Car Cover Recommendations

[Bobhon]

Hi all

Took the cover off my car today and the outer layer was peeling off. The inner layer then ripped apart as I folded it up. Guess it's time for a new one.

Anyone recommend one? I've seen the Halfords one mentioned on here somewhere, anyone know which one is good for an S?

Bob

[phillpot]

I have a top half cover made by Cover Systems. Quality seems ok but it is only single skin, I guess for a full cover you'd want some kind of soft inner skin or lining to protect the paintwork?
When I bought my Chimaera it had a lot of light scratching to the paintwork caused, I think, by a loose fitting or poor quality cover. A lot of Farecla G3 cleaned it up.




Hamilton might also be worth a look?

[Barkychoc]

I've got a decent quality one somewhere if you are interested. It has a zip open section at the drivers door so you can still get in with the cover on.
I'll try and find it and take a pic.

[JustAl]

As Phillpot says Hamilton covers. I have used one over the winter and it's be great, they have a multi layer and breath. The S has always been nice and shiny when uncovered. Can't recommend it enough.
Cheers Al

[cjb1]

Bobhon said:

Hi all

Took the cover off my car today and the outer layer was peeling off. The inner layer then ripped apart as I folded it up. Guess it's time for a new one.

Anyone recommend one? I've seen the Halfords one mentioned on here somewhere, anyone know which one is good for an S?

Bob

I had a Halfords one on my kit car, it was rubbish, fell to bits in weeks. It had been a bit windy but it was secured well to the car. It also caused horrendous scrtaching to the bonnet too.

If you have your car stored inside you may want to do what I've done with one of my other cars, the most cherished. Seems a bit whacky but it works and is keeping the car immaculately clean in what is a fairly dusty storage unit. A neighbour was throwing out a virtually brand new 24ft x 14ft tent so I snapped it up, it makes the perfect protection for my car and whilst it keeps out dust it is vented to avoid a build up of condensation and moisture. Erecting it without a soft field to secure the tent pegs took some trickery but a bit of clever tying sorted it out.

See below;

[Bobhon]

Thanks all

So it looks as if Hamilton is the way to go then. Thanks for the linky thing Mike. I'll have to give them a call as there's a 10% TVRCC discount.

Bob

[bigunit00]

You should also consider specialised car covers. They are excellent but bit pricey but you get what you pay for

[greymrj]

I can add to that advice. My S is outdoors all year round and the car is reasonably exposed to the weather. I have been using an Auto-Pyjama which has been pretty good, I have had to modify the hold down straps to reduce movement in high winds but otherwise it has protected the car as well as I could have expected. The first one lasted almost 7 years, I replaced it last year so the new one has done one winter. I thought it was a very fair price. They can be contacted on http://www.autopyjama.com/

Although I am happy with that cover for general use it is a bit of a pain to take on and off almost every day in the season so I wanted an easy to use hood cover that I could also take with me to protect from leaks when I am away. After a lot of thought and looking at covers at trade stands I eventually opted for the expensive but high quality and very specifially tailored hood cover that Leven Technology do for the S. It is held down by the boot and bonnet and by two simple clips round the mirrors. Unclip one side and you can get into the car! Had it for 3 months, and so far so good. It also makes the car look so much better parked in my front garden.
http://www.leventechnology.co.uk

ALL covers are going to move in high wind and some movement against the bodywork is inevitable. You will have to put an extra deep layer of polish on!

[Bobhon]

greymrj said:

I can add to that advice. My S is outdoors all year round and the car is reasonably exposed to the weather. I have been using an Auto-Pyjama which has been pretty good, I have had to modify the hold down straps to reduce movement in high winds but otherwise it has protected the car as well as I could have expected. The first one lasted almost 7 years, I replaced it last year so the new one has done one winter. I thought it was a very fair price. They can be contacted on http://www.autopyjama.com/

Although I am happy with that cover for general use it is a bit of a pain to take on and off almost every day in the season so I wanted an easy to use hood cover that I could also take with me to protect from leaks when I am away. After a lot of thought and looking at covers at trade stands I eventually opted for the expensive but high quality and very specifially tailored hood cover that Leven Technology do for the S. It is held down by the boot and bonnet and by two simple clips round the mirrors. Unclip one side and you can get into the car! Had it for 3 months, and so far so good. It also makes the car look so much better parked in my front garden.
http://www.leventechnology.co.uk

ALL covers are going to move in high wind and some movement against the bodywork is inevitable. You will have to put an extra deep layer of polish on!

Hi Richard

Which version of the Auto Pyjama did you go for, they seem to have quiet a few types even for the outdoor covers.

