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Car Covers

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Happy New Year everyone!

I'm thinking of investing in a car cover as I don't have a garage.

Does anyone have any advice on car covers for daily runners where the cover is likely to be put on a dirty car as well as a clean one? - the idea being to put it on at night and take back off in the morning.

Thanks!
 
That's what i was worried about - any other suggestions? I have heard that you can get framed ones that don't touch the car, but I can't locate one.
 
I have had a couple. I had one from Classic Additions that didn't fit very well - too loose - and was not completely waterproof. If the rain was heavy it would soak thru and the car got wet. Also very fine grit passed thru with the water and then sat between the car and the cover. Frequent washing was required. I now have a Covercraft one. It is frighteningly expensive (£310) put it fits like automotive lycra and is very waterproof. The water beeds up on its surface and runs off. It is also breathable - kind of like Gortex. It is also machine washable - which is very, very handy as the covers get dirty and then don't work as well as they should. It also shown to be very kind to paint. You do need to keep the car clean before putting it on though.

If you can't get a garage then a cover is IMHO the next best thing. Even with the crappy old cover I had, I found that any areas that rubbed and then scratched could be polished out with nothing more than a quick polish every 3-4 months. Regular waxing also offered some protection. I can post cover pictures if you like.

Richard
 
For dailly use most companies (including covercraft) seem to recommend the non-totally waterproof ones because moisture doesn't evaporate through the others well enough. I got an Email from them recommending the 80-90% waterproof one. It's cheaper too. I agree with Richard on the polishing thing. My fathers Lotus has a cover and a quick polish removes the slight swirls.
 
Iain,

I have a Covercraft 'Evolution' that is a rather garish shade of light blue, but it is very good at allowing the car to breath whilst keeping all the bird muck and tree sap off etc.

Got mine direct from Covercraft - circa £220.
 
If you are looking at Covercraft covers, I found it was far cheaper importing from a USA based company - www.bigskycarcover.com

Even if you have to pay customs duty then it works out cheaper.

The only thing to watch out for if ordering from the US is that some Porsches have the door mirrors offset diffferently - check your particular vehicle before ordering!
 
Chris

Which material was recommended to you?

The choices seem to be Weathershield, Noah or Technalon - Evolution

Thanks
 
Mine is the most expensive one (there is a sucker born every day [:(]). I can't remember what the material is. After trying a couple of covers, I would say get the most waterproof one you can so long as it is also breathable. Anything that lets water thru will also (eventually) let dust thru, then you get fine dust between the paint and cover which works away at the paint like about 300 grit wet and dry.

If your car is out of the direct rain then the 80-90% waterproof ones may be ok. Personally, I would never use the semi-waterproof again.

Richard
 
I have a Covercraft Noah and have had it for approx 4 years. Even if the car is wet or dirty I have put the cover on and have never had a scratches etc.

It was expensive at about £300 but well worth it.
 
You can get a Noah cover for the 911 for about $140 (yes Dollars!) + $40 to $50 postage from the link I posted earlier.

I bought a CoverCraft Weathershield for the Boxster in 2001 - cost me $220 + $41 Postage to the UK.
It fits like a glove.
Don't forget to order a lock and storage bag ($11.50)
 
Looking at my classic additions email, they recommended the lightweight custom cover.

Covercraft recommended the Noah to me and if you can get it cheap as above then it may be a good route to go.

I'm still indecided. There are covers on Ebay at the moment. The price seems good but I've not found any reviews of their products.
 
There was another company I emailed but I cant find their response. I think they advertised in 911 & Porsche world.
 
Mark, I e-mailed Big Sky to get a quote as they don't list a Targa on their site - had nothing back yet.

Question for you though, did you have to pay any import duty? - if so, how much?

Thanks.
 
did you have to pay any import duty? - if so, how much?
Click to expand...

I don't recall...
It was a couple of years ago when more seemed to slip through Customs and Excise fingers though [;)]

Duty is (I believe) 3.5% of the TOTAL (including post, packing and insurance) of the Goods.
VAT is then added to the total (including to the Duty...)

This doesn't really amount to a great deal, but the carrier loves to get in on the act...
If a courier company then they have a fixed rate (should be able to see this on thier website), if ParcelFarce then they rip you off at about £10.
VAT is then added to that fee as well[:mad:]

Either way I was quids in compared to Covercraft prices in the UK.

I'm suprised you have not heard back from them - they were prompt and helpful when I used them.

A couple of things:
1. The cover as a default has a small logo of the company on the front (about where the numberplate goes on my Boxster). They will "delete" this if you ask. I actually find it helps orientate the cover, so I'm not bothered that I forgot to get them to delete it.
2. I really want to remind everyone that the mirrors on SOME right hand drive Porsche's are not in the same location on left hand drive (they are staggered for vision from the drivers seat). If buying a cover from the USA make sure that it will fit!

I was originally recommended this company by people over on the USA based "Boxster Board", a couple of people have used them from the UK to my knowledge. No bad reports so far. Hope the trend continues.
 
I got a Christmas present of a Webflex cover for my just-purchased 993 from

http://www.carcoversuk.com

and it seems pretty good so far. They make a big fuss about it being non-abrasive and breathable, so you can put it on a wet car without having to dry it first, and say that you shouldn't be alarmed if the car is wet underneath because then the cover is working as it should. It fits snugly and the dark blue cover certainly stands out less to passers-by than my curvy silver dream machine. I haven't had it long enough to tell you about its performance in dry conditions (the cover or the car!)...

Other options I found were

http://www.thoroughbred-covers.co.uk
http://www.covercraft-europe.com

HTH

James
 
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