Out Door Cover result!
Discussion
I was looking at out door covers for the Chim and quickly realised that tailored ones are 200 quid and I'm not paying that, then noticed an ad for one for £39, so had a read and it said it was cotton lined, breathable and waterproof etc etc... I must admit I was expecting some plastic tarpaulin 3 times too big, then this arrived
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|https://forums-
images.pistonheads.com/238620/202412117255885[/url]
Almost perfect, I was over the moon, it was cotton lines, came in it's own little carry case the lot, bargain!
[url]
images.pistonheads.com/238620/202412117255885[/url]
Almost perfect, I was over the moon, it was cotton lines, came in it's own little carry case the lot, bargain!
EmailAddress said:
Be mindful in a wind. Cheaper is good, but they can get a bit scour'y (sp?) if the wind picks up and they aren't tight.
Secondly, then review after a humidity change. Cheaper may be less breathable and sweat your pride.
Price +
Chance of being great +
Couple of things to double check and not let it rot...
the straps are pretty good, I just hadn't done it when I took those pics, maybe less breathable than an expensive one , but this time of year, really? not much humidity now surely? Sorry i only bought it as the rain is relentless at the moment, or has been and i seemed to have cured the usual leaks but the carpet is getting a tad wet in relentless rain in the passenger side only, behind the seat, so only got it to keep the rain off this time of yearSecondly, then review after a humidity change. Cheaper may be less breathable and sweat your pride.
Price +
Chance of being great +
Couple of things to double check and not let it rot...
Andy70 said:
less breathable than an expensive one , but this time of year, really? not much humidity now surely?
Winter is far worse than summer for water condensing on your car, it is the sudden change in temperature that causes it. you only need a wet spell ( more in winter) and the temperature to drop suddenly and your pride and joy will be saturated. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! Loubaruch said:
Andy70 said:
less breathable than an expensive one , but this time of year, really? not much humidity now surely?
Winter is far worse than summer for water condensing on your car, it is the sudden change in temperature that causes it. you only need a wet spell ( more in winter) and the temperature to drop suddenly and your pride and joy will be saturated. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! Well, a clue as to where you bought it would give an indication as to whether it may any good. I tend to agree that the expensive made to measure ones aren't really worth it.
I bought an all-seasons 'waterproof' cover from Halfords in 2018 that would stay saturated for days, it was hopeless. Cover Zone ones are good, but they're about £150 +.
I bought an all-seasons 'waterproof' cover from Halfords in 2018 that would stay saturated for days, it was hopeless. Cover Zone ones are good, but they're about £150 +.
Just check it regularly if your set on using it.
The consensus of opinion is that they trap moisture underneath and cause issues to the paint, never a good idea especially on a fibreglass car.
Most go for just a hood cover if any, the leven one has been copied and is available but is close to £500, I've read an Mx5 hood cover will fit though.
The consensus of opinion is that they trap moisture underneath and cause issues to the paint, never a good idea especially on a fibreglass car.
Most go for just a hood cover if any, the leven one has been copied and is available but is close to £500, I've read an Mx5 hood cover will fit though.
Andy70 said:
But that's assuming it isn't breathable, (the ad says it is, so???) it will do to keep the rain off, I intend to remove it when it's not raining, my garage is full of crap, so it is an out door car, my last one was an everyday driver for 2 years, never covered and never leaked, it's just unfortunate that this one does a bit so I need to keep the water out in bad weather or I'll forever be out there with the wet vac until i got the time to get it sorted, so I still say its a result for 40 quid, provided it is water proof!, This isn't a permanent cover for the winter months, in case you miss understood, it's just to cover it when it's pissing down. I will ad though that because the tailored ones are 200 quid, they aren't 200 times better, the markup is tremendous i bet, who says the cheaper one is a lesser quality? it is a universal one so the market is bigger, it feels pretty good quality to me, much better than I was expecting, you guys seem to have a downer on it because it was cheap, how do you know that the 200 quid tailored ones are better quality? It's aimed directly at a smaller market (TVR Chimaeras only) so the market is smaller, so the markup is bigger surely?
Fibreglass cars and waterproof covers do not mix well, even if they are breathable.I apologise for being the professor of doom, especially as you have only just bought the cover, but i would not bother using it.
Plenty of stories where a car has only been covered during periods of bad weather, but that alone can be enough to cause micro-blistering.
Here is a link with a few stories about the problem. If you google there are many, many more.
https://www.google.com/search?q=blisters+in+fibreg...
Best advice for your paintwork.....bin the cover. Best advice to try to stop the carpet getting wet is a leven type cover just for the hood, and remove the floor carpets if the car is not being used.
Edited by TJC46 on Thursday 12th December 12:24
Edited by TJC46 on Thursday 12th December 12:26
There are stories of micro blistering and always be sure to put the cover on when it's clean, NEVER when it's dirty.
A cover is better than it stood in the pouring rain, especially at this time of year as it won't be easy to dry out at all. Without regular use or long sunny days drying out a pool of water in your footwell etc is a right PIA and a cover will stop it happening. Leven covers are great, but in the deluges we seem to have these days even they have their limitations - plus they're 10x the price of what you've just bought.