Bob

[cjb1]

When I have used covers, inside or outside, the cover has remained off unless the car was spotlessly clean and dry. If the car wasn't clean and dry it sat without the cover until it was. No one has commented on my tent idea so far, is that because I'm mad?

[greymrj]

Hi Bob, they appear to have changed the range a bit but mine appears to be the Classic to which I added 2 straps. Note that it is not intended to be 100% waterproof asit does breath and let the car dry pretty well.
I endorse the comment that the car should be clean first or the grit will get rubbed in when wind moves the cover. I was surprised how well the cover stood up to wind provided I had strapped it right. The car was parked close to a tree but I was still able to power wash the cover reasonably clean each spring and it never showed any sign of ripping.
One general point I have found; if you are parking the car up for the winter under a cover, use an anti bacterial cleaner (gently) on seats, dashboard, steering wheel and inside hood otherwise you may find mould growing by spring.

[phillpot]

cjb1 said:

No one has commented on my tent idea so far

Is that old Porsche just a test before you put your p&j in there?

[cjb1]

greymrj said:

Hi Bob, they appear to have changed the range a bit but mine appears to be the Classic to which I added 2 straps. Note that it is not intended to be 100% waterproof asit does breath and let the car dry pretty well.
I endorse the comment that the car should be clean first or the grit will get rubbed in when wind moves the cover. I was surprised how well the cover stood up to wind provided I had strapped it right. The car was parked close to a tree but I was still able to power wash the cover reasonably clean each spring and it never showed any sign of ripping.
One general point I have found; if you are parking the car up for the winter under a cover, use an anti bacterial cleaner (gently) on seats, dashboard, steering wheel and inside hood otherwise you may find mould growing by spring.

Great point, "use an anti bacterial cleaner (gently) on seats, dashboard, steering wheel and inside hood otherwise you may find mould growing by spring". An absolute must do.

[greymrj]

Thanks Cliff.
I actually thought you had put the Porsche in there to hide it, out of embarassment!

Seriously, I had considered making a simple steel frame to carry a cut down frame tent over the S but a mate in the construction industry warned me that such structures have to be very tough to stand a winter, while a cover will do as it has the car for all over support. Inside a barn or industrial unit an old tent would be a great idea.

[cjb1]

greymrj said:

Thanks Cliff.
I actually thought you had put the Porsche in there to hide it, out of embarassment!

Seriously, I had considered making a simple steel frame to carry a cut down frame tent over the S but a mate in the construction industry warned me that such structures have to be very tough to stand a winter, while a cover will do as it has the car for all over support. Inside a barn or industrial unit an old tent would be a great idea.

A TVR owner suggesting that a 911 owner would be embarassed to have his P&J on view, that's a bit rich!!

Seriously, it is a cracking idea but I can see the common sense in the problems of using the idea outside in a British winter. Cheers.

[cjb1]

greymrj said:

Thanks Cliff.
I actually thought you had put the Porsche in there to hide it, out of embarassment!

Seriously, I had considered making a simple steel frame to carry a cut down frame tent over the S but a mate in the construction industry warned me that such structures have to be very tough to stand a winter, while a cover will do as it has the car for all over support. Inside a barn or industrial unit an old tent would be a great idea.

A TVR owner suggesting that a 911 owner would be embarassed to have his P&J on view, that's a bit rich!!

Seriously, it is a cracking idea but I can see the common sense in the problems of using the idea outside in a British winter. Cheers.

[cjb1]

phillpot said:

cjb1 said:

No one has commented on my tent idea so far

Is that old Porsche just a test before you put your p&j in there?

Now listen here you ruddy gutter snipe, you TVR owners really do have a rather large chip on your shoulders don't you? You maybe are referring to my P&J as being a TVR rather than the Doctors engineering masterpiece but I can assure you that I have enough plastic cars that fall to bits when you so much as touch them, (every time the wife dusts the sideboard the models seem to have bits fall off them and I have to get the Airfix glue out again).

(PS: I know your comment was just a bit of friendly banter, your cars look lovely and do have a lot of respect for Blackpools finest)

[mohitos]

Oh dear. There's no reason we can't all co-exist in perfect harmony. I'm bipolar anyway, owning both TVR and Porsche !

[cjb1]

mohitos said:

Oh dear. There's no reason we can't all co-exist in perfect harmony. I'm bipolar anyway, owning both TVR and Porsche !

Best of both worlds, much enviousness.

[greymrj]

At this point I think I should declare that I have an interest in a 1968 Porsche 912 that my mate and I restored 2 years ago. I totally agree that it is a lovely piece of engineering and turns heads everywhere it goes. That might however be the tuned lawnmower sound of the air cooled angine! As we cruise at 70 (+!) on the motorway few people would believe the Porsche is 45 years old.
Am I acceptable to both camps (no ref to tents intended!)?