Outdoor Covers warning

[Costelles]

I though I would give my Targa a bit of winter protection during the wet weather as its outside on the drive, so I purchased a half top (convertible) cover from the cover specialists advertised in the PCGB

I used the online sizing guide to get the right size, thoroughly cleaned and waxed the car and put the cover on feeling good.

Two weeks on, Ive checked the car and found it wet underneath the cover , light scratches and marks on the paintwork where the cover ended, and to my horror what looks like pin head bubbles on the paintwork. This is on the strip of painted body work that runs front to back on the drivers side between the door window and the glass targa roof.

The cover is now banished to the garage and Im taking my chances in the rain and making sure the drains are cleaned out every month.

My own fault I suppose but im still gutted, so this a warning to those thinking of using a cover outside this winter.

On a +ve note, the CTEK charger with extension into the Cig lighter is working well!

 

[Pieman7]

Hi I had the same with the light scratches on mine so I cover mine with a soft blanket first then put the cover over it. The next thing I did was build a carport over it with one huge pull up lockable post.

 

[terry993]

It all goes to show that an exterior cover is not to be recommended as all my friends that have used them have found rubbing marks caused by wind to be a major problem plus the trapping of moisture so as the Scotsman where ere you be let the wind go free

 

[Costelles]

Thanks chaps for your support...I'm going commando from now on!

BTW..any ideas on removing the light marks and scratches??

 

[Pieman7]

If there only very light auto glen polish is great. Something deeper good old t cut REMEMBER very small circles not up and down nor side to side. Always try on a part not as visible.

 

[Costelles]

Thanks, Ill try my auto glym super resin polish

 

[wibble]

Sorry to hear the news. I have never been a huge fan of car covers, where the cover is unable to breath or wind can cause havoc where not secured correctly. In a static dry state they do protect from dust and debris on the bodywork.

The scratches and marks will likely polish out with a dual-action machine and Autoglym Super Resin polish. This needs to be sealed and then waxed. The pin head bubbles is slightly more worrying and would need more investigation, but could indicate the paint lacquer has failed to protect the paint allowing moisture or oxidisation.

 

[Stuart Mackay]

Absolutely no problems found with an Outdoor Carcoon over the last three years with my car.
I do tend to use A fitted porsche indoor car cover over the body before inflating the Carcoon.

 

[tiskev]

Buy yourselves a section of farm fruit tunneling .
keeps them dry and no chance of scratching i

 

[stephen stanyer]

Hi my first post but I second the carcoon I used an outdoor model kept the car dry and did not damage anything
Steve

 

[Costelles]

Thanks everyone for their advice
Space is at a premium at the moment as we have three cars on the drive so a tent or cocoon isnt really practical

I cleaned, polished and waxed again yesterday and cleaned all the roof drains thoroughly. I don't think I'll get any leaks and I can use it easilly if I want to.

My real challenge is getting my wife's Nissan Figaro out of the garage!

 

[Phantom911]

I used a car cover for a couple of years, and had only issues in the wind. The final straw being it took off and wrapped itself around the nearest telegraph pole, and BT got called out, I kept a very low profile. So this year I built a mini garage like a lean to, it's 6 inch higher than the car and 3 inch wider each side. A removable panel for the door, power for the charger, I am so proud !!. The wife calls it the abomination and funny enough she told me to sod off and sleep in it. I am still happy with my mini garage who needs a wife lol !!!!!.

 

[richardjjs1]

Super REsin Polish will not remove scatches as its designed to give a Polish

 

[richardjjs1]

If my wife had a Figaro I would leave ii the garage with her in it.
Shes got much better taste than that - Bought me my Vert 2 years ago!!
LOL

 

[wibble]

Super REsin Polish will not remove scatches as its designed to give a Polish

Polish is an abrasive compound. Super Resin Polish is mild and used with machine will remove light scratches. Its abrasive quality breaks down fairly quickly and is it pretty safe to use. It also has fillers that also mask deeper scratches - hence the powdery residue. Some paint protection products may need these fillers removed prior to application.

 

[peterlightbown]

Outdoor cover for my 996 works pretty well but I paid a bit more for the one with the soft inner layer so no scratch issues, elastic at each end and grips very tightly even in strong wind. If I have a complaint on the website they recommended buying a security lock but the cover had a securing strap but no spare ring to attach the security cable. Don't use it every day as its a bit pointless using it to protect from the rain but on frosty mornings saves me 10 minutes of defrosting before I can set off.

 

[Costelles]

Update...still not leaking without the cover, even with all this rain...plus no scratches! and I don't have to muck about with the cover to drive it..

 

[paulossie]

I had one on my old XJS, the wind blows the dust under the cover it then sits on the car, then the wind blows and rubs the cover and the dust on the car, they are just no good.

 

[Adam NLA]

It's a common problem for outdoor covers rubbing paintwork or leaking/keeping moisture from condensation.... I designed a few covers for Old VW vans and Beetles by using finest waterproof material with adjustable/close-openable air vents on it. A bit like a tent windows. I also built in 3 fastening straps underneath the cover (2 across the body and 1 from front to end) with adjustable buckles to hole the cover tightly over the vehicle. And we sold a lot of them over the years. www.nlavw.com
For Porsche paint work, after reading all the above, I am planing to try a new material which I know of with a lay of thin foam/sponge 2mm thick only underneath the waterproof material to make a breathable car cover with air vents on it. I hope it will be ready for 2016 winter...

 

[Dazza140]

Hi guys check out cover zone!! U.K. Based in west Sussex great product stormforce cover!!
expencive but you get what you pay for' mines covered all winter dose the job very well no complaints' just make sure your cars clean & polished before being coverd.. Hope this helps!!!