Go into it's use with your eyes open to the potential pitfalls from windy days to paint marring etc and you'll be fine. The car will stay drier overall and be better off for it.
As advised, on the days when there is an opportunity, let it air.
Lastly, a couple of gel type dehumidifiers in footwells etc will also help.
A cover is better than it stood in the pouring rain, especially at this time of year as it won't be easy to dry out at all. Without regular use or long sunny days drying out a pool of water in your footwell etc is a right PIA and a cover will stop it happening. Leven covers are great, but in the deluges we seem to have these days even they have their limitations - plus they're 10x the price of what you've just bought.
Go into it's use with your eyes open to the potential pitfalls from windy days to paint marring etc and you'll be fine. The car will stay drier overall and be better off for it.
As advised, on the days when there is an opportunity, let it air.
Lastly, a couple of gel type dehumidifiers in footwells etc will also help.
Yeah I never intended to leave it on all over the winter, just no chance of getting the leak done this side of spring, the write up for the cover was as good as the 200 quid one, so is one a liar or the other massively marked up? as the market for it let's be honest is less than 1000 as I think their are less than 3000 Chims registered and I bet most are garaged, so you make a universal sports car one, the market is 10 fold surely, so therefore can be sold cheaper, that's my logic any way, the quality seemed pretty good to me, but like I said I will be using the car regularly over the winter anyway
Edited by Andy70 on Thursday 12th December 13:27
Be bloody careful Andy. I had a 4 layer breathable Stormforce on a previous Chim for a couple of years. I religously took the cover off when it wasn't raining and leathered the car until it was dry and hung the cover out over a rotary washing line to dry it out on the underside. But after 2 years - wallop!! The car looked like it had developed leprosy overnight, with tens of bubbles on several panels and this was original paintwork.
As for your assertion about little humidity at this time of year - wrong, big time. On a foggy, slightly drizzly day like we've had today, your paintwork will be soaked under a cover, compounded by the total lack of a drying wind.
As for your assertion about little humidity at this time of year - wrong, big time. On a foggy, slightly drizzly day like we've had today, your paintwork will be soaked under a cover, compounded by the total lack of a drying wind.
Mutley00 said:
Be bloody careful Andy. I had a 4 layer breathable Stormforce on a previous Chim for a couple of years. I religously took the cover off when it wasn't raining and leathered the car until it was dry and hung the cover out over a rotary washing line to dry it out on the underside. But after 2 years - wallop!! The car looked like it had developed leprosy overnight, with tens of bubbles on several panels and this was original paintwork.
As for your assertion about little humidity at this time of year - wrong, big time. On a foggy, slightly drizzly day like we've had today, your paintwork will be soaked under a cover, compounded by the total lack of a drying wind.
Yep points taken, I get it, but for now it's all i can do, or are wet carpets the end of the world then when looking at the alternatives? I must admit, my old one was always out in the elements with little consequence despite lots of people saying they cars need to be kept in doors, it was my every day, only driver and it was treated as such, this one does seem a bit more fragile than the old one I think, it looks like I'll be spending more on maintenance than I wanted rather than nice goodies As for your assertion about little humidity at this time of year - wrong, big time. On a foggy, slightly drizzly day like we've had today, your paintwork will be soaked under a cover, compounded by the total lack of a drying wind.
BritishTvr450 said:
Just buy a proper roof cover.
That will save you spending thousands on a re spray and keep 90% of the water out. A tube of mastic and some knowledge will see you sealing the other 10% for a Tenner.
The car needs a respray any way, that would be just the last job on the list, but points taken though, i didn't realise fibreglass cars had an issue with covers That will save you spending thousands on a re spray and keep 90% of the water out. A tube of mastic and some knowledge will see you sealing the other 10% for a Tenner.
ks had a cover on my car for 10 years .paint as good as 10 years ago From what I’ve read, for the paint to blister, there needs to be something wrong with the paint in the first place - typically a fault in preparation. Blisters are commonly moisture in the paint somehow, which when frozen, heated, frozen etc. becomes a blister. Under a cover the conditions are amplified where it wouldn’t be in normal circumstances/everyday use.
Ultimately you won’t know your cars paint will blister or not until you put it under a cover. A Carcoon is a better outdoor solution for storage, however they’re a lot more expensive and they’re a right pain to use except for storage IME.
Ultimately you won’t know your cars paint will blister or not until you put it under a cover. A Carcoon is a better outdoor solution for storage, however they’re a lot more expensive and they’re a right pain to use except for storage IME.
I have used a cover for 18 years with no issues.
Always a breathable. Present one is 5 layer and a loose fit.
A good polish helps the cover slide a bit in the wind
The water in the rear footwell is probably getting in via the stitching on the side of the roof. Panel behind the door and above the seatbelt cartridge
Use a waterproofer er like Autoglym to seal it.
Always a breathable. Present one is 5 layer and a loose fit.
A good polish helps the cover slide a bit in the wind
The water in the rear footwell is probably getting in via the stitching on the side of the roof. Panel behind the door and above the seatbelt cartridge
Use a waterproofer er like Autoglym to seal it.
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