

I just put my car cover on for the first time yesterday. I did not clean it before hand..am I asking for trouble? I figure either way, it's better than it being exposed to the elements all day long.

this is not my dd and stays VERY clean. i have heard good things about covercraft. as for attention, there are a couple cars around here with covers on them and i dont think they have been messed with.

I had a nice cover before years ago when I lived in a very small complex (4 units). Was kind of the same situation where the carport was closed in the front, but open in the back. The cover lasted about 3 weeks until it was stolen. :(

Cable locks don't do much...

Personally.. I would NEVER put a cover on my car...not even if I just washed it. I'm just sayin. Sorry..I know I'm not being helpful...just lookin' out for ya! :tup:

My car sits outside without a cover or being a garaged.

Mine too :facepalm:

So LAMBOS are the only car worth taking care of??


:facepalm:

This!

Horrible mentality towards vehicle care. It's a "Lambo" to me.

Lambos are cows. I like fairladies better.

I'll dodge the "Lambo" debate and focus on root cause here.

Ask yourself, "What is the risk?".

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong (it won't be the first time), but aren't the real risks for a car when parked at home exposure to the elements; i.e. wind, hail, rain, snow, and sun. If you are parked under carport, you pretty much have that risk mitigated.

By using a cover, is the incremental protection worth the probable scratches, and possible retribution by some loser - vandalism or stolen cover?

Obviously, we are all passionate about our cars and want to do everything we can to protect them. In this case, I think you are asking for more trouble than it's worth.

this i true. funny, right after i responded to this thread last nigt a hail storm hit us. my car was fine, but my rommates sti got a ding or two. go carports!

our HOA decided to power wash our houses today in the community.... hope your apartment doesn't do that while in the carport! :D

that would not be a good idea for them to do that lol

As if someone who would buy a Lambo would leave it outside anyways and then ask if they should buy a car cover? I've thought about a car cover, but it sounds like a huge pain in the ***.

carcovers are a huge pita. where are you going to put the cover while off the car? it's like a 30gal trashbag size... ok, maybe not that huge but it's not small either.

Yeah, and how would you clean it? Washer machine? Call me ignorant haha, I've never had one, it sounds like a double-edged sword for 100% outdoor use though.

^^ good question. ive' never washed my dust cover for my G.... i dont even use it now. :D hahaahha.

must acquire mure currency to purchase my own place with garage ... but howwwww....

edub- not sure how old you are but during my early-mid twenties i saved up a lot of $ to put a big downpayment on a house. i had enough cash to buy a new M3 and IS300 at the time but did not. actually i had enough cash to buy a 911. anyway... i drove around a used pos civic coupe.

My Z is garaged nightly but I cover it every day while at work except when raining. And I have done it on every car I have owned since 1984. No problems with paint damage. Do a search under my posts for a review of the cover I bought for my 370 a couple of years ago. It rolls up to fit in a drawstring bag about 8" x 18" long if rolled tightly and I toss it in the washing machine about once a month. Keeping the sun off the car goes a long way towards protecting the paint and interior. Since I live in SouCal where it rarely rains, so between keeping it covered & garaged, and touching it up with a California Duster and some spray detailer and a microfiber towel to get off any bugs or water spots I only have to wash it about once a month.
One man's experience and one man's opinion offered entirely for what it's worth.:tup: