Do Car Covers Really Make a Difference?

shrugies on 01/11/2017 - 22:45
Last edited 02/11/2017 - 09:42 by 1 other user

Hey everyone,

My family will be getting a new car next month that will only be used every second day at most. Just wondering if anyone has consistently used a car cover and can comment on their effectiveness? Has anyone had their car scratched/damaged by the cover itself over time?

They cost anywhere between $40-$180 with different levels of protection. In my case, it will be under a carport with a brick wall on one side and a fence on the other (leaving a 50cm gap between the fence and the carport). Both rear and front ends are exposed.

Cheers!

Automotive

Comments

  • bobbified on 01/11/2017 - 22:52
    +10

    Save your money.

    If you use your car every few days, the cover will make no noticeable difference and you'll be sick of putting it on and taking it off after about a month.

    Then the cover will just sit in the corner collecting dust.

    • havebeerbelywillsumo on 02/11/2017 - 00:13
      +2

      Plus this, if it is under a roof and not just a tree don't bother……….we used a cheapie on hols when we had to park in the open and ir was good to keep dust off and tree debris (national park with scrub turkeys so lots of twigs etc constantly raining down). Even then it was a pain to keep taking off and replacing. It was definitely needed there but under a roof, no….unless you are neurotic about every little speck :)

  • kahn on 02/11/2017 - 00:08
    +3

    It depends why you want the cover. They are most effective for protecting cars from dust when left in storage. As mentioned, it will become tiresome removing it often, so best to just keep the paintwork well maintained via good washing and a spray wax. Yes, you also risk putting fine scratches on the car when using a cover repeatedly.

  • k-rokfm on 02/11/2017 - 07:48
    +3

    Also as it would be outside, during high winds it can cause the cover to blow around and rub the paint underneath

  • Euphemistic on 02/11/2017 - 08:20
    +2

    Don't bother. I had one for a while and it was a pain to take on and off. Plus you should only really put it on a clean car, which means more washing too.

  • Seraphin7 on 02/11/2017 - 09:31
    +2

    I found these things to only be useful for long term storage in dry environment. Any water that gets under the cover will not evaporate as its trapped under there. This includes any rain water that evaporates from under the vehicle itself but then gets trapped under the cover. You end basically storing your car in water.

  • shrugies on 01/12/2017 - 12:30

    Thanks a lot for the replies everyone, I've had the car for just under a week now and I'm driving it almost everyday. I can say now that it'll definitely be a pain to have to cover and uncover this thing every time I go out. I'll probably just invest in closing up the open spaces of the carport for protection.

    Unless I see it getting really dirty etc, I'll hold off. Thank you!

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