When to Use Car Cover
 

When would/do you use your car cover? I currently do not have a garage, but instead a private parking spot, and am wondering should I put the cover on every night? Would it stop dirt/dust from settling on the car? Thanks for responding:hello:

When I lived in a condo I had no garage. I used the car cover always when it was parked and combined with a California duster worked well. Dust and pollen abound, so that was a good combo.

I was in a similiar situation, and I found that I had to make sure that the cover and car were both meticulously clean otherwise it would scratch the car. Granted this was on a Fierro GT at the time, and the paint sucked. YMMV

I am not a fan. The car cover will probably end up scratching the car more than preventing it. I doubt an SLP one for my WS6 back in the day and used it all of twice.

Not a fan of car covers. I think it would take steely determination to ensure that the vehicle is dirt-free prior to covering it. I can just see the cover now...happily rubbing dirt gently against your paint. :barf:

Exactly the problem i had with Fiona, my old fierro.

Agree with all the above, I would not use a cover outdoors. The only time I would use one is when my car is parked in my garage using a silk indoor car cover if I had to park it for an extended period of time.

i only use the car cover inside my garage during winter hibernation. it's mainly to prevent dust and blowing snow to get on the car while i pull out my dd out of the garage. i try not to make any contact with the paint without lube (QD or shampo, wax, etc) during the warmer months.

if it's on a dailydriver check with Waizzz for his advise. he knowz his car covers and how to handle it. :D

Or just spray the dust off the car when you're ready to take it out of storage.

A car cover can help keep your vehicle cool, even in the sun. ... When you park outside and cover up every day, you may want to choose a .... Many outdoor car cover fabrics will not allow bird droppings to permeate the material and make its way ... For those who often park their vehicle in crowded lots at night, on busy street ...:roflpuke2:

Thanks Kenchan I will take it from here! :tup:

I have had 4 different covers, none of them have damaged my paint but if the car is really dirty I won't cover it until I had a chance to wash it first.
I know others might say it is bad for the paint but I trust my own experience ;)

1- OEM - Completely terrible for outdoors, it ripped from the exposure of being outside. It was only $75 but I'm sure it would have been great for using indoors only. It was from a really thin material but it was easy to remove/install.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...-08_1709-1.jpg

2- Covercraft cover (used and given to me from a friend),very good quality but it had poor wet weather protection. It ended failing on me after 3 months - no pic of it.

3- Generic cover (given to me as a gift) It wasn't made for a Z specifically so I ended up reselling it. It would have been fine for someone with a garage but I would have ruined it or it would have blown off

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...y/027920e5.jpg

4- Technalon cover (from the Z store) best cover I have ever had, superior water protection and is really soft in the inside. $175 shipped but is worth it to me.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/u...IMG_2450-1.jpg

Btw, the Z store sells the same Technalon cover that I have for 370Z's with and without spoilers:

The Z Store! Nissan-Datsun 240Z-260Z-280Z-280ZX-300ZX(Z31/Z32)-350Z-370Z Parts: SALE! Technalon Car Cover, 09-12 370Z, No Rear Spoiler

The Z Store! Nissan-Datsun 240Z-260Z-280Z-280ZX-300ZX(Z31/Z32)-350Z-370Z Parts: SALE! Technalon Car Cover, 09-12 370Z, Factory Rear Spoiler

I have this, bought by the generous previous owner of my Z. It's really nice, fits like a glove, and is all-weather. The grommet holes on the side are used to slip something through like bungee hooks or twine for super windy days. (tied underneath the car)

Did he possibly provide you with a receipt?

This is my second cover from them, the first one I had actually ended up falling apart but the company sent me a new one (under warranty) without charging me because I had a receipt.

It was actually a gift from his family member, so no.
One problem I had with it is that I stupidly put the cover on the car after it had rained. I figured it would breathe through the fabric. However, the wet car froze overnight and I had to get to work in the morning. I peeled it off the car. It just left little fuzzes on the car, but I think it got rid of some of the waterproof-ness...:shakes head:

Wow thats alot of information. Ok, but what I can grasp is that a car cover should be used whenever the car is not in use. Also that a good car cover will prevent bird poo from baking in, dirt from sticking, UV protection and rain as well. Basically keep a clean car clean. My Z is a DD and the only cover I have is OEM, so it looks like I will have to purchase a Technalon cover. THANKS GUYS:tiphat:

Just remember any dirt that is on the car when you put a cover on can rub against the paint.


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Man, I'm in such a bind.

I had to move recently and my car has no designated parking spot. To top it off, there are lots of trees around and my car gets BOMBED by birds daily. I am going to have to get a car cover for daily use until I move in a few months.

I keep my Z garaged at night at covered all day while sitting in the parking lot at work. Buy a good quality cover and keep your Z well waxed. I also use a Calif. Duster to remove light dust as you don't want to put the cover on a dirty car. Plan on replacing the cover after about 4 years as it will rot from the sun, but your paint & interior will be well protected. My Z will be 3 years old in September and other than a few tiny and unavoidable rock chips, still looks new and still gets compliments.
Edited to add: I keep a small spray bottle of quick detailer and a microfiber towel in a large zip lock bag in the car in case of bird droppings. You do not want that stuff to sit on the paint, even when well waxed. It will etch the clear coat in short order. Clean the bird droppings and put the towel in the zip lock bag until you can get home and wash it out.

That sucks, I was in the same scenario 4 years ago and I still don't have a garage to park in :shakes head:

Just get one of the covers that I referenced above and you will be fine

They should make a microfiber lined car cover. What do you think?

About 20 years ago I had a car cover with a thin flannel lining. The problem is that they are very heavy and bulky. That car had a trunk so it didn't matter a lot. A thin cover like a CoverCraft Weathershield (my cover) will roll up pretty tightly and fit in a tote bag and not take up a lot of room in your hatch. In fact, when taking it off after work I don't even bother to try and roll it up tightly as I'm just going to put it on again the next morning.
Go to autoanything.com and read up on covers before making a decision. They have different applications depending on what your conditions are and what you need to protect the car from. I'm in SouCal so I wanted one mainly for sun & dust protection and a breathable cover was important. Other regions may have different needs.